Taco Bell is expanding its small test of waffle tacos, as it prepares to take its breakfast menu national next year, according to The Washington Post.
The food chain was the top seller during breakfast hours at five Southern California restaurants earlier this year. The company now wants to see how it would measure up with the other items on the menu.
Brain Niccol, president of Taco Bell, said the limited release allows the company to gain a better sense of how restaurants will be able to handle the operational pressure from the waffle tacos.
"You only got one shot when you go with big items," Niccol said.
The waffle taco includes scrambled eggs, sausage and a side of syrup. Taco Bell has been tinkering with new items such as the waffle taco before it is presented into the companies 6,000 United States location, the Washington Post reported.
The waffle taco will be expanded to about 100 restaurants in California starting Thursday. Taco Bell already offers breakfast at about 850 locations in 10 Western states.
Since introduced in March, the waffle taco has undergone some tweaks, including the frying time and temperature. Niccol said the shape of the taco was changed to make it easier to hold the stuffing. The waffle taco is 460 calories and has 30 grams of fat.
According to the Washington Post, Yum Brand Inc., the parent company of Taco Bell, believed the waffle taco is Taco Bell's next big opportunity. Yum president Richard Carucci said the breakfast food has accounted for about four percent of sales in restaurants where it has been available.
This summer, many other fast food franchises will be adding it to their menu.
According to the Los Angeles Times, this week Popeyes launched it's chicken Waffle Tenders, limited-time offer. McDonald's this summer said it would roll out it's McDonald's After Midnight menu across the U.S. Starbucks recently began offering more upscale foods to draw consumers looking for quality and convenience.
