Taco Bell is thriving with Gen Z. Its CEO says that's no accident.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Environment
The Taco Bell logo hangs outside one of its restaurants.

Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

Taco Bell's CEO says the chain's 'magic formula' is fueling growth as rivals fall flat

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Environment
The exterior of a Taco Bell restaurant with a drive-thru.
Taco Bell outperformed the rest of the fast-food segment in Q4, posting growth in same-store sales while other chains struggled to remain flat.

Duane Prokop/Getty Images for Taco Bell

We tried every item on Taco Bell's value menu, where everything costs $3 or less, and ranked them from worst to best

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Taco Bell luxe value menu
Taco Bell's Luxe Value menu includes five brand-new items, along with some fan favorites.

Courtesy of Taco Bell

We tried and ranked every new item on Taco Bell's new $3 Luxe Value menu. Our favorite dish was a huge surprise.

Tech Insider : Business
Taco Bell luxe value menu
Taco Bell has five new items on its luxe value menu, all priced $3 or under.

Courtesy of Taco Bell

I tried Taco Bell's Mountain Dew Baja Blast pie. I can see — and taste — who the fast food restaurant is targeting.

Tech Insider : Business
Taco Bell's new bright green pie with Katie Notopoulos holding it
Taco Bell's Mountain Dew Baja Blast pie is targeting a specific audience — and I tried it.

Katie Notopoulos/Business Insider

The 'Beverage Battles' are brewing: Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A are targeting Starbucks' turf

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Style
A line up of fast food beverage cups from brands including Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Burger King.
The Drink Rush is on — and Starbucks isn't the only one cashing in on America's beverage obsession.

Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Taco Bell brought back 5 discontinued items for its new Y2K menu. I ranked them from worst to best.

Tech Insider : Business
Taco Bell Y2K Menu
Taco Bell released a new Y2K menu with discontinued items from the early 2000s.

Courtesy of Taco Bell

I tried breakfast from McDonald's new Extra Value Meals menu. Here's how it compares to 4 other chains.

Tech Insider : Business
mcdonalds extra value meal sausage mcmuffin hash brown coffee
The new limited McDonald's Extra Value Meals launched on September 8.

Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Cracker Barrel tried to look forward while everyone else looked back — and it bombed

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Environment
A composite image of Cracker Barrel logos
The now-scrapped Cracker Barrel logo is seen next to its "Old Timer" logo that will return.

Insider composite

Dolly Parton is a Taco Bell superfan. She told us her usual order, and we obviously had to try it.

Tech Insider : Business
Dolly Parton with the Mexican Pizza
Dolly Parton is a huge Taco Bell fan. I tried Dolly Parton's full Taco Bell order and found a new favorite menu item.

Taco Bell

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