Taco Bell is no stranger to innovation—or friendly competition. Hardly a few weeks go by without the Mexican-inspired fast food chain impressing fans with new releases, from Cantina Fajitas to the return of the Flamin’ Hot Grilled Cheese Burrito, and some are remarkably similar to other drive-thru favorites.
After McDonald’s re-released the Snack Wrap this summer, following nearly a decade off menus, Taco Bell responded with its own take on the fan-favorite: the Crispy Chicken Taco. When KFC teamed up with Mike’s Hot Honey to create a swicy sauce for its fried chicken, Taco Bell answered with its own Hot Honey Diablo and tortilla chip-crusted nuggets.
Recently, TBell came for Starbucks with one of its newer concepts, and now it appears that the test run was just the beginning.
Taco Bell Expands Its Live Más Café Concept
Taco Bell may be associated with Mountain Dew, but the fast food chain offers way more than just Baja Blast. After expanding its signature drink offerings and testing coffee-forward beverages over the past two years, Taco Bell launched its first-ever beverage-only concept in 2024, which received rave reviews.
Instead of tacos, chalupas, and Crunchwraps, the Live Más Café offers new drink innovations, including Agua Refrescas, Cream Soda Freezes, as well as specialty coffees for Taco Bell fans to enjoy. While you can always rely on Starbucks for a decadent latte or grab a refresher from Dunkin’, Taco Bell has made a lasting impression on fans with its beloved caffeinated beverages, such as Coffee Chillers. And, of course, Live Más Café customers can snag a signature Dirty Baja Blast, too.
The first Live Más Café opened in Chula Vista, California, at the end of 2024, and the flagship location was just the beginning. Since its opening in September, the Irvine-based cafe in California has sold nearly 1,000 beverages per day, according to representatives from Taco Bell. And after launching five successful locations in the Golden State, Taco Bell is taking its beverage-focused show on the road en route to Texas.
Following the announcement of a brand-new line of beverages and the expansion this past June, Taco Bell’s café-style experience is officially going national. Live Más Café will make its Texas debut with two new locations—one in Dallas, opening Nov. 6, followed by Houston on Nov. 20.
If you aren’t in the area but still want in on Cinnabon Coffees served by “Bellristas,” then you’re in luck: The summer announcement also shared that Taco Bell plans to expand Live Más Café to 30 new locations across Southern California and Texas by fall 2025.
Taco Bell’s Live Más Café isn’t the first time a fast food favorite has launched a standalone location devoted solely to drinks. McDonald’s led the pack with McCafé in the early 2000s before opening CosMc’s, and, more recently, Chick-fil-A announced its expansion into the industry with its newest beverage-only concept, Daybright.
While I’m nowhere near Texas, I will be browsing flights just in case I can snag a trip to Houston or Dallas to test out Live Más Café for myself. In the meantime, though, I’ll be sipping on a Mountain Dew Baja Midnight while eagerly waiting for a location in NYC—or at least the national launch of Gordita Crunch Sliders.
