June 7/Louisville, Ky./ The Associated Press -- Taco Bell is going more upscale. The chain plans an early July rollout of a menu addition created by celebrity chef Lorena Garcia for its nearly 5,600 U.S. restaurants. New items feature such ingredients as black beans, cilantro rice, citrus- and herb-marinated chicken and cilantro dressing.
The introduction of items that Taco Bell executive Brian Niccol described as "gourmet Mexican," is a venture onto the turf of casual-dining chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba Mexican Grill known for higher-quality ingredients.