Volcano Tacos Discontinued: Facing Life Without Lava Sauce
The rumors are true. Taco Bell’s Volcano Taco—the fast-food industry’s spiciest legal-taco—has officially been discontinued.
Why, Taco Bell, why?
This is especially devastating news for me. Not only did I develop a hard addiction to these things, but I was just about to make the Volcano Taco the official taco of Dead Rooster dot com.
Sure, the first few times you eat one it’s possible to experience a “bad trip” involving some mild hallucinations and unwanted side effects, but once you’ve built up a healthy tolerance, they seem relatively harmless.
So what if a few people complain of emergency-room-style cramps in their lower intestines and refuse to buy them anymore; is that any reason to ruin it for the rest of us?
There have been no reports of permanent brain damage either…right?
And, even though I warned in a previous post that it might not be safe to mix Volcano Tacos with other chemically incompatible foods such as chocolate chip cookies, you would have to admit that even an imbecile would learn after only one or two restroom-related episodes that such a mixture is not a good idea.
Please, Taco Bell, bring them back!
A Final Plea to keep Lava Sauce on the Menu
If nothing else, please consider keeping Lava Sauce on the menu. I have a suspicion that the only real difference between a “volcano” taco and a “regular” taco is the fancy red corn shell and the incredibly spicy, cheesy yellow sauce. If you don’t agree to at least keep the sauce on the menu, I’ll be tempted to try and duplicate it in my own kitchen which—unintentionally and without warning—could threaten my entire neighborhood with periodic explosions featuring stinky cheese gas.
A small portion of humanity rests in your hands.
UPDATE 5/14/2009 Volcano Tacos have now been reinstated on the menu! Go get’em!
UPDATE 7/1/2009 Lava Sauce Recipe REVEALED! Click Here.
Dead Rooster is the online home of 
You know why they do this kind of crap don’t you? It’s called a loss leader. Advertise something really good, get you hooked and then slowly reel you in. You won’t be able to duplicate it at home, so you will go back over and over again hoping they will come up with something just as good. I am afraid for you my friend
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 4:44 am:
I called my local Taco Bell; they said they will continue selling Volcano Tacos until supplies run out and that will most-likely be the middle of this week. I am planning a visit today to get my last VT. After that, adios!
Reply to this comment
brad
reply on January 8th, 2009 8:52 pm:
Join the facebook group boycotting taco bell until they bring back volcano tacos….i made it..search “I refuse to go to taco bell until they bring back the volcano taco.”
Reply to this comment
Lol… I love Taco Bell. I bet you can make it at home: regular tacos, nacho cheese mixed with hot sauce, no problem. :]
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 4:49 am:
I think you’re on the right track. Tostitos makes a Salsa Con Queso that might be the base Nacho Cheese ingredient in the Lava Sauce.
Reply to this comment
ARRRGGG! I hate when restaurants do this. Why must they toy with our emotional well-being?!! You know, it is kind of like a drug dealer. Reel you in and get you hooked, then take the drug away, only to replace it with something less effective! Fast food restaurants = drug dealers
Sorry for your loss, William. Hey, maybe they will give you the secret since they won’t be needing it anymore?
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 8:13 am:
It’s probably for the best–these things CANNOT be good for you. I’m not really much of a fast-food type person (anymore) but I got it bad for the Lava Sauce.
Reply to this comment
Lava sauce – with a name like that it’s begging to be made illegal!
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 10:14 am:
I don’t know if they’ll outlaw it or not, but it tastes good enough to be illegal.
Reply to this comment
I am afraid this may be for your own good. Any taco shell with that much food coloring in it has to make red poop. Having red poop may cause other major side effects..like WTF is wrong with my bowel..or Am I bleeding. May also cause toliet bowl staining.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 2:20 pm:
If I’m brave enough to Flowbee my own hair, I’m brave enough to deal with red doo-doo. LOL
Reply to this comment
steph tha boss
reply on January 3rd, 2009 12:22 am:
i eat these things once a week at least. two at a time and have NEVER had red poop. you are sillacious.
Reply to this comment
I think you can buy that spicy yellow sauce in the caulking section of Home Depot…
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 2:21 pm:
I think the stuff you’re talking about is a little TOO spicy!
Reply to this comment
The Mrs. still longs for the McRib. Artery clogging crap should be available all the time. We deserve to choose the foods that kill us.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 2:22 pm:
I agree with you 100%. BRING ON THE BACON-WRAPPED BUTTER STICK!
Reply to this comment
My 12 year old was standing behind me as i read this and i think he’s crying lol. This is the ONLY thing he’ll eat from Taco Bell, He said ” Great now i’ll freakin starve when ya’ll refuse to take me to get something else!” and stomped off.
If he weren’t a boy i’d call him a drama queen
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 28th, 2008 7:34 pm:
Oh, no! Tell him I’m working on figuring out the sauce! It’s the SAUCE!
I went to Taco Bell today and asked if they put Lava Sauce on anything besides Volcano Tacos and they said “no.”
So, I went to a friend that works in a REALLY fancy sauce-intensive restaurant and he said that he’s pretty sure he knows what it is, but he’ll try to find out for sure from some of his top-secret restaurant buddies. If he comes through, I’ll post it on my blog.
Reply to this comment
steph tha boss
reply on January 3rd, 2009 12:24 am:
please do i will love you forever.
Reply to this comment
Make my wings and nachos hot enough to melt holes through submarine hulls!
I LOVE spicy food.
I had no idea a fast food chain like Taco Bell would dare issue anything that might’ve been on my radar … now I wish I had tried them!
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 29th, 2008 5:51 am:
If you hurry, you might get to try one–they told me they will keep selling them until supplies run out (which, at my local TB “should be until the middle of the week”).
Reply to this comment
I just wish they would bring back the taco bell Chihuahua. “Here lizard, lizard, lizard…”
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 29th, 2008 4:02 pm:
Haha! I used to have a T-shirt with that on it.
Reply to this comment
William: I have no clue how good this taco is because I have never eaten at Taco Bell. This seems to be my week for confessing to the things I have never eaten. Tootsie roll pops were the other missed experience. But I digress… if you say they are good then I believe you and would add my silent prayer that for your sake, they do not disappear forever into taco oblivion.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on October 30th, 2008 1:54 pm:
Thanks, Milena. I could probably live without them, but they sure are good!
Reply to this comment
allright 1st of all i myself have consumed several of those fantastic tocos and thats a bummer. so since there no more, hows bout a receipt for the shell?
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on November 3rd, 2008 1:50 pm:
I wonder if you can buy red taco shells? I’ll have to look into that. Right now, I’m focused on duplicating that wonderful Lava Sauce.
Reply to this comment
steph tha boss
reply on January 3rd, 2009 12:24 am:
story of my life.
Reply to this comment
wow!! what would tyler durden do?
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on November 3rd, 2008 1:51 pm:
I don’t know–what WOULD you do?
Reply to this comment
Kurt
reply on March 11th, 2009 10:29 pm:
He would threaten taco bell with terrorism till they brought the sauce back… then terrorize them anyway.
Reply to this comment
I just had one today…..! Maybe the cancellation has been canceled.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on November 29th, 2008 6:33 pm:
I called my local Taco Bell before I wrote the article and they told me they were going to sell them until they run out. My Taco Bell ran out weeks ago–maybe if I go back they will have them again–I’ll have to investigate.
Reply to this comment
Kara
reply on December 7th, 2008 3:54 am:
I think they’re continuing to sell them! They even have the Volcano big bell box meal…
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on December 7th, 2008 6:55 am:
I was able to order them when I was in Hawaii last week as well. They are no longer on the menu, but they will serve them until they run out.
TacoBell.com has no mention of them anymore either…
Are these coming back? I saw the commercial for them on MTV tonight.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on November 29th, 2008 6:34 pm:
As far as I know, they’ve continued to run the commercial. However, I was told that they were only going to sell them until they run out–then, adios!
Reply to this comment
I just got 3 volcano taco’s tonight at Taco bell, they didn’t have them listed but they still made me 3 of them with the red shell and lava sauace. Damn its sad to see there ditching them, I must have ate at Taco bell more times in the last 3 months then I have in all my 26 years alive lol. Now I will go back to other food until Taco Bell brings back something with the lava sauce
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on December 1st, 2008 10:47 am:
I’m with you on that! Let’s protest until they get the Lava Sauce going! I need that stuff!
Reply to this comment
Its funny, i came to this site looking for the recipe for lava sauce and im SOL like everyone else…lol…bummer. I will work on the recipe and if i get it figured out i will passd it on. however, i just had a #6 at TB and had em put lava on everything and they did it without question. they also said that they were NOT discontinued. hmmm
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on December 10th, 2008 10:24 am:
Volcano Tacos ARE IN FACT BEING DISCONTINUED! They are no longer on the menu and once they run out of the red taco shells that will be it. Check tacobell.com then click OUR FOOD>>MENU>>TACOS and you will see they are no longer displayed there either. I called Taco Bell myself and verified.
Sorry, but their days are numbered.
Reply to this comment
I heared from a friend that has a friend that works at Taco Bell that the lava sauce is just the nacho cheese mixed with fire sauce.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on December 24th, 2008 12:55 pm:
Lava sauce comes in prepackaged containers. It MIGHT be nacho cheese mixed with fire sauce, but I think you’d have to work at the factory to know that for sure.
Reply to this comment
this is heartbreaking ive fallen in love with all the flavors and now this?
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on December 25th, 2008 11:19 am:
I know, me too! I was in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago and was able to order them there. Probably my last moment alone with a Volcano Taco.
Reply to this comment
As of today Volcano Tacos were still for sale at my local Denver, CO taco bell. Maybe they have 2 or 3 years worth of red shells so it’ll take awhile to run out.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on January 3rd, 2009 5:32 am:
Let’s hope so!
Reply to this comment
i just had three last night for dinner, there still at my taco bell.
im basically addicted though, they better not stop selling them.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on January 3rd, 2009 5:33 am:
Hopefully, it will be a while.
Reply to this comment
I’m glad someone else feels this way! If I could get the sauce still somehow, I’d be happy. Almost every episode of my podcast, we bring up Volcano Tacos at some point. That’s sad, I know, but I’m addicted to them.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on January 3rd, 2009 5:34 am:
They are SO good!
Reply to this comment
If anyone does happen to figure out how to replicate the lava sauce…email me…I need my lava sauce T_T
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on January 3rd, 2009 5:34 am:
If someone comes up with the answer, I’ll post it on my blog.
Reply to this comment
ya im going to go to my local tacobell tomorrow and im going to tell them to sell me a volcano taco. i aint going to be nice person about it ill do my best to bring them back
Reply to this comment
hotsause22
reply on January 3rd, 2009 1:45 am:
im not leaving untill they sell me 1 to
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on January 3rd, 2009 5:35 am:
They are still available in may places. Maybe you can still get one at your local TB.
Reply to this comment
I don’t personally like hard shelled tacos so i would order the 3 soft taco meal and get a side of lava sauce (30 cents for a side or 30 cents to add on each) the side had plenty of sauce for all 3 tacos and still some for dipping the last taco in to get all the flavor i could out of it. I was denied today saying they no longer had any lava sauce but i still have a side sitting in my fridge I really hope its still good.
Reply to this comment
Please taco bell, KEEP THE VOLCANO TACO SAUCE ON THE MENU!!!!????? I’m seriously addicted to the sauce, I dont know if you put coke, or crack in it, but I swear ‘ll take up a new drug if I cant have the volcano sauce again!!!! There’s something addicting about that sauce I swear. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE SAUCE?? ANY RECIPES I SHOULD TRY? Please post back if you know . THanks
Reply to this comment
DjCalvin
reply on January 7th, 2009 6:32 pm:
I too am addicted to this damn sauce. Thankfully my Tb still has the sauce.
This is what I tried today and it came pretty damn close:
I bought a pack of taco bell nacho cheese sauce (came in the cheesy double decker pack that they sell in supermarkets)
Note:
Taco bell nacho cheese is salty, i tried regular nacho cheese and it was missing something.. i found this and its pretty close.
I then went to taco bell and snagged 20 packets of fire sauce and got a taco with the lava sauce on it.
I combined about 12 of the packets of fire sauce with the nacho cheese sauce.
had the same consistancy and tasted pretty damn good.
I’ll work on perfecting it, but I really think that those are the only 2 ingredients.
I think the taco bell nacho sauce is the big thing, because its so salty.
Lemmie know what people think if anyone tries it on their own.
Reply to this comment
im pretty sure all you have to do is get a regular hard shell taco, a side of nacho cheese, then add a pack or two of fire sauce to the cheese.
Reply to this comment
Today I went to Taco Bell and order my three Volcano Taco’s as I usually do. They gave me three red shell tacos with quesadilla sauce on it instead. They told me they don’t have Lava sauce anymore. BRING BACK MY LAVA SAUCE!!!!! I refuse to go back to taco bell untill I can get lava sauce. I think the Lava sauce is simply there queso cheese sauce they used on the queso crunchwrap they had a while back with a hot sauce added (maybe Fire)
Reply to this comment
All 6 of us were addicted to the valcano tacos no tummy aches here.
Reply to this comment
I loved the volcano taco, I hate that they took it away. I suspect the lava sauce may just be fire sauce mixed in with some cheese sauce but i am not for sure.
Reply to this comment
I filled out a request on Taco Bell’s website. A few days later, guess what!!! I got a call from my local store’s manager saying that this will become a permanant menu item in May 2009. It helps to voice your opinion
I really love these things.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on February 2nd, 2009 1:28 pm:
This is GREAT news!
I filled out an information request and they didn’t respond. Good for you, Eric, and thanks for the update!
You made my day!
Reply to this comment
Yes yes, please Taco Bell read this. I would get the Taco Bell Tuesday Deal, 10 tacos for $7, add volcano sauce please, 2 soft taco supremes, $11.80 please. I had to get my 10 tacos with no volcano sauce, what a drag. I found this site looking for the recepie or perhaps some Spicy Cheese Wiz. I’d find myself licking the crapper like in those Hardys comersials getting the last of the cheese.
Reply to this comment
Im sooooo upset that taco bell stopped making the volcano tacos too….i really hope they decide to bring them back…that lava sauce was awesome!!!!! Taco bell just aint the same without the awesome volcano taco!!!! :@)
Reply to this comment
Those were great tacos, I hope you can duplicate that recipe.
Reply to this comment
I work at Taco Bell, and let me tell you, the Volcano Tacos were probably the best things to happen to us in a while. I’m surprised they lasted as long as they did. They were originally set to be discontinued after the first month, like all the other monthly promo items. Thanks to the wild response, corporate extended them for a very long time.
I believe they finally discontinued them to build up a desire to have them back, which I am sure they eventually will. I heard no specific time, but most likely in the summer. The other person who said May 2009 is pretty close, so I’d keep my eyes out around there.
And I’d just like to let you guys in on a little thing I found to be amazingly good while they were still around. If you remember the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, have a Volcano Taco inside of it instead of the regular Taco w/ Pepperjack sauce. AMAZING.
Reply to this comment
William McCamment
reply on March 2nd, 2009 1:15 pm:
Thanks for the update, Zach! I’ll be looking out for their return!
Reply to this comment
Zach
reply on April 21st, 2009 4:50 pm:
I now have an exact date for my store.
We are reintroducing the Volcano Taco on May 14th, 2009. Alongside the Volcano Taco will be a new Volcano Burrito.
The Volcano Burrito is similar to the Cheesy Double Beef Burrito. Rice, two scoops of Beef, Lava Sauce (about 2x the amount on the Taco), Red Strips, Sour Cream, and Cheddar Cheese (not positive about the cheese…).
Reply to this comment
I’m a manager at a Taco Bell. When we were on our last case of Lava Sauce, I stole a bag. It has been sitting in my fridge for a few months but it expires March 11 so I just cracked it open today to dip onion petals in. AMAZING. Fat, but amazing. Do I perhaps have the last bag?
I did once have a gander at the ingredients on the side of the case. I honestly wish I had recorded it to share the love here with you folks today. If you ask me, it has a slight horseradish-y taste to it, but it wasn’t listed. I can almost guarantee that it has many ingredients in common with the Creamy Jalapeno sauce, so I’ll check that out. Just add more cheesiness to whatever’s in that, and then more heat. Jalapenos are involved, I am sure of that. Don’t be shy with the cayenne, what are you, a pussy?
Reply to this comment
I remember the day they discontinued the volcano taco, or rather the lava sauce. That was a horrible day. I tried many combinations of the other items with lava sauce with much success. My personal fav was the spicy chicken soft taco or better yet the crunchwrap supreme with lava sauce instead of sour cream. Since discontinued, I have tried many different foods and the nacho cheese sauce with fire sauce is as close as I could get. Not good enough for me. I quit eatin taco bell about a month ago now, awaiting the return of lava sauce…the regional supervisor of my local taco bell told me directly that it would be back within 3 months. I also suspect that they are stocking up on it and getting it ready for delivery…….cross your fingers!
I refuse to go to taco bell until they bring back the volcano taco!!!!
Reply to this comment
I now have an exact date for my store.
We are reintroducing the Volcano Taco on May 14th, 2009. PERMANENT MENU ITEM.
Alongside the Volcano Taco will be a new Volcano Burrito.
The Volcano Burrito is similar to the Cheesy Double Beef Burrito. Rice, two scoops of Beef, Lava Sauce (about 2x the amount on the Taco), Red Strips, Sour Cream, and Cheddar Cheese (not positive about the cheese…).
Reply to this comment
I too love the Lava Sauce and have tried making my own and made several batches of FAIL. I can not find the recipe on line …. yet.
NOTE: The Flame Thrower Burger at Dairy Queen has a very similar sauce. I always order the 1/4 pound version (one patty, not 2) more sauce per meat … best fast food burger on the market. I highly recomend anyone that likes the lava should try it. I don’t work for DQ, but of all the people I know that tried it, they all liked it.
The only other spicey sammich worth mensioning is the Chicken Fiesta at Schlatskies
Spicey Fast Food is hard to come by … share your favorites to get us by this crisis.
Reply to this comment
Today should be the day!!! I paid a visit to my local Taco Bell in Sacramento, CA this evening hoping to get some news about this expectation. I have been assured that it will be back TODAY!!! These past months I have also shared your pain and thought the volcano had become history. I hope this good news applies to you all. Enjoy the lava! Let’s just hope the lava is here to stay! Cheers!
Reply to this comment
Damn it’s good! It’s been a while! I’m eating one now as I type
As I took the first bite, a big smile came from my face. It may be that our collective union with other volcano lovers has brought back our delicacy. Enjoy, comrades.
Reply to this comment
Yep I got one as well I even got a big side of it to take home.
Reply to this comment
There is a recipe clone for TACO BELL LAVA SAUCE. topsecretrecipies [dot] com. This is an amazing recipe clone site! There is a charge for this and other recipes, but there are a lot of free ones too!
Reply to this comment
This blog made me smile. I remember when they discontinued the volcano taco and literally i b**ched about it every day till they brought it back. one day i randomly went into taco bell. saw the volcano MENU. and suddenly my life had meaning again. i found this site by searching on google of how to make the lava sauce to no avail. someone needs to figure this out!!! the world needs to know. anyways i am eating a volcano burrito as i type this. and god does it feel good.
mmmm
Reply to this comment
The amount of fat in the “volcano menu” is ridiculous. Are you people really eating that much of this stuff? 17 grams of fat in one taco, 42 grams in one burrito and 62 grams in one nacho. Your hearts will explode like a volcano.
Reply to this comment
I know this is a really old post… but, wtf are you people talking about? The Taco Bell lava sauce isn’t even spicy. In fact, it plain sucks. I was greatly disappointed after all the commercials advertising how sweaty (and red) it made the grooms best men. 100% disappointment.
Reply to this comment
Furthermore, if you guys thought the volcano menu was spicy, you are all major pussies. PERIOD.
Reply to this comment