Taco Bell to expand test of waffle tacos

Taco Bell says it's expanding its small test of waffle tacos, as it prepares to take its breakfast menu national sometime next year.

The fast-food chain says the waffle taco, which includes scrambled eggs, sausage and a side of syrup, was the top seller during breakfast hours at the five Southern California restaurants where it was tested earlier this year. Now the company wants to see how it would fare on a bigger scale; the waffle tacos and a full breakfast menu will be expanded to about 100 restaurants in Fresno, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and Chattanooga, Tenn., starting Thursday. The waffle taco has 460 calories and 30 grams of fat.

Brian Niccol, president of Taco Bell, said the idea is partly to get a better sense of how well restaurants will be able to handle the added operational pressure from the waffle tacos. "You only get one shot when you go with big items," he said.

Taco Bell already offers breakfast at about 850 locations in 10 Western states and has been tinkering with new items such as the waffle taco before rolling it out to its 6,000 U.S. locations. Also being tested in the additional locations are a yogurt parfait and oatmeal.

Taco Bell isn't alone in trying to serve food in different parts of the day. Since restaurant chains are already paying for fixed costs such as rent and electricity, the thinking is that they want to ring up as many sales as possible throughout the day, not just during the busy lunch and dinner hours. -- AP