Mountain Dew Baja Blast returns to stores in Montgomery County

Mountain Dew Baja Blast, one of the greatest soft drinks of all time, is back on store shelves in Montgomery County. Seen here at Harris Teeter, the popular soda will be available year-round nationwide for the first time. Available at all times as a fountain drink at Taco Bell, Baja Blast has sporadically been sold in bottled form over the last decade. But PepsiCo is going big to celebrate the drink's 20th anniversary in 2024.

"MTN DEW BAJA BLAST has cemented its place as a fan-favorite flavor in pop culture and as a staple in countless Taco Bell orders, so we knew we had to celebrate its 20th anniversary in a big way," Mountain Dew Vice-President of Marketing JP Bittencourt said in a statement. "Nothing's better than giving fans what they've asked for, with a few additional surprises to keep the celebration going all year long. Thank you to all the BAJA BLAST lovers over the last 20 years. Because of you, everyone nationwide can now buy the beloved flavor in-stores and as always, at Taco Bell, all year long and earn rewards while doing so... that's a win-win."

Update on Montgomery County's first Taco Bell Cantina (Photos)

Montgomery County's first Taco Bell Cantina is getting closer to opening at 8662 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring. The latest additions to the interior are the electronic menu boards, soft drink fountain dispensers (Baja Blast!), and self-ordering kiosks. Booth seating has also been installed. I'm intrigued as to why the Grilled Cheese Dipping Taco Deluxe Box is showing on the menu board - it's not currently a featured item at Taco Bell, and not rumored to return to the menu soon, that I am aware of.

Montgomery County's first Taco Bell Cantina is "coming soon"

Montgomery County is finally getting its own Taco Bell Cantina, and it's about time! The upscale Taco Bell concept will be opening at 8662 Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring, according to a banner posted on the storefront. It looks like construction has already begun inside. Is Rockville next? With 50 Taco Bell Cantinas planned for New York City, surely there's room for more than one in MoCo.

What is the difference between Taco Bell Cantina and a regular Taco Bell? A fancier interior, an open kitchen like you find in hip restaurants, custom menu items, and adult versions of Taco Bell freezes alongside a selection of beer, wine and sangria. As you can see, Taco Bell fans are already lining up outside. Or is it for The Fillmore next door? The Fillmore doesn't have Baja Blast!

KFC-Taco Bell to get makeover in Rockville

The KFC-Taco Bell at 9910 Key West Avenue will be making alterations to their existing drive-thru restaurant. They have requested a permit from Montgomery County for $150,000-worth of changes to the building. In contrast to most permit request entries, no details on the specific changes have been provided to the public by the County's so-called "open data" website.

ROLLED CHICKEN TACOS ROLL INTO TACO BELL IN ROCKVILLE (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has reinvented the taco - in a new rolled form, wrapped around marinated, shredded chicken, and served with your choice of 5 dipping sauces. Also known as "dipping tacos" since they were announced last week, the new Rolled Chicken Tacos rolled into Taco Bells nationwide yesterday. I stopped by the Rockville Taco Bell to test them out. As you can see above, they come 2 to a paper sleeve, with a clear window on the side of the sleeve.

I found out you could only get 1 or 2 of the sauces (2 in my case, since I bought the 4-piece Rolled Chicken Tacos). I chose Spicy Ranch and melted Nacho Cheese. How did they taste? Watch my YouTube World Premiere review to find out.

TACO BELL ROCKVILLE STARBURST STRAWBERRY FREEZE REVIEW (VIDEO)

Rockville's Taco Bell has a brand new Freeze beverage, and it's another collaboration with a major food brand. The Mexican fast food chain has teamed up with Starburst candy to create... the Taco Bell Starburst Strawberry Freeze. A slush-style frozen beverage, the Starburst Freeze is available in regular size and large. Does it really taste like a Starburst, and is it worth heading to Rockville Pike for? Watch my review and find out!

TACO BELL QUESARITO ARRIVES IN ROCKVILLE - MY REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell's newest menu item is the limited-time-only Quesarito. Available in beef, chicken and steak variations, the Taco Bell Quesarito includes Latin rice, chipotle sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, and melted cheeses, all wrapped in a grilled quesadilla.

Essentially a burrito wrapped in a quesadilla, the Quesarito is $1.99 at Taco Bell on Rockville Pike.

How does it taste? Watch my review to find out!

TACO BELL A.M. CRUNCHWRAP REVIEW (VIDEO)

Back we go to Taco Bell in Rockville, for another sample of the new Taco Bell Breakfast!

The Taco Bell breakfast menu also includes a breakfast variation on the popular Crunchwrap. You can order the new A.M Crunchwrap in three variations: steak (my choice), sausage or bacon.

Inside the warm, grilled tortilla are Taco Bell's marinated thick-cut steak, scrambled eggs, a hash brown patty, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño sauce. It is a heartier entree than the new Waffle Taco.

How does it taste? Watch my video review to find out:

ROCKVILLE TACO BELL WAFFLE TACO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell Breakfast is here, and here is my first review from the menu! The Waffle Taco is available in Egg and Cheese, Sausage or Bacon versions. I chose to start with the sausage version, which has a sausage patty, scrambled eggs, and cheese wrapped in a warm waffle. A packet of maple syrup comes with it, for dipping purposes.

How has the Taco Bell breakfast experiment turned out? Watch my detailed review and find out! I also give an update on the Taco Bell Breakfast Phone.

TACO BELL BREAKFAST PHONE UNBOXING (VIDEO)

Taco Bell sent me a special package: a Taco Bell Breakfast Phone! As you've probably heard, Taco Bell is launching breakfast nationwide this Thursday, March 27. Let's open the package, and see what the Breakfast Phone is all about.

Apparently, Taco Bell will be sending text messages and voicemails with "secret missions" to carry out, related to the Taco Bell Breakfast theme. What other surprises does the phone have in store between now and Thursday?

Stay tuned, because you know as much as I do.

TACO BELL CHILI CHEESE FRIES LOADED GRILLER REVIEW (VIDEO)

The Rockville Taco Bell has a brand-new Loaded Griller that combines chili, nacho cheese and fried potato chunks in a tortilla - the Chili Cheese Fries Loaded Griller. Of course, I had to try it, and here is my review.

There's also a bonus interview with the new director of Transformers 4, who replaces Michael Bay after his CES Samsung TV meltdown. He's someone known for meltdowns himself.

TACO BELL GRILLED STUFT NACHO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has an early Christmas present: the Grilled Stuft Nacho. The Grilled Stuft Nacho has seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, cheesy jalapeño sauce, red strips (a.k.a. Fritos), and reduced fat sour cream. How does it taste? Watch my video review to find out!

MOUNTAIN DEW TYPHOON FREEZE REVIEW (VIDEO) - ROCKVILLE TACO BELL

The Mountain Dew Typhoon Freeze is available for a limited time at Taco Bell. I picked one up, and here is my review, as well as a return by our infamous expert.

This special Freeze combines Mountain Dew soda and tropical punch in a frozen slush beverage.

TACO BELL BROWNIE SANDWICH REVIEW (VIDEO)

Love brownies? How about two with a thick layer of fudge cream frosting in between them? And chocolate chips on top of the brownies. Now you're talking! "What Federal government shutdown?"

Watch my video for a complete review of Taco Bell's Brownie Sandwich now.

FIERY DORITOS LOCOS TACO REVIEW (VIDEO) - TACO BELL ROCKVILLE

I finally had a chance to get out to Taco Bell in Rockville, to test their newest Doritos taco - the Fiery Doritos Locos Taco. Here is my review.

One really odd thing about this third Doritos taco: it's not even named after a real Doritos flavor! What's up with that? Can you really call it a Doritos Taco, when it doesn't have an official and popular Doritos flavor on the shell?

Watch the video for my verdict, and every detail you could want to know about Fiery Doritos Tacos.

TACO BELL SMOTHERED BURRITO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Taco Bell has a new Smothered Burrito. It came out Thursday, and I stopped by the Rockville Taco Bell Friday night to pick one up.

Now let's test it out together in this review on The Robert Dyer Channel.

What is it smothered in, what's inside, and how does it all taste? We're about to find out!

CANTINA BELL DOUBLE STEAK QUESADILLA REVIEW (VIDEO) - TACO BELL REVIEW

The long-rumored Steak Quesadilla has finally been added to Taco Bell's upscale Cantina Bell menu. I tried it at the Rockville location last night, and here is my review.

Created by Chef Lorena García, the quesadilla contains a double serving of thick-cut steak, in a special marinade, and melted Pepper Jack cheese. The tortilla wrapper is nicely browned. Included in the box are tortilla chips with two dipping cups: Cantina Fire-roasted salsa, and reduced fat sour cream.

All of this costs $4.99, but don't forget the county council takes some additional money for themselves through the "take-out tax."

By the way, the Taco Bell interior dining room is still closed for renovation. But the drive-thru is still open. From what I saw through the windows, the work is far from finished.

TACO BELL DINING ROOM CLOSING FOR RENOVATIONS IN ROCKVILLE, DRIVE-THRU TO STAY OPEN

Taco Bell on Rockville Pike announced that, starting today, its dining room will be closed for 3 weeks of renovations.

The drive-thru of the restaurant will remain open throughout that time, however.

So you can still get everything on the Taco Bell/Pizza Hut menus during the closure, by using the drive-thru.

TACO BELL BEEFY CRUNCH BURRITO REVIEW (VIDEO)

Last night, I headed out amidst the monsoon conditions to Taco Bell in Rockville, to get a Beefy Crunch Burrito, which went on sale yesterday. This is the first time I've had it, and here is my review.

The burrito is stuffed with seasoned beef, nacho cheese sauce, reduced fat sour cream, rice, and Flamin' Hot Fritos, which provide the namesake crunch.

COOL RANCH DORITOS TACO REVIEW (VIDEO) - TACO BELL COOL RANCH DORITOS LOCOS TACOS REVIEW

It finally happened: the biggest fast food product launch of 2013, the new Taco Bell Cool Ranch Doritos Taco!

How does it rate? How much Cool Ranch is on there, anyway? Watch my video review, and all of your questions will be answered!