Taco Bell Cantina opens at Arden Fair, bringing alcohol options to mall
Customers at Arden Fair Mall may have noticed something out of the ordinary in the food court Saturday.
Taco Bell brought in a photo backdrop, balloons and a disc jockey to celebrate the grand opening of its new cantina location. The new location will operate during the mall’s standard hours — Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The new cantina location will serve alcohol, according to Taco Bell spokesperson Charla Roderick. The menu boasts alcoholic freeze drinks, including Mountain Dew Baja Blast and berry frosé flavors.
“We have the traditional Taco Bell food, and then we elevate it with the Taco Bell Cantina and by adding alcohol,” Roderick said.
Tap beer options include Coors Light, Modelo, Lagunitas, and the Taco Bell Cantina IPA, according to a bar menu. Cocktails include a mimosa, Baja Blast refresher, baja margarita, tequila sunrise, Bloody Mary and a lemon drop. Wine is also available.
Customers can also upgrade from well alcohol to more premiere brands for $4. The updated options are Tito’s for vodka, Patron for tequila and Bacardi for rum.
There’s also a special cantina food menu, including pizzas, rolled quesadillas, tacos and bowls, according to the menu. The two pizza options are chicken and veggie, both cost $7.89 and are below 550 calories.
The new Arden Fair location has about 12 employees and six managers, Roderick said, saying additional staff from other stores helped with the grand opening.
Saturday’s grand opening marks the third Taco Bell Cantina to open in a mall, Roderick said, including a location at Westfield Oakridge Mall in San Jose.
“Our goal is to just elevate the mall experience,” she said.
Alcohol is not allowed outside the food court, according to posted signage. The food court is on the second floor.
There are at least 50 Taco Bell Cantina locations across the country, according to the company’s website. Another cantina location is in downtown Sacramento at 900 K St.
This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 2:47 PM.
