La Tiara taco shells sold out within hours of return. Company promises restock
The cult-favorite Kansas City taco shells are back at Walmart — that is, if you can get your hands on them.
La Tiara, a local taco shell brand, has been a staple of Kansas City taco nights since 1960. Until last year when the iconic shells disappeared from stores after their Gladstone manufacturer shutdown.
Their absence was a source of distress for fans and members of the “Please Bring La Tiara Taco Shells” Facebook group, which grew to over 20,000 members. The online discourse led to General Mills to buy La Tiara’s assets in June 2025 for $10 million.
General Mills announced in mid-March that it would reopen its original manufacturing facility in the Northland and bring La Tiara to Walmarts around the country beginning in April.
On Monday, La Tiara boxes were put back on Walmart shelves as part of a nationwide rollout, according to a ribbon cutting ceremony posted on Facebook from a Walmart in Gladstone.
Customers flocked to locations and submitted online orders as early as 2 a.m.
Around mid-morning, La Tiara parked a food truck outside the Gladstone Walmart location at 7207 N. Highway M1, handed out tacos and held a ribbon cutting ceremony in one of the aisles. By the end of the day, all locations were sold out.
“La Tiara was restocked Tuesday and sold out again by the end of the day,” said Chelcy Walker, spokesperson for General Mills in a statement Wednesday. “We’re thrilled with the community’s excitement over the taco shells and plan to have more available in the coming days and weeks.”
La Tiara also introduced three new seasoning flavors: chorizo, tinga and reduced sodium. They are available nationwide and on Walmart’s website.
“We had ours delivered today in San Antonio,” a user said under a La Tiara Facebook post Monday. “The guy from Walmart had to ask what the hype was...he got an earfull. Thank you General Mills and Walmart for making this happen!”
But La Tiara told users not to fret. In a post Monday afternoon, it assured customers more shells are coming.
“I think stores need to go to COVID era rules when it comes to La Tiera taco shells. Limit purchases to 2 boxes per customer!!” a customer posted on the Please Bring La Tiara Taco Shells Facebook group. “I’m tired of seeing posts of folks buying 10 boxes at a time! How rude! Let’s all be better neighbors and leave some for the rest of us!”
Walker said more taco shells will be available soon.
“The enthusiasm for La Tiara’s return has been truly fantastic. We are actively making more taco shells to meet this incredible demand and plan to have more available for consumers in the coming weeks.”
Previous reporting from The Star’s Jenna Thompson was used in this piece.
