History of the Taco

A modern taquería in Mexico City

According to Professor Jeffrey M. Pilcher in an interview with Smithsonian Magazine, the origins of the modern taco are relatively unknown. Some of the earliest known references to the word “taco” come from Mexican silver mines in the 1700s, used by miners to refer to small gunpowder charges wrapped in paper to excavate ore.

Decades later, tacos began to appear in taquerías, or small taco stands, in working-class neighborhoods around Mexico City, as more Mexicans began moving to urban areas. Each Mexican state had developed its own way of preparing tacos, so residents were able to try out a diverse palette from all across the country.

*Tacos from Teddy’s Red Tacos, Venice, CA*

During this period and beyond, regional taco varieties were developed and flourished across Mexico. Some modern varieties include: tacos al pastor, marinated pork tacos first created by Lebanese migrants, tacos de suadero, which include slow-cooked beef, the slow-roasted barbacoa tacos, or tacos de pescado, which feature a variety of fish and historically from beach towns.

Tacos in the United States + National Taco Day

Some of the earliest mentions of tacos in U.S. newspapers are from the early 1900s, when more Mexican migrants began to arrive in cities like Los Angeles, CA, and San Antonio, TX. Tacos were typically sold from street stands and at festivals, gaining particular appeal due to their unique spices and sauces.

While in the United States, Mexican restaurateurs experimented with and adapted to use ingredients more common to the area, like hamburger meat, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, which were frequently added to tacos to create new Mexican American varieties. The invention of the fried tortilla taco shell by Mexican chefs sometime in the 1940s was critical to bringing tacos and other Mexican American cuisine outside of Mexican communities.

The date of National Taco Day is more confusing than you may believe; if the actual National Taco Day of the United States is either of May 3rd or October 4th remains undecided. However, that also gives us two days to celebrate the amazing food!

Restuarant to Try

***Tacos al Pastor from Malinche Mexican Culinary Experience*** *(click image to see menu)*

*Logo of Malinche Mexican Culinary Experience*

Malinche Mexican Culinary Experience aligns themselves with the values of La Malinche (caring for one's community and having forgiveness). They see her contribution to history as important as it added to the rich culture which has both Spanish and Indigenism influences. They would like to honor their Mexican culture and important women in history through their restaurant.

For a fun night out on the town, Malinche Mexican Culinary Experience is a great place to celebrate national taco day. This restaurant is named after Malinalli Tenépatl (La Malinche) who is a controversial figure known for her contribution to the Spanish expedition, translating for Hernán Cortés.

**Taco Recipes**

*Left image: A dish with carne asada* ***tacos***.

If you are in the mood to celebrate National Taco day from home, here are a few recipes to try out.

Carne Asada Tacos – Isabel Eats

Carne Asada Tacos (kaar·nay uh·saa·duh) are delicious steak tacos and especially enjoyed in northern Mexico. For this recipe, you will want to start early to give your steak enough time to marinate in the citrusy, spicy sauce. The actual cooking time, however, is only around 30 minutes. Make sure to check out the helpful tips and tricks Isabel has to ensure your tacos turn out perfect!

Chicken Tinga Tacos – Isabel Eats

If steak is not your style, no need to fret. Isabel Eats also has a delicious chicken tinga taco (ting·guh) recipe that will satisfy your taco cravings. This smokey, tomatoey chicken dish takes approximately 30 minutes making it the perfect weeknight meal to eat with family and friends.