Great Moments in Taco History

The Taco. America's favorite south of the border delight.

Tacos were invented in 1921 in the small Mexican village of San Quotitos (today known as Little Detroit.)
Paco Escabat ran a small meat and cheese stand. Meat and cheese was a popular delicacy with the locals of San Quotitos. El cookitinos (food cooker) like Paco, would take the meat and fry it on a marble cooking stone. The meat that was used was generally steak, but sometimes chicken or muskrat would be used.
Once the meat was hot enough, the cookitino would crumble aged cheese into the meat. This process was called 'chesitoriating' or 'adding cheese.'
After the meat and cheese was cooked to perfection Paco would place a scoopful on a sheet of paper.
Hungry workers would line up for the cheese and meat hungrily gobbling it up off the paper.

In 1921 President Warren G. Harding sent his Foreign Affairs Minister, Ted Ladlely on a trip to Mexico. On his way through the countryside, Ladlely stopped in San Quotitos.
Seeking to try the local dishes, he ordered meat and cheese from Paco's stand. Due to a communications error, Ladlely rolled the paper around the meat and cheese and begin to eat the food WITH the paper.
Ladlely choked to death on the paper, but Paco was inspired.
The next day the taco (now with a tortilla, rather than paper) was introduced at his stand.

The taco was brought to the US by soldiers during the Mexican/American war of 1922 (started due to the assumed murder of Ted Ladlely.)

Today, fast food restaurants sell almost as many tacos as they do hamburgers. Lets take a look at some of the more popular taco eateries:

Taco Bell:
The nationwide leader in taco sales. Offers MANY different kinds of tacos including:
Double Decker Taco Supreme
A crunchy, corn taco shell filled with seasoned ground beef, crisp, shredded lettuce, real cheddar cheese, cool sour cream, diced ripe tomatoes wrapped in a layer of hearty beans and a warm, soft, flour tortilla.


Green Burrito:
Part of the Carl's Jr. chain of restaurants, Green Burrito has offered customers a bold choice with their Naked Chicken Burrito. They offer taco taste without the carbohydrates. Instead, meat cheese and lettuces is served with chips on the side.


Del Taco:
The second largest Mexican/American eatery chain in the United States. Their menu includes the:
Big Fat Steak Taco
Grilled steak , secret sauce, lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, fat taco bread (similar to Taco Bell's Gordita bread.)


Taco Time:
Started in 1960 in Oregon, this Taco restaurant has over 225 locations in the united states. They offer a few different takes on the taco including:
Baja Fish Taco
A crispy fish fillet deep fried to golden perfection, wrapped in a home-style flour tortilla, topped with fresh tomato salsa, rich cheddar cheese, crunchy cabbage and our very own chipotle ranch sauce, served with a fresh lime wedge.


Jack In The Box:
With over 2000 locations nationwide, Jack In The Box is primarily known for their hamburgers. Still, their tacos are very popular. One of the most popular is:
Jack's Chicken Monster Taco.
Made with ground chicken, Jack’s Chicken Monster Taco features a crispy, corn-tortilla shell, American cheese, shredded lettuce and spicy taco sauce.


El Pollo Loco:
El Pollo Loco is a restaurant chain specializing in flame-grilled chicken,
burritos and New Mex dishes in California, Arizona and Texas.
One of their most famous is the Taco al Carbon which loosely translated means "I mark to the Coal." What does that mean? Who cares!! It is like a David Lynch movie you can EAT!

What is your favorite taco?