The History of the Mexican Street Taco

Mention Mexican food in any part of the world and the first thing that comes to mind is the taco. This iconic food made from a tortilla filled with meat and/or vegetables has won hearts both at home and abroad for its simplicity and friendly adaptability to nearly every palate.

For many, tacos have become synonymous with love and happiness. And in the United States, Taco Tuesday is now practically an unofficial national holiday.

However, with the ever-increasing popularity of taco stands throughout the country, we all know that we don’t have to wait for Tuesday to eat tacos when in many places we can enjoy them every day of the week.

But how exactly is it that the Mexican street taco managed to win all the popularity contests, even among those not familiarized with Mexican culture?

To find this answer, we first need to go several centuries back in Mexico to learn the taco’s history, then trace its migration to the United States in recent decades.

A Humble But Honest Beginning

It’s impossible to pinpoint when the first taco was made or who the genius was that invented it. However, we do know that eating food in a tortilla has existed for centuries in Mexican territories.

Archaeological evidence and historical records show that Moctezuma, the leader of the Aztecs, used tortillas like a spoon for his food and the Spaniard Hernando Cortes and his men ate cooked pork served in the tortillas. We can suppose that sometime after these occurrences, an adaptation of indigenous words led to this style of eating being called a taco.

Despite (or perhaps due to) it’s traditional roots, the taco was considered a common food and often shunned by upper-class individuals in Mexico for many years as being the food of “poor folks.” In fact, until the mid-20th century, tortillas were typically made only on a small scale in homes and, as a result, tacos were a home-prepared food.

However, the invention of the tortilla machine revolutionized the taco’s place in Mexican society by making the tortilla more abundantly available than ever before. This coupled with Mexican ingenuity led to the rise of the taco becoming a business opportunity.

Over the years, Mexican creativity gave birth to the countless fillings in tacos sold on practically every street corner throughout the country. The irresistible aroma wafting from these stands led to Mexicans from all walks of life being won over to the taco’s charm, despite the unmerited societal prejudices it had suffered previously.

But the taco’s journey was not over there. You could say that the humble taco had a mission to conquer the hearts of all, even those beyond Mexican borders.

The Future is Taco

Even before the commercialization of the tortilla, Mexican immigrants were arriving in the United States, bringing along with them their cuisine and customs, including the taco.

At the beginning of the 20th century, history tells us that in Los Angeles and San Antonio, Mexican immigrant women were often found walking through the streets offering homemade Mexican foods to immigrant laborers. One of the most common things they offered from their baskets or carts was the taco.

Initially, these tacos were considered a low-class, regional food for immigrants. But over time, people from the United States began to seek out taco stands as a way to enjoy “exotic” tastes from the comfort of their own neighborhoods.

Naturally, the adoption of the street taco into the US culinary scene began gradually in states like California and Texas where most Mexican immigrants were located initially. However, as time passed, more and more Mexican immigrants integrated themselves into the rest of the country, taking their tacos with them.

For many years, it has become increasingly common to find some variation of tacos on many restaurant menus in practically every state. However, thanks to an increased interest in experiencing traditional flavors, the new standard for a great taco is its claim to authenticity.

More and more, tacos that boast real Mexican flavors are winning in popularity over the commercialized version as people want to live a culturally accurate experience through food. Street tacos, prepared by immigrants imitating the recipes of their ancestors and relatives in the home country, have now become the gold standard for taco-eating in the United States.

This evolution has led to the modern street taco, just like those served here at My Taco Guys, finally gaining the recognition and respect it has long sought and deserved. It’s been a long journey, but the future is bright for the street taco who now enjoys international fame and success.