Taco stand facts for kids
A taco stand or taquería is a place where you can buy tacos and other yummy Mexican dishes. It can be a small stall, a food cart, or even a restaurant. The food is usually made quickly and doesn't cost much. Taco stands are a big part of Mexican street food.
Tacos became popular in Mexican cuisine in the early 1900s, starting in Mexico City. What used to be a snack for miners began to be sold on city streets. Since then, taco stands have spread all over Mexico and in many parts of the Western United States and other big American cities where Mexican culture is strong. While most taquerías focus on tacos, some might specialize in burritos instead.
In Mexico, these places are often called taquerías. This is because, a long time ago, a taquería was usually a street seller. Today, many taquerías are restaurants inside buildings. You can find taco stands along roadsides and in busy places like outdoor shopping areas. They are usually outdoors, but sometimes the name is used for indoor taco restaurants too. Some taco stands are only set up for special events like fairs or festivals.
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What Kind of Food Can You Find?
Taco stands offer many kinds of meats. These include beef (like carne asada and cabeza), pork (like al pastor), and goat meat (like tacos de birria). You can also find shrimp and fish, especially in fish tacos.
Beyond the meat, tacos often come with cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Many vegetables are used too, such as onion and cilantro. Don't forget the hot sauce for an extra kick!
Taco Stands Around the World
Taco Stands in Mexico
Taco stands are very common in Mexico. For example, the state of Jalisco, Mexico, has many different taco stands in its neighborhoods. In Banderas, taco stands are places where local people gather. Stands become famous based on how good their food is and how much variety they offer.
El Taco de la Ermita is a popular outdoor taco stand in Baja California, Mexico. It serves many kinds of fancy tacos. People sometimes wait an hour or more to get food there. The stand even has a security guard to help keep things orderly.
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A taco stand in the Tacubaya neighborhood of Mexico City.
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Taco stands along a street in Petatlán, Guerrero, Mexico.
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Tacos with beef suadero being prepared at a taco stand in Mexico.
Taco Stands in the United States
In the United States, some restaurants that are in buildings might still be called taco stands. Some American chefs have even left their jobs to open their own taco stands.
Ninfa Laurenzo, who started the Ninfa's restaurant chain, began by running just one taco stand in Houston, Texas.
Before starting the Taco Bell restaurant chain, Glen Bell opened a small group of taco stands called Taco-Tia. This was in San Bernardino, California. Bell had a hamburger stand before he opened Taco-Tia. In 2012, Taco Bell sold over 2 billion tacos each year. They had about 6,500 locations across all U.S. states and in several other countries.
California's Famous Taco Spots
California has many taco trucks because it is close to the Mexican border. The state is known for mixing different flavors in its taco cuisine. One very famous example is the Korean taco.
The Cielito Lindo Food Stand in Los Angeles, California, is well known for its taquitos. It has been open since the 1930s.
Tito's Tacos is a family-owned taco stand in Culver City. It has been open since 1959. Their menu is small and hasn't changed in decades. They sell American-style hard-shell tacos with shredded beef, shredded iceberg lettuce, and cold, grated cheddar cheese. Many loyal customers visit, and there are often long lines, but they move quickly.
Henry's Tacos was a famous taco stand restaurant in North Hollywood, California. It was open for 51 years before closing in January 2013.
Before starting Jimboy's Tacos, Jim and Margaret Knudson ran a mobile taco stand. It was called Jimboy's Spanish Tacos and was in a converted trailer at King's Beach, Lake Tahoe, California.
La Reyna is a well-known taco stand in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. It serves tacos right outside its restaurant, which has the same name.
Alebrije's Grill Taco Truck is a bright pink truck based in Santa Ana. It is famous for its 'Battleship Taco.' This taco has breaded steak, rice, grilled onions, roasted cactus, and hot sauce on a fresh tortilla. This type of taco has become very popular in the area.
Texas Taco Scene
In August 2006, there were "hundreds of taco stands" in Austin, Texas. AVATACO is a group of taco stand owners in Austin. It was formed around April 2006.
Wyoming and Kansas Tacos
Taco John's started as a small taco stand in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was called "Taco House" and opened in 1968.
In early 2021, Forbes magazine called Kansas City, Kansas, the "true taco capital of the United States."
