Taco Tuesday is a popular tradition in many parts of the United States and Canada where people eat tacos on Tuesdays. There are a few theories about how Taco Tuesday originated and became so popular over the years. Let’s explore the history and tradition behind Taco Tuesday.
When did Taco Tuesday start?
There is no definitive history of when or where Taco Tuesday originated, but there are several theories and stories about how it began. Here are some of the possible origins of Taco Tuesday:
- In the 1960s, restaurant chains like Taco Bell popularized tacos and began running Taco Tuesday promotions to attract customers on typically slower weekday nights.
- Some trace Taco Tuesday to restaurants and bars in San Diego, Dallas, and Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s running drink and taco specials on Tuesdays to lure in customers on off-nights.
- The term “Taco Tuesday” was registered as a trademark by Taco John’s fast food chain in 1989 after they had been using it for promotions for many years.
- Some baseball teams in the 1970s and 1980s like the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers started hosting Taco Tuesdays for fans at games, cementing the association between tacos and Tuesdays.
So while the exact origin is unclear, the tradition of Taco Tuesday seems to have started gaining popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as Mexican restaurants used taco specials to attract customers on typically slower weeknights.
Why do people eat tacos on Tuesdays?
There are several factors that helped make tacos on Tuesdays a widespread tradition:
- Midweek treat: Taco Tuesday gives people something to look forward to and break up the monotony of the workweek.
- Cheap meal: Many restaurants offer discounts on tacos and margaritas on Tuesdays, making it an appealing and affordable meal.
- Fun tradition: The alliteration of “Taco Tuesday” makes it catchy and fun to say.
- Great for groups: Taco Tuesday provides an easy, casual group dinner or celebration whether for friends, family, or co-workers.
- Appetizing meal: Who doesn’t love a tasty taco? Tacos have mass appeal as a fun finger food.
For these reasons, Taco Tuesday has become a popular ritual in the United States, Canada, and even around the world for people to enjoy Mexican food and an inexpensive social outing.
When did Taco Tuesday gain popularity?
While the practice of eating tacos on Tuesday existed in some places in the 1960s and 1970s, it really gained widespread popularity and recognition in the 1990s and 2000s. Some key events that boosted Taco Tuesday’s popularity:
- Fast food chains like Taco Bell ran major promotional campaigns around Taco Tuesday offers.
- Social media spread the concept and #TacoTuesday hashtag virally starting in the early 2000s.
- As Mexican food became more mainstream in the U.S., Taco Tuesday became a way to celebrate it.
- Retailers jumped on board, selling Taco Tuesday themed apparel and goods.
- Even the NBA hosted Taco Tuesday events starting in 2016, reflecting the tradition’s hold on American culture.
By the 2010s, Taco Tuesday was a full-fledged trend, widely embraced across the United States as both a way to promote businesses as well as bring people together over a shared love of tacos.
How is Taco Tuesday celebrated?
There are many ways people and businesses celebrate Taco Tuesday across the United States and Canada:
- Restaurants offer discounts on tacos or run all-you-can-eat taco buffets.
- Bars and restaurants promote Taco Tuesday themed events with special margarita deals.
- Coworkers organize Taco Tuesday office lunches together.
- Friends host informal Taco Tuesday dinner parties at home.
- Social media is flooded with people posting about their Taco Tuesday meals.
- Some families make Taco Tuesdays a weekly tradition of having dinner together.
Major fast food chains like Taco Bell, Del Taco, and Moe’s Southwest Grill run nationwide Taco Tuesday promotions. But people celebrate in backyard barbecues, potlucks, and community gatherings too. Any way you eat tacos with friends or family can be a Taco Tuesday celebration.
Taco Tuesday traditions around the world
While Taco Tuesday originated in America, its popularity has spread to many other countries that have embraced tacos:
| Country | Taco Tuesday Tradition |
|---|---|
| Canada | Restaurants in cities like Toronto and Vancouver regularly offer Taco Tuesday specials. |
| Australia | Aussies have Taco Tuesdays at home or head to Mexican restaurants for deals. |
| South Korea | Taco enthusiasm is growing, especially among young people who see tacos as hip street food. |
| Japan | Taco Rice, a Japanese-Mexican fusion dish, is a popular Taco Tuesday meal. |
| Costa Rica | With a large population of Mexican immigrants, Costa Ricans love tacos any day. |
As American food culture spreads globally, Taco Tuesday is taking hold worldwide as more people develop a taste for Mexican flavors and enjoy weekly traditions.
Why do restaurants offer Taco Tuesday specials?
There are some key strategic reasons why many restaurants and fast food chains offer Taco Tuesday promotions:
- Increase weekday business: Tuesdays are typically slow nights for restaurants. Taco deals draw in more customers.
- Reduce costs: Tacos have lower-cost ingredients so profits can still be made with discounted prices.
- Gain publicity: Promoting Taco Tuesday on social media generates buzz and brand awareness.
- Encourage upgrades: Specials entice people to buy higher margin drinks and side orders.
- Build loyalty: Customers are more likely to become regulars if they feel they’re getting a weekly deal.
While the discounts aim to be attractive to customers, restaurants still implement Taco Tuesday strategically to drive business, increase awareness, and cultivate customer loyalty on slower nights early in the workweek.
Healthy Taco Tuesday recipe ideas
While traditional tacos are an indulgent, carb-heavy delight, you can also celebrate Taco Tuesday by making healthier recipes at home. Here are some ideas for lightened up tacos:
Portobello Mushroom Tacos
Instead of ground beef or chorizo, marinated, grilled portobello mushrooms make a satisfying vegetarian taco filling. Load them into corn tortillas along with avocado slices, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, and a spritz of lime juice.
Shrimp Ceviche Tacos
Marinated cooked shrimp, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and citrus come together into a flavorful, citrusy ceviche filling. Serve in mini corn tortillas with a cabbage slaw.
Baked Turkey Taco Boats
Turn zucchini or other squash into healthy taco “boats”. Cook ground turkey with taco seasoning, then stuff into hollowed-out baked zucchini halves. Top with fresh veggies, salsa, and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
Fish Tacos
Bake firm white fish like cod or mahi mahi in citrus juice, chili powder, and cumin. Place in warm corn tortillas with pineapple salsa and shredded purple cabbage for a tropical twist.
Creative innovations on Taco Tuesday
While traditions are nice, playing around with tacos keeps Taco Tuesday exciting. Here are some creative taco ideas to try:
- Use street taco-style small, soft corn tortillas for a more authentic experience.
- Make tacos with a waffle iron to give them fun, crisscross shapes.
- Add different bases like lettuce wraps, nachos, or tater tots instead of tortillas.
- Mix up shell flavors with options like blue corn, spinach, or spicy chipotle.
- Stuff your taco fillings into puff pastry pockets for a fusion hand pie twist.
From gourmet tacos with salmon or Korean barbecue to dessert tacos made with waffle shells, fruit, and whipped cream, there are endless ways to riff on tacos creatively while keeping your Taco Tuesday traditions alive.
Conclusion
Taco Tuesday has become a beloved weekly tradition for good reason. The alliterative name just sounds fun, tacos appeal to almost all tastes and appetites, and who can resist a midweek excuse to enjoy margaritas and Mexican food? Taco Tuesday is flexible too – celebrated in backyards, restaurants, offices, and anywhere people get together to bond over great food. While the origins of Taco Tuesday may be unclear, its appeal is universal. With creative recipes and variations, Taco Tuesday is a tradition that can keep evolving while still staying true to its tasty, comforting essence.