By Marlene Cordova
Let’s settle these debates for once and for all. Soft or hard shell tacos? Asada or al pastor? Vegan or meat-lovers? And where can I find the best ones? At a restaurant or from a food truck?
The popularity of tacos has become a cottage industry, from making them, selling them, promoting them, and now shows and documentaries (The Taco Chronicles), where you can learn all about them, where to eat and where to find them. According to Trycake.com, “As of April 2017, there were nearly 60,000 Mexican restaurants in the U.S. These businesses generate approximately $45 billion in annual retail sales. It’s clear that this hot food [tacos] is becoming a hot ticket item for American diners.”
Tacos have ingrained their way into people’s hearts and in honor of this Mexican cuisine. For Hispanic Heritage Month, I’d love to expand my palette and try all kinds of tacos.
To do so, I did some extensive research to find a variety of tacos, and not to any surprise; people love their tacos! The cuisine has found its way into every industry. We’re talking taco shows, shirts, documentaries, music, purses, pillows, and podcast. The list goes on, and I find it very important to share this vital information with you.
Trusty taco sources:
L.A. Taco a news/media company with 123,107 followers across all social media and 271,710 views on youtube. They cover everything from news, art, music, food, and culture all over Los Angeles. Their taco stories feature different restaurants and recipes. At the same time, they are shining a light on the everyday chefs/people behind the taco.
Now, if you ever find yourself in the mood for some at-home tacos, Doña Ángela’s youtube channel has you covered. De Mi Rancho, a Tu Cocina, accumulates a total of 3,140,000 subscribers to date. According to Youtubers.com, she’s raking in $14.1K a month, down from a high of $24.6 in October of 2019. Doña Ángela’s 110 videos have a total of 195,582,804 views from her authentic kitchen, and people seem to love her carnitas taco recipe, which has received 1,543,093 since January 2020.
Now to set the tone, here are some taco related tunes and podcasts to enjoy.
Taco Tuesday by Migos
Taco Tuesday by Lil Jon
Taco Friday Podcast
L.A. Taco Podcast
Show up and show out on Taco Tuesday, with these cute pieces to wear and accessorize your outfit.
Custom Boutique Jewelry by Lorena, who handmakes polymer clay jewelry pieces inspired by various Latin goodies. Check out these cute taco earrings.
Luna Limonada – A small Latin culture-inspired t-shirt company. Have you covered with the perfect tees for taco Tuesday!
Ahliyah Crafts LLC prides herself on creating childhood favorites in miniature form. Look at these cute taco earrings, keychains, plus more.
Mexistuffstore– has you covered on sweatshirts, totes, tees, stickers, mugs, pillows, and so
many more goodies.
Catch up on your reading? How about Naibe Reynoso’s new book How to Fold a Taco, an introduction to your young kids on how to properly fold and eat a taco.
If you’re bored and hungry, scroll through these Instagram accounts:
Now while you sit back and enjoy your taquitos, here are some shows to watch while eating your tacos,
Taco Chronicles on Netflix is a documentary that shares the history behind the cuisine and the different delicacies that can go along with a tortilla.
United Tacos of America on El Rey Network, Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece go on a journey to uncover tacos and culture everywhere! “Through Birria in L.A., Carnitas in Chicago, Brisket in Austin, Nixtamal tortillas in NYC y más!”
All the Tacos a Youtube series on Munchies exploring different kinds of meats and restaurants to find the tastiest bite!
Now the most important part, my favorite tacos. A classic, a soft taco de Asada with onion, cilantro, and tons of salsa verde. Then coming in second a fried shell shrimp taco, with pickled cabbage, crema, then topped with more salsa!
Please share your favorite taco with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.