Today is October 4th and you know what that means…. it’s our favorite day of the year: National Taco Day! For many folks, that means hitting up the local taqueria and inhaling as many tacos as possible. But, if you really want to take the celebration to a higher level, check out our top 5 ways to celebrate this day like a true jefe de tacos.

#5 Read Up On The History

The origins of the humble taco are really unknown. Historians spent years studying Mexican food and they still aren’t clear on the exact date on when it was invented. But, everyone pretty much agrees it happened somewhere at sometime in Mexico.

One theory is that it dates from the 18th century and the silver mines South of the Border, because there the word “taco” referred to the little explosive used to access the ore. Comprised of pieces of paper wrapped around gunpowder and they were then inserted into the holes of the walls of the tunnels.

Then, sometime around the turn of the century in 1905, these traditional hand-held delights made their way across the border and into the hearts of America.  Migrant workers brought recipes from their homeland and soon the concept took off.

To learn more about about how tacos skyrocketed in popularity from being simple tamale push cart offerings to a multi-billion dollar fast food enterprise, be sure to check out one of the best sources out there Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.

#4 Visit A Taco Truck

When you hear that it’s National Taco day the first place that comes to mind is run to the fast food restaurant voted America’s best Mexican Restaurant according to the Harris Poll, Taco Bell.  Hey, nothing wrong with that. Not everyone tacos the same way as everyone else.

But, if you really want a true experience hunt down your favorite taco truck. In our experience here at SOHO TACO, on board these mobile kitchens you’ll find some of the most passionate, hard-working folks that really want to make sure you have the best experience.

Speaking of which, our very own truck is going to be out & about today in Costa Mesa grilling up a tasty lunch: 11A-2P, Vans HQ, 1588 South Coast Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
RELATED: Click here for our calendar of upcoming food truck stops & events

Often at a taco truck you’ll find more traditional recipes, fresh made salsas, ingredients assembled with care and a more personalized experience.

Sure, not all taco trucks are equal, some better than others. But, between a fast food joint and a taco truck, ask any hardcore taco lover which one they would prefer and more likely than not they’ll choose the one on wheels.

#3 Ask For Hand-Pressed Tortillas

All across the U.S. of A., many taco lovers think of a nice crunch when it comes to biting into these portable treats. Nothing wrong with that either, in fact we here at SOHO TACO make some of the best tortilla dorados beloved by our staff and customers alike.

And, if you’re looking to bring the whole experience up to another level, we cannot recommend enough asking for the tortilla to be made fresh to order.

Traditional tortillas are made with a rich masa that’s kneaded by hand into little bolas that are then pressed and grilled until fluffy and light. The result is a delectable vehicle that adds wonderful, nutty rich flavors and textures to the experience.

As wonderful as a nice hard shell taco can be, much of those flavors get burned away in hot oil and so you’re missing out on certain flavor dimensions that you would have gotten if the tortilla was freshly hand-pressed.

So, if pay a visit to any taqueria, lonchera or your purveyor, be sure to ask for your tacos on a fresh made tortilla. Hopefully they have it!

#2 Try A New Taco

Easily the most popular ingredients stuffed in a tortilla is the classic carne asada or succulent pollo asado. We absolutely enjoy those ourselves and so do the vast majority of the country.

For those looking to enjoy a more unforgettable taco experience, try something new!

Carnivores might want to order up lengua, cabeza or tripas.  Every month on our food truck we have served many traditional, but very uncommon tacos that aren’t easily found at American restaurants like Charales (“anchovies”), Patita Crujiente (“chicken feet”), Cordero (“braised lamb”) and much more.

And, don’t forget the wonderful meat free options out there like grilled veggies, Tacos de Papas (“potatoes”), Calabacitas (“squash”), etc.

There’s a rich selection out there, so don’t limit yourself to only one type. Maybe order one pollo asado and one cordero? Mix it up and try a new one today.

#1 Order Taco Catering

You probably saw this coming since this blog is coming from SOHO TACO after all. 😉 However, on this day it couldn’t be more true.

If you have a good sized gathering of friends, co-workers and/or loved ones on this very important day of the year, the last thing you want to worry about is quality, service and cleaning up. And, by selecting the right taco catering company you can solve all those concerns and more.

What better way to enjoy this Federal Holiday (ok, that’s not true… but it should be) than biting into top notch ingredients, sharing good times with your buddies and then getting on with your business with no fuss and no muss? That’s what we specialize in and spent many years perfecting.

Of course there’s a wonderful selection of taco caterers out there, all of them terrific in what they do. Be sure to do your research for the company that fits within your budget and palate and hopefully the right one will help bring your fiesta to another delicious level.

¡Feliz Día Nacional del Taco!

Who doesn’t love tacos? Everyone does! And, now that the national day to celebrate this hand-held delight is here, hopefully you can enjoy it like a jefe. Read up on the history, visit an awesome taco truck, try something new and maybe even have it delivered. All these and more are excellent ways to up your taco game and hopefully we’ll see you in front of one of our grills today.

¡Buen Provecho y Feliz Día Nacional del Taco!

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