ALLTOURS

What is an American Taco? 7 Surprising Culinary Crossroads

1. Fry Bread Taco: A Taste of Resilience

Navajo Nation, Arizona

This fluffy, golden taco shell is more than a dish; it's a symbol of Native American ingenuity forged from hardship.

2. The Midwest's Loose Meat Taco

Sioux City, Iowa

Before it was a taco, it was a sandwich – a regional icon from Iowa that found new life wrapped in a tortilla.

3. Los Angeles' Early Crispy Taco

Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California

Long before fast-food chains, resourceful Mexican-American cooks in Los Angeles pioneered the crispy taco shell to cater to changing tastes.

4. Portland's Al Pastor Revelation

Portland, Oregon

The vibrant, spit-roasted al pastor taco, synonymous with Mexico City, found an unexpected home and unique expression in the Pacific Northwest.

5. Old Town San Diego's Pescado Frito

Old Town San Diego, California

Before Baja's famous battered fish, San Diego's original Mexican settlers celebrated their coastal bounty with a simpler, yet equally flavorful, fried fish taco.

6. The Texas Roadside Breakfast Taco

Laredo, Texas

In border towns like Laredo, the breakfast taco isn't just a meal; it's a resourceful culinary tradition born from practicality and a love for a hearty start.

7. The State Fair Chili Cheese Frito Taco

Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa

A quintessential American experience, this "walking taco" transforms a bag of chips into a portable, messy, and utterly satisfying meal.

UNCOVER HIDDEN STORIES

TASTE THE WORLD, ONE TACO AT A TIME.

Point your camera at any landmark, landscape, or local spot, and hear its unique history, geology, and culture narrated in your language.