Are Tacos Considered Lunch or Dinner? - El Pollo Norteño (2024)

The beloved taco, with its versatile ingredients and endless flavor combinations, has become a staple of Mexican cuisine enjoyed by people around the world. But are tacos best suited for lunch or dinner? In today’s post, we’ll delve into the cultural, practical, and personal considerations that shape the perception of tacos as a lunchtime or dinnertime delight.

Tacos: Lunch or Dinner?

In Mexican culture, tacos are commonly consumed throughout the day, making them a flexible food choice.

Many street vendors and taquerias in Mexico serve tacos from morning to night, offering a wide array of fillings and accompaniments to cater to varying preferences and appetites.

This cultural tradition suggests that tacos transcend the boundaries of conventional meal times and can be enjoyed at any hour.

However, while you can eat tacos at any hour of the day, some tacos are typically served for breakfast (such as barbacoa or carnitas), while others are more common for lunch (such as chorizo) or dinner (like tripitas, for example). However, nothing is set in stone.

Practical Considerations

From a practical standpoint, the portability and customizable nature of tacos make them well-suited for both lunch and dinner.

Tacos can be a convenient option for a quick and satisfying lunch, allowing you to customize the fillings and toppings according to your preferences.

Similarly, for dinner, tacos offer a casual and interactive dining experience, perfect for sharing with family and friends while accommodating diverse dietary needs.

Personal Preferences

Individual preferences play a significant role in determining whether tacos are served for lunch or as a dinner fare.

Some may associate tacos with a light and informal lunch, opting for variations like fish tacos or vegetarian options for a midday meal. Others may view tacos as a hearty and flavorful dinner choice, preparing meat-centric fillings accompanied by vibrant salsas and savory toppings to create a satisfying evening meal. Ultimately, personal tastes and routines heavily influence the placement of tacos within the lunch-to-dinner spectrum.

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Are Tacos Considered Lunch or Dinner? - El Pollo Norteño (2024)

FAQs

Are Tacos Considered Lunch or Dinner? - El Pollo Norteño? ›

However, while you can eat tacos at any hour of the day, some tacos are typically served for breakfast (such as barbacoa or carnitas), while others are more common for lunch (such as chorizo) or dinner (like tripitas, for example). However, nothing is set in stone.

Can you eat tacos for lunch? ›

Carne Asada Tacos

This flavorful handheld food has it all—tender marinated skirt steak, an aromatic corn tortilla, and all of the classic street taco toppings. Served for lunch or dinner, these are delicious with a hearty side of refried beans and rice, or you can keep it light with corn salad.

What is a taco classified as? ›

According to Allen County Superior Judge Craig Bobay's official opinion, “The Court agrees with [the restaurant owner] that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches, and the original Written Commitment does not restrict potential restaurants to only American cuisine-style sandwiches.”

Are tacos considered a dish? ›

Taco. Another well-known dish, tacos use smaller tortillas than burritos (either hard shell or soft, usually corn-based) and can come with a variety of fillings, usually including some kind of protein (commonly beef, but also fish or chicken), cheese, salsa, vegetables, and/or sour cream.

What type of taco should be eaten during lunch time according to Mexican tradition? ›

However, according to Mexican tradition, there are specific times to eat a taco. Seafood tacos are meant to be eaten at lunchtime and antojitos are supposed to be eaten at dinner time to stave off any nighttime food cravings.

Are tacos a healthy lunch? ›

Without many toppings and garnishes, tacos tend to be low or moderate in the amount of calories, fat, and salt they contain. Use moderation when you're adding high calorie ingredients, like cheese and sour cream.

Can you pack tacos for lunch? ›

Who says you can't pack tacos for lunch? The key to taking this not-so-travel-friendly meal to work is packing each element separately and assembling them right before you're ready to eat. Bonus points if you warm your tortillas in the office kitchen (you can even do this in a toaster!).

What category do tacos fall under? ›

Tacos are a common form of antojitos, or Mexican street food, which have spread around the world. Three varieties of taco (clockwise from left): carnitas, carne asada, and al pastor.

Is a taco a meal or a snack? ›

However, while you can eat tacos at any hour of the day, some tacos are typically served for breakfast (such as barbacoa or carnitas), while others are more common for lunch (such as chorizo) or dinner (like tripitas, for example). However, nothing is set in stone.

What food group are tacos in? ›

They contain virtually every food group: meat, grains, dairy, fat/oil, vegetables, and fruits (tomatoes and avocados are fruits, right?).

Is taco a junk food? ›

Tacos are an overall balanced dish, pairing carbs with protein and vegetables. To make the healthiest tacos, choose corn tortillas, a high-protein filling, and top with plenty of vegetables. Want more ideas for building healthy meals with your favorite Latino foods?

Who invented tacos? ›

Tacos are thought to come from Mexico, long before the Spanish arrived. Ancient Mexicans used freshly made, soft, flat corn tortillas and gave them with fillings like fish and cooked organs. It was a staple meal that provided vital nutrients and energy to those who consumed it.

What country eats the most tacos? ›

Norwegians eat the second most tacos in the world. just after Mexico.

What do most Mexicans eat for lunch? ›

A staple of Mexican food is comida, which translates as either food or lunch. Mexicans typically eat their second meal of the day between 2 and 4 p.m. Though the meal is earlier, like dinner north of the border, comida is the largest meal of the day, with several courses, soup, meat, beans, and tortillas.

What time of day are tacos eaten in Mexico? ›

Tacos de guisado (with stew) are commonly seen from morning to lunchtime; street-style tacos are enjoyed mainly at night; carnitas (slow-cooked pork) or mixiotes (pit-barbecued meat) are a midday sort of taco; while barbacoa (meat slow-cooked over fire) are a weekend-morning taco.

What are 5 fun facts about tacos? ›

Here are six fun facts about tacos.
  • Origins in Mexico: Tacos trace their roots back to Mexico, where indigenous people in the Valley of Mexico used folded or rolled-up tortillas to consume their food. ...
  • Variety Galore: ...
  • Taco Tuesday Tradition: ...
  • Global Fusion: ...
  • Innovation in Presentation: ...
  • Taco Emoji Delay:
Jan 16, 2024

When should tacos be eaten? ›

However, while you can eat tacos at any hour of the day, some tacos are typically served for breakfast (such as barbacoa or carnitas), while others are more common for lunch (such as chorizo) or dinner (like tripitas, for example). However, nothing is set in stone.

Are tacos okay for weight loss? ›

Final Thoughts. It's easy to make a healthy meal with tacos! Tacos are an overall balanced dish, pairing carbs with protein and vegetables. To make the healthiest tacos, choose corn tortillas, a high-protein filling, and top with plenty of vegetables.

Are tacos considered junk food? ›

To find out more, we reached out to Michelle Jaelin, a Registered Dietitian based in Toronto. What should tacos be considered — Junk food or health food? Jaelin: “Tacos could be considered as either a junk food or health food, depending on the ingredients used in the taco dish or how it was prepared.

How many tacos can one person eat? ›

How many tacos do you serve per person? Our taco algorithms show that people will eat approximately 4-5 tacos. Keep in mind that some will eat less, and some will eat more, but it will average out to approximately 4-5 tacos per person.

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