National Fish Taco Day is celebrated on January 25 annually. Tacos are the Mexican version of a sandwich which is made with a tortilla to wrap it. The idea of putting fish in a taco was once unusual outside of San Diego in the U.S. Today, fish tacos can be found on the menus of Mexican and non-Mexican restaurants. Fish tacos are delicious snacks that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Many restaurants give discounts or free fish tacos on Fish Taco Day.
History of National Fish Taco Day
Fish tacos are made with lightly battered mild white fish that is deep-fried and then served in a corn tortilla. The tortilla is topped with shredded cabbage, sour cream or mayonnaise sauce, and salsa with lime.
It has been a popular street food throughout Mexico’s Baja peninsula for a long time due to its closeness to the ocean.
Furthermore, the story goes that in San Felipe, a coastal town by the Pacific, a taco shop owner wrapped fresh, battered fish fillets in a warm tortilla and added spicy, creamy mayo sauce. That’s how fish tacos were created!
There is no info on who invented the fish taco in Mexico but in the U.S. Ralph Rubio invented it. During his college days, he and his friends travelled to San Filipe in Baja on spring break from San Diego State University. Rubio fell in love with the tasty fish tacos sold on the beach.
Moreover, with the support of his family, he started the first Rubio’s Coastal Grill near the beach in San Diego in 1983.
It was a small, walk-up taco stand in Mission Bay where they first sold the famous beer-battered Original Fish Taco.
In addition, recognizing the significance of fish tacos to him, Rubio established National Fish Taco Day to coincide with the day his grill was first opened — January 25.
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Timeline of National Fish Taco Day
| 1949 (Special U.S. Tacos) | The hard-shell, U-shaped version of the taco, which is the most common type of taco in the U.S., is first described in a cookbook. |
| 1940s (Taco-making Appliances) | The first patents for hard-shell taco cooking appliances are filed. |
| Mid-1950s (Tacos Are Simplified) | Glen Bell opens Taco Tia and begins selling a simplified version of the tacos being sold by Mexican restaurants. |
| 1964 (Taco Franchise) | Kermit Becky, a former Los Angeles police officer, buys the first Taco Bell franchise from Bell. |
5 Interesting Facts About Tacos
- They originated in Mexico: Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish and a popular type of Mexican street food which have spread around the world.
- They have variations in many other countries: Hard-shell or crispy taco is a tradition that developed in the U.S. and the Indian Navajo tacos have soft shells.
- There are various types: Tacos can be filled with a variety of fillings including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, beans, vegetables, and cheese.
- Tacos are loved by the Europeans: Though they are of Mexican origin, Europeans eat tacos a lot.
- They can be enjoyed any time: You can eat tacos at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, any time of the day.
Frequently Ask Question
When did National Fish Taco Day start?
The day was established by Ralph Rubio. He foudned the first Rubio’s Coastal Grill in San Diego on January 25, 1983, coinciding with the anniversary of his restaurant.
What are the main ingredients of a fish taco?
Typically fish tacos contain lightly battered and deep-fried mild white fish. It is served in a corn tortilla, topped with shredded cabbage, sour cream or mayonnaise sauce, and salsa with lime.
Where did fish tacos originate?
Fish tacos originated from the Baja peninsula in Mexico, where they became popular street food due to the region’s proximity to the ocean.
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