Taco Tuesday has exploded in popularity. Restaurants, both small and large, Mexican, and non-Mexican, have embraced the tradition. The term has been widely adopted in the restaurant industry, and it’s used all over the country to celebrate eating tacos. Even grocery stores have followed suit, offering discounts on taco ingredients on Tuesdays. Moreover, the influence of Taco Tuesday extends beyond commerce. It’s become a part of American culture and a weekly tradition for many families who make tacos at home on Tuesdays. It represents not just a day to enjoy tacos, but also an opportunity for families and friends to come together and enjoy life.
Here are 10 things you may not know about Taco Tuesday.
- More than 30 million people enjoy Taco Tuesday every Tuesday, that’s 13% of Americans.
- A Boost for Business: With close to 100,000 restaurants in the US celebrating Taco Tuesday, restaurants find that Taco Tuesday is one of their busiest days of the week, and it helps keep their doors open for business.
- The earliest documented advertisement for a Taco Tuesday special was 90 years ago in the classified section of the October 16, 1933, edition of the El Paso Herald-Post.
- Taco Tuesday in Popular Culture: The term Taco Tuesday has become a part of pop culture, appearing in movies, TV shows, and even video games. For example, it’s a central plot point in “The Lego Movie.”
- Taco Tuesday is celebrated in every state, but the top five states are: California, Texas, Hawaii, Florida, and Nevada. You can see the list in order of popularity here: https://tacotuesday.com/taco-tuesday-takes-the-nation-by-storm-announcing-the-most-taco-tuesday-loving-states/
- Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point, New Jersey trademarked the phrase “Taco Tuesday” in 1982, Taco John’s trademarked the phrase in 1989.
- Lebron James’s is known to love Taco Tuesdays, this led him to attempt trademarking “Taco Tuesday” in 2022, which was denied by the USPTO on the basis that “Taco Tuesday” is “a commonplace term.” According to James’s lawyer at the time, this outcome was the goal all along.
- Taco Tuesday is celebrated in other countries, such as in Canada, India, the UK, and Australia.
- In Norway and Sweden, they celebrate Taco Fridays. Tacos are enjoyed mostly on Fridays – so much so, that they’ve gotten their own nickname, ‘tacofredag’ i.e. Taco Friday. Traditionally, alcohol was to be enjoyed on a Friday and a Saturday night, this is where Taco Friday came in. Fun Fact: TacoFriday.com will take you to TacoTuesday.com, we’re building the largest Taco Search Engine and don’t want to leave any restaurant or country out.
- Margaritas and beer are America’s favorite go-to alcoholic drink choices with tacos.
The popularity of Taco Tuesday plays a crucial role in its success, this is largely due to the multiplier effect that popularity tends to generate. When something becomes popular, it not only garners more visibility and recognition, but also cultivates a sense of familiarity and happiness among taco fans. This is beneficial to all restaurants involved.
About TacoTuesday.com – TacoTuesday.com represents a world of food, celebration, and happiness. The website is fueled by the belief that restaurants bring joy and celebrate everything good for the soul – and that every Tuesday is an opportunity to eat better, be better and live better. TacoTuesday.com is a free resource for restaurants and taco lovers.
FAQ
- What is Taco Tuesday? – Taco Tuesday is the weekly tradition of enjoying tacos every Tuesday – at home or out – often paired with restaurant specials and deals. More than a slogan, it’s become a midweek ritual that brings families, friends, and communities together over an affordable, crowd-pleasing meal.
- How do I find the best Taco Tuesday deals near me? – Check TacoTuesday.com for local specials, follow your favorite restaurants on social media, and watch for weekly happy-hour and taco promotions in your area. Many spots post their Tuesday deals each week, so it pays to check regularly.
- When did Taco Tuesday start? – Restaurants were advertising Tuesday taco deals as far back as 1933, when a cafeteria in El Paso, Texas promoted tacos on Tuesdays. The exact phrase first appeared in print in a 1973 newspaper ad, then took off in the 1980s when the Wyoming chain Taco John’s ran a hugely popular ‘Taco Twosday’ two-for-99-cents promotion.
- Why is Taco Tuesday so popular? – It combines three things people love: affordability, endless flavor variety, and a reliable weekly reason to gather. Tacos are budget-friendly and endlessly customizable, and the ritual turns an ordinary Tuesday into a small celebration that families, students, and coworkers plan around.
- What are typical Taco Tuesday deals? – Common offers include discounted or dollar tacos – like the classic two-for-99-cents deal that helped launch the trend – plus drink specials such as margaritas and Mexican beer, and bundled combo pricing. Restaurants use these to fill dining rooms on an otherwise quiet night, which is why the deals tend to be genuinely good value.
- Where did Taco Tuesday start? – The tradition traces back to El Paso, Texas in the 1930s, but the modern ‘Taco Tuesday’ concept spread nationally in the 1980s from Taco John’s in Wyoming, whose midweek taco promotion became the template restaurants everywhere now follow.
