Que Ricos

By: Gustavo Castillo Jr

Our Three Taco Combo, served with rice and beans

"Te invito unos tacos." is a Spanish phrase meaning "I'll invite you to some tacos." If a Mexican gives you this famous invitation it's because they consider you a special person.

Tacos are a typical food of Mexico made from a corn tortilla usually filled with meat which is then folded and eaten with your hands. You can serve it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or my personal favorite in the evening after some drinks. Tacos are a way of sharing between friends, family, and loved ones.

The exact date when tacos were first made is not known, but versions of the taco existed in pre-Columbian times. Maize, and the tortilla were staples of indigenous diets in the Americas. In times of the Aztecs, the tortilla was used as a plate, utensil, or way of storing food to send to workers in the fields. It is believed that the word for taco is derived from the Nahuatl word "tlahco" which means half or in the middle.

When people think of taco today, maybe they have an image of a taco with carne asado or al pastor. In pre-columbian times, there was no beef or pork in the Americas; cows and pigs were introduced by the Spanniards. The taco is a perfect example of a culture that was born in Mexico influenced by both indigenous and spanish cuisine. Stories has it that the first taquiza was hosted by Hernán Cortés for his commanders where they enjoyed pork tacos.

At Que Ricos Fresh Mexican Kitchen, our most popular taco is carne asada. We source our beef from Mexico and prepare it fresh on the grill. We also specialize in tacos al pastor, chicken, and carnitas each served with diced onions, cilantro, and salsa. We make two salsas in house green, made from tomatillos, and red, made with chile de arbol. We recommend squeezing a lime on your tacos to complete your dish.

The next time a friend invites you to some tacos, our family is ready to serve you at your nearest Que Ricos Fresh Mexican Kitchen.