# Hard or Soft Shells are equally valid for Tacos, Fuck your "Only soft shells are Authentic" bullshit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 26, 2022, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249 "2022-09-26T10:49:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/61 "2022-09-26T18:21:07Z")
Decades before Taco Bell started selling hard nacho tacos, Mexican street stands would spoon grilled ground beef and vegetables with salsa into bags of Doritos. This is as “authentic” a snack as grilled corn, fruit paste, agua de frutas, menudo, homemade ice cream, pollo rostizado cooked on the spit or buying huge slabs of chicharron _al mercado_. Frozen dinners are still a little more uncommon in Mexico than the US even though Costco sells similar things. Too many good fresh ingredients. Mexicans often prefer freshly prepared food. Many families make their own shells, and a few make their own masa harina. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/62 "2022-09-26T18:24:59Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > This is so bizarre. In California and Mexico soft tacos are almost always made with corn tortillas. I’ll second that. Tacos are almost never made with _flour_ tortillas. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/63 "2022-09-26T18:26:04Z")
“Walking tacos”!. Yeah, here there’s plenty of Mexican snack places that will serve you that. Flaming hot Cheetos with nacho cheese and all that stuff, too. Usually at ice cream places with “La Michoacana” in their name locally (there’s a Chicago Public Radio episode detailing how those came to be.) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/64 "2022-09-26T18:29:47Z")
I thought that “taco in a Fritos bag” started in New Mexico? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/65 "2022-09-26T18:34:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Tippy’s Taco House Where L.A. Bar and Grill is now? https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sFWx2i4QZjY-83QGwLSRWww%212m2%211d38.862611%212d-77.0848659%213f9.22%214f9.762%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/66 "2022-09-26T18:50:50Z")
Taco Bell predates the first release of Doritos. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/67 "2022-09-26T18:51:33Z")
Nevermind I misread. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/68 "2022-09-26T18:55:34Z")
It was in PA, don’t know if they were related. But previously I lived in Bethesda and Rockville and might have run across the place eventually if I hadn’t moved ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/69 "2022-09-26T19:01:32Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It was in PA, don’t know if they were related. Possibly. [I wasn’t aware Tippy’s had been a larger chain until just now.](https://tippystaco.com/) [![](https://tippystaco.com/logo.png) ](https://tippystaco.com/logo.png) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/70 "2022-09-26T19:13:26Z")
Me neither. A lot more dishes on their current menu but the ones I encountered were very much like some of the new ones, including the naming style IIRC. I didn’t have plans to visit their locations any time soon but at least it’s on the list now. Never thought I’d ever hear of them again. It must be at least 40 years since that little place in PA was there. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/71 "2022-09-26T19:16:49Z")
I prefer burritos over tacos. But I do like a good taco now and then. I prefer crunchy over soft, and soft tacos are usually better with flour tortillas. A soft corn tortilla is okay if it’s white corn. Yellow corn tortillas are disgusting if you don’t fry them. They are mealy and gross. I feel like I’m eating raw dough or something. Nasty. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/72 "2022-09-26T19:49:28Z")
Currently my favorite burritos from a restaurant are the bare-rittos from MadMex. Burritos served in a bowl without the tortilla. With a fishbowl margarita, of course ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/73 "2022-09-26T19:51:21Z")
Corn tortillas have to be _steamed_ for soft tacos, unless they’re made right in front of you – there’s a local place that does this. But once corn tortillas have come to room temperature, they have to be re-heated and steaming is the best option. Frying is absolutely not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/74 "2022-09-26T19:54:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > And here in NC. They’re usually white corn tortillas, Hah - the one place I had a soft corn tortilla was in NC (Mariakakis, in Chapel Hill). As far as somewhat more authentic Mexican food: I spent a summer working in Orange County, CA and one weekend at 3 out of 4 meals at Mexican restaurants. Every one was a very different experience. We didn’t dare anything like menudo (may not have even been on offer). This May, we were driving down from Oregon to LA, through the Central Valley, and had what was a decent (to this gringa) approximation of street food: a restaurant that was basically a permanently parked food truck. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/75 "2022-09-26T20:13:09Z")
Steamed or warmed on a griddle/pan. You can’t use them straight out of the bag or wrapper. (Or at least I wouldn’t want to—wait, often in the morning I can get them still warm in the paper bag or wax paper wrapper—those can be eaten straight out of the container.) Manna from heaven, they are. I live about a quarter mile from a tortilleria, so about one every four mornings, when the wind is blowing right, I get a nice whiff of fresh masa as I take the kids to school. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/76 "2022-09-26T20:23:20Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Manna from heaven, they are. Yes, they are. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/77 "2022-09-26T20:36:23Z")
NM (Video blocked.) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/78 "2022-09-26T20:36:41Z")
I already put up my preferences, but figured I’d also mention (for those with a Netflix sub) _Taco Chronicles_ which goes over a section of the huge variation on the theme found in the Mexican states. Spanish with English subtitles if that’s an issue for any watchers. It isn’t a super in-depth dive or anything, but goes far, far beyond what we’ve discussed here. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/79 "2022-09-26T20:46:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Same here. 85% Hispanic neighborhood, plenty of tacquerias, posolerias, birrierias, etc., but the Taco Bell and Chipotle still gets plenty of business There are a dozen or so Taco Bells in El Paso (\>80% Hispanic.) Not my jam, but clearly somebody’s. I did eat plenty of those Old El Paso hard shells as a kid before actually moving to El Paso. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/80 "2022-09-26T20:47:28Z")
I don’t understand the point of tacos. The fillings, sure - they can be great. But the tacos themselves? Best as I can tell, they’re just poorly designed pitas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249.md?page=5)