# 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:** 9
**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 29, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/161 "2022-09-29T20:05:37Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > In the best taqueria on the Central Coast ( La Super-Rica Taqueria in Santa Barbara) Yummers! Love that place. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/162 "2022-09-29T20:07:13Z")
Yeah. The tortilla makers put on a good show while you wait in line. And you ALWAYS have to wait in line. ---
**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 29, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/163 "2022-09-29T20:11:27Z")
When I know what’s coming, I don’t mind waiting. Plus, the line moves pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/164 "2024-05-22T18:22:23Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Ironically just today I thought of refried beans as a possible taco ingredient which I hadn’t considered before. I never tried them as a child because they reminded me of garbanzo beans which I had already tried and disliked. > > This thread made me think back to the times I went to the southwest and bought tortillas, sour cream, shredded cheese, and salsa, with which to make uncooked tacos. Unfortunately at least one of the times, it turns out that I got corn tortillas. So yeah. I would at least agree that cooked corn tortillas taste better than raw. > > But even with flour tortillas it was just missing that _something_ without meat and preserved meat and probably cold cuts would just not taste the same in a taco. Then a couple of hours ago it hit me: I could add refried beans to the raw tacos. I will try that next time I am camping in the southwest. Update: I’ve now tried tacos from uncooked flour tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, and refried beans, and the refried beans do, as I expected, give it that umami-ish feel that makes a snack feel more like a meal. The only downside is that I couldn’t find any refried beans with a pop-top, unlike other types of beans, so I might want to take a can opener along with any future vacations. On vacation, I’d also want to get the smallest sour cream container as I could because it can’t last forever even in a fairly cool place, but it’s still more convenient than having to fry up some meat. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/165 "2024-05-22T18:33:10Z")
canned chili will also work in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/166 "2024-05-22T18:33:47Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > uncooked flour tortillas What does this mean? Some rolled-out dough? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 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/972249/167 "2024-05-22T18:34:17Z")
I meant unfried, so they are still soft, as opposed to fried hard corn tortillas ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/168 "2024-05-23T03:44:14Z")
Heheh, ok. Thank you for the explanation. I will eat an unheated already prepared corn tortilla, but I’m not going to try filling it. Might as well just pour the filling down your shirt. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/169 "2024-05-23T16:08:12Z")
Some judge ruled in some specific case tacos were a sandwich. I don’t know anyone who claims only one type is authentic; both types are found all over Mexico. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/170 "2024-05-23T19:04:56Z")
I guess it can be considered a sandwich, but, in Mexico, a sandwich is called a torta. It’s a completely different thing. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/171 "2024-05-23T19:14:41Z")
The word “tortilla” is the diminutive of “torta”. Not really a completely different thing. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/172 "2024-05-23T19:17:37Z")
Yeah, I should have said “a slightly different thing.” 😁 ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/173 "2024-05-23T19:27:07Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I’ve now tried tacos from uncooked flour tortillas, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, and refried beans, and the refried beans do, as I expected, give it that umami-ish feel that makes a snack feel more like a meal. This is one of our favorite day-hiking lunches. Delicious and packs a lot better than a sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/174 "2024-05-24T18:01:46Z")
IMHO, soft shelled tacos are really just small burritos. Plenty good, and probably travel better, but it’s a small burrito. Easier to eat than a hard shell taco for sure. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/175 "2024-05-25T15:06:14Z")
My understanding of the “tacos are a sandwich” ruling wasn’t some fundamental definition, it was just to allow a taco truck to park in a place zoned for sandwich trucks. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/176 "2024-05-25T15:12:21Z")
There is a drastic deficiency of taco trucks in my city. I am personally in favour of letting taco trucks park anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/177 "2024-05-25T18:03:24Z")
Yes, I believe the orange one promised us taco trucks at every corner if he didn’t win. Yet another reason not to trust that sick bastard ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/178 "2024-06-10T04:03:15Z")
and there’s a Taco Bell in Tijuana (why?) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2024, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/179 "2024-06-10T04:31:47Z")
Same reason there’s Taco Bell here in Beijing. Some folks want to try American food. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2024, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-or-soft-shells-are-equally-valid-for-tacos-fuck-your-only-soft-shells-are-authentic-bullshit/972249/180 "2024-06-10T06:40:45Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > and there’s a Taco Bell in Tijuana (why?) I don’t think there is a Taco Bell in Tijuana. If you [Google Image Search](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c5bc60b37e5ec7a3&sxsrf=ADLYWIJhlqvN16G7QCJHtDIBVvhD75JHAA:1718001415929&q=taco+bell+tijuana&uds=ADvngMheOmbKXuot3eKf9UrhvKugI9zWQ2TjHqLKIIDGAZXFyNcsUyzQjh04t6pCqigb1bGDvDis4qkvIvs_UQ3hpQfpW1NLU7Ap0uxRfIeAEwaJyGrMJA8izR7L-igGmIUzPaR3PJWNJSM6m5PMSC4vwHOVuMICag6AZOof7Ckeb5vqXysR_HhzvWpm85j6XwEiqLgTJLFlJjabuiLEjca8g5SCkxZ1Ul-fvlFEXvAObRd2A5EeSSujRunt_KMv5O2TNgIEokXxK9lIMmsk7kuVyfCGI_i24rGmF-4KqazUG_CcgIGve8Yvnr1lGgv0bRaldhQmR2RwGkpZlWJdJGg4wjX_yzb8Pg&udm=2&prmd=imnvsbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi4zvqAttCGAxVG4DgGHXX4AYYQtKgLegQIDxAB&biw=1680&bih=957&dpr=2) Taco Bell Tijuana, it’s a bunch of knockoff restaurants that use the name for publicity. According to [this article](https://www.thetakeout.com/1579269/why-taco-bell-not-in-mexico/) Taco Bell tried and failed twice to enter the Mexican market and seems to have no current plans to try Mexico again. [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=8) [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=10)