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Taco Tuesday

Taco Tuesday is a longstanding promotional and cultural phenomenon in the United States, centered on the consumption of tacos—typically Mexican-inspired dishes consisting of a filled with meats, vegetables, cheeses, and salsas—often at discounted prices offered by restaurants on Tuesdays. This midweek ritual emerged as a to boost sales during slower weekdays and has evolved into a widespread social event celebrated at home and in eateries, symbolizing casual dining and communal enjoyment of cuisine. The earliest documented reference to a taco special on a Tuesday appeared in the classified section of the October 16, 1933, edition of the El Paso Herald-Post, promoting affordable Mexican tacos at the White Star Cafeteria in . The specific phrase "Taco Tuesday" first emerged in print on August 20, 1973, in an advertisement in The Rapid City Journal for a promotion at the Snow White Drive In in . By the 1980s, the Wyoming-based fast-food chain had popularized a variant called "Taco Twosday" for two-for-99-cents taco deals, which it rebranded as "Taco Tuesday" and federally trademarked in 1989, granting exclusive commercial rights in 49 states (excluding , where a local restaurant held the mark). The sparked ongoing controversies, including cease-and-desist letters sent by to competitors and small businesses over decades, prompting debates about whether "Taco Tuesday" was a generic term ineligible for protection, akin to phrases like "." In May 2023, petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the mark, arguing it hindered broader celebration of the tradition; relinquished the federal on July 18, 2023, and the mark was abandoned on October 24, 2023, freeing the phrase for unrestricted use nationwide and underscoring its status as a communal cultural staple rather than proprietary branding.

Definition and Concept

Overview

Taco Tuesday is a promotional and cultural tradition primarily observed in the United States, where restaurants and households feature discounted or special tacos on Tuesdays to boost mid-week business and customer engagement. This weekly event transforms an otherwise slow day for eateries into a popular occasion, with approximately 13% of Americans, or over 40 million people, participating each week through dining out or home preparations, as of 2025. At its core, Taco Tuesday involves affordable deals, such as $1 to $2 per or multi- bundles, designed to attract budget-conscious patrons. These offerings are frequently paired with Mexican-inspired beverages like margaritas, enhancing the festive atmosphere and encouraging upsells at participating . Unlike everyday consumption, which occurs without specific timing or incentives, Taco Tuesday highlights a promotional and ritualistic element uniquely tied to the day of the week, fostering anticipation and community around the meal. This distinction elevates it from mere eating to a structured event that gained traction through in the 1980s. In contemporary settings, the tradition has extended to home adaptations as DIY taco nights, where families and friends assemble customizable s with toppings like , cheese, , and for a personalized experience.

Traditions and Variations

In the United States, Taco Tuesday traditions vary significantly by region, reflecting local culinary influences and available ingredients. In the Southwest, particularly and areas with strong heritage, celebrations often feature hearty fillings like or tacos, grilled or slow-cooked meats served in corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, and lime, emphasizing bold, smoky flavors typical of border cuisine. Coastal regions, such as , favor seafood adaptations, including beer-battered or grilled tacos, which incorporate fresh catches like or local whitefish, often topped with slaw and crema to highlight the area's Pacific proximity. Urban centers, especially in cities like or , have embraced vegetarian and plant-based options, with tacos filled with , grilled portobello mushrooms, or al pastor, catering to diverse dietary preferences and promoting innovative, meat-free interpretations of the tradition. Globally, Taco Tuesday has been adapted with local twists, though it remains largely an imported concept. In , tacos are a daily staple without a specific "Taco Tuesday" or themed promotions, though some restaurants, especially those serving tourists, occasionally adopt similar Tuesday specials using authentic preparations like or . In , the has evolved through U.S. chain influences but incorporates native ingredients, such as mince seasoned with and bush tomato, or beef alternatives with lemon myrtle slaw, blending Indigenous flavors into fusion tacos for a distinctly local spin. Taco Tuesday traditions have evolved to include social and communal elements, often integrated into family gatherings, office parties, or themed events, where participants customize tacos with shared toppings for interactive meals. Following the 2020 pandemic, there was a notable surge in at-home celebrations, with households experimenting via meal kits or DIY assemblies, shifting from outings to or backyard gatherings that sustained the weekly amid restrictions. Common accompaniments enhance the Taco Tuesday experience, typically including creamy guacamole made from ripe avocados, seasoned with and cilantro; fluffy simmered with tomatoes and spices; and refried or black beans for added protein and texture. Drink specials, such as $5 margaritas blending , , and , frequently pair with these meals at participating venues, creating a festive, balanced spread.

History

Early Origins

The origins of tacos trace back to 18th-century , where the term "taco" likely emerged among silver miners in regions like , referring to small wraps of paper containing charges, which evolved into the foodstuff as a portable meal for laborers. By the early , Mexican immigrants introduced tacos to the , particularly through Mexican-American communities in the Southwest, where the first documented mention appeared in a 1905 Los Angeles newspaper describing a street vendor selling tacos to workers. These early tacos were simple street foods, often filled with meats or beans and wrapped in corn tortillas, reflecting the culinary traditions brought by migrants seeking employment in , railroads, and mining. In the United States during the 1930s and 1940s, restaurants began offering taco specials on Tuesdays—a typically slow midweek day—to attract customers, marking the initial emergence of promotional rituals that would later coalesce around the concept of Taco Tuesday. One of the earliest documented examples occurred in 1933, when the White Star Cafeteria in , advertised three Mexican tacos for 15 cents exclusively on Tuesdays in the El Paso Herald-Post. Similar promotions followed, such as the Zia Lounge in , providing free tacos on Tuesdays in 1949, and Oliver’s in , offering a Tuesday taco deal with complimentary coffee in the early 1950s. These isolated deals were common in areas with growing Mexican-American populations, helping to integrate tacos into local diner and drive-in menus as affordable, appealing options during economic challenges like the and post-war recovery. The post-World War II era saw significant growth in Tex-Mex cuisine in the U.S. Southwest, fueled by increased Mexican migration and the return of exposed to Mexican foods during wartime service in the region. This migration wave, combined with urbanization and the rise of car culture, expanded taco availability in border states like and , where home cooks and eateries adapted traditional recipes with local ingredients, laying the groundwork for weekly dining rituals. By the and , taco specials proliferated, with examples including in advertising them as a "Tuesday special" in 1965 and in California's running similar campaigns by 1967. The phrase "Taco Tuesday" first appeared in print in 1973, in an advertisement by the Snow White Drive-In in , promoting three tacos for 49 cents plus a free Coke on Tuesdays, as published in the Rapid City Journal. This marked a pivotal moment in branding the promotion, though it remained regional. In 1979, Gregory's Restaurant & Bar in , launched its own Tuesday taco special at 29 cents each, claiming to have coined the phrase independently and later registering it as a state in 1982, which helped solidify its catchy appeal in East Coast establishments. These early uses reflected a broader trend of leveraging tacos' popularity in hubs to combat midweek lulls, setting the stage for wider adoption without yet reaching national chains.

Popularization and Expansion

The popularization of Taco Tuesday accelerated in the through innovative promotions by fast-food chains seeking to boost midweek sales. In the early , David Olsen, a franchisee of in , coined the term "Taco Twosday" to advertise a deal offering two tacos for 99 cents on Tuesdays, a slow sales day for the restaurant. This promotion quickly evolved within the network to the more familiar "Taco Tuesday," which the chain began standardizing across its locations by the late , trademarking the phrase in 1989 to protect its growing brand identity. The initiative's success stemmed from competitive pressures in the fast-food industry, where chains like used discounted taco specials to differentiate themselves and draw in budget-conscious customers, laying the groundwork for Taco Tuesday as a recurring promotional staple. By the 1990s and into the , Taco Tuesday expanded beyond quick-service Mexican chains into broader casual dining segments, as restaurants adopted the concept to enhance customer loyalty and fill slower evenings. This period also saw a surge in , with platforms amplifying participation through , hashtags like #TacoTuesday, and shared recipes that turned the promotion into a communal online event, further embedding it in everyday dining habits. The marked a pivotal surge in Taco Tuesday's accessibility, as delivery services like promoted virtual versions of the tradition to support at-home dining amid lockdowns. Platforms highlighted taco specials from participating restaurants, with orders spiking on Tuesdays as consumers sought deliveries, exemplified by Taco Bell's family meal bundles tailored for online pickup and shipping. By 2025, Taco Tuesday had solidified as a year-round staple across the , with chains introducing seasonal variations to align with festive occasions and maintain year-long engagement.

In the United States

In 1989, Taco John's International obtained a federal trademark registration from the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for "Taco Tuesday" in connection with restaurant services, covering nearly all U.S. states but excluding due to prior use of the phrase by Gregory's Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, actively enforced its by issuing hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to various entities, including small businesses, restaurants, and media outlets, to prevent unauthorized use of the phrase in promotional contexts. In 2019, basketball player , through his company LBJ Trademarks LLC, filed a trademark application for "Taco Tuesday" intended for apparel and entertainment services, but the USPTO denied it, citing the phrase's commonality and existing registration by , which underscored growing commercial interest beyond restaurant promotions. Facing mounting challenges, including a May 2023 petition by to cancel the registration on grounds of ness, Taco John's announced in July 2023 that it would abandon its federal trademark, allowing the USPTO to declare "Taco Tuesday" generic and freely usable nationwide. In October 2023, Gregory's Restaurant and Bar relinquished its New Jersey-specific rights following a settlement with , ensuring unrestricted use of the phrase across the entire as of 2025.

International Developments

Taco John's, which held a U.S. federal for "Taco Tuesday" since 1989, faced challenges in extending protections internationally due to the phrase's descriptive nature. In , the "Taco Tuesday" is owned by the chain , which has enforced it domestically, including through cease-and-desist actions in 2018. U.S.-based chains like have widely adopted the promotion in without formal trademarks, offering deals such as $2 tacos on Tuesdays at participating locations. In , the is owned by Salsas Holdings Pty Ltd since 2011. In the , Taco similarly promotes "Taco Tuesdays" with buy-one-get-one-free offers on items like Taco Supremes, operating without exclusive trademark claims. lacks an equivalent branded "Taco Tuesday" tradition, as tacos are a daily staple rather than a weekly promotion, but some chains have adopted similar specials; for instance, TacoPalenque offers 2-for-1 deals on Tuesdays. In , particularly , "Taco Tuesday" has seen cultural adaptations through fusion restaurants, hosting events like omakase-style taco tastings or all-you-can-eat specials at venues in and , without associated legal claims as of 2025.

Cultural and Economic Impact

Taco Tuesday has permeated various forms of media, often depicted as a humorous ritual or promotional event that highlights everyday American culture. In the animated series , the concept appears in multiple episodes, parodying fast-food deals and family dining traditions. For instance, in the 2014 episode "The Man Who Grew Too Much" from season 25, a chaotic Taco Tuesday at Elementary features students and even adults like rushing for tacos, underscoring the event's communal frenzy. Similarly, the show has referenced it in other installments, such as "Angry Dad: The Movie" from 2011, where Homer enjoys Taco Tuesday while reading a script at the power plant, blending workplace relaxation with the midweek treat. Celebrity endorsements have amplified Taco Tuesday's visibility, turning it into a viral social staple. NBA star has been a prominent advocate, frequently posting about it on since at least 2017, and in 2019 sharing custom Taco Tuesday shirts with his family. His 2019 attempt to the phrase through LBJ Trademarks LLC generated significant online buzz, with discussions framing it as a playful bid to protect his personal tradition, though the U.S. Patent and Office ultimately denied the application. On platforms like , influencers have fueled #TacoTuesday challenges since around 2015, encouraging users to share creative taco recipes or eating feats, such as the 2021 viral "Taco Tuesday Challenge" where participants consumed only tacos for a day. The phenomenon thrives on as a culture cornerstone, blending food enthusiasm with midweek motivation. By 2025, the has amassed over 6 million posts, featuring like recipe hacks and humorous skits that combat "Tuesday blues." Popular often personify tacos with puns such as "Taco 'Bout a Good Day," portraying the event as an uplifting escape, with collections of such images circulating widely on sites like Memedroid and since the early . In film, (2014) nods to it indirectly through a promotional contrasting Taco Tuesday with the movie's signature Cubano sandwiches, positioning the food truck narrative as a fresh to routine taco promotions.

Economic and Social Significance

Taco Tuesday has emerged as a significant driver of mid-week restaurant traffic and revenue , with participating establishments reporting average increases of 22% to 36% in Tuesday sales following implementation of the promotion. This boost is evidenced by a survey of 92 restaurants listed on TacoTuesday.com, highlighting how the tradition transforms a typically slow weekday into a high-volume period for and venues. Additionally, taco sales at restaurants experience over a 60% spike on s compared to other days, underscoring the promotion's role in stimulating and supporting local economies through sustained and operations. Beyond financial gains, Taco Tuesday fosters social connections by encouraging shared meals among families, friends, and coworkers, with approximately 13% of celebrating it weekly, according to surveys. This practice promotes the accessibility of , facilitating cultural integration by familiarizing diverse communities with traditional flavors and ingredients in a casual, inclusive setting. Following the 2023 cancellation of the federal trademark, Taco Tuesday promotions expanded further, with additional chains like joining in 2024. In the post-pandemic era, the tradition has contributed to reviving dine-in habits, as weekly gatherings around affordable, familiar meals help rebuild social dining patterns amid ongoing recovery efforts in the restaurant sector. While celebrated for its communal benefits, Taco Tuesday also sparks debates on health and environmental implications. Fast-food versions often contain higher levels of sodium, saturated fats, and calories compared to homemade tacos, potentially exacerbating dietary concerns like and heart disease when consumed frequently. Environmentally, promotions emphasizing beef-heavy tacos contribute to elevated from meat production, with having one of the highest carbon footprints among proteins; advocates encourage plant-based alternatives to mitigate this impact.

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