In the middle of the balloon fiesta, there’s no better holiday to celebrate than one focusing on one of New Mexico’s favorite foods. If you didn’t know, the first taco Tuesday of October marks National Taco Day!
At Sadie’s of New Mexico, we can’t help but love tacos. We’ve served thousands of New Mexicans with all sorts of preferences– red or green, chicken or beef, crunchy or soft, and it never gets old.
You might think that tacos aren’t much to write home about– they’re a reliable, simple meal that fills you up with everything you need to feel full and energized. But Tacos are eaten all over the world- and as a result, have a rich history, a few world records, and plenty of fans. If you want to know more about one of the most iconic foods in Mexican cuisine, keep reading for Sadie’s 5 fun facts– and fan favorite foods to go with them.
The United States Consumes 4.5 billion Tacos Per Year
Here in New Mexico, everyone loves tacos: we’ll have them for midnight snacks, protein-packed pick-me-ups and early morning meals, topped with chile or salsa verde for some local flavor. But did you know they’re a nationwide phenomenon? In 2023, the United States consumed just over 4.5 billion tacos!
To put that in perspective: 4.5 billion seconds add up to roughly 142 calendar years. That puts the US behind Mexico for Top Taco Title, and neck-and-neck with Norway for runner-up.
We all know New Mexico will always be the #1 taco fans– we even combine them with our burgers for a signature New Mexican twist, blending our favorite regional foods with American inventions. But that raises the question: Is Sadie’s classic taco burger really a taco, because of its crispy corn tortilla, or a burger, because of the all-american cheeseburger patty? Don’t look to the toppings for help– chile, lettuce, tomato, and onions add the finishing touch to tacos and burgers alike!
The World Record for Most Tacos Eaten is 126 Soft Tacos in 8 Minutes
It took the US 1 year to eat 4.5 billion tacos, but on the international competitive eating stage, it only took one American 8 minutes to eat 126 2 oz soft tacos. Joey Chestnut claimed the World taco eating title during a competition at Mystic Lake Casino on Cinco De Mayo in 2017. Chestnut consumed roughly 15 pounds of soft tacos in just under 8 minutes, beating his personal best of 103 tacos in 8 minutes, and the runner up by 33 tacos.
Chestnut isn’t just a taco-lover– he’s an icon in the worldwide competitive eating stage. Holding over 41 world titles in competitive eating for a variety of foods, including grilled cheese, hot dogs and hamburgers, Chestnut’s taco eating record remains unbroken in 2026.
While Sadie’s can’t promise 126 tacos, we’re happy to satisfy your high-volume cravings. Betty’s crispy tacos come with your choice of protein-packed filling in a trio of freshly fried taco shells, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese, and are always served with papitas and frijoles, smothered in your choice of green or red chile. If you’re looking for something with a soft shell, try our Green chile Chicken Birria tacos. Slow simmered chicken topped with cilantro, melted cheese, and onions, served with calabacitas and consomme for a fresh, rich, filling meal.
The World’s Largest Taco was Made in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
In 2003, during their 100th birthday celebration, the city of Mexicali in Baja California, Mexico, broke the world record for the largest taco ever produced. Measuring a little under 40 feet long and 33 inches wide, it took 8 grills and 80 people to successfully construct this sizable steak taco. The city decided on a classic steak taco, topped with cilantro and onions, but added their own twist with a guacamole sauce on top. With all grilled steak, 80 pounds of tortilla, and toppings combined, the taco came out to a towering 1,600 pounds! A typical steak taco weighs about 3 or 4 ounces, bringing the world’s largest taco to the equivalent of over 6,400 standard steak tacos!
For more information on the world’s longest taco, visit: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-taco
Mexicali remains undefeated for the world’s largest taco, but according to the Guinness book of world records, the record for the world’s longest taco was set in 2024. The State government of Chiapas and the Secretariat of Tourism in Berriozábal, Chiapas, Mexico, created a 360 foot long taco. This taco was filled with cochito, a local stew of adobo pork, potatoes, and onions.
For more information on the world’s longest taco, visit: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/102589-longest-taco
While Sadie’s steak tacos are a standard length and weight, they’re nothing short of extraordinary. Ribeye steak, cooked to perfection and topped with cheese, lettuce, and tomato gives the perfect combination of tender steak, fresh veggies, and rich, melted cheese. Paired with Sadie’s signature chile on top of papitas and frijoles, you won’t need 1,182 pounds of meat for a spectacular steak taco.
Tacos originated in 18th Century Mexican Silver Mines
Tacos aren’t just a universally loved meal– they’re a symbol of history and cultural exchange between the United States and Mexico. Tacos originated in 18th century silver mines, where ‘Tacos’ referred to the small, paper-wrapped sticks of gunpowder inserted into rock to excavate silver ore. At the end of the 19th century, tacos de minero referred to small pieces of meat wrapped in a tortilla, and the taco officially entered the culinary scene. Tacos continued to persevere as an accessible, delicious street food throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, surviving segregation and cultural revolutions along the way.
The original tacos de minero are closer to what we, in modernity, would call a taquito. Sadie’s taquitos are typically served as an appetizer with plenty of ways to make them your own unique creation, with your choice of Billy’s spicy beef, shredded chicken, or refried beans (for our vegetarian friends), and served with guacamole or chile con queso. Whether you prefer a traditional rolled taco, a soft flour tortilla, or a crispy corn tortilla, Sadie’s has something for you– and we won’t judge if you make your appetizer the main course.
Read more about the historical and socioeconomic significance of the taco here:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/where-did-the-taco-come-from-81228162
The First Published Recipe for a Hard-Shell Taco Came from a Cookbook of New Mexican Recipes
The history of the crunchy taco shell is a controversial topic– patents for a crunchy taco shell date back to the 1940s in southern California Mexican restaurants, while most credit Glen Bell of Taco Bell with inventing the fried tortilla in the 1950s. There’s no clear answer who invented the crispy taco shell, but one thing is for sure- New Mexicans have always been the OG taco lovers.
Tacos aren’t just a restaurant staple—they fill weeknight dinner tables and family party buffets. Home cooks always put their own spin on taco Tuesday with toppings, seasoned shells, or unique fillings. But there’s always the classics to fall back on—and this classic looks to have started in New Mexico! The first written recipe for crispy taco shells originated from a cookbook of classic New Mexican recipes written by Las Vegas born and raised Fabiola Cabeza de Baca Gilbert. Cabeza de Baca was a certified New Mexican icon– she hosted radio shows, spoke four languages, including Tewa and Tiwa, and compiled cookbooks that brought traditional New Mexican Recipes to new audiences. In her second cookbook, The Good Life: New Mexico Traditions and Food, published in 1949, she includes the first recipe for a crispy taco shell, and of course, plenty of ways to cook New Mexico’s favorite food- chile.
This book has become a major collectors item, since its most recent run by the New Mexico Museum press in 1982. But Cabeza De Baca’s legacy lives on as thousands of New Mexicans order crispy taco shells. If you’re looking for a little bit of a New Mexican achievement, try Betty’s crispy tacos, with your choice of beef, shredded chicken, or refried beans, topped with lettuce, tomato, and melted cheddar cheese, and as always, served with papitas and frijoles, smothered in your favorite chile.
At Sadie’s, We’re always Talking about Tacos
National taco day isn’t just another Taco Tuesday– it’s an excuse to gather the family, try a new recipe, or sit back with a plate of terrific tacos and a margarita. That’s what New Mexicans are all about– finding reasons to slow down, celebrate, and share a meal that connects tradition to the present day.
At Sadie’s of New Mexico, we’re all about reasons to celebrate. Whether you prefer crunchy tacos, beef over chicken, or the original taco, served with some guacamole, We’ve got you covered.
Stop by and see us to celebrate National Taco Day on Tuesday, October 6th!