taqueria

[ tah-kuh-ree-uh ]

noun

1. a restaurant or stand specializing in Mexican dishes, as tacos and burritos.

Word History and Origins

Origin of taqueria¹

First recorded in 1980–85; from Central American Spanish taqueria, equivalent to tac(o) + - ería noun suffix; taco, -ery ( def )

Example Sentences

The buzz builds on the city’s famed taquerias, fondas, and street food, as well as Jalisco’s ancestral agave spirits.

From Eater

Serve alongside any protein you’re grilling, slice ’em into a salad, or borrow a page from beloved LA taqueria Sonoratown’s playbook and add a scallion to a platter of tacos.

From Eater

Padilla says she wants to open more taquerias, but only if she can be sure the dishes taste like the original.

From Washington Post

Inocencio Carbajal opened his acclaimed taqueria, Carnitas Uruapan, on West 18th Street in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in 1975.

From Eater

My aventura began in El Barrio, also known as Spanish Harlem, at a little taqueria called Taco Mix.

From The Daily Beast

More About Taqueria

What does taqueria mean?

A taqueria is a restaurant, food cart, or stall that specializes in serving tacos.

Tacos are a mainstay of Mexican cuisine.

Example: The taqueria downtown is the only stand that sells tacos de cabeza.

Where does taqueria come from?

Taqueria is taken directly from the Spanish word taquería. It is based on the word taco and the suffix -eria (as seen in pizzeria), a form of the suffix -ery, which indicates a place of business (as in bakery). (The word taco probably comes from the Mexican Spanish word taco, meaning “plug.”)

In Mexico, tacos are one of the main street foods, and taquerias are often carts or  market stalls, as well as regular restaurants. Outside of Mexico, especially in the United States, taqueria usually refers to an enclosed restaurant. Taquerias mainly sell tacos, but they sometimes also offer other casual Mexican favorites, like burritos.

Fast food places like Taco Bell are known for selling tacos (especially Americanized versions of them), but the word taqueria is usually used for places considered to have more authentic Mexican cuisine, especially small, independent, family-owned restaurants or stalls. Here you can expect to find soft corn tortillas filled with different kinds of meat, such as pork, beef, chicken, and goat, that is often topped with chopped onion, cilantro, and a splash of lime.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of taqueria?

• taquerias (plural)

What are some synonyms for taqueria?

• taco place

What are some words that share a root or word element with taqueria? 

• taco
• pizzeria

What are some words that often get used in discussing taqueria?

• Mexican
• restaurant
• street food
• stall
• tortilla

How is taqueria used in real life?

Mexican food has been popular in the U.S. since at least the 1960s, but tacos, Taco Tuesdays, and taquerias are more popular than ever. You can find taquerias in most big cities, and people especially like to find out-of-the-way ones that serve what they consider to be the most authentic versions of Mexican tacos.

In Cali you really have a taqueria at every corner 🙏🏼😂

— Piz (@JoshPisik) February 19, 2020

Starting a new week w/a new (to me) taquería is a good reminder that every day is filled with endless possibilities — and if we’re lucky, many, many tacos

That’s right, people! Toros Tacos in Nampa has the magical ability to restore your faith in the world. Watcha waiting for?!? pic.twitter.com/QPWYDBC3Sn

— Nicole Foy (@nicoleMfoy) February 17, 2020

i keep thinking about a specific taqueria back home that sells sweet corn tamales :( miss u queen

— regular guy (@ishidarelatable) February 16, 2020

 

 

Try using taqueria!

True or false? 

Fast food taco places are usually called taquerias.