What makes a street taco a “street taco”? For one, they’re smaller—the corn tortillas are four to four-and-a-half inches in diameter, as opposed to “regular” tacos. Plus, instead of one tortilla, you stack two.
They’re often meant to be a snack or appetizer, picked up hot from a street vendor, but they can also be eaten a few at a time for a meal.
The reason we’re talking about street tacos is that they’re perfect for customization and becoming increasingly popular. Street tacos have seen over 35 percent growth over the past four years, per Datassential SNAP! So how could restaurants add some sizzle to their menus?
The Art of Balancing
With so much flavor in one small package, chefs will want to ensure balance. Nobody wants meat spilling out, cheese drowning the meat, or veggies falling on the ground. “You need such a diverse and inclusive product set to get the right mix,” Dot Foods Corporate Chef Tim Gump says.
Meat on the Street
The most common meat inside street tacos is barbacoa—shredded beef seasoned with chipotle adobo and cumin, cloves, garlic, and oregano. Carnitas are also a popular meat for street tacos, with tender, braised pork. Birria taco, filled with adobo-stewed beef or goat, has seen a 500 percent growth in delivery orders according to Grubhub.
Another option is to shift focus from land mammals to creatures of the deep. Consider fish tacos, with tender white fish, like tilapia, halibut, or mahi mahi. Add on some pickled veggies, like carrot, white onion, raddish, and jalapeno, and swirl a zesty crema on top.
Streets of East Asia
Traditional Mexican applications don’t have to limit taco creations. What about fried gochujang shrimp street tacos? A cilantro slaw and lime crema could top it off nicely. Keep the Asian flare going with Kung Pao marinated pork paired with crisp, fresh vegetables or short rib tacos served alongside Korean barbecue sauce and pickles.
Your Sourcing Solution
Getting excited for some street tacos? Dot Foods is the sourcing solution for restaurants and chains. From the meats and tortillas to the exciting sauces, there’s a host of ingredients and solutions to make street tacos sizzle.
Find what chefs need to make tacos sizzle. Explore our website.