Tacos in United States
Regional and diaspora traditions
Puffy tacos, breakfast tacos and regional Mexican cooking
The place: San Antonio
San Antonio, in south-central Texas, is one useful starting point. Taco culture also has deep roots along the border and in Mexican American communities throughout the United States.
Taco culture
San Antonio is associated with puffy tacos, whose freshly fried masa shells swell into an airy, crisp pocket. Texas breakfast tacos form another distinct tradition. Elsewhere, Mexican regional cooking sits alongside newer forms such as Korean American tacos.
These traditions should be explored separately. A puffy taco is not the same construction as a packaged hard-shell taco, and a Korean taco is a fusion style rather than a general name for tacos served in South Korea.
Explore the dishes and places
Sources and further reading
- The Delicate History of the Puffy Taco
- San Antonio's Famous Puffy Tacos
- San Antonio geographic context
Guide reviewed October 10, 2026. Restaurant menus and locations can change.