taqueria

[ tah-kuh-ree-uh ]
/ ˌtɑ kəˈri ə /

noun

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

Words nearby taqueria

tapsalteerie, tapster, tapu, taqiyah, taqlid, taqueria, tar, tar and feather, tar baby, tar ball, tar boy

VOCAB BUILDER

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? 

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

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.

 

 

Try using taqueria!

True or false? 

Fast food taco places are usually called taquerias.