Taco

A taco is a traditional Mexican dish comprising a rolled or folded, pliable tortilla filled with meat (generally grilled beef or variety meats such as tongue and brains), chile sauce, and garnishes such as pico de gallo and cilantro. It may also contain just about any other dish that lends itself to it. Basically it must be chopped and fairly dry. There are many subvarieties, and most of them have a certain set of traditional fillings.

Americanized versions may use a deep-fried crispy tortilla shell, and include ingredients such as lettuce and cheese. The taco made with a crispy taco shell is probably descended not from the taco, but from the tostada, which it resembles more closely.