Taco Tico
Encyclopedia
Taco Tico is a chain of Tex-Mex cuisine
fast-food restaurants. This establishment serves taco
s, tostada
s, nachos
, enchilada
s, burrito
s, refried beans, quesadilla
s, taco burgers, and sanchos available for dine-in, take-out
, or drive-thru. Dan Foley opened the first Taco Tico in 1962, in his native Wichita, Kansas
. He began franchising new locations in 1967. The company kept expanding and also added more items to the menu, which originally just offered tacos and nachos, and was a regional hit by 1980.
In 1988, Foley sold the company and chain to a former executive from KFC
. The meat recipe, which gave Taco Tico tacos their unique flavor, was changed at that time. most likely as a result of corporate influence, in an effort to lower costs. The meat, at that time, was sent in frozen tubes, from the home office. The flavoring was shown to be unpopular and Taco Tico has since switched back to the original flavoring.
Expansion continued and locations are throughout the Midwest and Southeastern
states. Taco Tico developed 4 distinctive taco sauce
s (mild, medium, hot, and volcano) in 1971 and continues to use them today. They also offer a green chili sauce. Newer buildings are adobe
with teal-green and orange awnings, signs, and trim.
Tex-Mex cuisine
"Tex-Mex" is a term used to describe a regional American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States and the culinary creations of Mexican-Americans influenced by the cuisines of Mexico. The cuisine has spread from border states such as Texas and those in the Southwestern...
fast-food restaurants. This establishment serves taco
Taco
A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and cheese, allowing for great versatility and variety...
s, tostada
Tostada
Tostada is a Spanish word which literally means "toasted". It is used in Latin America to name several different traditional local dishes which have in common the fact they are toasted or use a toasted ingredient as the main base of their preparation. There is a gender difference between "tostada"...
s, nachos
Nachos
Nachos are a popular food based on nixtamalized corn, of Mexican origin associated with Tex-Mex cuisine that can be either made quickly to serve as a snack or prepared with more ingredients to make a full meal. In their simplest form, nachos are tortilla chips or totopos covered in melted cheese...
, enchilada
Enchilada
An enchilada is a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili pepper sauce. Enchiladas can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, seafood or combinations.-Etymology:...
s, burrito
Burrito
A burrito , or taco de harina, is a type of Mexican food. It consists of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped or folded around a filling. The flour tortilla is usually lightly grilled or steamed, to soften it and make it more pliable. In Mexico, refried beans or meat are sometimes the only fillings...
s, refried beans, quesadilla
Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a flour or corn tortilla filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese and other ingredients, then folded in half to form a half-moon shape. This dish originated in Mexico, and the name is derived from the Spanish word queso ....
s, taco burgers, and sanchos available for dine-in, take-out
Take-out
Take-out or takeout , carry-out , take-away , parcel , or tapau , is food purchased at a...
, or drive-thru. Dan Foley opened the first Taco Tico in 1962, in his native Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. He began franchising new locations in 1967. The company kept expanding and also added more items to the menu, which originally just offered tacos and nachos, and was a regional hit by 1980.
In 1988, Foley sold the company and chain to a former executive from KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
. The meat recipe, which gave Taco Tico tacos their unique flavor, was changed at that time. most likely as a result of corporate influence, in an effort to lower costs. The meat, at that time, was sent in frozen tubes, from the home office. The flavoring was shown to be unpopular and Taco Tico has since switched back to the original flavoring.
Expansion continued and locations are throughout the Midwest and Southeastern
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
states. Taco Tico developed 4 distinctive taco sauce
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is liquid, creaming or semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted...
s (mild, medium, hot, and volcano) in 1971 and continues to use them today. They also offer a green chili sauce. Newer buildings are adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
with teal-green and orange awnings, signs, and trim.