What Is Taco Rice And Is It The Same As Mexican Rice?

Despite the taco's origins in Mexico, taco rice was created in Okinawa, Japan, and features a bed of steamed rice topped with classic Tex-Mex ingredients. The dish includes ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Rather than a hard or soft tortilla for the carb, a basic stovetop steamed rice is used as the base. In contrast, Mexican rice is distinctly different from taco rice. For a flavorful Mexican rice to impress your guests, the recipe typically calls for long-grain rice, onions, garlic, cumin, chicken broth, and tomato sauce. As you can see, these are two very different dishes. 

The way the rice is prepared is another major difference between Mexican and taco rice, despite both using long-grain rice. In Mexican rice, the grains are sauteed until toasted before boiling to prevent stickiness. In contrast, taco rice is rinsed and then boiled, resulting in fluffy, slightly sticky rice. However, to understand how this unique fusion dish came to be, it helps to look back at its humble beginnings.

In the year 1984, a restaurant resided next to an American military base in Okinawa, Japan. The restaurant was owned by Matsuo Gibo. He had a vision of creating an affordable meal that was quite filling for the American military located next door to him.

Ultimately, Gibo had the idea to combine a popular United States meal with a Japanese staple, bringing the two food cultures together. The simple twist drew people through his doors, attracting both the American military as well as local residents. As taco rice gained popularity, it soon began showing up as a menu item at other restaurants. Today, taco rice remains a common dish throughout Okinawa's food culture and is widely shared among families.

The dish itself is easy to experiment with, allowing you to choose different toppings and spices to suit whatever flavor your taste buds crave — including different liquids to cook the rice in. Traditional taco seasoning calls for chili, garlic, and onion powder along with crushed red pepper, dried oregano, paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. However, if you are traveling through Japan, you'll find seasonings common to Japanese cuisine, such as curry powder or tonkatsu sauce, being used instead. 

Taco rice is a versatile dish for any occasion — including Taco Tuesday, casual dinners, or get-togethers with loved ones. Best of all, it comes together easily in just minutes.