Oct. 4 is National Taco Day, a day to commemorate the delicious Mexican tortilla treat so beloved that someone named a fast food chain after it.
Interesting tidbit: the exact origins of the taco are unknown, but one theory attributes the name to Mexican coal miners, because "taco is what they called the small paper-rolled explosives used to excavate walls inside the mines.
Anyway, here are five local places to find a taco:
Casa Blanca: This traditional Mexican restaurant actually doesn't list tacos on their menu, ironically. But you can order their small crispy taquito bites, served with pico de gallo, cheese, sauce, lettuce, sour cream and guacamole.
Chili's: This popular Mexican chain has Spicey Grilled Shrimp Tacos filled with chile-lime shrimp cilantro-slaw, pico de gallo and and sliced avocado. Served with rice & black beans. They also have crispy chicken tacos.
Palmers: This may not be a Mexican restaurant, but Palmers has interesting Cajun Shrimp Tacos topped with mango salsa, remoulade, baby arugula and pickled jalepenos .
Chipotle: For a quick taco lunch, head to Chipotle across the line in the North Andover Eaglewood Shops. Their tacos come in crispy and soft and have braised, adobo-marinated grilled chicken or steak, salsa, cheese, sour cream and romaine lettuce.
Cafe Azteca: Just across the town line in Lawrence, Cafe Azteca has their standard $7.50 basic tacos or upgrade to $9.50 tacos stuffed with grilled chicken or steak, guacamole, pico de gallo and lettuce.
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