chalupas
Crispy Mexican boats
Chalupas are a Mexican food consisting of a fried masa shell shaped like a small boat, typically topped with meat, cheese, lettuce, and salsa.
The name comes from the Spanish word for small boats, which the shells resemble.
In the United States, Taco Bell popularized a version that uses a flatbread shell rather than the traditional fried corn base, making the term familiar even to those unfamiliar with authentic Mexican cuisine.
Thin unleavened Mexican bread
- masaNixtamalized corn dough
- cornCereal grown on cobs
- friedCooked in hot fat
- boat-shapedCurved like a hull
tostada · Mexican · Tex-Mex · gordita · huarache · Puebla · crispy · golden
Spicy tomato condiment
- cheeseFermented milk solid
- shreddedTorn into strips
- lettuceLeafy salad vegetable
- tomatoRed culinary fruit
guacamole · sour cream · beans · chicken · beef · pork · carnitas · chorizo
Casual vendor-sold eats
- taco truckMobile Mexican eatery
- marketVenue for trade
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- cartVehicle for hauling
vendor · festival · fair · authentic · local · sidewalk · urban · taquería
Breaking with sound
- crispFirm and breakable
- friedCooked in hot fat
- goldenBright yellow, or precious
- crackleSharp snapping sounds
flaky · brittle · shell · bite · toasted · shatter · crispness · puffy
Quick-serve Mexican chain
- drive-thruVehicle-accessible service window
- menu itemListed food option
- AmericanizedCulturally adapted to US
- commercializedExploited for profit
chain restaurant · Supreme · combo meal · value menu · late night · franchise · mainstream · popularized
tortilla
Thin unleavened Mexican bread
boat-shaped · tostada · Mexican · Tex-Mex · gordita · huarache · Puebla · crispy · golden · authentic
salsa
Spicy tomato condiment
tomato · guacamole · sour cream · beans · chicken · beef · pork · carnitas · chorizo · cilantro
street food
Casual vendor-sold eats
- taco truckMobile Mexican eatery
- marketVenue for trade
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
cart · vendor · festival · fair · authentic · local · sidewalk · urban · taquería · mercado
crunchy
Breaking with sound
crackle · flaky · brittle · shell · bite · toasted · shatter · crispness · puffy · chewy
Taco Bell
Quick-serve Mexican chain
- drive-thruVehicle-accessible service window
- menu itemListed food option
- AmericanizedCulturally adapted to US
chain restaurant · commercialized · Supreme · combo meal · value menu · late night · franchise · mainstream · popularized
- Mexican foodtacos, chilaquiles, taco, huevos rancheros, burritos
chalupasburritos
Filled, folded flour tortillas
taquitos · flautas · enchiladas · wraps · quesadillas