When is this day celebrated? January 25
Why is this day being celebrated? Arguably the tastiest dish to come out of Baja California, the fish taco has become a fan favorite across America. Starting a dining wave Americans have been riding since the 1980s, the surf-inspired dish consists of a lightly battered mild white fish that is deep-fried, then served in a corn tortilla with shredded cabbage, a thin sour-cream or mayonnaise-based sauce, a bit of salsa, and a most vital spiritzio of lime. Rubio’s Coastal Grill has been credited with pioneering the fish taco phenomenon in the U.S. with the introduction of its Original Fish Taco on January 25, 1983 at its first walk-up stand in San Diego. Since then, the fast-casual chain has grown to operate more than 200 restaurants across several states, selling more than 200 million fish tacos. When laid end-to-end with 6-inch tortillas, that amounts to 18,939 miles – nearly three times the circumference of the moon! It’s no wonder the fish taco has become love at first bite and an integral part of the dining culture for so many Americans.
Who created this day? This day was created by Rubio’s Coastal Grill in 2018. By marking January 25 as National Fish Taco Day, Rubio’s Coastal Grill will celebrate its beloved recipe on the exact day that Founder Ralph Rubio introduced the Original Fish Taco North of the border more than 30 years ago!
How should this day be celebrated? National Fish Taco Day should be widely celebrated by Americans engaging in activities, recipes, discounts, deals and more that are specifically tied to the surf-inspired dish. Find a recipe online, in-print or through word-of-mouth from family members or friends to create at home, or give the gift of tacos to a loved-one, friend, colleague, or stranger on the street. Head over to one of the local seafood and/or Mexican-style/Tex-Mex restaurants to enjoy festive promotions and specials for the mouth-watering dish. Most notably, Rubio’s Coastal Grill would commemorate this occasion with an elaborate campaign at its 200+ restaurants across several states. What better way to celebrate the iconic dish than with friends and family at the place where it all began?