National Taco Day: Taco Bell, Del Taco, Jack in the Box, More Offer Free Tacos and Other Deals
Today is the ultimate Taco Tuesday.
Today is National Taco Day. That's right -- Taco Tuesday just got a major upgrade.
The origins of the popular dish stretch back to long before the Spanish arrived in Mexico, though what we know as the modern-day taco emerged in the 18th century, when Mexican miners needed something inexpensive and portable to eat. Some historians believe the word "taco" originated as slang for the paper rolls filled with gunpowder that they used to blast the ore.
Read more: National Cinnamon Roll Day Is Oct. 4: Freebies from Cinnabon, Cinnaholic and More
When Mexican workers migrated to California, they bought the taco with them. By 1989, Wyoming-based chain Taco John's had actually trademarked "Taco Tuesday."
On National Taco Day, nationwide chains and local eateries alike are offering free tacos, discounts and other deals. Check out our growing list below and come back for more updates.
Celebrating National Taco Day at home? Check out top air fryers and pressure cookers for whipping up a Tex-Mex banquet.
California Tortilla
The chicken club street taco at California Tortilla.
Come by California Tortilla on Oct. 4 and get a coupon with any purchase for a free taco, redeemable between Oct. 5 and Oct. 11.
Casey's
Casey's Taco Pizza.
For National Taco Day, Casey's is offering a large Taco Pizza for $14. The pie starts with refried beans and salsa, mozzarella cheese and beef or chicken. Then it's topped off with lettuce, tomatoes, taco chips and cheddar cheese.
Chevys Fresh Mex
Chevys Taco Tuesday happy hour includes $3 tacos and $6 house margaritas.
Available from 3 p.m. to close, Chevys Taco Tuesday deal includes $3 tacos -- with your choice of barbacoa, steak, chicken or carnitas -- plus $6 house margaritas.
Chuy's
On National Taco Day, add a crispy or soft taco to any entree for $1.
Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1982, Chuy's now has nearly 100 locations across 17 states. On National Taco Day, you can add a crispy or soft ground beef taco to any entree for $1. And to quench your thirst, the Tex-Mex chain is also offering $1 tequila floaters to top off any margarita.
Chuy's has another deal for more adventurous souls: Dress like a taco on National Taco Day and post a photo with #ChuysTacoDay. Show your pic at your nearest Chuy's for a free entree of your choice.
Chronic Tacos
Get $1 off all Chronic tacos on Oct. 4.
Chronic Tacos is taking $1 off all tacos on National Taco Day. Plus, customers who download the Chronic Tacos app before Oct. 4 are automatically entered for a chance to win free tacos for a year.
Del Taco
It's Tacoberfest at Del Taco, with a month of mouthwatering deals.
Del is launching "Tacoberfest" on Oct. 1, a full 31 days of deals using the Del Yeah Rewards app.
For National Taco Day, members can partake in Tuesday taco night -- three ground beef tacos for $1.69 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m -- and earn double Del Yeah Rewards points to boot.
El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco's Chicken Taco al Carbon.
Loco Rewards members get eight free tacos credited to their account when they spend at least $10 on National Taco Day. Plus, enjoy free delivery all day when you order online or with the Loco Rewards app.
El Torito
El Torito's $3 build-your-own taco comes with handmade tortillas and your choice of chicken, steak, carnitas or al pastor filling.
The California-based chain, which has more than 30 locations nationwide, is offering a $3 build-your-own taco bar, with handmade tortillas and your choice of chicken, steak, carnitas or al pastor tacos.
Running from 3 p.m. to close, El Torito's happy hour also includes $6 house and signature margaritas, $6 mini steaks and chorizo tacos.
Fuzzy's Taco Shop
Baja shredded chicken tacos at Fuzzy's Taco Shop.
Founded in Ft. Worth, Texas, in 2003, Fuzzy's has grown to nearly 150 locations in 18 states. To celebrate National Taco Day, it's offering $1.50 tacos all day, smothered in Fuzzy's distinctive feta-and-garlic sauce.
Plus, you can enter to win free tacos for a year: Every order placed on the Fuzzy's Taco Shop app on Oct. 4 is automatically entered into an Oct.10 drawing, with 100 winners notified via email. (You can also scan your receipt from that day into the app.)
Jack in the Box
The Monster Taco returns to Jack in the Box through Halloween.
On Oct. 4, Jack in the Box is resurrecting its Monster Taco, a larger version of its regular taco with two slices of American cheese, shredded lettuce and taco sauce.
Get two Monster Tacos for $3 through Oct. 31, when the supersize menu item vanishes into the mists once more.
Moe's Southwest Grill
Moe's Rewards members get $5 off any meal kit on National Taco Day. Taco kits come with 12 soft flour tortillas, a choice of two proteins, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, beans, rice, sour cream and Moe's famous queso -- plus free chips and salsa.
Use promo code TACODAY22 to take advantage of the savings.
On the Border
Premium tacos are $4 on Taco Fix Tuesdays at On the Border.
Every Taco Fix Tuesday, enjoy $2 beef, chicken tinga or veggie tacos at one of more than 150 On the Border locations across the US. Or splurge on some premium Southwest chicken and brisket tacos, $4 each.
Rosa Mexicano
Tacos are 50% off on National Taco Day and every Tuesday this month at Rosa Mexicana.
It's half-price tacos every Tuesday in October at all 10 Rosa Mexicana locations.
Rusty Taco
Rusty Taco rewards members get a free taco on National Taco Day.
On Oct. 4, Rusty Taco is bringing back the Uptown, a taco made with fried chicken, slaw, honey, queso and sriracha -- and offering it for free to members of the Friends of Rusty club.
Serendipity 3
Made with edible 24-carat gold, Serendipity 3's $100 Golden Taco is only available on Oct. 4.
The landmark New York restaurant is honoring National Taco Day by offering a $100 Serendipity Golden Taco, an homage to Klondike's recently discontinued Choco Taco.
Available only on Oct. 4, the decadent dessert is made with Serendipity's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate ice cream, dipped in ruby chocolate and topped with 23-karat edible gold, all stuffed inside a homemade waffle shell.
7-Eleven
Get 10 mini tacos at 7-Eleven for $2.
On National Taco Day, 7Rewards members get 10 mini tacos -- made with shredded beef, green chiles, jalapeno peppers and cilantro -- for $2.
"7-Eleven is here to shell out the good times and appreciate the little things in life -- like miniature food items and National Taco Day," Vareesha Shariff, the brand's senior director of hot food, said in a statement.
Taco Bell
The Taco Lover's Pass app is returning for one day only on Oct. 4.
Taco Bell is celebrating National Taco Day with the one-day-only return of its taco subscription service, the Taco Lover's Pass, on Oct. 4.
For a flat $10 fee, the pass allows you to order one of seven tacos -- the Crunchy Taco, Crunchy Taco Supreme, Soft Taco, Soft Taco Supreme, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Doritos Locos Tacos and the Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme -- daily for 30 days.
The Taco Lover's Pass will be available exclusively on the Taco Bell app. While you're there, vote for the return of one of Taco Bell's discontinued menu items, either the Double Decker Taco or the Enchirito.
Voting continues through Oct. 6, with the winner appearing on menus on Oct. 7.
Taco Cabana
Get $1 tacos at Taco Cabana's 148 locations throughout Texas and New Mexico.
San Antonio-based Taco Cabana is offering $1 bean-and-cheese tacos on National Taco Day.
Taco John's
Taco John's is giving away a Taco Bravo with any purchase on National Taco Day.
On Oct. 4, members of Taco John's Bigger Bolder Rewards loyalty program get a free beef Taco Bravo with any purchase in-store, online or through the Taco John's App.
"We take Taco Tuesday so seriously that we trademarked the holiday," Taco John's Chief Marketing Officer Barry Westrum said in a statement. "This year, National Taco Day is falling on Taco Tuesday so we're upping our game even more."
Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Taco John's now has nearly 400 locations in 22 states.
Velvet Taco
Mark Jansen's Pho King Taco is the inaugural winner of Velvet Taco's WTF recipe contest.
Through Oct. 4, Velvet Taco is offering the winning entry from its debut WTF (Weekly Taco Feature) recipe contest: Austin native Mark Jansen's Pho King Taco -- a flour tortilla filled with rotisserie chicken, bok choy, pickled onions, garlic, rice noodles, bean sprouts, hoisin sauce and lime and served with a pho broth on the side.
Velvet Taco has more than 35 locations, in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee and Oklahoma.