Taco-loving Texan wants to change official state dish

AUSTIN, TX (KTRK) -- Taco lovers, your day has come. Self-proclaimed Texas taco journalist Mando Rayo has launched a Change.org org petition to establish tacos as the official dish of the Lone Star State.

"Whether you grew up here in Texas or you got here as soon as you could, you're eating tacos. In Texas, people eat tacos on a weekly basis. Hell, tacos were here before Texas was Texas!" Rayo wrote of the importance of tacos to Texan culture.

As part of his research, Rayo traveled to nearly a dozen Texas cities, eventually penning Tacos of Texas, a Lone Star taco lover's bible. During his travels, Rayo deduced that taco truck tacos are the Bayou City's Tex-Mex claim to fame.

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Meanwhile, Dallas is renowned for its fusion tacos, Austin and Corpus Christi for their breakfast tacos and El Paso for its carnitas taco.

"In Texas, you can find tacos almost anywhere, not just at Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants but food trucks, trailers, gas stations, Asian food places, barbecue joints and even all-American restaurants," he added.

The petition, which has already garnered more than 600 signatures, even has the support of the Texas Taco Council.

Should the petition proceed, however, taco lovers will likely find themselves at war with chili fanatics.

In 1977, legislators designated chili the state's official dish, writing that "one cannot be a true son or daughter of the state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, pure, unadulterated Texas chili."

At the time, Texas chili had the support of several notable public figures, even outside of the state.

"Chili concocted outside of Texas is a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing," President Lyndon B. Johnson reportedly said.

Actor Wil Rogers concurred, describing Texas chili as a "bowl of blessedness."