Is a Taco a Sandwich? An Actual Judge Just Settled the Debate

Move over hot dogs, there's a new hot topic in town.

It feels like just yesterday we were discussing whether or not hot dogs were sandwiches. Now, the question has been raised: Are tacos sandwiches, too? If you ask one Indiana judge, they are. Before we all declare which side of the polarizing argument we’re on, let’s review the merits of the case.

The heated debate started in a local strip mall in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The plans for the mall, made in accordance with the nearby neighborhood association, originally dictated that any restaurant in the mall would not offer alcohol or allow outdoor seating, and would only sell “made-to-order or subway-style sandwiches.”

The idea here was that this would keep out national fast food chains and the high traffic they bring. When locally-owned eatery The Famous Taco tried to open up in the strip mall, the case went to court—because, as we all know, tacos don’t fall under the sandwich category...Or do they?

According to Allen County Superior Judge Craig Bobay’s official opinion, “The Court agrees with [the restaurant owner] that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches, and the original Written Commitment does not restrict potential restaurants to only American cuisine-style sandwiches.”

Thus, The Famous Taco is free to open as planned. Additionally, Bobay's decision paved the way to “also permit a restaurant that serves made-to-order Greek gyros, Indian naan wraps, or Vietnamese Bánh mì.” We’ll take any strip mall offering all of these world’s best sandwiches, please.

Are Tacos Sandwiches?

Just because tacos were deemed to be sandwiches for the purposes of this specific court case doesn’t mean it’s the law of the land, right? When posed with this question, our team of Allrecipes staffers certainly doesn’t think so. We all come down on the side of “not a sandwich.”

As editor Courtney Kassel sums it up, “NO! A sandwich has two pieces of bread with fillings between. It's the same reason a hot dog isn't one either.” This is pretty much the Merriam-Webster definition of a sandwich, too. Just like hot dogs, tacos are a classification all their own. Furthermore, someone should probably let Judge Bobay know that "Mexican-style sandwiches" do exist, but they're called Tortas. However, if this judgment allows more taco joints to open up shop, we’ll allow it.

Suddenly craving tacos? Luckily, we’ve got lots of taco recipes right here to make tonight, from Walking Tacos, to Taco Lettuce Wraps, to Taco Salad, and more. Whatever combo of shell and filling you can think of, we’ll help you get tacos on the table—whether you want to call it a “sandwich” or not.

Next, we’ll have to stay tuned to see if the same Indiana restaurant runs a "Taco Tuesday" special, since the phrase is no longer trademarked after the last round of taco-related litigation.

Read the original article on All Recipes.