In America, hard-shell tacos are simultaneously heretical and popular. It's polarizing, like pineapples on pizza.

Honestly the disdain for them is a _little_ silly when they're not that different from a tostada (in fact, Taco Bell, in their failed foray into Mexico, called their tacos "Tacostadas" to give Mexican customers the idea).

What kind of taco do you picture when you think of a hard-shelled taco?

I picture American tacos (which are not good tacos, though I wouldn’t say I “disdain” them per se).

Oh well ground beef with “taco seasoning” is not necessarily that compelling. But the concept of a hard shell for tacos itself seems not that different from the impulse behind tostadas (or taquitos or flautas).

> in their failed foray into Mexico

Really, they actually tried this? What were they thinking??

It's not really "Mexican food" and they weren't trying to get in that lane but to be something different. It's not that crazy. Panda Express has been somewhat successful in Asia.

Marmite is polarising, you can legitimately like or dislike it. What you're suggesting is inflammatory legitimisation of an abhorrent practice.

Marmite hard shelled tacos, with shrimp

Prawns*

And pineapple?

This works, I might add watercress.

and nutella

and ketchup

And some dental floss for after!

hard shell tacos are easy to find in the southwest and much different to what taco bell might serve. They are just fried corn tortillas folded. That was the original inspiration of to crunchy taco, execution just got iffy as they scaled up.

>But I’ve always seen them made using a hard-shell made of corn, that breaks way too easy. And I believe that’s considered heretic in the US

Certainly not heretic. You'll find hard-shell corn tacos in pretty much any US grocery store. They do break easily but they're what I would tend to use for a taco with ground beef. Otherwise, I'd usually use soft corn.

I usually get two, break them up and make a taco salad, much easier to eat and less likely to ruin a shirt. If I can't set up that situation I get the soft tacos.

Oh that's an interesting idea. Never heard of a taco salad.