How The Hard Shell Taco Was Stolen by Taco Bell

Did you know the recipe for Taco Bell was actually stolen from a humble Mexican family-run restaurant? Yeah, buckle up—this is the wild story of how Glen Bell, a guy who couldn’t compete with McDonald’s, turned tacos into a global empire.

It’s the late 1940s. Glen Bell is back from WWII and trying to make his burger stand work in San Bernardino, California. But here’s the thing—he’s got no chance against McDonald’s. His wife thinks his next idea is crazy: ‘Why not make tacos?’ she laughs.


At night, Glen sneaks over to Mitla Café, a Mexican restaurant run by Lucia Rodriguez. It’s a Chicano hub in the 60s, a place where civil rights leaders like Cesar Chavez meet. But Glen isn’t there for the activism. He’s there for the tacos—crispy, fresh, and like nothing he’s tasted before.


Glen starts asking questions, watching how they fry the tortillas and prepare their fillings. Eventually, Lucia’s husband, too kind and too trusting, shares the recipe with Glen. And just like that, the seed of Taco Bell is planted.


White customers go crazy for the tacos. In 1954, Glen takes his new knowledge and starts opening taco stands. Eventually, one of those stands becomes Taco Bell.


Meanwhile, Mitla Café—opened in 1937 by Lucia Rodriguez, inspired by her family’s traditions from Jalisco—keeps serving its iconic hard-shell tacos. It’s still there today, in San Bernardino, a living piece of history.


This story isn’t just about tacos. It’s about how we, as Mexicans, often create incredible things but sometimes lack the vision—or the capital—to expand. It’s about being too kind and trusting, only to miss out on the opportunities we deserve.


But that doesn’t have to be the case anymore. Let’s take inspiration from this story—not just the loss, but the potential. Our traditions and ideas are worth millions, and it’s time to claim them. Let’s build, expand, and create the empires we know we’re capable of.
Support our own. Build our own. And never forget the flavor of where it all started.

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