The story
Taco rice was invented in 1984 by Matsuzo Gibo in Kin, a small town in central Okinawa that is home to the US Marines' Camp Hansen. The story goes that he wanted a cheap, filling meal for the young Americans coming off the base, so he piled the makings of a taco, seasoned ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato and salsa, onto a plate of rice instead of into a tortilla. He served it at Parlor Senri and King Tacos, near the main gate. It caught on with locals as well as Marines, and chains carried it across Japan, including a run on KFC's menu in the 1990s.
Also known as タコライス, takoraisu, Okinawa taco rice.
On the Meridish menu
Taco rice was the rice & noodles course on menu No. 30 on October 30, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Taco filling (spiced beef, cheese, lettuce and tomato) piled on rice. A cafe owner by the gate of a US Marine base in this small island town invented it in 1984.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
