I understand the confussion, perhaps i can explain in a better fashion this time.

Tacos are not dishes nor recipes, a taco is merely the vehicle into which a meal is taken. A taco is just the name given to the form a tortilla takes when rolled and or stuffed. And the same happens with many of the preparations worldwide known as mexican cuisine.

For example, in US there are hogs, subs, and sandwiches. In the italian food the pastas, we know the pasta is almost all the time the same dough shaped into many different forms. And what is different is the preparation itself. We know there are spaghetti, fussilli, penne, ravioli, etc. But the name of the dish changes as more ingredients are added to the recipe. There is salsa alfredo, pomodoro, arrabiata, pesto, etc. All of them could be served on top of the same type of pasta, and so the name of the presentation changes.

Now, as we know now the taco is just the name given to the rolled tortilla, but many of our dishes have the same tortilla but take different names. So i'll explain. When we refer to tacos as the plate to be ordered in a mexican food stand, we mean that what we want is a meal that can be taken in such form but that it'll have different stuffing. As I said before in my previous comment one can have a pastor taco or suadero taco. both of them are completely different recipes. The common denominator is the tortilla, the salsas and the garnishes. In the case of tacos salsas are the dressing which can be optional, as well as the garnishes. None of them both salsas and garnishes change the name of the stuffing.

Fajitas is a great example. the fajitas are what their name says, thin stripes of meat grilled with veggies. Many of the ingredients may vary, but to be fajitas the preparation must have at all times bell peppers cut in stripes and meat (chicken, pork or beef) sliced in stripes as well. And yes much as the rule you may have a fajitas taco, and dressed and garnish it with the aforementioned salsas.

Now the enchiladas. This preparation takes its name by the way it is served. The rule? it has to be folded or rolled tortilla but completely bathed in salsa. The flavor of the salsa is optional, but they have to be bathed and served dampened in the salsa. Enchilada refers to the term used in mexico when someone is affected by the chili. Instead of saying "it's hot!" we say "pica" or "me enchile" much like saying im covered in chili. Again the garnishes are optional but not the salsa.

Quesadillas, take their name from the spanish word for cheese - queso. So by definition are tortillas stuffed with cheese. I say by definition because in many mexican food stands the tend to stuffed the quesadilla with hundreds of different preparations and then they add the cheese. Traditionally quesadillas are folded not rolled, so they cant be named taco. Salsas as dressing and garnishes are optional.

Burrito, a preparation born in northern mexico. As well as the taco the burrito follows the way a tortilla is folded. With burritos the tortilla must be made from flour, hence its white color, and no matter which stuffing it's gonna have inside it must have a spread of refried bean. then the stuffed tortilla is folded with the stuffing in the center forming a pocket. As I said it was used to be made as a meal to eat while on the road, that is why it is not supposed to spill. Salsas and garnishes are optional.

the flautas are deep fried tacos, to be called flautas they have to be fried so they are crispy. Salsas and garnishes optional.

to clarify

Chili salsas are mostly dressings, and only in some preparations are used as the sauce of a dish.

The most common garnishes are finely chopped cilantro and onion.

tl;dr many of the world known mexican dishes take their name from the way a tortilla is presented. A taco is just a rolled tortilla.

and please don't think everything in mexican cuisine is to be fried and served with cheese. In fact cheese is not one of the main ingredients in mexican food. Unlike chili peppers, we loooove chili pepper!

-reddit user zmcleod
source: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1cznj1/comment/c9lu23t
retrieved: 2025-10-21