By Holden Sherman

As our world has become increasingly virtual, our food preferences have too, particularly when it comes to food trends on social media. Food influencers are powerful, editing their videos to present dishes that enhance the popularity of different foods and inspire others to try it and/or make it. A food that is considered a lesser-known regional treasure can become widespread and known around the world in a matter of weeks. The perfect example of this: birria tacos. Starting off as a Tijuana street food in the 20th century, birria tacos have taken the world by storm, becoming one of the most buzzworthy foods in the last few years. 

These juicy Mexican style tacos, which are filled with beef, cheese, cilantro, and onions in a corn tortilla and dipped into the broth that the beef was made in, are everywhere. No matter where you are, you are just as likely to find birria tacos on the menu now, as much as carne asada or al pastor tacos. 

Here are three reasons why I believe these savory, delicious tacos are everywhere now, and why they have taken social media by storm. 

1. Birria tacos are relatively easy and cheap to make, and despite taking some time to make, the cooking process is so rewarding. Unlike other cuts of meat (chuck roast), the main ingredient used to make birria tacos is incredibly affordable when compared to other types of beef. When watching tutorials online on how to make birria tacos, it is usually not a rigorous process and requires minimal technique. For most of the cooking process, the beef stews into the broth, where it develops its umami flavor. The assembly requires little preparation, other than shredding onions and making sure that a hot pan is ready on standby to finish the tacos. 

2. Birria tacos are eaten differently than most tacos, creating a unique experience for the person eating them. Consommé, or the dipping sauce served with birria tacos, is made up of the juices and oils that go into making birria, helping the taco taste especially flavorful. Most tacos do not have dipping sauces, let alone a dipping sauce that requires the level of attention and time that consommé does. 

3. Anything with beef and cheese is pretty well liked and something many people are interested in. Foods like cheesesteaks, reuben sandwiches, and cheeseburgers are common favorite foods because of the delicious combination of beef and cheese, and birria tacos are the latest food to be added to the mix. The meltiness of oaxaca and mozzarella cheese, the two cheeses most commonly used to make birria, combined with the rich-tasting meat is a new way for people to enjoy the iconic beef-cheese duo.