By the 1920s, tacos began to adapt to American tastes and ingredients, with ground beef rather than offal filling shells, and extras like cheese and tomato piled on top. Records of hard taco shells first appear in the 1940s, with Glen Bell’s Taco Bell opening in the 1960s. Today there are more than 7,000 Taco Bell restaurants worldwide.

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveFOOD

Now read about the most historic fast food joints in every US state

Last updated by Clare Thorp.

The surprising history behind your favourite fast food items