This dish consists of the ingredients typically known for Mexican tacos, such as taco meat (ground beef cooked with seasonings), shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, served on top of plain white rice. It originated in Okinawa Prefecture in the 1980s. It is said that “Parler Senri”, a restaurant in Kin-Cho, Okinawa Prefecture, is where it all began. （※”Parler Senri” closed its doors in 2015.）Apparently, the restaurant has always served tacos, and they were one of its most popular dishes. Since Camp Hansen, one of the U.S. Marine Corps bases in Japan, was located nearby, that restaurant was frequently visited by Marines stationed there, and the dishes were originally created for them. As these dishes gained popularity, they spread to other restaurants throughout the prefecture. Today, taco rice has become one of Okinawa Prefecture’s classic local dishes, and it is also served at restaurants and other dining establishments throughout Japan. Major fast-food chains and other establishments sometimes offer these as seasonal menu, and seasoning mixes are also sold in packages for home cooking. As a Western-style dish created in Japan, it is relatively new and can be considered a rare dish whose place of origin and history are clearly established.