Taco rice is an Okinawan dish consisting of ground beef with taco seasonings, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, and salsa, served on a white, Japanese short-grain rice bed.
The story goes that tacos, a typical food on the U.S. military base in Okinawa, when first introduced, soon got a makeover by local eatery owners who sought out a cheaper and more satisfying replacement for taco shells: rice. It’s a ubiquitous dish in Okinawa to this day and quite popular throughout the rest of Japan. Some taco rice recipes add soy sauce and sake and taco flavourings to the ground beef to suit Japanese tastes.

Juicy Taco Rice Recipe
This taco rice recipe is an authentic Okinawan dish you must try. I guarantee that you'll love this recipe. Here's the very simple dish you must try.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
1 cup white rice - short-grain
250 grams ground beef (minced beef) - lean
1 tablespoon taco seasoning
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ cup tomato - diced with juice
Toppings Ingredients
½ cup iceberg lettuce - shredded
½ cup tomato - diced
2 small eggs - fried
1 medium avocado - sliced
½ cup sour cream - optional
½ cup tortilla chips - broken (optional)
1 cup salsa - optional
Instructions
- Cook a mixture of white and brown rice for texture.
- In a fry pan, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it turns light brown. Add all the dry seasonings, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the diced tomato and juice and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
- Assembly: In a shallow bowl, add a base layer of rice, then top with the ground beef mixture.
- Add diced tomatoes and shredded cheese, and top off with a fried egg.
- Add the shredded lettuce around the perimeter of the bowl. Add any other desired toppings.
Nutrition
Calories: 1067kcalCarbohydrates: 112gProtein: 44gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 257mgSodium: 1255mgPotassium: 1687mgFiber: 13gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2310IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 6mg
How did this recipe turn out for you?We’re eager to hear your thoughts!