Skip to Content
Tacos

We Won: Apple’s New Taco Emoji is an Authentic Taco

iOS 10.2 is close to a release, and it will include a bunch of new emojis, including an avocado which looks like this:

screen-shot-2016-11-01-at-9-46-39-pm

Notice that the look is a bit more detailed and 3D than the current emoji? That's because Apple has redesigned all of their emojis to make them higher quality images with more details, colors, and shading. Part of this includes a total refresh of the taco emoji. Remember our unsuccessful campaign to get Apple and others to make an authentic taco emoji? We're pleased to show you the new taco emoji below...

<cwqoabyvyaaxayy

As you can see, it's a real soft corn tortilla, along with cilantro, onion, and (probably) carne asada. It looks delicious, and authentic. Nice work, Apple! Android will hopefully step up to the plate soon and deliver their own improved emoji. We know this is all pretty silly in the scheme of things, but it is still cool that the most famous Mexican food item now has a proper emoji that we can all feel proud of and send to our friends without conflicted feelings. It also means that the taco lifestyle won, and Taco Bell lost.

The burrito also got a much-needed facelift. It no longer is some sort of hideous wrap, and is now pretty clearly modeled on the Mission burritos in Apple's backyard, rice, beans, foil and all.

screen-shot-2016-11-01-at-4-54-27-pm

We take back every bad thing we said about Emoji designers, obviously the transition from hard-shell Taco Bell fast-food taco to gorgeously rendered authentic taco wasn't easy to do from an artistic standpoint, but the designers in Cupertino nailed it. For all your Emoji needs, check out Emojipedia. You can see just how far the other companies have to go to reach Apple's new standard.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

UPDATE: Mr.Tempo Cantina Closes Controversial Hollywood Location

'Mr. Tempo' caught heat back in 2022 when L.A. preservationists came after him for gutting the 94-year-old Hollywood legend Pig ‘N Whistle restaurant without permits.

June 15, 2026

Sunday Taquitos #28: Get Out, LOSER!

Sunday Taquitos! Art by Pulitzer Prize Finalist Ivan Ehlers.

June 14, 2026

What You Need To Know About ICE At The FIFA World Cup

Plus, CHIRLA and LAARN published a “Know Before You Go” safety guide for fans attending World Cup-related events.

June 13, 2026

L.A TACO’s 2026 Guide To Free Summer Concerts in L.A.

Los Lobos, Keyshia Cole, DJ Quik, Kurupt, The Paranoias, Jungle Fire, and Delfonics are among the many artists you can catch for free in L.A. this summer, if you know where to look. Just don't look at that Rivers Cuomo too closely.

A Ninja Turtles-Themed Pizzeria with a Serious New York Slice

Take it from a California-raised food writer who did ten years in NYC, these slices slaughter the competition like a sai to Shredder's face.

June 12, 2026

When Pedro Arrests Juan: Why Latinos Join Border Patrol and ICE 

Many Latino families inherited the same lesson generation after generation: When society views you as foreign, proving your Americanness can become its own form of survival.

June 11, 2026
See all posts