Mexican/Taco Pizza

Taco Joe Pizza from Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream in Davenport, Iowa

Who invented Taco Pizza?

Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream founder, Joe Whittey, claims to be the first to add Taco Pizza to its menu. In 1974, they added a pizza topped with taco-flavored chips, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes to appease franchisees’ requests for tacos. They now have SIX different taco pizza variations on their menu. Happy Joe’s inspired Pizza Inn, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Godfathers Pizza, and many others to create similar pizzas. In 1979, Pizza Inn wanted to patent the name “taco pizza,” but Pizza Hut and Happy Joe’s teamed up in court to establish that “taco pizza” is only a generic description.

Who has the Taco Pizza / Mexican Pizza in Richmond, VA?