Is a taco salad, a taco or a salad?

This is a conversation a friend of mine and I have weighed in on. What's your thoughts?

@cannonballbam: It's neither. It's a taco salad.

It is whatever you want it to be man.

@cannonballbam: It's a salad that has tacos in it. If it were a taco it would be called a Salad Taco.

I am of the opinion that it is a taco themed salad. It is primarily a lettuce based dish with taco related trimmings; your taco chips, some sort of meat sauce, salsa, guacamole, cheese, etc. acting as the toppings. A taco, in the strictest sense of being a taco, is really more of a primary taco (tortilla), cheese, and meat thing, that may or may not contain a portion of lettuce.

This is in a similar sense of a salad that may contain some sort of pasta, but is most certainly not qualifying as a pasta dish.

Salad. Just like a Salad Taco is a taco.

@itwongo: Yes i agree with this summation.

The real question: Are you a taco or a salad?

It's a salad made up exclusively of tacos. It is somewhat related to the salad taco, which is when you stuff an entire cabbage into a hard shell tortilla.

Now I want a taco salad.

Depends on how you're pronouncing taco.

The real question is if Taco's Bell's taco-salad considered a taco or salad at all..

@blu3v3nom07 said:

The real question is if Taco's Bell's taco-salad considered a taco or salad at all..

I think the research is still out on whether it is even considered "food".

It's a salad.

Just like a salad taco is a taco.

Its a salad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad

I always thought it was a Taco (like Potato Salad isn't salad either). I probably have a narrow view of salads.

I believe you're describing Chipolte. They're not fucking burritos people! They're just taco salads wrapped in a tortilla. Learn your shit.

It's very clearly a salad. Don't be silly.

As an expert on giving my opinion and serving up a fresh plate of food for thoughts (get it? heheh, no? ok never mind me), I think a taco salad is its own category. separate but equal to the tacos and salads of the world.

I think this is not unlike the cheese cake debate. It is not cheese nor is it cake, but it sure is god damn delicious!