Did You Know…

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

…that the very first Jack in the Box opened in 1951 at 6270 El Cajon Blvd., just east of North Park near Rolando? It reportedly sizzled onto the scene the same year that Merriam-Webster published the term “fast-food” in its dictionaries.

Perhaps a lesser-known fact is that the company introduced its famous fried tacos back in the 1950s. To the surprise of many, their mulchy fillings are not 100 percent beef. The mixture contains a near-equal blend of beef and soy—just as they have since the beginning, according to a rep we spoke with from the company’s Kearny Mesa headquarters. (Yes, the company was far ahead of its time by using tofu in a consumer product.)

Sold in pairs, the tacos eventually became known on the streets as “Jack’s hangover cure.”

As a final note, the homegrown chain was founded by entrepreneur Robert O. Peterson, who would soon after open a second location in Pacific Beach. Since then the brand has significantly expanded to more than 2,100 outlets in 21 states. Locally you’ll find operations in North Park, Hillcrest and downtown.