Now, it looks like their days of coining the common term could be coming to an end after Salsas Holdings Pty Ltd instructed Australian businesses to pull the phrase from their advertising, menu boards, and social media, declaring ownership of the term as their registered trademark.

The conflict arrived in the Hunter this week when The Crown & Anchor Hotel in Newcastle received a letter from Salsas asking they stop using the phrase.

“We assume that you are unaware that Salsas is the owner of the registered trade mark TACO TUESDAY in the respect to the provision of Mexican-style food and restaurant services … We request that The Crown & Anchor Hotel immediately cease use of the trade mark,” it read.

At this stage, The Pourhouse has not received a letter, but operations manager Benn Giles said he was “pretty gobsmacked” by the news.

“Being able to trademark two simple words that are part of everyday lingo is a surprise,” he said.

So, what does this spell for the future of Taco Tuesday in Maitland?

“I’ve been thinking about wording it differently but we’ll see how it goes,” he said, adding that taco specials on a different day didn’t have the same ring to it.

“It’s the right day to have it. Every other day we have different specials.

“It just fits in nicely on a Tuesday; it’s a cheap, mid-week eat for people.

“I don't know how one guy can fight thousands of pubs in NSW and Australia.

“Taco Tuesday is pretty commonplace these days, I think every pub in Newcastle has a Taco Tuesday. There is a big market for it.”

The humble taco has evolved over the decades from the Mexican favourite – and The Porhouse is no exception.

“We have simple pork and jalapeno, beer battered flat head, pork belly, chicken teriyaki – we don’t stick to just a Mexican theme,” Mr Giles said.

“You take food from all sorts of cultures and throw it into a taco.”

Now it seems your taco has spice guaranteed thanks to Salsas.