AI-generated tacos are coming to Charlotte and won’t be here for long

Ever wonder what an AI recipe tastes like? Velvet Taco can help with that — it’s breaking barriers with a new Chat GPTaco, as a part of its Weekly Taco Feature. The taco, coming to Charlotte this week, is among the first AI-generated menu items for a fast casual restaurant.

For just $6.25, you can bite into what is being hailed as the “taco of the future.” But, this grub is only available at two of Charlotte’s Velvet Taco locations from Wednesday, July 12 to Tuesday, July 25.

Pioneered by culinary director and chef Venecia Willis, the Chat CPTaco achieves a new distinctive flavor combination all while keeping the Texas-based chain’s “proprietary taco formula and ingredient list in mind.”

Velvet Taco, known for its globally inspired recipes, fresh ingredients and scratch-made tacos, was pleasantly surprised after using Chat GPT 4 to come up with the new taco’s recipe.

“I believe chefs can embrace the technology to enhance our menu ideation process and use it as a tool to support the creative elements that go into producing and executing a cohesive menu item,” Willis said.

As Velvet Taco prides itself on “breaking barriers and delivering the unexpected,” the restaurant is now launching a campaign to spread the word.

“The ChatGPTaco represents the marriage of food and tech and creativity in a way I’ve not seen before in the restaurant space. We’re really excited,” CEO and taco maker Clay Dover said.

Here are the taco’s ingredients:

• Flank steak

• Blackened shrimp

• Red chile aioli

• Chimichurri

• Crispy potatoes

• Grilled onion

• Queso fresco

• Jalapeno

• Cilantro
  
  
• Corn tortilla

While the taco will not be available at Velvet Taco in Optimist Hall, you can find grab a bite at its Park Road Shopping Center and South End locations.

Velvet Taco

Location: 1601 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209

Location: 2170 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Location: Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206 (location not included in Chat GPTaco)

Menu

Cuisine: American, Mexican, tacos

Instagram: @velvettaco

Mari Pressley

The Charlotte Observer

Freelancer Mari Pressley was an intern on the Charlotte Observer’s Service Desk and CharlotteFive. She studies mass communication with a concentration in journalism, while minoring in writing and photography. Her previous experience includes interning for Credit Karma’s Editorial team and serving as Managing Editor at Winthrop University’s school newspaper, The Johnsonian.