Rip open a bag of chips, and you might already have dinner. Restaurants and street vendors around the world are ditching the plate entirely, piling shawarma, ceviche, and street corn straight into the bag. The chips aren’t a side anymore but the base, and you just have to know where to look.
The walking taco isn’t new. You crush chips in a bag, add taco meat and cheese, then eat it straight from the bag with a fork. It’s been a county fair and Friday night staple for years.
But something bigger is happening now. Chip brands around the world are turning that same basic idea into full, chef-worthy meals, each one drawing from a different cuisine: shawarma in Canada, street food in Guatemala, loaded potatoes in Turkey. The format stayed the same. Everything else changed.
7 Places Did This Without Comparing Notes
PepsiCo owns Doritos, Lay’s, Tostitos and TorTrix, but these projects didn’t come from one central plan. Regional teams in different countries built their own versions of the same idea, independently, around local food habits that already existed.
PepsiCo says people increasingly want meals they can build and customize on the go. The same basic concept keeps showing up in places that never talked to each other.
Where It’s Happening
- Canada: Osmow’s and Doritos Sweet Chili Heat teamed up on The Walking Shawarma, layering signature shawarma proteins, mozzarella, and signature sauces right into the bag.
- Mexico: Tosticentros invites street vendors and everyday shoppers to build made-to-order Tostitos preparados with their own fresh toppings.
- Guatemala: TorTrix has topped hot dogs, ceviche, and cup soups for years, with people adding their own cheese, corn, pico de gallo, and more.
- Turkey: Doritos Loaded pairs the chips with Çiğ Köfte, Döner, and Kumpir, three street-food staples locals already love.
- India: Lay’s opened the country’s first Lay’s Food Truck in Delhi, and chefs including Kunal Kapur and Vikas Khanna designed the dishes.
- Europe: A fleet of Lay’s food trucks toured festivals and concerts across Spain, France, and the Netherlands, complete with a spice tombola for customizing orders.
- United Kingdom: Doritos Loaded Month let people bring any bag of Doritos to local restaurants and turn it into a £5 dish, from loaded potatoes to gyros.
Next time you’re standing in the chip aisle, don’t think snack. Think blank plate. Grab your favorite bag, raid the fridge, and see what you can build. You don’t need a food truck or a chef to try it. You just need a bag, a fork, and something good to pile on top.