In Saint-Étienne, some see red. Since the opening of a fast-food restaurant called Tacos à la Lyonnaise, floods of aggressive comments and spitting on the window have targeted this small place in the city center. On Green lands, this Lyon name is seen as an affront by some of the inhabitants. And all this for a simple brand name.
Open for two months near the Tréfilerie campus, this Saint-Étienne Lyon-style tacos belong to a brand born in Lyon. Online, TikTok, Instagram and Google Maps have taken up the subject, transforming a simple street food address into a symbol of the rivalry between neighboring cities.
A Lyonnais taco arriving in the land of the Greens
The restaurant opened at the beginning of April on rue du 11-Novembre, a stone’s throw from the lecture halls and student residences. The idea: to offer garnished tacos, cheese sauces and pizzas at low prices, in line with the many addresses dedicated to French Tacos today popular with a young clientele.
The brand had already tested the concept in 2024 in Saint-Chamond, without causing a wave of indignation. In Lyon, an establishment called Le Tacos Lyonnais, located in Cours d’Herbouville, has established itself as a halal fast-food open late in the evening, with deliveries via platforms and enthusiastic reviews, far from the tensions of Saint-Etienne.
From bad buzz online to attacks in front of the restaurant
On TikTok and Instagram, videos showing the facade have exceeded tens of thousands of views, with mockery, calls for boycotts and misappropriation of logos. The manager recounts an almost daily bad buzz: , he sighs to France 3, while the Google Maps rating falls to around 2.8 out of 5.
Overflows do not remain confined to screens. In front of the facade, spittle was noted, as well as hostile stickers, some crossed out with a . As a precaution, managers say they no longer leave employees alone on site.
When the OL-ASSE rivalry spills over into Lyon tacos
Invoking Lyon in a city that identifies with the Greens is touching on a strong symbol. The OL-ASSE derby goes beyond the stadium, with colors, songs and jokes that punctuate daily life. For some supporters, seeing the term Lyonnaise displayed large above a fast-food counter remains experienced as an assumed provocation.
In the street, however, reactions seem more nuanced than on comment threads. A passerby sums it up: , he confides.
Why are Tacos à la Lyonnaise controversial in Saint-Étienne?
Because its Lyon name awakens the football rivalry with the Greens more than its menu.
Where is the Tacos à la Lyonnaise restaurant in Saint-Étienne?
It is located on rue du 11-Novembre, near the Tréfilerie campus and the city center.
Are there other Tacos à la Lyonnaise restaurants in the area?
Yes, the franchise is also present in Saint-Chamond, without similar controversy, and plans to expand elsewhere.
