When you are craving Mexican food, it can be tricky to find an authentic restaurant. Many places that appear to serve Mexican cuisine are actually Tex-Mex restaurants, a modern mix of Texan and Mexican food. Learn about the origin of Tex-Mex and how to spot authentic Mexican food, with this guide.
There are no buts about it: Americans love Mexican food. With so much variety and tons of crowd-pleasing elements, it's not surprising that Mexican cuisine is the most popular ethnic food segment in the U.S., accounting for 42% of all ethnic food sales. But as with most cuisines derived from other cultures, many Mexican restaurants in the U.S. have Americanized certain dishes or have added ingredients not found in authentic Mexican meals. There are also some misconceptions people tend to have regarding Mexican food, likely due to eateries that didn't provide authentic experiences in the past. We've compiled just a few of those widely held beliefs about Mexican cuisine so we can set the record straight.
Everything in this world has its own piece of historical significance. This is multiplied by about a million when it comes to the food we eat. Every bite of food is like a bite out of history, and depending on the kind of food, a significant amount of rich and interesting history. It's important to consider not only just the taste, smell, and ingredients of each dish, but the origins and nutritional benefits as well.
We can all agree that Mexican food is delicious, but did you know that your favorite dish may also be good for your health? Let’s take a brief look at the many health benefits of Mexican food.
When you do eventually find that restaurant that serves traditional Mexican fare, it can be hard to make sense of the menu if you've never seen some of the items before and don't speak Spanish. But don't worry, you won't miss out -- just check out this glossary of ingredients, foods, and terms often used in the menus at the best Mexican food joints around the country:
Mexican food enjoys a rare status in the United States -- it is a staple across the entire country. In fact, at this point, Mexican food is American food. And while there are a few holdouts who will say that they don't enjoy Mexican restaurants, they are the exception to the rule. It helps that no matter where you live, it is widely accessible. Here in the States, there are 67,391 restaurants that serve burritos, and one out of every 10 U.S. restaurants sells Mexican food, making it the most popular international cuisine in the country.
Mexico is one of the top four "megabiodiverse" countries of the world, meaning that 60-70% of the planet's diverse plant and animal species are in Mexico. That incredible range of ingredients has given the country a highly distinct culinary tradition that is, in itself, also incredibly diverse.