Authentic Mexican Restaurant Vs Tex Mex

Who doesn’t love Mexican Food? Tex Mex food is a recent invention. When settlers marched westward into what is now Texas, they first encountered Mexican cultures and cuisines. ​​As more and more people settled in Texas, the popularity of Mexican Food grew. As they were making it themselves in their own kitchens, they used ingredients like beef and wheat flour which weren’t common in Mexico proper. Mexican restaurants in Texas incorporated more gringo elements into their dishes to accommodate the palettes, like ground beef in enchiladas. Their version of Mexican food was loved and it became a popular cuisine. The result is what is now known as Tex Mex.

Basically, most Mexican food in America is technically Tex Mex. But what is the difference between authentic Mexican and Tex Mex? While Tex Mex shares almost the same taste and texture as authentic Mexican food, it can be hard to differentiate. That burrito you're eating is Tex Mex. Those nachos are technically Mexican, with a dose of Texas. The differences between Mexican and Tex Mex food can usually be surmised by a few key ingredients which are commonly found in the US cooking but are rarely used South of the Rio Grande. The main ingredients found in the US and not as common in Mexican cooking are beef, processed cheese, wheat flour, black beans, canned vegetables, and cumin.

So if you find one or more of those ingredients, it's Tex-Mex. Beef while the meat for Texan ranchers was rarely used in Mexican cuisine outside of the Northern parts of the country. Cumin originally came from England from India, and the US was quicker to use as a spice. Gringos love wheat, and almost all burritos you'd find in the US are wrapped in a wheat tortilla rather than the corn-based tortillas in Mexico. The more starch the more Tex-Mex it is, except for Tortas.

So, which is better? There is a huge difference between Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food, but both are perfect for your taste buds. Now which one a person will like will depend on the person and their flavor profile. When you give into what your taste buds are looking for, you’re going to be happy no matter the origins. Here at Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Everett, WA we cater to both flavor profiles. We have authentic recipes from the Mazatlan founder’s family passed down through the generations. We also have dishes with modern flavor profiles.