I have often heard people say the food served in Mexican restaurants is not authenic Mexican food ?

Question

Is that true and if it is what makes it not authentic?

Answer 1

Its true, im actually from mexico and i barely eat in mexican restaurants.

by the way TACO BELL IS NOT A MEXICAN RESTAURANT!!!

Answer 2

things are often tweaked to accomodate local eating habits, regional tastes. For example the fare served in a New York football stadium is hot dogs, bear peanuts, that kind of thing, in the southwest you might see more nachos, some places fried clams you will never see in NY i don't think. Back to ethnic food, this is often modified from country to country. I'm not too familiar with mexican food but i've seen similar examples like western foods in asia or india have curry and other spices or ingredients that don't belong. Cole slaw in asian KFC's have corn in it and peas i think, that's not coleslaw.

I think americans can make a good taco or burrito but beyond that casaroles and other unique things probably aren't common or wouldn't sell well here.

Answer 3

depends on the restauraunt.  In laredo it is.

Answer 4

If you're in Tijuana or over-the-border Mexican territory, you're bound to find food that somewhat mimics genuine Mexican cuisine, because of the huge tourist influx.  Go to places that tourists won't typically visit (so no coastline/huge cities) and you're bound to find authentic food.  You'll also find authentic food in any expensive, upscale Mexican restaurants.

Answer 5

The ingredients are local grown and we don't have the right climate to get the right flavors. The other thing is the heat is toned down so as not to burn people up. You have to look for regional cooking to get "the real thing", such as "tipo Jalisco" or some other named region. The dishes vary considerably from north to south and west to east and coastal to inland.

Answer 6

Its hard to say...Mexican food varies a lot from region to region of Mexico, and then what about Mexicans who live in the US?  People from Texas swear by Tex-Mex, which I guess is a combination of Mexican food with Texas influences--I've had it and it is great!  The best Mexican food I ever had was in a little Mexican restaurant in east LA--I pulled off the freeway on a long drive to SF and just happened to walk in--we were the only Anglos in the place, people all smiled at us, and wow was the food ever great!  

I think if you are looking for bogus Mexican food, you go to places like Taco Bell or Jack in the Box or some of the high end Americanized places with Mexican sounding names.  Stick with small neighborhood Mexican Mexican restaurants for the real goods.

Answer 7

Pesto or Sun-dried tomato flavored tortillas, for one!

Mexican food varies by region of course, but my experience is that most mexican food is simpler in nature. Not as much frilly lettuce, sour cream, heavy cheese, etc.  More emphasis on fresh juicy meat.

In parts of California it is not difficult to find authentic Mex food, in little hole-in-the-wall places.

Answer 8

It's true but I'd say it's even more true of Chinese food. Most of the stuff we call for carry out isn't even recognizable to the Chinese. Also, a lot of what we can "Mexican" is really "Tex-Mex"-- tacos, chili, nachos, etc..

Answer 9

This place sure isn't authentic - you sould stay away! Chilango's Mexican Grill -- Don't waste your time or money, you can get a better mexican dish out of the freezer section at the grocery store. If they are going to pass tomato pasta/sauce of as salsa they could at least add some spices. Everything taste and looks like it came right out of a can. Even the margarita taste like its out of a bucket and cost seven dollars, WHAT THE ..... Lowests grade of meat they could find- Maybe road kill or your niegborhood cat? I feel like I need or should go throw up and will probably be suffering from food posioning soon. The only reason they get one star is cause I can't give a zero. Stay FAR FAR FAR away as you can, if your to close RUN! - 8915 W Overland Rd Boise, ID 83709

Answer 10

Its true...

Answer 11

well to be honest most fast food, even sit down chains are serving mex-tex, which isn't authentic Mexican food.  Authentic food of Mexico are foods which are served everyday......I hope you don't think Mexicans eat burritos and tacos everyday, cause they don't.  Investigate by using a search engine and you will find things like mole and other things that are Mexican but not offered at Taco Bell.....

Answer 12

My thinking is that "authentic" Mexican food can only be prepared and served in Mexico.