Finding Authentic Mexican Food Near You - Restaurants, Markets, Ingredients

Finding Authentic Mexican Food Near You

Mexican cuisine is beloved all across the United States for its bold, vibrant flavors and variety of dishes. From tacos and enchiladas to tamales and mole sauce, Mexican cooking offers something for everyone. If you're craving authentic Mexican food, the good news is that you likely don't have to travel far to find it. There are Mexican restaurants in cities and towns across America serving up specialties straight from Mexico. With a bit of research, you can find remarkable authentic Mexican food right in your neighborhood.

The Rise of Mexican Food's Popularity

The popularity of Mexican food has steadily grown over the past few decades throughout the U.S. Tacos have become a food truck and fast casual staple. Salsa has replaced ketchup as the condiment of choice for many. Guacamole, queso, and margaritas are game day staples. And Americans have fallen in love with many more traditional Mexican dishes thanks to immigration patterns and the unbeatable bold flavors.

Today, Mexican cuisine is considered one of the most popular ethnic cuisines in America. There are over 86,000 Mexican restaurants across the United States as of 2022, accounting for over 9% of all restaurants. Mexican flavors and ingredients have permeated mainstream American cooking as well, influencing everything from diner breakfasts to family weeknight dinners.

Finding Authentic Mexican Food Near Me

With Mexican food so ubiquitous nationwide, it may seem easy to find a good Mexican restaurant in your area. But not all "Mexican" restaurants serve authentic cuisine. Many serve very Americanized versions of dishes like burritos, nachos, and fajitas that are quite different from what you'd get in Mexico. Finding a place that makes traditional Mexican specialties with care can take some extra effort.

Here are some tips for locating legit Mexican food near you:

• Search for restaurants that specialize in regional Mexican cuisines like Oaxacan, Yucatan, or Baja. They are more likely to serve authentic dishes.
• Look for small, family-owned Mexican restaurants rather than chains. They often have more authentic recipes.
• Check the menu for traditional Mexican dishes like pozole, tamales, and mole that may not be Americanized.
• Search Mexican grocery stores for restaurants - they'll be catering to an authentic audience.
• Ask Hispanic friends or coworkers in your area for recommendations.
• Check reviews mentioning authentic food, Spanish service, and Hispanic clientele.

It also helps to know the key indicators of authentic Mexican cuisine. Dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients rather than cheap processed foods. Complex mole sauces and marinades, not just ground beef and cheddar cheese. Homemade tortillas and tamales, not just crispy shells and chips. Looking for these types of characteristics in a restaurant's menu and reviews will steer you towards the kind of real deal Mexican cooking you crave.

Signatures of Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Once you do find legitimate Mexican eateries in your area, you'll want to take full advantage by trying some of their specialty dishes. Here are some of the core classics of Mexican cuisine to look for:

• Tacos - Small filled corn or flour tortillas. Typical proteins include al pastor (spit-roasted pork), barbacoa (braised beef), carnitas (fried pork), chorizo (spicy sausage), carne asada (grilled steak), cabeza (roasted cow head), and lengua (beef tongue). Toppings include onions, cilantro, salsa, and lime.
• Tamales - Boiled or steamed corn dough filled with meats, cheese, chilies, or other fillings and wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves.
• Mole - Rich, complex sauce made from chilies, spices, nuts, seeds, and chocolate. Often served over poultry or enchiladas.
• Pozole - Hearty hominy and pork stew, sometimes also made with chicken. Usually served with toppings like cabbage, radish, avocado, chicharrones, and lime.
• Chiles Rellenos - Roasted and stuffed poblano peppers, usually filled with cheese, meat, or seafood and topped with salsa.
• Enchiladas - Corn tortillas rolled around a filling and covered with salsa roja (red sauce) or salsa verde (green sauce).
• Ceviche - Raw seafood cured in citrus juice and mixed with onions, chiles, and cilantro.

Be on the lookout for these traditional dishes and others that you may not find on the menus at Tex-Mex chains. It's the best way to experience genuine Mexican cooking.

Mexican Food Near Me: Grocery Stores and Markets

In addition to restaurants, another great place to discover authentic Mexican ingredients and dishes in your area are local Hispanic/Mexican grocery stores and markets. These specialty food shops offer all the staples of Mexican cooking that you'll need to recreate favorite flavors at home.

Some things to look for at your local Mexican market include:

• Dried chilies - Such as ancho, pasilla, guajillo, and chiles de arbol, used for sauces and marinades.
• Masa - Used to make fresh tortillas and tamales.
• Mexican cheeses - Oaxaca, cotija, queso fresco, queso blanco.
• Crema Mexicana - Tangy Mexican sour cream, great for tacos and enchiladas.
• Horchata - Sweet cinnamon-spiced rice milk, a popular beverage.
• Tamarind products - Used for a unique sweet-tart flavor.
• Jarritos - Colorful fruit-flavored sodas.
• Fresh tortillas - Both corn and flour varieties.
• House salsas and hot sauces.

Many Mexican markets also have food counters selling tacos, tortas, ceviche, soups, and even full restaurant menus of classic dishes. Their offerings are guaranteed to be more authentic than any chain. Seek out these local gems when searching for "Mexican food near me."

Bringing the Tastes of Mexico Home

One of the great benefits of having access to authentic Mexican ingredients nearby is the ability to cook classic dishes at home. With some tortillas, chilies, fresh cilantro and limes, you can put together simple, vibrant Mexican meals for your family. Try recipes for:

• Grilled carne asada street tacos.
• Easy homemade tamales.
• Warming chile verde with pork.
• Shrimp ceviche tostadas.
• Chicken tinga made with chipotle and tomato.
• Savory empanadas with chorizo.

With the right ingredients and a few basic techniques, you can recreate the flavors of your favorite local Mexican spot. Cooking Mexican food at home is a great way to share a taste of Mexico with family and friends.

The Varied Regions of Mexican Cuisine

It's important to remember that Mexican food is not a monolith. The country has many distinct regional cuisines and local specialties. When searching for Mexican restaurants, you may want to look for places specializing in specific regional cooking styles. Here are some of the main ones:

• Northern Mexico - Known for meat dishes and flour tortillas. Famous for burritos and machaca beef.
• Oaxaca - Mole sauces, chapulines (grasshoppers), tlayudas.
• Yucatan - Achiote seasoning, cochinita pibil, habanero chili.
• Jalisco - Birria, tequila, mariachi cuisine.
• Baja - Seafood, fish tacos, ceviche.

Seeking out restaurants specializing in these regional cuisines is a tasty way to explore the diversity of Mexican food.

Satisfy Your Mexican Food Cravings Nearby

Mexican food has become an essential part of the American culinary fabric. But not all "Mexican" restaurants serve genuinely authentic cuisine. With some research and knowledge of traditional Mexican dishes and ingredients, you can find the real deal near where you live. Seek out locally owned spots serving regional specialties, visit Mexican groceries, and even cook classic recipes at home. With its bright, spicy flavors and appealing variety of tacos, enchiladas, tamales and more, amazing authentic Mexican food is likely waiting right around the corner.

FAQs

What are some typical ingredients used in authentic Mexican cooking?

Common ingredients include dried chilies, fresh herbs like cilantro and epazote, corn, beans, tomato, onion, garlic, avocado, lime, Mexican cheeses like queso fresco, masa for tortillas and tamales, meats like chorizo, beef and chicken, and unique items like huitlacoche (corn fungus).

What are some popular authentic Mexican street foods?

Classic Mexican street foods include tacos al pastor (spit roasted pork), elotes (grilled corn with mayo, cheese and chili), tamales, tortas (Mexican sandwiches), tostadas, sopas (hearty soups), churros, paletas (popsicles), and aguas frescas (fresh fruit drinks).

What are some key differences between Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican food?

Tex-Mex uses more processed ingredients, while authentic Mexican uses fresh whole foods. Tex-Mex focuses on foods like crispy tacos, fajitas, nachos, chili con carne - while authentic Mexican has moles, taco al pastor, enchiladas, pozole. Tex-Mex also incorporates more cheese, beef and sour cream in dishes.

What are some classic authentic Mexican sauces and salsas?

Mole poblano, salsa verde, salsa roja, chimichurri, pico de gallo, salsa ranchera, chile de arbol salsa, salsa macha, avocado salsa, and chileajo are some of the most popular Mexican sauce options beyond basic tomato salsa.

What are some tips for finding legit Mexican groceries and markets?

Look for tiendas or carnicerías in Hispanic neighborhoods and communities. See what chains or local markets Latinos in your area shop at. Stores with butchers, fresh masa, and busy prepared food sections are good signs. Ask friends for recommendations of their favorite Mexican markets.