You can find tasty American food in Bangkok, but no matter how good it is, it’s just not the same. Even Burger King is just a little bit off. The wife has noticed this, too, as she’s spent a lot of time in the US. I’m sure this is the same with any cuisine.
You assume that class has something to do with how Mexicans (in Mexico) serve their meat. The real difference is not class, but where the eating happens. If you go to a house party (birthday) or quinceanero, the carne asada will not be chopped–you will get a “steak,” and a knife and fork to cut it up. Likewise with chicken mole. And it could be the poorest family in South Central or Mexico City.
If you go to a street vendor, or a fast food type place, especially if you’re eating tacos or burritos, the meat will be cut up, precisely because no one wants a taco or burrito with a big slab of meat in it. You want it pre-cut for convenience, so you can eat it right there without using a knife and fork. Chinese food is the same way.
I never meant to say your question was “stupid”–just misdirected. It’s like someone from Japan asking: “Do middle-class Americans order beef and chicken dishes in restaurants which they eat with a knife and fork, or is it always a patty between two buns?” That Japanese person has probably seen only McDonald’s and thinks that it’s the be-all and end-all of American food.
It’s all anecdotal, as well as mine, but I spent a week with a middle class family in Mexico city and we had everything from steak and fried chicken to casseroles and stews. Restaurants like Sanborns serve similar things.
I was working with folks from Mexico City a few months ago. We went to a local restaurant and they waved me off of the mole’ sauce citing that it would be too hot. Well, I had to try it.
Good god it was delicious… easily the best mole’ sauce I’ve ever had.
My Mexican co-workers seemed amazed that I handled it without breaking a sweat. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I order my Pad Thai “Thai Hot”…
But my word… that was some excellent mole’. I really wish I could find it locally.
Everybody seems to think that their cuisine is too hot for Americans. I have no idea why. Every mole I’ve ever had has been mild.
I’ve never had (nor made) pad thai one way or the other. You stir fry it and serve the condiments separately (shallots, bean sprouts, ground peanuts, lime, and ground dried red chili). The consumer decides upon eating how much chili to put on.
Yeah. When it comes to spicy, Mexican spicy is generally on the lower end of things. Unless you’re dousing your food with El Yucateco XXX Salsa Kutbil-ik or other Yucatecan salsa habaneros/kubs, Mexican is at most medium hot food. Now Asian spicy, that’s where it can gets pretty interesting.
Dammit. I’m all hungry now.
Probably because there are a LOT of people out there who think the mild sauce at Taco Bell is spicy. Most of my family, for instance, and me until the past couple years.
Blame the Northern European influence on American cooking. I have several friends that can’t stand anything spicier than ketchup. Always a bit of a challenge when they come over for dinner, since the wife and I both like things “Thai-hot.” So we tend to get back to meat and veggies those times, and save the heat for another meal. Personally, I rate Tabasco Sauce as “mildly spicy.” 
Phat Thai (as I spell it) is not a spicy dish. There are no chillies in it, although you are usually served some chillie powder to put in it if you want, and that would make it a little spicy. But it’s not a “hot” dish.
For those dishes that ARE spicy, anytime I’ve ordered them in the US, they’re less spicy than here. The (Thai) wife has experienced the same.
Where are all the Mexican dopers? I know there are plenty and they are not posting here? I was about to start a different culinary-mexican thread and now I worry.
At any rate, what little I can offer from my short visit to Mexico and my friendship with Mexicans is that they are heavy on seafood and fruits, which you would never guess from Tex-mex restaurants in the states. And definitely no melted cheese smothering everything.