What does this even mean? Really. It annoys me when people say this because it’s really not specific enough to mean anything. Mexican food is quite regional. Costal areas are different than the northern regions. Mexico City style is different than other areas. And it depends on whether you’re talking about the food rich folk or poor folk eat. “Tex-Mex” is authentically northern style Mexican because that’s what people in the area have been eating since before Texas was a state. Tortillas, especially corn torillas have been around since the Aztecs. Flour torillas are more popular in northern areas.
It’s basic food for farmers. Tortillas and whatever you have on hand, whether it’s meat if available the more staple of beans. The Spanish introduced cheese ages ago.
If you’re going to to claim you like “Mexican” rather than Tex-Mex, then you need to explain a little more. And more importantly, quit denegrating Tex-Mex.
In Saint Louis, check out Chuy Arzola’s in Dogtown for good Tex-Mex.
In San Diego and north we would eat a lot of Cal-Mex.
In my mind, Tex-Mex tries to distinguish itself from “regular” mexican food by using familiar ingredients and descriptors like “fresh” and the like. An excellent example would be Chevy’s, who as far as I know doesn’t even have a restaurant in Texas. Still, their menu embodies all that I have come to think of as Tex-Mex food. I have been proudly introduced to Tex-Mex in Dallas/Ft.Worth and Austin, and I yearned for the other mexican food. Which, by the way, is also abundent in Texas.
A comment I’ve heard more than once; “Mexican food is too greasy”. Like chorizo, I guess. Oh yeah, and tamales that have too much masa and not enough meat.
I’ve been to Chevy’s here in Saint Louis. I’d rather eat at Qdoba.
For me, the enchilada is the quintessential Tex-Mex food, with lots of cheese and onions and guacamole salad. You can get 'em at the LaSalle Hotel in old downtown. With iced tea and a waitress and she will smile every time.
Nacho Mama’s is good.
There’s a good place in Parkville (North Plaza Mall, out by Bateman’s) called El Salto. Run by real Mexicans, the food seems very authentic. You get a lot, and they have some really tasty specials.
Natty Boh?!? Good Lord, what has Dave done to you?
My favorites, in Houston. Mama Ninfa’s is very good and an experience, but I find it a little played out.
I personally like the Cadillac Bar (good cabrito) and Cafe Adobe (killer margaritas). There is much debating. For good, unique, 24-hour food, I like Chapultapec. For authentic, Mexico City-style taquitos (not the American deep fried monstrosities, these are little soft tacos), I like 100% Taquito. One cannot ignore Taqueria Arandas, which is the McDonald’s of authentic taquerias and has like 20 locations around the city (the barbacoa burrito is great). And then there is a bevy of Guatemalan and El Salvadoran food that is great as well (whole tilapia and pupusas at El Pupusodromo!).
I’ve been here 15+ years and Mexican food - at least in Manhattan - has gone from virtually non-existent to slightly better than virtually non-existent. There are a bunch of okay 10-12 dollar a plate places, a few gourmet places, and a bunch of burrito joints, but there’s no place I know of that has that good cheap southwestern breakfast lunch and dinner fare. I assume there’s a Mexican food nirvana in some outer borough somewhere, but I don’t know about it.
In Morgantown, my favorite Mexican eatery is Los Mariachis, which is fortunately all of 3 minutes drive from my apartment! Very authentic Mexican food that’s not too expensive…plus gotta love the all-you-can-eat chips!
Overall, though, I’d have to say that the Mad Mex chain, with 4 in Pittsburgh and 1 each in Philadelphia, State College, PA and Columbus, OH, is probably the one I really look forward to eating at. While they certainly wouldn’t be called the most authentic Mexican food in the world by any means, tell me that the Wing-O-Rito with boneless chicken in wing sauces with black beans and rice doesn’t sound mighty tasty; plus they have a very positive attitude towards having really good beer on tap, which doesn’t hurt
When I lived in Manhattan we loved to go to the Upper East Side for great traditional Mexican at Maz Mezcal (316 E 86th St), to the Upper West Side to Gabriela’s (at 2 locations: the original at 685 Amsterdam Ave, and the second at 93 Amsterdam Ave–although, looking at the 'net it appears to have closed!) and in the West Village, Mi Cocina (57 Jane St). Gabriela’s was amazing, and even economical, and I’m sorry to see that it closed.
Here in N. Central NJ, I have found only one good Mexican place, Mojave Grill, in Westfield, but they consider themselves “Southwestern.” Either way, they have yummy, if costly, food.
Yep, Albuquerque has a ton of good Mexican places. My favorite is Los Cuates. Mmmmmm, large Green beef enchilada plate, or green chile cheese fries…
I used to go to the tacky small one all the time after work and get an enchilada plate and cheese fries to go. Man, I miss that place.
Out here in Vegas the best I have found so far is Gardunos. It is not as good as the ones in New Mexico for some reason. They seemed to have gone all California with their menu. Too much cheese, not enough chile. It’s ok, but not great.
Toronto, cowgirl? El Sol (on the Danforth between Coxwell and Greenwood, north side) is very good. Very slow, though. Don’t go if you’re in a rush. We really don’t have many good Mexican places, although we’re tripping over good Asian. I wish we had more than one good barbeque place, too.
Back in downtown Denver, there’s Juans (I think at 1531 Stout). It’s above average, but the green chilie is nuclear. (I can’t eat it hotter than medium.)
There’s no heat to speak of, but the best Carnitas I’ve ever had were at D’Corazon (1530 Blake), also just off the 16th street mall.
Overrated quality-wise. Unless you’re going there mostly for the margaritas (which are great) and the food is just supposed to be an accompaniment to that.
I’ve heard good things about this place, but I haven’t been there. Of course, the people who have told me about this place would think El Torito is top of the line Mexican food, so I’m skeptical.
There’s a whole string of Mexican restaurants near where I used to live, along West 38th near Tennyson. They’re good and cheap, but IMHO they don’t compare to what you will find when you travel south to New Mexico.
Oohh that is scary indeed - I was thinking of checking them out for Restaurant Week but ended visiting a bunch of other restaurants. Oh well Restaurant Week will come around again.
There’s a whole slew of mexican restaurants in Wheaton, though I don’t know which are truly authentic or merely mediocre
