# What is your favorite authentic Mexican food? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570 "2010-12-09T19:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/1 "2010-12-09T19:44:02Z")
Sparked by discussion in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=588319&page=2). I recently made poblanos nogadas, which are stuffed (somewhat) mild chiles. It probably wasn’t all that terribly authentic since I stuffed them with a mixture of spiced ground chicken, walnuts, raisins and pepitas, but hey…that’s why I asked. I’m looking for ideas. Oooh - I also made a pretty good poblano mole (had extra peppers). Took forever, too, but definitely worth it. So what are your favorite authentic (or close to authentic) Mexican foods? Don’t hesitate to share recipes! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/2 "2010-12-09T19:48:27Z")
Hmmmm, I usually get the house platter when I eat at a Mexican restaurant, and it’s more TexMex than not. The restaurant that I usually go to has a cheese enchilada and a choice of tacos or chalupas on the regular platter, and for the deluxe platter, has two tamales as well. It also has rice, beans, and guacamole. I generally get a hard beef taco, and I’d be hard pressed to choose between it and a cheese enchilada. ---
**Author:** ![Jorge\_Burrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Jorge\_Burrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge_Burrito)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/3 "2010-12-09T20:35:41Z")
You kind of stole my thunder by mentioning mole. Mole negro on chicken is probably my favorite, but is a major pain in the ass to make. I’ll make it maybe once a year, at least it freezes fairly well. I remember my trip to the Oaxaca region well and sampling the many varieties of mole they had available. Very different flavors but all very good. ---
**Author:** ![poet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@poet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poet)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/4 "2010-12-09T20:42:17Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Sparked by discussion in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=588319&page=2). > > I recently made poblanos nogadas, which are stuffed (somewhat) mild chiles. It probably wasn’t all that terribly authentic since I stuffed them with a mixture of spiced ground chicken, walnuts, raisins and pepitas, but hey…that’s why I asked. I’m looking for ideas. > > Oooh - I also made a pretty good poblano mole (had extra peppers). Took forever, too, but definitely worth it. > > So what are your favorite authentic (or close to authentic) Mexican foods? > > Don’t hesitate to share recipes! Sounds similar to empanadas (Marini’s, in Houston)…stuffed with meat or fruit. I could eat a dozen. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/5 "2010-12-09T20:53:13Z")
Chimichurri, the kind with cilantro in it. (Yes, I hear the screams from the anti-cilantro faction already.) Chimichurri just tastes…alive. And green. And nom nom nom nom. My favorite vehicle for the chimichurri is grilled chicken and red/yellow bell pepper strips. Simple and quick and actually quite healthy! (I see wikipedia mentions it came from Argentina, but is found as far north as Mexico, so I’ll still claim it as “Mexican” food. I first had it in Peurto Vallarta, so it’s Mexican in my mind.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/6 "2010-12-09T20:57:26Z")
The fish tacos served by the street vendors in Ensenada. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/7 "2010-12-09T21:03:41Z")
> [@poet](#): > > Sounds similar to empanadas (Marini’s, in Houston)…stuffed with meat or fruit. I could eat a dozen. You just made me drool. I miss Chilean empanadas. Little pockets of deliciousness. Humitas were awesome, too - much like a sweet (or salty, if you prefer) tamale with no filling. Maybe I should’ve asked instead what everyone’s favorite Latino cooking was. That’s pretty freaking broad, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/8 "2010-12-09T21:21:01Z")
Already, the thread seems to have drifted away from “Authentic Mexican Food.” To Hell with Borders, anyway. Robb Walsh discusses The Myth of Authenticity [here](http://www.houstonpress.com/2000-10-26/dining/the-authenticity-myth/full/). It’s part of a series later expanded and published as[the Tex Mex Cook Book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0767914880/qid=1085923685/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-4461849-6314563?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). Soon, he & Bryan Caswell (recently robbed of being Next Iron Chef) will open a [new Tex Mex](http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2010/06/robb_walsh_bryan_caswell_bill.php) place in my town. (Comments from a few bitter snarkers are far outweighed by the eagerness of most Houstonians to try their new versions of old dishes.) But Houston also offers [Pico’s Mex-Mex](http://www.picos.net/menus.html). Proudly featuring _Chiles en Nogada_, along with other specialties from _Way_ Down South. Well prepared, they are wonderful. I may prefer their _Enchiladas de Acociles_; crawfish enchiladas in a _very_ spicy chipotle sauce. All washed down by their Top Shelf margaritas–served in little shakers, as malts used to be, so you can pour a bit more! Oh, margaritas aren’t “Authentic!” _iQué lástima!_ ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/9 "2010-12-10T01:00:48Z")
Pretty hard to beat a good plate of chile rellenos with some rice and beans on the side. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/10 "2010-12-10T01:31:19Z")
A restaurant I used to go to had delicious huitlacoche (corn smut) enchiladas. Mmmmm corn disease. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/11 "2010-12-10T01:34:55Z")
Chiles Rellenos are nice, as are empanadas. I was also knocked out by some of the local shrimp dishes served to me in Mazatlan while I was there, from the ceviche to something astounding they did with breading and a dipping sauce made from local chiles and tomatillos. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/12 "2010-12-10T02:43:35Z")
I like flautas, with guacamole and sour cream. Don’t know how authentic they are. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/13 "2010-12-10T03:03:39Z")
Once in Mazatlan I was treated to a breakfast of the most heavenly tamales I’ve ever eaten. My husband had been out early and encountered a little _abuelita_ delivering daily lunch for the local shopowners. She was carrying them in a basket and when he inquired was offered such a good price that he decided to bring some back to the room for me. He figured that if the locals were buying from her they must be authentic and safe to eat. Well, at least as safe as any Mexican food is for us _Nortenos_ who don’t have much opportunity to build resistance to the local bugs. They were chock full of fresh peppers and onions, dripping with (the good kind of) grease and the pork was succulent and spicy. Although we have several authentic Mexican restaurants here I’ve never encountered any tamales as good as those were. My choice when I eat out is chiles rellenos stuffed with Chihuahua cheese. And I make a mean chicken enchilada with sopapaillas, black beans and rice. ---
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/14 "2010-12-10T03:58:37Z")
Various red/brown/black moles in Oaxaca. It’s unbelievable how much better/different they taste compared to what you get almost anywhere in the US. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/15 "2010-12-10T04:28:51Z")
Hmmm, my Mexican travels are limited to Baja so far, but fish tacos and ceviche in La Paz, and the garlic shrimp and lobster we had on the Pacific side sooo did not suck. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/16 "2010-12-10T04:32:26Z")
Another vote for chile rellenos here. ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/17 "2010-12-10T06:32:14Z")
Machaca con huevos followed by caldo de pollo, tres leches cake and noples/nopalitos. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/18 "2010-12-10T06:55:37Z")
Puerco en Pipian from a restaurant near Mt. Kisco, NY. Tender chunks of pork in a spicy pumpkin seed sauce. This dish has different names, and varies in the seasonings used in the sauce. I haven’t been to that restaurant in many years, I can’t recall the name of it, but the memory of that dish will never leave me. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/19 "2010-12-10T11:39:03Z")
my favorite place, Jaliscos makes some heavenly lamb shank dish that has been stewed for hours with god knows what, but it is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570/20 "2010-12-10T13:07:46Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > Once in Mazatlan I was treated to a breakfast of the most heavenly tamales I’ve ever eaten. My husband had been out early and encountered a little _abuelita_ delivering daily lunch for the local shopowners. She was carrying them in a basket and when he inquired was offered such a good price that he decided to bring some back to the room for me. He figured that if the locals were buying from her they must be authentic and safe to eat. Well, at least as safe as any Mexican food is for us _Nortenos_ who don’t have much opportunity to build resistance to the local bugs. > > They were chock full of fresh peppers and onions, dripping with (the good kind of) grease and the pork was succulent and spicy. Although we have several authentic Mexican restaurants here I’ve never encountered any tamales as good as those were… No matter how fine the restaurant, the best tamales are always made by somebody’s _abuelita_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-authentic-mexican-food/563570.md?page=2)