# Why do Mexican meals (in the U.S.) always come with rice & beans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702 "2008-03-17T21:40:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Iknewthat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/45deac/32.png) [@Iknewthat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iknewthat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/41 "2012-06-04T18:44:39Z")
There are a lot of foods on the menus of Mexican Restaurants in the U.S. that are considered “foreign” in Mexico, like nachos, chimichangas, yellow cheese and tomato based sauces. Rice is not native to Mexico or Central America. It was introduced there by the Spaniards 500 years ago. Although the general population does consume rice, its not as much as you may think: in terms of world consumption, Mexico isn’t even in the top 15. The true Mexican diet is based on corn/masa, beans and squash. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/42 "2012-06-04T18:53:08Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Might as well guzzle down a couple of spoonfuls of table sugar. Well, if you insist! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/43 "2012-06-04T19:50:14Z")
Actually, although this is a zombie thread, it allows me to share that when I was in Mexico last year I found out that they totally have Chili’s there. I didn’t get a chance to eat there, but from the outside it looked exactly the same (except for the mandatory Virgin of Guadalupe statue.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/44 "2012-06-04T20:22:55Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Instead of the traditional refried beans (which aren’t really refried–but it’s a long story), black beans or charro beans may appear. But Mexican folks don’t eat the soupy, mushed beans that restaurants here serve. They are pots of beans cooked all day with garlic and pork chops. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/45 "2012-06-04T20:27:54Z")
> [@Walkabout](#): > > I’m curious as to what else would be served with tacos and enchiladas. Are there other common side dishes that normally appear with this type food in Mexico? Sesos! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/46 "2012-06-04T20:33:53Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Sesos! [Bletch!](https://www.google.com/search?q=sesos&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/47 "2012-06-04T21:38:25Z")
> [@Santo\_Rugger](#): > > [Posole](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posole) aka hominy. Granted, Mexican and New Mexican food are different (and NM is different from Tex-Mex), but posole is a relatively common side, and is often served with red chile. Pozole is not a side dish but a stew made from of hominy and pork and it is a main dish. Sometimes tacos dorados are served on the side but typically when you order pozole it doesn’t come with a side dish. ---
**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:** [June 4, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/48 "2012-06-04T22:00:29Z")
> [@Iknewthat](#): > > There are a lot of foods on the menus of Mexican Restaurants in the U.S. that are considered “foreign” in Mexico, like nachos, chimichangas, yellow cheese and tomato based sauces. Rice is not native to Mexico or Central America. It was introduced there by the Spaniards 500 years ago. Also irrelevant. Peanuts and chilis were introduce to the Thais about then, and you can’t imagine Thai food without either one today. Working the other way imagine what British food would be like without the potato. Whether or not a food is “native” makes no impact on what is considered “native” cuisine. Otherwise anything more complicated than “Me kill mammoth. Eat.” wouldn’t qualify. Beans and rice are on combo plates because that’s what us pasty folk expect. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/49 "2012-06-04T22:47:40Z")
Mexican meals _are_ rice and beans. They come with tacos or the like. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/50 "2012-06-04T23:00:30Z")
Wow…I find it difficult to imagine that I once didn’t know how to cook _nopalitos_! I make them at least once a month now. And ya’ll were wrong, by the way. After that first time, I learned the REAL authentic way to clean _nopales_…For 99 cents, you buy a pound of freshly cleaned, cut up \*nopales \*which the Mexican grocery store workers have packed in an unlabeled ziptop bag next to the whole pads. Way too much work (and too much yummy cactus lost) when a noob tries to clean cactus! 😉 I like to cook them in a skillet with a little squirt of olive oil, some chopped onions and, if I’m feeling punchy, a diced jalapeno. Some diced tomato tossed in for color at the last minute, and kosher salt to taste. Awesomeness. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/51 "2012-06-04T23:01:23Z")
I dunno 'bout Mexicans but us Puerto Ricans don’t consider it dinner unless it has rice and beans. I also want to share this totally true story. Me and my girlfriend went out with her sister and her sister’s children (they were and are Ecuadorian). We stopped at a McDonald’s and ate. Later on we were all at her sister’s house and her son 7 year old son asked when was dinner. Mom replied that dinner was already eaten, what did he think we were doing at McDonald’s. His reply, “That wasn’t dinner! Where’s the rice?! Where’s the beans?!” Everyone agreed the kid was right. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/52 "2012-06-04T23:06:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > [Bletch!](https://www.google.com/search?q=sesos&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a) Very appropriate for a zombie thread, though. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/53 "2012-06-04T23:36:43Z")
Heh. I was in Mexico for the last 10 days visiting family. We were invited to friends’ one day for a cookout. They grilled some beef for tacos and served…rice and beans on the side (well, the beans also went in the tacos, but still…) When I was growing up, we had refried beans as part of supper pretty much every night when we were at my grandmother’s. She also served rice several different ways as a _sopa seca_ (dry soup) for the main meal quite often. She lived in Mexico City, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/54 "2012-06-05T01:02:38Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > Heh. > > we had refried beans as part of supper pretty much every night when we were at my grandmother’s. Mushed up watery beans r whole beans? ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/55 "2012-06-05T01:21:03Z")
squash and/or potato is a very common side dish and pickled chiles, carrots, and onions sometimes radishes ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702/56 "2012-06-05T01:44:51Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > The pads of the Nopal cactus, cut up & cooked, are called _nopalitos_. So what are nopales then? Same thing, just not cut? (yes, I realize that nopailitos is the diminutive of nopales). I’ve mostly seen nopales as the term, but I have seen nopalitos as well. And… you don’t have to flood rice to grow it; the main reason you flood the paddies is because rice will sprout and grow like that, while most weeds will not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-mexican-meals-in-the-u-s-always-come-with-rice-beans/441702.md?page=2)