Tex mex food is more than a cuisine category. It has a cult following with an alarmingly high conversion rate.
The only people more passionate about Mexican food than Mexicans themselves are Texans. In Texas, things are done a specific way.
From the way a restaurant is named to the music they are playing the moment we walk through the door, we’ve all developed a sixth sense for what Mexican restaraunts will be good, and which won’t be worth the (often excessive) calories.
1. Chips, Salsa, Queso & Guacamole
Mexican corn tortilla chips seem simple on the surface, but they are actually an art. The chips are an instant tell on whether or not you are about to have a great experience. And in Texas? They are always free. I thought that was normal until I was shocked to have to pay for them in Arkansas.
In Texas, chips are served with salsa, green sauce, and people often order guacomole and queso to go with it, too.
Salsa is often slow roasted and served warm, while green sauce is cold and creamy. The contrast is addicting, and most of us get full off of chips before the food ever arrives. That doesn’t stop us from continuing to eat though.
2. Breakfast Tacos
If you have ever spent the night at a Texas family’s house chances are the next morning you were greated with a breakfast taco. Most commonly served with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, melted cheese, and optional sour cream or salsa, they are delicious and homey.
They are made with homemade flour tortillas, which most likely came from their local H-E-B grocery store in this scenario.
3. Street Tacos
Something that I have realized over the years is that many cities actually offer great street tacos, and the best ones typically come from a hole-in-the-wall.
Street tacos are constructed of corn tortillas, meat of choice, white onion, cilantro, and a side of fresh lime and salsas .
4. Fajitas
Let’s face it, Mexican food is not exactly healthy, but if you are out to eat and trying to keep the calorie count down your best bet is to order fajitas.
With that being said, fajitas in general are one of the stars of the show at every Mexican restaurant. They are served on steamy sizzling skillets with bell peppers and onions and a side of sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, jalapeno, and your choice of flour or corn tortillas.
5. Carne Asada
Carne asada is slow cooked beef, often served with rice and beans. I adore it and order it instead of fajitas sometimes.
6. Barbacoa
Barbacoa is a method of cooking meats, and can be made using many different meats. Here in the U.S., chuck roast is typically used. Barbacoa street tacos are on the most popular street taco flavors for good reason. They are ultra juicy and packed with flavor.
7. Carnitas
If you ever have the pleasure of trying a really good plate of carnitas, consider yourself blessed! The best carnitas are perfectly crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. They aren’t always prepared perfectly but when they are you’ll know it. It’s kind of like barbecue in the sense that it is an art and the details matter. The best one I ever had was in El Paso, Texas.
8. Birria Tacos
Birria tacos went viral a few years back, and now you will find them accross the U.S. They are absolutely as good as they look, and totally worth the hype.
9. Quesadillas
I like to think of quesadillas as a Mexican grilled cheese. Classic and simple but can be elevated depending on how it is prepared. My favorite quesadilla is beef fajita quesadillas, with mushrooms quesadillas being number two in my book.
10. Enchiladas
Enchiladas are bathed in sauces and cheese and stuffed with various ingredients. I personally go loco for cheese enchiladas topped with melted cheese and bathed in a meaty red sauce.
11. Chiles Rellenos
Puffy yet crunchy, this is a pepper stuffed with cheese and fried in an unexpected batter. I have had soggy ones that I didn’t like, and prefer when they are ultra crisp, hot and crunchy.
12. Chalupa
This is like the greasier thicker cousin of the taco, and although it is a heavy dish it is oh so delicious.
13. Tostadas
A hard corn tortilla shell served flat as a pancake and topped with refried beans, meat, pico de gallo and other topics as preferred.
14. Torta
This is such an underrated gem and actually might be one of the simplest and most enjoyable meals of my life. Growing up, when we went to little authentic Mexican spots in Houston, Texas I would always end up ordering the beef torta. The bread is so butter and soft yet a bit crunchy, while the meat is super juicy. The avocado, lettuce and tomato pair so well.
15. Burritos
Burritos might be the most known Mexican food, and for good reason. They are delicious and a very complete meal, but also ultra filling, so you need to be prepared for that before embarking upon this endevour.
16. Chimichanga
A chimichanga is esentially a crunchy burrito, I often see it bathed in melted queso.
17. Taquitos
Crunchy and flute like, a lot of Texans throw frozen taquitos into the microwave or oven for a quick home snack or meal. They are best served with guacamole.
18. Flautas
In my mind, flautas are esentially soft shell taquitos stuffed with higher quality meat and often topped with pico de gallo.
19. Fajita Nachos
From baseball nachos to ground beef nachos to fajita nachos, the world of nachos has levels. Fajita nachos are as good as it gets!
20. Carne Guisada
Carne guisada is a cozy beef stew or gravy served often with rice and beans. A definite comfort dish.
21. Milanesa de Pollo
A big piece of fried chicken breast, Milanesa de pollo is often topped with sauce and melted cheese and served with rice and beans.
22. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Moms accross Texas make chicken tortilla soup at home as a cozy family meal especially during cold months. I have never liked it, but almost everyone is a fan.
23. Menudo
A very heavy soup, menudo is made with tripe and often topped with lime, cilantro, and diced white onion along with a lot of bright red spices.
24. Tamales
During tamale season, every Texan has their tamale hook up. During christmas, almost the entire state of Texas is eating them. Mexican tamales are very flavorful and often a bit spicy.
25. Mole
Mole is a chocolate based sauce, and the original is often cooked in one pot for a long period of time. It is an art form. I never liked it until my cousin changed his mind. One of his grandmas was Mexican and she made it homemade at home. He found a restaurant that did it similarly and let me try a bite from his plate. It was delicious!
26. Mexican Ceviche
Mexican ceviche can be prepared in many ways but is often made with raw shrimp, lots of lime which essentially cooks the shrimp, a tomato based sauce and sometimes topped with pico and avocado. I’ve also seen much simpler lime based Mexican ceviches made with mango and avocado.
27. Elote
Elote is Mexican street corn, and it is so delicious. The corn is grilled and topped with mayo, lime, parmesan and tajin. Simple yet unforgettable.
28. Chicharrones
Chicharrones can be fried pork, but in most cases Mexican chicharrones refers to fried pork skin. These are very popular snacks in Texas, especially for road trips.
29. Fruit with Tajín
Fresh fruit topped with tajin brings out the freshness of the fruit and gives it almost a sweet, spicy, and sour taste all at once. Que rico!
30. Charro Beans
Charro beans is essentially a pinto bean soup and they are often served with fajitas and many other Mexican dishes.
31. Mexican Rice
Mexican rice is served with almost every Mexican dish along with refried beans. Texans really appreciate a well done mexican rice and often make variations of it at home, too.
32. Mexican Tortillas
There is no comparison between store bought tortillas vs. homemade ones. H-E-B is Texas’s most popular grocery store, and there is always a fresh tortilla station where fresh tortillas are being made.
Some people eat a tortilla with butter as a snack. It’s really treated like bread in Mexican cuisine.
33. Pan Dulce
Pan dulce translates to sweet bread and that’s exactly what it is. Often thick and dense, it is served in a variety of flavors and colors and does pair well with coffee.
34. Arroz con Leche
Arroz con leche is a popular dessert accross Central and South America, and is served in many Mexican restaurants.
35. Flan
Flan is a bouncy cake made from condensed milk. It is not my favorite, but it is very popular.
36. Mexican Churros
Churros can be found in many hispanic countries, and Mexico serves them with a cinnamon-y twist. Often served with a caramel flavored sauce, churros are extremely popular accross the U.S.
37. Sopapillas
Found at most Mexican restaurants, many Texans order sopapillas as a dessert after a heavy meal.
38. Tres Leches
Tres leches translates to three milks, and that is because the cake is made from three different types of milk. It is ultra moist and typically topped with fresh fruit, and happens to be one of my favorite cakes of all time.
Did I miss any of your favorite Mexican dishes? If so, let me know your favorite in the comments.
