The Tex-Mex Cuisine: Differences From Mexican Cuisine And Its Best Examples

By Catering Staff | December 22, 2016

Americans love Tex-Mex cuisine – and it shows in the number of Tex-Mex restaurants in the country from the hole-in-the-wall to the chain restaurants. But do you know when it started and what its differences are with Mexican cuisine? Here are a few answers.

Born in the 194os

Tex-Mex cuisine is a modern invention with its first appearance documented in the late 1940s. But it wasn’t until the 1970s when the cuisine gained its momentum as a trendy thing. Soon after, it passed the fad stage and became a staple across the United States.

The name Tex-Mex comes from the fact that the first restaurants offering its fare opened in Southwestern cities and towns with large Mexican populations. This is obviously an American take on authentic regional Mexican cuisine, although many will also say that it’s a take on Mexican cuisine as prepared by Texans.

Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisines have their similarities and differences. Both cuisines have the same basic ingredients including rice, beans, tortillas, chicken, pork, sauce and cheese.

But there are also obvious differences between the two. First, traditional Mexican fare has more subtle flavors, as well as includes fresh white cheese; Tex-Mex cuisine uses shredded cheddar.

Second, Tex-Mex cuisine uses ingredients available in the United States but are scarcely, if ever, used in areas south of the Rio Grande. These include yellow cheese (e.g., cheddar), black beans, wheat flour, cumin, and canned vegetables especially red tomatoes.

Third, Tex-Mex cuisine uses hard shell tacos, which aren’t available in Mexico. Even beef isn’t widely used in Mexican cuisine although it’s favored by Texans in their food.

Basically, you can say that Tex-Mex cuisine is the distillation of Texan rancher food and Northern Mexican cuisine. The result: A bready and cheesy range of food that many chefs and restaurant chains have elevated to near-gourmet, if not gourmet, standards.

Born in the USA, Popular Across the World

Tex-Mex may have been born in the USA but it has conquered the world, thanks to the prevalence of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants today. Here are the best based on the variety of menu options, the use of fresh ingredients, the best rice and beans, chips, salsa and guacamole, and the most authentic dishes.

• Chipotle for its burritos, guacamole, and burrito bowls
• Baja Fresh for its Baja Bowl with rice, beans, and a choice of meat, chicken, and seafood
• Qdoba for its Mission-style burritos
• Moe’s Southwest Grill with its Homewrecker Burrito and Funk Meister Tacos
• Taco Bell (i.e., the world’s largest and best known Tex-Mex restaurant) with its Doritos Locos Taco

What are you waiting for? Order Tex-Mex food and drinks now for your party!