Finding An Authentic Mexican Restaurant

Many people are confused about the difference between an authentic Mexican restaurant and those that serve Tex-Mex cuisine.  While there are some similarities, there are some great differences as well.  People who are native to the country will tell people that the dishes that are enjoyed in the United States and other countries are more than likely reminiscent of the types of foods that impoverished people prepared, or more often referred to as peasant food. 

There are other things about the country that makes it difficult to detect whether or not an eatery is an authentic Mexican restaurant or not.  For one thing, much like any other country, Mexico is devised of a lot of different areas and influences as well as different ethnicities.  The dishes and recipes used in the north will be different than those that are experienced in the south, and the same can be said for all points in between.  One of the major reasons for this is that most people of that country choose to cook with whatever ingredients are native to their area.  While most people hear “authentic Mexican restaurant” and associate that with burritos, tacos, nachos, and enchiladas, the truth is that there are many more complex dishes and recipes to be found in the country. 

Other things that may signal that a diner is not in an authentic Mexican restaurant would be the over use of heavy cheeses and hard taco shells.  In reality, neither of these is used much in the country of origin.  And if one visits the country, they will not find huge pictures of cacti on the walls of their eateries nor will they find giant sombreros hanging from the ceiling or bright and loud colors throughout the establishment.  All of these things are done in the United States because that is how Americans perceive the country and the food. 

Many parts of the country focus primarily on bean and rice and occasionally corn as their dietary staples.  Avocados are often added into the mix to add a little fat to the recipes.  These are usually the poorer parts of the country where this type of recipe is used. 

Another dish that is found in areas that are located on the water would be Ceviche.  This features raw seafood marinated in tomatoes with lime juice and onions and a little cilantro.  Many other dishes are made with various types of seafood as well.

In the more central part of the country, beef, goat, frog, and chicken are popular staples.  Of course, this is only in the areas where the residents can afford the meat. 

In the area around Mexico City, there are many tropical foods to be found as the climate is tropical, and the elevation is above seven thousand feet.  Here it is easy to find dishes containing chocolate.
 
An authentic Mexican restaurant is not difficult to identify if one knows what dishes are served in the country of origin.  It is easy to tell the difference after learning a little about the culture.