I've been to the Rest. on the 3rd level at the Mexico City Airport...It's ok, but you have to try authentic rest. while there... A lot of great rest. are in the "Los Pinos" area, the Mexican version of the White House...Just ask the hotel...Also, the best breakfast buffet is at The Presidente Hotel...Trust me... I was born and raised on Tex-Mex and it is not the same, but in my opinion, the best... I'm stuck in Albuquerque and the New Mexican food sux azz...
It's called Cucara Macara oder something like that...it's right below my hotel, they recommended it to me. I'm off to do a city tour now...
Not really sure what counts as 'original' Mexican food... I've eaten at this place called Fonda San Miguel in Austin, which is ridiculously expensive...I believe they're supposed to be 'authentic'. I didn't like it at all. A bunch of bland, sweet sauces and flavors. I also ate at this restaurant in New York and one in Puerto Rico that were quite similar...they served enchiladas that weren't melted, if you can imagine that. I don't know if that was supposed to be 'authentic', or what. Then you have those 'Taquerias', like Arandas...is that 'real' Mexican food? Not sure. I like New Mexican food, I think. Pretty spicy. Ate at this place in Old Towne San Diego one time that was freaking awesome. Resembled Tex Mex.
Exactly Buck. Different regions of Mexico have different styles. I am in a pretty unique situation for this BBS. Living on a border town, I have eaten Mexican food all my life. Tacos, Enchiladas, Tostadas, fidelo, Mole, Tamales, Barbacoa, Menudo, and fajitas. I love eating at the local authentic restaurants like Antonio's, Bigo's, El Ultimo Taco, and that doesn't include all the cafe's like Elva's, Julia's, and the "Brownsville coffee shop". Being hispanic and living on the border town, I have leaned how to make most of these meals...the one that I won't make is Menudo...I just don't really like it, but everything else, I can cook. I also like making my own pico de gallo. I can also make different types of chile using different ingredients of course. What I am most proud of are my tacos, enchiladas, and tamales...real, authentic, Mexican tamales. My family would make them every Christmas, the adults would mix up the ingredients and the kids would help spread the masa and meat mix, whether it was beef, chicken, beans, or my all time favorite pork. I actually went to my mom a few years back and had her teach me what ingredients to use and how to make them. As of now, I am the only child of my parents that is carrying on the tradition and knowledge of how to make those tamales. Of course, I have a refresher course every year when we get together and make the food, but I get better and better at it every time. Oh...can't forget Bunuelos... Sometimes, I'll go to Chile's or Bennigan's and I'll order up their Mexican food, but their idea of Mexican food is usually a southwest style food. They also don't use corn tortillas for anything, and don't bother asking for frijoles a la charra. Don't get me started on Taco bell. They have bastardized Mexican food... So...when talking about what I grew up with, I don't know if I should classify that as Mexican food or Tex Mex. What do you guys think?
Falcons Talon - what are some good Mexican/ Tex-Mex places in the Valley? (those that wouldn't be too much culture shock for Caucasian-Americans who don't remember their Spanish and are used to Tex-Mex ) Where are the above places located? I think I might have seen Elva's in passing... Chili's just does their own southwest-style thing. Taco Bell, on the other hand, is an abomination. It should not be allowed to call itself Mexican. It probably shouldn't even be allowed to exist and serve "food". What amazes me is that they have franchises in border towns - that anyone there will buy the stuff...
Most of these restaurants are in Brownsville. Julia's is in Los Fresnos. My parent's know the names of some good restaurants on the west side of the valley. There are plenty of "authentic" restaurants throughout town. Bigos and Antonios I would say are both good.
You think you guys have it bad! I'm in England and when I first got here I tried this "mexican food" restaurant and I have to say......... never again!!! Man I can't wait til I get back home. Oh yeah and for the record I prefer Tex-Mex. A couple of good places- Doneraki's (a couple of locations) Border Grill (small place in Pasadena off of Spencer)
I always guessed that about Fonda San Miguel. (I don't have the funding to do personal research on these places. Some Austin yuppies will eat anything if you advertise it right.) Some of my recommendations for out of town (warning: my preferences are spicy, inexpensive, and not that sophisticated). These are Tex-Mex or New-Mex mostly. Houston - La Jaliscience, Monterey's Little Mexico Austin - Chuy's, El Azteca, Baby Acapulco San Antonio - Alamo Cafe (a really good deal) Hill Country - Mamacita's (in several towns) Fort Stockton - Bien Venidos. (not fancy, but cheap and the best bet for those long drives down I-10. Their red sauce is great; you can see pepper seeds in it.) Albuquerque - Los Cuates. (recommend the tamales) Cortez, CO - Francisca's. I am thinking of a long spicy fried burrito with red chile powder heaped on top of it. I wish I could get to one now...
LOL......Some Tex-Mex places are terrible.......There are several great "original" Mexican food places here in town.....Damn a Margarita sounds good with a side order of beer right now.
My favorite Mexican place in all of California is Tony's Tex Mex in San Diego. Being that Tony and his mom (who makes the food) is from Corpus Christi says it all I think...
Original Mexican food is better. I find stuff like Ninfa's cheap and too greasy with not enough spice. There are a couple of "real" Mexican restuarants I really like- Otilia's off I-10 and Wirt, and Hugo's-Westheimer.
I have lived in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California and I have to say that the best Mexican resteraunt I have ever eaten at was "La Fuente" in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I was going to NMSU at the time, and after Rugby games, we would head to La Fuente and get the best dishes I have tasted. Tex-Mex rocks, but given the opportunity, I would go for the "original" Mexican food.
After having lived and worked for various periods of time in Guadalajara and the Mexico City area, I would say that I would much rather eat Tex-Mex than Mexican food. And if you ask somebody in those towns if the food you get around the Mexican-Texas border is real Mexican food, they will tell you absolutely not. Chips and salsa, margaritas and big burritos rule.
I looove Border Grill! Do you live in the Pasadena area? I live in Deer Park and we go to Border at least twice a week. That is seriously the best Tex-Mex in the Houston area.
We used to live in Nashville (a long time ago). It was horrible, but a little place moved in downtown called Beinvenido's and the owner was from San Antonio. Great Chili Rellenos. Is that place still there?
Sorry dude, but any food in New Mexico is NOT "Original Mexican Food", just New Mexican food...It's an acquired taste... Tex-Mex is the best, but I'm from Houston...Food in Mexico is really good...
That is like my parents. They grew up in El Paso, so they cook some of the best Mexican AND Tex-Mex food around. Texas border towns have the best of both worlds. Corn Tortillas are the way to go most times! Making fresh Pico! I'm getting hungry.
I thought real mexican food doesn't use cheese. I once ate at a place that served authentic mexican food. It was great.
