10 Overrated Mexican Foods & 10 Iconic Ones You Won't Get Bored Of
A Taste of Mexico
Mexican food is not created equal. In fact, some have been so overhyped and Americanized that they’ve long lost their luster. Then there are others which you may not even know about. So with that in mind, here are 10 overrated and underrated Mexican foods to consider.
1. Hard Shell Tacos
Hard shell tacos are Americanized crunchy tacos often filled with ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. These are tasty but are very far removed from actual tacos with soft corn tortillas and fresh ingredients. The pre-made shells also fall apart easily, making them more frustrating than fun.
2. Nachos
Nachos are loaded with cheese sauce, sour cream, and heavy toppings, obscuring the corn chip flavor underneath. Nachos were just melted cheese and jalapeños, but became a greasy bar food mainstay. Most of the mass-produced products pale in comparison to the freshness and finesse of authentic Mexican fare.
3. Quesadillas
Quesadillas have been simplified and made boring outside of Mexico. They are often just melted cheese in a flour tortilla. Authentic versions have more fillings and use corn tortillas, which taste better.
4. Fajitas
Fajitas are more Tex-Mex showmanship than an authentic Mexican dish. Complete with bell peppers, sizzling platters, and mountains of onions, fajitas are typically more pretentious in presentation than they are in flavor.
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5. Burritos
Huge burritos loaded with rice, beans, meat, and sauces are more Mexican American than Mexican. In Mexico, they are typically smaller and less complex. The focus is on the quality of the ingredients rather than on quantity.
6. Taco Salad
Taco salads are typically just taco shells piled high with limp lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. The whole thing is a “health food” trying desperately to look fresh. But in reality, it's one of the most un-Mexican things you'll ever eat.
7. Chimichangas
Deep-fried burritos, also known as chimichangas, are tasty, but they're nothing like traditional Mexican fare. The grease and melted cheese overpower whatever filling you put in it. There are also many better choices to choose from when it comes to Mexican food.
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8. Flour Tortillas
Flour tortillas are easy, but they are not nearly as flavorful or tasty as good corn tortillas. They've been overused in Americanized Mexican food. They make things seem heavier and less exciting.
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9. Store-Bought Guacamole
Commercial guacamole is an insult to the very idea. It's full of preservatives, fillers, and artificial flavor. It’s got no bright, fresh zip the way the real stuff made with ripe avocados, lime, and cilantro has.
10. Frozen Margaritas
Margaritas are everywhere. Such popularity overshadows the wonderful variety of Mexican drinks. A well-made craft margarita or mezcal cocktail is worlds above a bar's frozen slush.
Now that we've talked about 10 overrated Mexican foods, here are some lesser-known classics.
1. Elote
Elote is a fancy name for corn on the cob dressed with mayonnaise, chili, cheese, and lime. The result is creamy, spicy, tangy, and smoky from the grill. It's a great example of how Mexican street food can turn simple ingredients into pure happiness.
2. Tacos al Pastor
Tacos al pastor showcase Mexico's culinary crossover with Middle Eastern shawarma: thin pork slices marinated in chili and pineapple, then roasted on a vertical spit. Each slice is juicy, smoky, and just a little sweet. Topped with onion, cilantro, and lime, this street food classic is all about Mexico's bustling ingenuity.
3. Mole
Mole poblano is a Mexican culinary work of art, a sauce with upwards of 20 ingredients, made with chilies, chocolate, nuts, and spices. The flavors are intense and complex, with a deep richness that is the result of hours of slow cooking. Mole poblano is sweet, spicy, and earthy all at the same time, and it is served over chicken or turkey.
AlejandroLinaresGarcia on Wikimedia
4. Tamales
Tamales, everyone's favorite comfort food, are a delicious dish that goes way back to ancient Mesoamerica. Tamales are a timeless delicacy that can be filled with endless savory options, from meats, cheeses, and veggies to sweet jams and fruits. The steamed masa becomes moist and fragrant to perfectly complement and envelop the hearty fillings within.
5. Chiles en Nogada
Chiles en nogada is one of Mexico's most sophisticated and symbolic dishes, using green poblano peppers, white walnut sauce, and red pomegranate seeds to represent the flag. The sweet and savory combination of meat, fruit, and creamy sauce is complex yet comforting.
6. Birria
Birria is a stew, slow-cooked to perfection and packed with spices. Traditionally made with goat or beef, the stew is served with a generous amount of consommé and fresh tortillas on the side. Rich, hearty, comforting, and absolutely intoxicating, it's a true labor of love.
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7. Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles take advantage of leftover tortillas by simmering them in red or green salsa and then topping them with cheese, cream, and eggs. The mix of crispy and soft textures makes for a satisfying, delicious breakfast.
8. Pozole
Pozole is a comforting and filling hominy and slow-cooked meat soup that's usually reserved for holidays and family meals. Fresh and crunchy garnishes of cabbage, radish, lime, and chili liven up every bite. Pozole is more than a dish, it's a party in a bowl.
9. Tlayudas
Tlayudas are Oaxaca's version of pizza: massive, crunchy tortillas spread with beans, cheese, meat, and salsa. They're crisp and hearty, with just the right amount of crunch.
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10. Cochinita Pibil
Cochinita pibil is another treat of the Yucatán. Pork marinated in achiote and sour orange juice is slow-roasted in banana leaves until the meat is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The meat is so juicy, it practically melts in your mouth.
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