Texas is full of Mexican restaurants. Approximately 45,139 restaurants serving Mexican food are found all over the state, the second-highest in the entire nation. It’s one of America’s all-time favorite cuisine. But with so many options all over Texas, patrons have started becoming more discerning about where they get their Mexican food fix.

Baja Mex Grill, as a top Mexican restaurant in the area, takes pride in ensuring that we continue to serve delicious, flavorful meals to our customers. And customers are always looking for the next great restaurant to try.

What Makes a Great Mexican Restaurant?

Creative Options

One sign of a great restaurant is when they’re willing to take a classic and make it their own. Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine have a lot of staples and familiar recipes. But an excellent restaurant will find a way to add a new and delicious twist to it, making the dining experience more interesting.

A good indicator is when they choose local food and combine it with authentic Mexican ingredients. It caters to local tastes while maintaining the flavors of the original.

Trust in the Classics

At the same time, the menu should also feature the gold standard for Mexican cuisine. While creativity in the menu is welcomed, having tried and tested recipes and flavors is what draws people to the food in the first place.

It’s part of what makes the restaurant characteristically a Mexican restaurant, not a fusion one. Look through the menu for reliably delicious Mexican food that will make every palate happy, not just those who want something new.

The Chips & Salsa Test

Chefs recommend doing this test to see what kind of an establishment it is. Chips and salsa may simply be an appetizer, an easy one-off left at the table while the customers wait for the main course. But it can show the amount of effort the kitchen puts into its food and, therefore, its customers.

You can tell a lot about the restaurant’s quality from the kind of chips and the taste of the salsa they serve. Store-bought appetizers may show a lack of interest. But in-house salsa will always be a winner and is an opportunity for the restaurant to throw in some added creativity.

A Well-Rounded Experience

Beyond the food, consider the restaurant itself and the atmosphere. It’s part of what makes the Mexican food experience so enjoyable. The setting, the people, and the area’s vibe improve the dining experience.

Seeing many people coming in and genuinely enjoying their surroundings and food is a sign that the restaurant is a winner. And it’s likely one that keeps people returning for the good stuff.

Find Delicious Food Paired With Great Atmospheres

Mexican food is a blend of bold, rich flavors and spices, with plenty of room to explore added local favorites. Best of all, they’re paired well with a good drink and the company of great people.

Baja Mex Grill is always looking to bring our customers the best Mexican dining experience possible in Grapevine, Texas. Check the directions and stop by for a great experience and meal.

Tex-Mex is a popular term for a lot of Mexican food, but it was first used in 1877 as a name for the Texas Mexican Railway in South Texas. The term gradually evolved to describe Tejanos, Texan descendants of the original Spanish Settlers of Coahuila. Eventually, the term evolved to describe Tejano cuisine.

Baja Mex Grill, famous for serving up flavorful Tex-Mex food, is often called a Mexican restaurant. But is there a real difference between them? While some people use the terms interchangeably, there’s a marked difference between Tex-Mex food and authentic Mexican cuisine.

The Line Between Tex-Mex & Mexican

The terms Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine began to evolve with time and started to blur with one another. It’s not strange to find foods considered Tex-Mex on the same menu as traditional Mexican dishes. But each side has distinct characteristics that make it obvious which a dish would fall under.

Tex-Mex

First introduced in Texas in the late 1800s, this is what the state’s residents enjoyed and began making at home using the available ingredients to them at the time. It also accommodates more American tastes in food, changing some of the spices and flavors.

Deeply rooted in the Tejano Culture, Tex-Mex cuisine derives from authentic Mexican food but uses very characteristically American ingredients. Beef, yellow cheddar, wheat flour, and black beans are less common in authentic Mexican cuisine.

Mexican Cuisine

This type of cuisine dates back to Mayan Indian times and the Aztec empire. These two cultures fused to create foods that incorporate corn tortillas, chili peppers, wild game, and more. Pork and other kitchen ingredients such as dairy, herbs, and garlic are now characteristic of Mexican food.

Authentic Mexican cuisine is usually cooked in iron skillets, steamed, or fried. Salsa, tomatillos, tamales, and enchiladas are classic Mexican foods.

Which Is Better & More Popular?

Neither one is better than the other; both types of cuisine are still much enjoyed by people throughout North America. Some people simply have a preference. For example, authentic Mexican food is spicier than its Tex-Mex counterparts. But for people who prefer bold flavors and more familiar ingredients, Tex-Mex is the answer.

Today, fajitas, nachos, and other yellow-cheese heavy dishes considered Tex-Mex are inextricable from association with Mexican culture. At the same time, more people continue to seek out traditional Mexican dishes for a flavor experience. But at the end of the day, Americans with Mexican heritage and without continue to enjoy both cuisines.

Two Sides to the Same Great Flavors

There’s no real winner between the two—both cuisines are a flavor adventure worth exploring. And depending on the geographical location, subtle differences make these dishes more palatable or interesting. Finding out the differences between them helps you appreciate the other.

Baja Mex Grill is proud to continue serving great flavors and meals for everyone looking for Tex-Mex foods or Mexican dishes. Contact us today to ask about reservations or see what we offer at the bar.

Visit Baja Mex Grill Today!

Texas is full of Mexican restaurants. Approximately 45,139 restaurants serving Mexican food are found all over our big state, the second-highest in the entire nation! It’s one of America’s all-time favorite cuisines. But with so many options all over Texas, patrons have started becoming more discerning about where they get their Mexican food fix.

Baja Mex Grill, as a top Mexican restaurant in the area, takes pride in ensuring that we continue to serve delicious, flavorful dishes to our customers.