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submitted 8 months ago by robocall@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Food is deeply ingrained in cultural identity, and is one way to learn about a community's heritage, familial customs and values. In the U.S., Mexican food is one of the most popular cuisines, with 1 in 10 restaurants serving Mexican, according to recent findings from the Pew Research Center. This trend reflects an expanding Mexican American population, with 37.2 million people or 11.2% of the U.S. population tracing their ancestry back to Mexico.

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[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 51 points 8 months ago

Are Mexican food places really about an increasing Mexican population? 10% seems about right for the general interest. Kinda seems like a clickbait article for conservatives. What is the other 90%?

[-] Froyn@kbin.social 54 points 8 months ago

Totally clickbait. Japan has a lot of KFC restaurants, but not a lot of people from Kentucky.

[-] Lexam@lemmy.ca 30 points 8 months ago

30% of the Japanese population originates from Kentucky. You don't have to look it up. And if someone asks you for a reference, you can use this comment.

[-] pastel_de_airfryer@lemmy.eco.br 12 points 8 months ago

"If it's on the internet, it's true!" - George Washington

[-] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 5 points 8 months ago

KFC should do a “Mexican” seasoning crispy chicken.

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[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 8 months ago

If that bs were true than there's apparently a lot more Chinese living in the Midwest than I thought.

[-] dalekcaan@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago

Yeah, it seems to assume an increase in Mexican food's popularity must come from Mexicans, when it can easily be explained by how Mexican food's really fuckin good.

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[-] doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 43 points 8 months ago

I suspect it's got as much to do with Mexican/texmex food being fuckin good as it does with an increasing Latin American population.

[-] JonEFive@midwest.social 5 points 8 months ago

Yeah, I agree. Their premise is faulty. Places serve tacos and quesadillas because they're cheap and easy to produce and many Americans like them, not simply because there are more Latinos in the US.

Now, if they said that there are more independent family-owned Mexican restaurants, I would consider that a bit more compelling.

[-] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 35 points 8 months ago

As a fan of tacos and salsas, I couldn't be happier

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 27 points 8 months ago

Not reflecting expanding population, reflecting that it's good fucking food regardless of where your stupid grandparents are from. And the fact that it's typically cheaper fare in a country brutally and constantly raped by capitalism.

[-] robocall@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Grandparents are kinda stupid.

[-] fleabomber@lemmy.world 27 points 8 months ago

Cuz it's bomb.

[-] wellee@lemmy.world 23 points 8 months ago

Mexican restaurants are so good godayum, there can never be enough!

[-] robocall@lemmy.world 20 points 8 months ago

This is a good thing!

[-] TenderfootGungi@lemmy.world 17 points 8 months ago

In most Midwest towns it is Mexican food or hamburgers. I will take Mexican food 9 times out of 10 and I am not Mexican. The alternatives are just bad.

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[-] Gazumi@lemmy.world 17 points 8 months ago

Erm, Mexican families having their own families plus people wanting to eat Mexican food? In the UK, we had people trying to say too many Indians coming into the country, based upon the number of Indian restaurants. Indian food is just more popular than fish & chips.

[-] Rapidcreek@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago

I'd think 1 in 10 also serve Italian. Those cuisines are cheaper to make.

[-] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 15 points 8 months ago

Mexican food is a beautiful thing

[-] Rognaut@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago

Mexican food is amazing.

That is all.

[-] SuiXi3D@kbin.social 13 points 8 months ago

I’m white AF. I’m currently in line for my second of the same burrito I had for lunch.

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[-] prole@sh.itjust.works 12 points 8 months ago

About to order some Mexican food right now.

I can't imagine how fucking boring food would be if white nationalists had their way. No thanks.

[-] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago

I'm not even sure I know what white nationalist food is.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 3 points 8 months ago

If Undercover Brother is any indication: White people eat foods that are white.

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[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 8 months ago

This town has about 60,000 people. 100,000 in the metro area. I just counted. There are 16 Mexican restaurants. Some of them are within brief walking distance of each other. And no, I'm not counting Taco Bell.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not a big fan of Mexican food.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 12 points 8 months ago

obligatory "oh, you just haven't been to the right place yet; i know a great spot!"

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

I have a very good answer for them- I don't really like peppers or beans. I also don't really like the way Mexican meat is seasoned and I don't really like any of the Mexican cheese I've had. None of it is a dealbreaker if other people want to go to Mexican food, but it would be far from my first choice.

[-] krashmo@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago
[-] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 4 points 8 months ago

i like things that are ergonomically easy to eat. the burrito form factor is freakin amazing. all in one, no utensils. its a utilitarian dream.

but when i go to a restaurant they destroy the utility. its suddenly on this plate covered is sauces! what?!

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[-] i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 8 months ago

My friend is from a smallish town (~4k) and they don't like Mexican food much, either. (And the southern US cuisine is also something they are "meh" on.) Not a whole lot of restaurant food they like around their neck of the woods.

Oh lordy when they come visit me in the city, they chow down on what we got. It's always fun to have them help me order something I've never tried; I'm not nearly as adventurous when they're not around. (I usually experiment in the kitchen or order something familiar when I go out.)

[-] alekwithak@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Just checked my town. 20k people. 30 Mexican restaurants, not counting food trucks and fast food. Complete insanity.

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[-] eatthecake@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago

We need more Mexicans in Australia, all we have is crappy Taco Bill

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[-] baruchin@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

The weird part is that they don't even sell real mexican food, but Tex-mex. Mexican coucine ≠ American cheese.

[-] doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 8 months ago

I've never been to a Mexican place that serves anything with American cheese on it. Even taco bell doesn't stoop that low. Many fast food places have the crappy movie theater cheese though.

[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 6 points 8 months ago

No not American cheese. They don't use really any yellow cheeses in Mexico. On a taco, if there is cheese it's generally Queso Fresco, a white cheese that doesn't melt.

But in Americanized dishes they often add yellow cheese. Shit even at the store they sell "Mexican Blend" bags of cheese with yellow cheese lol

Of course, just because it isn't "authentic" doesn't mean it isn't good. Know the difference sure but you can still enjoy both.

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[-] hydrospanner@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

There's always at least one in every comments section...

So please enlighten me (for real because I don't know), what indicates when a restaurant "passes muster" for an authentic Mexican restaurant?

[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 5 points 8 months ago

No need to be gatekeepy. Tex-Mex is also delicious!

But some signs:

  1. Any kind of yellow cheese is generally not found in "authentic" Mexican.

  2. Burritos, no. They do exist up north but are quite different. No rice or vegetables. Nothing like Tex-Mex burritos.

  3. Lettuce, diced tomato (other than pico de gallo), sour cream, (or as aforementioned, yellow cheese) on tacos/tostadas is not "authentic". Onions, cabbage, cilantro, lime. Pico or some salsa optional. That's "authentic".

  4. "Authentic" tacos don't have hard shells. Flour vs corn tortillas vary by region but tacos are always soft tortillas.

  5. Fajitas are an American invention (and they slap, again I'm not here to gatekeep)

  6. Nachos as most generally know them, lots of toppings, etc. that's an Americanized thing too.

  7. Ground beef. In tacos or otherwise isn't generally a thing. Really beef isn't THAT common an ingredient in Mexico (in the north, a bit more common)

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[-] mob@sopuli.xyz 4 points 8 months ago

They? Like, America as a whole doesn't sell Mexican food, but only Tex-Mex?

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[-] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 3 points 8 months ago

I’m old enough to remember when salsa became more popular than ketchup

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this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2024
230 points (95.3% liked)

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