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The Mexican influence in the United States is vast and significant, driven by the large community of Mexicans who have settled in the country. As a result, its cuisine is among the most popular in the U.S., and you can find Mexican food spots in every corner of the country.
How is Mexican gastronomy regarded in the United States?
Mexican gastronomy was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This is a major indicator of the influence that Mexican cuisine has across the globe.
In the United States, given the geographic proximity and the number of Mexican migrants, Mexican gastronomy is deeply rooted in the culture. Records show that the taco arrived in the U.S. in the late 19th century.
Over the decades, Mexican dishes evolved and adapted to American culture, leading to the rise of Tex-Mex, a fusion of Mexican and Texan culinary customs.
In this way, Mexican cuisine successfully entered both the fast-food and fine-dining scenes in the United States, and is considered one of the most delicious culinary traditions.
How does it work?
Most of these places specialize in Mexican fast food, with the taco being the most famous and in-demand dish among them. However, this cuisine has blended with other culinary influences, increasing the popularity of other Mexican products, such as Hatch chiles, grown in New Mexico, or canned tamales.
Furthermore, **Mexican restaurants are much more affordable** than American fast-food restaurants. This data was gathered from the Yelp app, where users have rated Mexican food spots as the most affordable, with a rating of just one dollar out of four.
Mexican food on the rise in the United States
Mexican food has grown so much in the United States that, currently, 99% of citizens can access Mexican food from anywhere in the country. This is due to the number of Mexican migrants in the country: the Mexican community is the largest in the U.S.
A study published in 2024 by the Pew Research Center indicates that 85% of U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant, with the states of Texas and California housing the **highest concentration of Mexican gastronomy**: they account for 40% of all Mexican restaurants in the country.
According to recent studies, it is estimated that around 37.2 million U.S. citizens are of Mexican descent. This is why their cultural influence is reflected primarily in their gastronomy.
Compared to other regions of Central America, Mexican food has the strongest presence in the United States.
Places to eat Mexican food in the United States
In the United States, there are many notable restaurants **in fine dining** that offer traditional recipes or Mexican food alternatives. Some options include:
- Cocina Madrigal, Phoenix,
- Cosme, New York,
- Puesto, San Diego,
- Besito, Boston,
- Cala, San Francisco
On the other hand, there are also **numerous Mexican food chains** throughout the country. Among them, we can name:
- Capital Tacos,
- Tijuana Flats,
- Ori’Zaba’s Mexican Grill,
- Del Taco,
- Taco Bell.
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