My dad was born and grew up in Mexico and I've lived in Southern California right next to the border as well as Texas.
Traditional Mexican food is very region-specific. My dad's village he grew up in was known for their dried shrimp, which you wouldn't think of as a Mexican food staple. Areas near the coast (Baja) the food is a lot more seafood focused (Mariscos) with shrimp cocktail, whole fried fish, octopus (pulpo, holy shit I had some amazing pulpo at a coastal restaurant in Mexico once, one of the best things I've ever had), fish tacos, ceviche, aguachile, etc.
There's street tacos, tamales, birria, lengua, carnitas, menudo, there's homestyle fried tacos, chorizo, frijoles, flautas, tortas, sope...there's A LOT of different mexican dishes and styles out there.
The thing about Mexican food in the US is that there are a lot of Mexicans that live here, so you can absolutely find authentic and traditional food, especially near the border (but then region will come into it again, SoCal Mexican is different than San Antonio Mexican). I've also noticed that sometimes people not near the border will confuse Peruvian/Argentinian/Colombian and Mexican food too.
Fuck I love Mexican food, I'm gonna make some frijoles de olla right now.
If any of y'all are ever in San Diego, please, I beg you, go to Quatro Milpas in Chicano Park. Get a taco, some rolled tacos, a bowl of the beans/rice/chorizo and some flour tortillas and experience what it would feel like for your abuelita to feed you and nourish your soul. Get there early, there is always a line. Cash only, and try to speak some Spanish.
My dad was born and grew up in Mexico and I've lived in Southern California right next to the border as well as Texas.
Traditional Mexican food is very region-specific. My dad's village he grew up in was known for their dried shrimp, which you wouldn't think of as a Mexican food staple. Areas near the coast (Baja) the food is a lot more seafood focused (Mariscos) with shrimp cocktail, whole fried fish, octopus (pulpo, holy shit I had some amazing pulpo at a coastal restaurant in Mexico once, one of the best things I've ever had), fish tacos, ceviche, aguachile, etc.
There's street tacos, tamales, birria, lengua, carnitas, menudo, there's homestyle fried tacos, chorizo, frijoles, flautas, tortas, sope...there's A LOT of different mexican dishes and styles out there.
The thing about Mexican food in the US is that there are a lot of Mexicans that live here, so you can absolutely find authentic and traditional food, especially near the border (but then region will come into it again, SoCal Mexican is different than San Antonio Mexican). I've also noticed that sometimes people not near the border will confuse Peruvian/Argentinian/Colombian and Mexican food too.
Fuck I love Mexican food, I'm gonna make some frijoles de olla right now.
If any of y'all are ever in San Diego, please, I beg you, go to Quatro Milpas in Chicano Park. Get a taco, some rolled tacos, a bowl of the beans/rice/chorizo and some flour tortillas and experience what it would feel like for your abuelita to feed you and nourish your soul. Get there early, there is always a line. Cash only, and try to speak some Spanish.