Mexican cuisine should be on your list if you’re a food enthusiast or just someone looking to tantalize your taste buds with exquisite flavours. From savoury tacos to spicy salsas, Mexico offers diverse dishes catering to every palate. This article will explore the 15 best Mexican food you must try. So, grab your sombrero, and let’s Embark on a delightful gastronomic adventure through Mexican cuisine’s colourful and savoury realm.
Mexico is a renowned vacation spot that draws in people who love the sun and delicious food. If you’re fortunate enough to be organizing a trip, delight your taste buds with our list of the top 15 dishes to try while you’re there.
For inspiration on Mexican eats, please look at our Mexican recipes.
Table of Contents
Mexican food is recognized for its intense flavours, fresh ingredients, and rich cultural history. There is an extensive variety of choices for dining, ranging from quick-service eateries to high-end restaurants. You’ll find these delightful dishes waiting to tantalize your taste buds.
1. Chilaquiles
This classic breakfast meal comprises corn tortillas that are lightly fried and cut into quarters, then topped with either green or red salsa (the latter being slightly spicier). Pull-apart chicken and scrambled or fried eggs are frequently placed on top, along with cheese and cream. To finish the dish, it is typically accompanied by a large portion of refried beans.
It would be best if you gave our mouth-watering Chilaquiles a try.
2. Tacos al Pastor: A Mexican Classic
Starting our list with a classic – Tacos al Pastor. These mouth-watering tacos feature marinated pork, slowly cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Served with fresh cilantro, onions, and pineapple, they are flavoured in every bite and feel best mexican food.
This classic taco dish is a fan favourite and has a rich history dating back to the 1920s and 30s. It originated from the influx of Lebanese and Syrian immigrants to Mexico. To make tacos al pastor (which means ‘in the style of the shepherd’), pork strips are thinly sliced off a rotating spit, then served on a corn tortilla with onions, coriander leaves, and pineapple.
3. Enchiladas: Flavorful Rolled Delights
Enchiladas are tortillas filled with various ingredients such as chicken, beef, or cheese, rolled up, and smothered in a savoury chilli sauce. They’re baked to perfection and often topped with cheese and sour cream.
Enchiladas have a rich history dating back to the Mayan civilization. In the Valley of Mexico, people used to eat corn tortillas wrapped around small fish. Nowadays, both corn and flour tortillas are used and filled with various ingredients like meat, cheese, seafood, beans, vegetables, or a combination of them all. Finally, the stuffed tortillas are covered with a delicious chilli sauce, making it a popular choice for a Best Mexican food and breakfast.
4. Guacamole: The Perfect Dip
Guacamole is a simple yet incredibly delicious dip made from mashed avocados, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice. It’s the ideal companion for tortilla chips and a must-have at any Mexican gathering. Explore the fascinating origins of guacamole, a cherished condiment dating back to the Aztecs that remains a beloved symbol of Mexican cuisine. Guacamole is an incredibly popular dip that is crafted from a mixture of mashed avocados, onions, tomatoes, lemon juice, and chilli peppers. This dip is typically served alongside tortilla chips or used as a side dish to complement a variety of different meals.
5. Nachos : One of Best Mexican Food
Whether you’re arranging a movie night, a game day party, or just in the mood for a delightful treat, nachos are a popular snack that can be enjoyed anytime makes its a best mexican food.
Even though many people favour the simplicity of purchasing nachos at a restaurant, making nachos at home may be just as great and much more enjoyable. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps of preparing delectable nachos in the oven.
6. Chiles Rellenos: Stuffed Pepper Paradise
Chiles Rellenos are made using Poblano peppers, which are stuffed with cheese, pork, or beans and fried until they turn golden. They’re typically served with a rich tomato sauce, creating a harmonious blend of flavours and one of the best mexican food.
7. Pozole: Hearty Mexican Soup
Pozole is a comforting soup with hominy corn and slow-cooked meat (usually pork or chicken). Garnished with shredded cabbage, radishes, and lime, it’s a hearty and satisfying dish. Anthropologists have noted that this soup was once used for ritual sacrifices in the pre-Hispanic era. Nowadays, chicken, pork, and vegetarian versions of pozole are commonly available in everyday settings. A flavorful dish is created by combining hominy corn with a carefully crafted blend of herbs and spices. Typically, it is stewed for several hours, often overnight. When it is ready to serve, toppings such as lettuce, radish, onion, lime, and chilli are added for extra flavour for making it as best mexican food.
8. Machaca
Machaca, a culinary gem with its roots firmly planted in Mexican cuisine, is a dish that revolves around dried meat. This traditional treat is famous for its rich flavours, unique preparation methods, and cultural significance. Imagine delicate, marinated beef that has been painstakingly dried and shredded to make a tasty, adaptable component that gives different recipes flavour.
Crafting Machaca involves selecting lean cuts of meat, typically beef but sometimes pork, which are then marinated with an array of savoury spices and seasonings. After marination, the meat is dried under the sun or using modern techniques like ovens or food dehydrators until most moisture is removed. This drying process concentrates the flavours and extends the meat’s shelf life, making it an ideal choice for long journeys or situations where refrigeration is scarce.
For more details about Machaka please our Machaka Recipe.
9. Tamales: A Delightful Package
Tamales are an authentic Mexican delicacy. These little bundles of joy consist of masa (corn dough) filled with various ingredients like meat, cheese, or vegetables. They’re wrapped in corn husks and steamed to perfection.
Tamales were originally created to provide the Aztec, Mayan, and Inca tribes with a portable and nutritious food source for battle. These delectable treats are fashioned by filling pockets of maize dough with either sweet or savoury ingredients, enveloping them in banana leaves or maize husks, and then steaming them to perfection. Fills vary from meats and cheeses to fruits, vegetables, chillies and mole. Remember to discard the wrapping before eating.
10. Chicken Tinga
Chicken tinga is one of the culinary inventions praised for its colourful and robust flavours. In this investigation, we’ll look into the global culture of Chicken Tinga to learn more about its history, components, preparation method, and the motivations for its cult status in Mexico and around the world. It is believed that Spanish and indigenous Mexican culinary traditions influenced Chicken Tinga.
11. Ceviche: A Fresh and Tangy Seafood Dish
Ceviche is a refreshing seafood dish made by marinating raw fish or shrimp in citrus juices like lime or lemon. It’s a zesty and revitalizing choice, mixed with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and a hint of chilli.
12. Elote
In many Mexican cities, it is a frequent sight to spot street vendors peddling elote, the local name for corn on the cob. In most cases, corn is prepared by boiling and served on a stick, resembling ice cream, or in cups with the kernels removed from the cob. It is customary to enhance the flavour by generously adding salt, chilli powder, lime, butter, cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream.
13. Mole: The Complex Mexican Sauce
Mole is a complex sauce made from chilli peppers, chocolate, and various spices. It’s often served over chicken or turkey and showcases the intricate flavours of Mexican cuisine.
Mole, a savoury sauce widely used in Mexican cuisine and pronounced as ‘mol-eh’, is claimed to have originated from three different states. Despite the numerous variations of mole, they generally consist of around 20 different ingredients, including a variety of chilli peppers, and require consistent stirring for an extended period of time. The most popular type of mole is the mole poblano, a reddish-brown sauce that is typically served with turkey or chicken.
14. Chicken Birria Tacos
When you delve into the realm of culinary marvels that effortlessly cross borders and unite diverse cultures, have you ever had the pleasure of savouring the delectable delight known as Chicken Birria Tacos? This delightful fusion of authentic Mexican tastes intertwining harmoniously with the deep, fragrant core of birria, a revered dish rooted in the heart of Mexico’s culinary heritage, gives rise to an irresistible masterpiece that has unquestionably won over the palates and affections of epicureans spanning the globe.
15. Churros: Sweet Fried Goodness
We wrap up our list with something sweet – Churros. These deep-fried dough sticks are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Savour the delicious treats along with a cup of rich and flavorful Mexican hot chocolate.
Mexican cuisine is a treasure trove of flavours, and these top ten dishes offer a mere glimpse of its culinary richness. Whether you’re a spice lover or prefer something sweet, there’s a Mexican dish to satisfy every craving.
12. FAQs
Q1: Are Mexican dishes usually spicy?
Mexican cuisine varies in spice levels. While some dishes are spicy, many are milder and can be enjoyed by those with a lower spice tolerance.
Q2: What’s the best drink to pair with Mexican food?
Pair your Mexican meal with a refreshing horchata or a classic margarita to complement the flavours.
Q3: Can vegetarians enjoy Mexican cuisine?
Absolutely! Mexican cuisine offers various vegetarian options, from bean burritos to cheese-filled enchiladas.
Q4: Where can I find authentic Mexican food outside of Mexico?
Look for Mexican restaurants in your area, especially those run by Mexican chefs, for an authentic dining experience.
Q5: What’s the secret to making perfect guacamole?
The key to perfect guacamole is using ripe avocados and balancing the flavours with the right amount of lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
In conclusion, Mexican cuisine is a vibrant tapestry of flavours, and trying these top ten dishes is a culinary adventure worth embarking on. From savoury tacos to sweet churros, there’s something for everyone in this rich and diverse culinary tradition.
