The Difference Between Authentic Mexican Food & Tex-Mex Food

Throughout the years, Mexican food has evolved as it has collided with American culture. The term for this new style of food has been dubbed “Tex-Mex.” So what’s the difference and which one is better?

Authentic Mexican food dates back to the times of Mayan Indians and the Aztec Empire. Both cultures collided, combining foods like corn tortillas, beans, chili peppers, wild game, and fish. When Spain invaded Mexico in the 1500s, foods like pork, dairy, garlic, and other herbs and spices became popular. Authentic Mexican food is usually cooked in cast iron skillets, steamed or fried.


Examples of Authentic Mexican food you can find in Atlanta include salsa, tomatillos, tamales, and enchiladas. You can usually find these Mexican dishes at local Mexican restaurants. You can also find recipes online and attempt to make authentic Mexican food at home.

This term, used to describe American Mexican food, was first introduced in Texas. Residents of the state enjoyed their Mexican dishes and began making them at home with food they had access to, such as beef and flour. The Mexican restaurants in Texas started adding more ingredients preferred by Texans to accommodate their tastes, resulting in what we call today “Tex-Mex.”


Examples of Tex-Mex food include fajitas, nachos, and any dish that uses beef, black beans, canned vegetables, wheat flour, or yellow cheese. These ingredients are not popular south of the Rio Grande or the Mexican border. This means Tex-Mex food is available in numerous places in Atlanta. Tex-Mex ingredients are available at grocery stores while Tex-Mex food can be found at restaurants like Twisted Taco.

Whether you prefer authentic Mexican food or Tex-Mex food depends on your tastes. Usually authentic Mexican recipes are spicier, while Tex-Mex food is less spicy. Both types of food are delicious, but if you live in the United States and do not have Mexican roots in your family tree, you most likely have grown up eating Tex-Mex food.

Tex-Mex food is great because it combines a variety of ingredients into one tasty meal. These ingredients are full of bold flavors and health benefits. With multiple ways to mix meat, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, onions, salsas, tortillas, and more, Tex-Mex restaurants offer almost any Mexican dish you can think of.

With outside patios, daily specials, and a unique “twist” on Mexican cuisine, Twisted Taco provides Atlanta residents with over 20 mouthwatering tacos and more. Their menu includes handcrafted margaritas, over 40 draft beers, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, burgers, and numerous other Tex-Mex entrees.

Twisted Taco’s full-service restaurants provide a fun and entertaining environment for social gatherings for friends, families, and co-workers. Join the fun and stop by one of our locations today.Let’s face it—Mexican food is a favorite go-to meal for residents in Atlanta and quite possibly the whole United States. Whether you prefer tacos, burritos, or a different Mexican dish, Mexican food makes a perfect option for a light lunch or hefty dinner. Over the years, we have been blessed with various styled Mexican restaurants. With traditional sit-down locations, fast-casual restaurants, and even food trucks, we can get our Mexican food almost anywhere we want.


Throughout the years, Mexican food has evolved as it has collided with American culture. The term for this new style of food has been dubbed “Tex-Mex.” So what’s the difference and which one is better?

Authentic Mexican food dates back to the times of Mayan Indians and the Aztec Empire. Both cultures collided, combining foods like corn tortillas, beans, chili peppers, wild game, and fish. When Spain invaded Mexico in the 1500s, foods like pork, dairy, garlic, and other herbs and spices became popular. Authentic Mexican food is usually cooked in cast iron skillets, steamed or fried.


Examples of Authentic Mexican food you can find in Atlanta include salsa, tomatillos, tamales, and enchiladas. You can usually find these Mexican dishes at local Mexican restaurants. You can also find recipes online and attempt to make authentic Mexican food at home.

This term, used to describe American Mexican food, was first introduced in Texas. Residents of the state enjoyed their Mexican dishes and began making them at home with food they had access to, such as beef and flour. The Mexican restaurants in Texas started adding more ingredients preferred by Texans to accommodate their tastes, resulting in what we call today “Tex-Mex.”


Examples of Tex-Mex food include fajitas, nachos, and any dish that uses beef, black beans, canned vegetables, wheat flour, or yellow cheese. These ingredients are not popular south of the Rio Grande or the Mexican border. This means Tex-Mex food is available in numerous places in Atlanta. Tex-Mex ingredients are available at grocery stores while Tex-Mex food can be found at restaurants like Twisted Taco.

Whether you prefer authentic Mexican food or Tex-Mex food depends on your tastes. Usually authentic Mexican recipes are spicier, while Tex-Mex food is less spicy. Both types of food are delicious, but if you live in the United States and do not have Mexican roots in your family tree, you most likely have grown up eating Tex-Mex food.

Tex-Mex food is great because it combines a variety of ingredients into one tasty meal. These ingredients are full of bold flavors and health benefits. With multiple ways to mix meat, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, onions, salsas, tortillas, and more, Tex-Mex restaurants offer almost any Mexican dish you can think of.

With outside patios, daily specials, and a unique “twist” on Mexican cuisine, Twisted Taco provides Atlanta residents with over 20 mouthwatering tacos and more. Their menu includes handcrafted margaritas, over 40 draft beers, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, burgers, and numerous other Tex-Mex entrees.

Twisted Taco’s full-service restaurants provide a fun and entertaining environment for social gatherings for friends, families, and co-workers. Join the fun and stop by one of our locations today.