Tips for Spotting Authentic Mexican Food

There’s nothing like eating authentic Mexican food from a great Mexican restaurant. The gorgeousness of a traditional Mexican dish can blow any restaurant lover away. But how can you tell if your favorite meal is truly authentic? It’s not as easy as you think. Here are some tips to help you decide whether a dish is authentic or whether it is a pale imitation. 

Is Your Dish Fresh and Colorful?

Traditional, authentic Mexican food is fresh with lots of colors. You should expect to see a lot of reds, yellows, oranges, and greens from peppers and other traditional spices. Mexicans also combine a lot of fruit in their dishes as well, such as watermelon and fresh lime. You’ll see the fruit pop up in a lot of traditional dishes. If your food looks bland, chances are you’re not eating an authentic meal. 

Does Your Dish Come With A Side of Salsa?

While a lot of people think traditional salsa only comes in red, Mexican salsa comes in a lot of colors and varieties. Of course, there’s traditional red salsa, but Mexicans eat green salsa and even fruit salsas as well. Look at your salsa and check the freshness. Good traditional Mexican restaurants make their salsa fresh every day. 

Does Your Dish Use Cornmeal?

In Mexico, people use cornmeal the way we use flour in the United States. If your dish comes with white flour tortillas, it’s not authentic. While people in Mexico eat tortillas, they are made from corn flour, not wheat flour. Many other authentic Mexican dishes, such as tamales, are made with cornmeal. 

Does Your Dish Have Veggies?

Authentic Mexican food comes with a ton of fresh veggies. In fact, the authentic Mexican diet is full of fresh fruits and vegetables. There should be a lot of corn, beans, and peppers in your dish. If your dish is strictly of meat and starch variety, it is not authentic Mexican cuisine. 

If you’re not sure whether your favorite dish is Mexican, you can ask at your favorite Mexican restaurant whether the food is authentic Mexican fare. If not, be sure and ask your waiter if there are any dishes on the menu that are authentic. 

When you’re ready for some exceptional, authentic Mexican food, why not come and see us? We’re located at 8389 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida, 34238. You can give us a call for takeout orders at 941.217.4536.