L.A. Foodies who've spent time in Texas, what's the difference between Cali and Texas Mexican food? (Fresno: restaurant, food)

[Claire_F]

Originally Posted by motoman

Pappasito's, the original in Houston, is FANTASTIC (I think that's the one I'm thinking about). Their fajitas make LA fajitas look like a two year old's attempt at fine cuisine.

I completely agree - they're the best! I also love their enchiladas, and their salsa, and their margaritas....

I think I need a cold shower now.

I can't comment on Mexican food in LA, but I will say that I notice a difference even outside the Houston city limits. For instance, Ninfa's in Houston has some good food, but the Ninfa's in Baton Rouge is nothing like it, at all.

For transplanted Texans who need a fix, I highly recommend this cook book, full of authentic recipes, as well as some great pictures and history of the cuisine. When I made the enchiladas with chili gravy (something I think must be nonexistent outside of Texas), it smelled like home. I found the website through the Homesick Texan blog, which is one of my favorites.

[Navshirereeve]

ive lived in San Diego for 13 years and I now live in San Antonio going on 3 years. One thing I will say about San Antonio is that they are BIG on breakfast tacos. In San Diego, they were almost unheard of. Oh yeah and does anyone know the difference between cabrito and birria or are they the same thing, just worded differently. Like carro and coche

[Claire_F]

Originally Posted by Navshirereeve

ive lived in San Diego for 13 years and I now live in San Antonio going on 3 years. One thing I will say about San Antonio is that they are BIG on breakfast tacos. In San Diego, they were almost unheard of. Oh yeah and does anyone know the difference between cabrito and birria or are they the same thing, just worded differently. Like carro and coche

Cabrito is roasted baby goat. Birria is a stew made with goat meat.

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by the one

tex mex food is a fusion of US and mexican food. it is spicy (not nec. good) and has a lot of black pepper (something i dislike).

but of all the restaurants that i have ate in TX very few had anything special. all spicy tomato sauce and pepper. i will take a cemita from a poblano lunch truck off central any day.

Ah, very interesting!

[Slauson Rosecranz]

Originally Posted by motoman

I am from Dallas and have lived in LA for three years now. I haven't found anything in the LA area that comes close to being as good as Tex-Mex. I prefer the spicier, chili-based, Tex-Mex to the more bland LA stuff.

In LA, hot sauce is little more than tomato sauce or chopped up tomatos with just a touch of spice. Herrera's in Dallas has the best hot sauce I have ever had. Great flavor, just the right amount of spice.

LA was the first place I have ever been where you could get a burrito wet or dry. What the hell is that? Wet is just mildly spicy tomato sauce poured over the top of it.

Chili sauce is a rarity in LA. It is the basis of Tex-Mex. LA Mexican food is more tomatoey in general. I don't care for it, but it will do since I don't have much of a choice.

Fajitas and things like that are pretty much the same, although priced much higher in LA. But I guess the food in general is much more expensive. In LA was the first time I ever saw a $15 plate of two enchiladas. I laughed my butt off.

Oh, and you can't find Tex-Mex style nachos anywhere in LA to save your life. Nachos in LA are a plate of chips with a hodge podge of crap piled on top. It's a simple appetizer, but it's pretty much a staple of Tex-Mex.

Pappasito's, the original in Houston, is FANTASTIC (I think that's the one I'm thinking about). Their fajitas make LA fajitas look like a two year old's attempt at fine cuisine.

Mmm hmmm, mmm hmmm, very interesting indeed.

It's apparent that the two region's cuisine are completely different, almost like Sicilian (Southern) Italian food vs. Tuscan (Northern) Italian food.

[motoman]

Originally Posted by Slauson Rosecranz

Mmm hmmm, mmm hmmm, very interesting indeed.

It's apparent that the two region's cuisine are completely different, almost like Sicilian (Southern) Italian food vs. Tuscan (Northern) Italian food.

Yes, they are very different. Not necessarily better or worse than the other, it just comes down to what you prefer. Perhaps because I grew up on the stuff I prefer Tex-Mex hands down. But had I grown up in LA I might think differently.

In LA was the first time I ever had a soft tortilla taco, like from the taco trucks. They don't have those in Tex-Mex. I am not saying you can't find them in Texas, but it isn't something that is served in a restaurant. I'm sure you can get them from a taco truck though.

Even something as simple as enchiladas are totally different. Tex-Mex enchiladas are made with corn tortillas, whereas those in LA are typically flour. Even the cheeses used are different.

The Herrera's restaurant I love in Dallas has the best ground beef I have ever had anywhere. I can't remember the Spanish name for it. But I think it's ground beef with corn meal and spices. It has an amazing flavor. I haven't run into anything like it anywhere else.

[ChocolateTae]

Originally Posted by Lumerian Feast

The Eastern Avenue corridor is full of people who have emigrated from Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico just in the last ten years. That area's undergoing kind of a renaissance, and there are a lot of really great restaurants there.

Outside of that, Baltimore actually has a number of very good restaurants (but visitors won't find them around the Inner Harbor).

Baltimorean here and I agree 100% with you. That whole Highlandtown area is tranforming. Less whites & blacks and a lot more hispanics. Also visitors just assume that the Inner Harbor is all Baltimore has to offer but there are so many other neighborhoods that offer good food, personality, and culture. Fells Point, Federal Hill, Canton etc. etc.

[Lakewooder]

Tex-Mex wins hands down. CA 'Mexican' is so lame - or shall I say 'mild'?

[Ankhharu]

I hate Texas, and consider California superior in just about every facet, however, I admit/think that Tex-Mex is better than Cal Mex.

[motoman]

Picadillo was the word I was looking for.