Dallas Observer | dallasobserver.com | Dining : Burning Question
The Dallas Observer explores what may be the biggest question facing civilization today. Exactly what is the difference between Mexican food and Tex-Mex food? Well, I have to admit, I thought I knew the answer to that after managing a Taco Bell a long long time ago. Always thought it odd that no Hispanics ever ate there, but they did eat at Taco Cabana. Ah well ... live and learn.
I have to admit that for 24 hour Mexican food, there's not many better places to get that enchilada fix than at Ruchi's though. Beats Taco Cabana by a mile unless you just have a hankering for one of TC's specialties (I'm a little fond of their chicken tacos). It helps that there's four of em inbetween myself and River Oaks theater.
For normal hours, though, I'm right in the heart of mexican food central and I can walk outside to get my fix within 5 minutes. Mom & pop restaurants are always a gamble (in more ways than one), but when you find a good dish at one, you know you're onto something. There's presently three nearby establishments that I frequent. Two of which, I cannot pronounce the names to, one of which I'm not sure that it really has a name.
When all else fails, the nearest gas station get tamales from a nearby family and at 3/$1, they rock!
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Dated a girl briefly (too briefly - actually, the one I talked to in line for Bubba Hotep) who had just moved from Mexico within the previous six months. She said the major difference was the cheese: Tex-Mex uses the yellow, Mexican uses the white - a distinction noted in the article.
I've known that for more than a year. So there!!!
For the record, I've lived in my present location (Mini-Ellis Island) for over two years now and quickly discovered the difference when I realized the gorditas I got at Taco Bell were NOTHING like the ones I got at the restaurant down the street.
Take that!