Why is Mexican food pretty much all the same thing?

Tortilla

Beef/Chicken/Other Meat

Cheese

Lettuce

Tomato

Beans



It's all pretty much the same ingredients but just slightly different preparation and it all pretty much tastes that same. What's the point? I don't mean to be offensive or anything, I really like Mexican food, but I've always just found it curious.Why is Mexican food pretty much all the same thing?
I agree with the earlier poster: you just haven't been to a real Mexican restaurant. There are wonderful soups, stews, steaks, fish dishes, egg dishes. I've had really interesting goat in a Mexican restaurant, and fabulous potato and spinach sides. Jicama, chayote squash, cactus, tomatillos: there is much, much more to Mexican food than you've been exposed to. I live in a large city with a big Mexican population, so we have lots of authentic places to go for great Mexican food. It will be worth your effort to seek out some real Mexican restaurants rather than Tex-Mex taquerias.Why is Mexican food pretty much all the same thing?
Sorry, but that isn't "all Mexican food." That's tacos, nachos, fajitas, burritos, and to some extent enchiladas.



That stuff is more Tex-Mex, but it's not even a representation of "all" Tex-Mex cuisine.



My guess (and I'm not trying to be offensive here) is that you're probably not from a border state? My experience in visiting non-border states is that most of the "Mexican" food is really all Tex-Mex, and not even very good Tex-Mex. If your experience is just with fast food "Mexican", then I encourage you to find a small hole-in-the-wall type restaurant and see if you can find something different. Don't despair if you don't live in a state on the border. For example, I've seen some good restaurants in the Midwest, but they were a lot harder to find.
Mexican food in the US (and border towns that cater to americans) is basically tex mex or a variation of it. You need to check out mexico (or if this is not feasable, go to a city in the US with a large mexican population and hit their markets). If you go to a coastal area you will find seafood dishes unmatched by seafood in the states. You will also find all other types genuine mexican food. Not taco bell crap.Why is Mexican food pretty much all the same thing?
If you think that's all there is to Mexican food, it's rather unfortunate your only experiences have been Taco Bell, and maybe some other American chain restaurant, like ChiChi's. This is like claiming you've eaten Chinese food because you eat at Panda Express, or that eating at Pizza Hut makes you an expert on Italian food.



Do yourself a favor and find a small, family run, authentic Mexican restaurant. Order yourself a mole (pronounced moh-lay) and prepared to be blown away.



Yes, many Mexican dishes do include some of those ingredients in some shape or form, but there's so much more to Mexican food.
I don't blame you for thinking that. For that matter, Italian food seems all the same too.



But I happen to know from experience about both those cuisines that that is very wrong.



It just so happens thats what you see at restaurants. Probably because its cheaper, easier and people seem to love it/sells better.



Also, a lot of the dishes are just American inventions, e.g. the "chimichanga". If I told my mom to make chimichangas for dinner she would probably throw a pan at me.Why is Mexican food pretty much all the same thing?
What you have described is not Mexican food; it's food mexicans make for griungos.



Mexican food is my favorite and has many dishes of seafood, pork, and sandwiches too.