I went 3.5 years without Mexican food, apart from that Sri Lankan chorizo.
So when I returned to the States for a quick visit, Mexican food was one cuisine that my stomach was begging me for. Phoenix, Arizona, is where is satisfied myself.
There are random restaurants serving semi-authentic Mexican food in Asia, but I just nearly always chose to stick with local Thai street food and not disappoint myself with Mexican food in Asia.
Above is a messy take out foam container filled with a carne asada burrito drenched in enchilada sauce with rice and beans on the inside and on the outside!
It was astonishingly amazing, each bite was a shocking jolt of Mexican food power that I hadn’t experienced in so long.
There’s a little restaurant in Tempe, Arizona known as El Pollo Supremo – or The Supreme Chicken. The restaurant has a very simple menu that includes, chicken (sold by the bird), beef, beans, rice, salsa, pickled onions and tortillas — that’s it!
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It’s the real deal – pure Sonoran food cooked by expert Mexican street chefs. Even though the restaurant is known for their chicken, the beef was equally satisfying.
It almost resembled tandoori chicken from the outside, but it was fully Mexican in taste and ferociously delicious. Each hunk of chicken was moist and flaky – perfect when stuffed into a tortilla and smothered in homemade salsa.
I was able to spend some time with a few of my best friends (who are from Mexico) and I had the privilege of dining on a few flawless plates of huevos rancheros for breakfast.
This is the way to start your day off well!
But… just before breakfast – we chomped on this pre-breakfast snack.
Can you guess what it is? (Hint: It’s called “lengua” in Spanish)
The greasy chunk of pure flaky meat was absolutely stunning. The meat was so tender and so flavorful that I had to close my eyes to savor the moment with every single bite. Normally I enjoy lengua tacos, but I won’t complain when faced with an in-tact hunk.
I’ve had random bags of chips throughout the world. Sichuan peppercorn Lays in China, tom yum goong chips in Thailand and just about every meaty salty flavor you can imagine. But I have to give the golden chip award to Mexico.
Seasoned with Mexican spices and doctored up with chili sauce and a squeeze of lime juice, Mexican Tostitos and Doritos are the absolute BEST!
Sometimes all you need is a simple bean burrito. Salty refried beans, lots of cheese, and hot sauce wrapped in a tortilla is a perfect hand held treat!
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Cinco de mayo foods
2 years ago
These are the best foods i have ever tested in Mexico
Cinco de mayo
2 years ago
I don’t understand how is a tandoori chicken a Mexican recipe?
Reg of The Spain Scoop
10 years ago
I live in Spain and while you might think we’d have tasty Mexican food in Barcelona, not so. There are Mexican eateries here but very few live up to real Mexi cuisine or the Tex-Mex I love to nosh back in the USA!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Reg, thanks for the comment, too bad there’s not better Mexican food in Spain!
Chris
10 years ago
Regarding lack of available Mexican food in Bangkok:
There used to be a decent Mexican restaurant with Mexican owner right on Sukhumvit… between Asoke and Phrom Pong. They have now relocated to Sukhumvit Soi 18, at the very end of the soi (dead end), last shop on the left side.
When they first opened it was good… bright flavors, not heavy, quite balanced, really nice homemade hot sauce (red, green, and orange). However on more recent visits it had deteriorated immensely. It’s not so BAD… but it’s not special like before. I think the cooking has been delegated to some local cooks with minimal training.
They used to make a simple cheese quesadilla into something amazing… strong flavorful cheese, seemingly homemade totrtillas. I suppose Quesadillas may be more “Tex-Mex” than Mexican… but there were also quite a lot of authentic items on the old menu. But the point it, these were prepared perfectly. Now, unfortunately, they are cooked on too low of a heat… the tortilla doesn’t get golden/charred properly and the cheese is not melted enough… not cooked enough. It’s sort of slowly boiled on the grill. The SAME problem you often find when steak is cooked incorrectly in Thailand.
Have you tried this place? I have not been in a while, but if they would get back to their old standards it would be great.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Chris, thanks so much for sharing. No, never been to the place you’re describing. Sounds like it at least was worth a visit previously, and has potential to make good Mexican food. I’ll ask around to see if anyone has been there lately. Thanks for the information!
Chitra Perez
10 years ago
Is the lengua dish really what I think it is (based on the literal meaning) or just another cut of lean meat? it looks delicious either way!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Yup, really the tongue, it’s really tender and delicious!
Micamyx|Senyorita
11 years ago
Clicking this post while I am hungry with no food in sight is a big mistake 🙁
Will go to a nearby Mexican restaurant later for lunch hehe 😀
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, thanks for checking it out, and hope you found some good Mexican food too!
Jeremy Branham
11 years ago
OK so I had to click on this one to see if you could make my mouth water. You see, I don’t like Mexican food. I eat it at times but never choose it. If I didn’t eat it all year I would be OK with that. However, I was curious to see if you could make any of this look good. And yes, the chicken, beef and beans, and lengua looked pretty good.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, thanks this comment Jeremy and glad some of the things looked good despite your dislike of Mexican food!
gayE @ pinaytraveljunkie
11 years ago
Besides Thailand and India, Mexico is a country I’d like to revisit just for the food! Sigh, no Mexican restos where I am now… Not one 🙁
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Awesome to hear that GayE! Mexican food really is one of the world’s greatest.
Jared
11 years ago
I cant wait to try this food..Sounds like good to eat and delicious..
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Yes, Jared, very good and delicious!
Ayngelina
11 years ago
Are burritos Mexican? 😉 I have seen burras which are similar but never a burrito.
I love all your posts anyway, just teasing on the tex-mex.
Ruth of Tanama Tales
11 years ago
According to what I have heard from my Mexican friends, burritos do have origins in Mexico. The information found in Wikipedia seems to approve this. Now, the monster burritos we have in the United States (full of many ingredients) seem to have origins in San Francisco’s Mission District.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks for sharing Ruth!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
I think the burrito pictuered is a little Americanised, but in the north of Mexico they do eat burros – they’re just normally a lot smaller and mostly filled just with meat – no rice or beans…! Tex Mex has largely increased the size of burrito!!
Lawrence Michaels
11 years ago
That all looks so good, I really miss good Mexican food. I basically grew up on the stuff. Now that I live in Thailand it is pretty much impossible to find decent, much less good, Mexican food. I’m gonna go cry now over a bowl of Thai noodles.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, yah, I haven’t found much good Mexican food in Asia or in Thailand and now I’m just plain scared to ever try any Mexican restaurant. Eating more delicious Thai food is the way to face our sorrows!
P Wade
11 years ago
Still in Phoenix? I’ll be back in a few days.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Hey man, too bad I’m not there anymore… I got back to Thailand. Where are you living these days?
Annette | Bucket List Journey
11 years ago
Thanks for the warning…you were right 😉
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Ha, thanks for taking a look Annette!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence)
11 years ago
Even though I am so excited to experience all the wonderful street food of Asia, I think the one thing I will miss most about Nashville is the myriad of wonderful Mexican food options. Coming from Canada, I had never tasted authentic Mexican, so I am truly sad to say goodbye to it!
And I agree, lengua is the best! But if you get the chance to try a “taco de tripa” I urge you to try it. The crispiness of the tripe is maybe the one thing that can rival the unctuousness of tongue.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Awesome to hear that Steph – I don’t think I’ve ever had a taco de tripa but it sounds wonderful and I’d love to try it. Yes, Asia has just about everything apart from really good Mexican food…
Naomi
11 years ago
These food shots are so good!! Something like this can only be taken by a photography in love with the subject… 😉
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thank you Naomi!
sully86
11 years ago
mark: MARK!!! you will not like me when I am hungry * hulk voice*
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Ha!
Erica
11 years ago
Yup, just drooled on my keyboard
I totally hear you on the no good Mexican food in Asia!
Unfortunately, I was not as wise and tried a couple restaurants in Tokyo and was indeed, quite disappointed.
These photos will have to tide me over for now!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, thanks for sharing Erica! Hope you are able to located some good quality Mexican food soon!