Food serves as a powerful vessel for cultural identity, offering insights into a community’s heritage, familial customs, and values. In the United States, Mexican cuisine has emerged as one of the most popular, with recent findings from the Pew Research Center indicating that 1 in 10 restaurants across the country now serves Mexican food. This culinary trend is closely tied to the expanding Mexican American population, which constitutes 11.2% of the U.S. population, totaling 37.2 million people.
The 2010s witnessed a remarkable 23% growth in the U.S. Hispanic population, surpassing the overall population growth rate of 7%, as reported by the Census Bureau. Among the Hispanic population in the U.S., almost 60% identify as Mexican American. The prevalence of Mexican restaurants across the country is a testament to the significant cultural influence and culinary preferences of this demographic.
Pew Research Center’s analysis, drawing on data from SafeGraph and Yelp, revealed that 85% of U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The remaining 15% of counties without Mexican cuisine predominantly represent smaller populations, constituting only 1% of the entire U.S. population.
California and Texas stand out as the primary hubs for both the Mexican American population and Mexican restaurants. These two states collectively host 40% of all Mexican restaurants in the U.S., with 22% located in California and 17% in Texas. In California, Los Angeles County alone accounts for 30% of the state’s Mexican restaurants. Similarly, Harris County in Texas, home to Houston, boasts 17% of the state’s Mexican culinary establishments.
Further examination of the data highlights that ten U.S. counties have Mexican restaurants comprising over a third of all dining establishments. Strikingly, eight of these counties are situated in Texas, particularly in proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mexican American food establishments exhibit diverse categorizations, with 22% falling under the “fast food” label, 12% specializing in tacos, and 8% operating as food trucks. Additionally, 6% of Mexican restaurants offer “Tex-Mex” cuisine, a fusion of American and Mexican culinary traditions influenced by Tejano culture.
Affordability appears to be a hallmark of Mexican cuisine in the U.S., as 61% of restaurants with available pricing data are rated with one “dollar sign” on Yelp. This indicates a predominance of moderately priced Mexican eateries. In contrast, less than 1% of all Mexican restaurants nationwide carry a rating of three or four dollar signs on Yelp, signifying higher-end establishments. Notably, 25% of these pricier Mexican restaurants are concentrated in Los Angeles County, Cook County, Illinois, and New York County, New York.
In essence, the prevalence and popularity of Mexican cuisine in the U.S. reflect not only changing demographics but also the rich tapestry of cultural exchange that occurs through the medium of food. As Mexican American communities continue to grow and diversify, the culinary landscape of the nation evolves, weaving together flavors and traditions from both sides of the border.