Tex-Mex
Southwestern fusion food
Tex-Mex describes food, music, and culture blending Texan and Mexican influences.
The term most often refers to a style of cooking that developed along the Texas-Mexico border, featuring dishes like nachos, fajitas, and chili con carne—heavier on cheese, cumin, and beef than traditional Mexican cuisine.
We grabbed Tex-Mex for dinner.
The term also applies to a style of accordion-driven music popular in South Texas.
Sauced stuffed tortilla
- fajitaGrilled meat wrap
- quesadillaFolded tortilla with melted filling
- tacoFilled, folded flatbread
- burritoFilled, wrapped tortilla
nachos · chimichanga · guacamole · salsa · pico de gallo · refried beans · chile con queso · tamales
Mild-to-medium Mexican pepper
- serranoSmall hot Mexican pepper
- habaneroExtremely pungent chili variety
- chilePungent Capsicum pod
- cayennePungent red spice
picante · hot sauce · Tabasco · chipotle · green chile · red chile · salsa verde · salsa roja
Outer edge or limit
- SouthwestArid American expanse
- San AntonioSouth-central Texas city
- AustinTexas capital city
- HoustonTexas's largest city
Dallas · El Paso · Rio Grande · Alamo · borderlands · cantina · taqueria · mercado
Festive public celebration
- margaritaTequila-lime cocktail
- Cinco de MayoMexican celebration each spring
- mariachiMexican folk ensemble
- cervezaBeer, in Spanish
cantina · party platter · tequila · Tecate · Dos Equis · paloma · michelada · horchata
Culturally adapted to US
- hybridThing of mixed parentage
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- gringoForeigner in Latin America
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
cheddar · sour cream · ground beef · flour tortilla · combo platter · hard shell · smothered · loaded
enchilada
Sauced stuffed tortilla
- fajitaGrilled meat wrap
- quesadillaFolded tortilla with melted filling
- tacoFilled, folded flatbread
burrito · nachos · chimichanga · guacamole · salsa · pico de gallo · refried beans · chile con queso · tamales · carne asada
jalapeño
Mild-to-medium Mexican pepper
cayenne · picante · hot sauce · Tabasco · chipotle · green chile · red chile · salsa verde · salsa roja · chili powder
border
Outer edge or limit
- SouthwestArid American expanse
- San AntonioSouth-central Texas city
- AustinTexas capital city
Houston · Dallas · El Paso · Rio Grande · Alamo · borderlands · cantina · taqueria · mercado · plaza
fiesta
Festive public celebration
- margaritaTequila-lime cocktail
- Cinco de MayoMexican celebration each spring
- mariachiMexican folk ensemble
cerveza · cantina · party platter · tequila · Tecate · Dos Equis · paloma · michelada · horchata · chips and salsa
Americanized
Culturally adapted to US
- hybridThing of mixed parentage
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- gringoForeigner in Latin America
adaptation · cheddar · sour cream · ground beef · flour tortilla · combo platter · hard shell · smothered · loaded · crispy
hearty
Warm and substantial
- satisfyingProducing fulfillment or pleasure
- cheesyCheap and insincere
- smotheredDeprived of air
melty · filling · generous · indulgent · homestyle · crowd-pleasing · craveable · shareable · familiar · weeknight dinner
- cuisinesItalian cuisine, French cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Indian cuisine
- World CuisinesChinese food, French food, French cuisine, Italian cuisine, Indian food
- American foodhamburger, cheeseburger, burger, burgers, hamburgers
- TexasAlamo, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio
- American cuisineSouthern, Cajun, Creole, soul food, barbecue
- American diningdiners, free refills, doggy bag, tipping, hamburgers