The Origins of Tex-Mex and 10 Places in Texas to Celebrate this Colorful Cuisine
Discover > Truly Texan > The Origins of Tex-Mex and 10 Places in Texas to Celebrate this Colorful Cuisine
North of Dallas lies the remains of the oldest known house in North America that is dated back to over 15,000 years ago. And like any other house, it has its kitchen where, in its fires, Tex-Mex or Texas Mexican was founded.
The Gault Archeological site is where archeologists found some amazing artifacts back in 1999 and 2002. Among those artifacts are the remnants of a house that, according to archeologists, are dated back to 15,000 years ago. While the area with the burnt rocks outside of the house can be dated back as far as 20,000 years.
In an interview with Atlas Obscura, Executive Director of the Gault School of Archeological Research Dr. D. Clark Wernecke sheds light on how the area around the dig site points toward the fact that the people who resided there thousands of years ago are “broad-spectrum hunters and gatherers.” This means that they have a wide range of meats to choose from like rabbits, ducks, deer, quail, turkey, and pronghorn antelopes. Wernecke adds that “if they are eating turtles and mollusks, I have no doubt they are eating fish and crawfish” - the same meats that modern Texans are familiar with.
With the help of modern technology, archeologists can use a method of identifying starches through starch grain analysis. By using the different tools that they found at the archeological site, they were able to identify that they also ate Texan specialties like pecans (how long do pecans last?) and black walnuts (how long do walnuts last?). And because “starch grains are indestructible, they adhere to the edges of tools … some of the starch grains show signs that they were boiled,” Dr. Wernecke added.
With the combination of ingredients and cooking methods, comida casera or home-cooked food the Texas Mexican style began to take shape. In 9,000 years, home cooking developed into a wide range of methods from roasting or boiling from a fire to adopting baking using earthen ovens, smoking, drying, steaming, stewing, and roasting. Based on starch grain analysis, the mortars that were found at the site revealed traces of mesquite pods, and nuts (how long do nuts last?) while putting together dishes using corn, squash, and beans - quite similar to how we know TexMex today.
These cooking methods eventually blossomed into the culinary influences that have been passed down amongst indigenous groups in central and southern Texas and throughout what is now known as Mexico City. That is why we Texans share a lot in common and also differences in the way of food with Mexican cuisine. The trade that occurred between communities and the exchange of primitive technologies in cooking all boiled down to what we all know and love today as TexMex.
Now, Where to Eat?
After all that history, I’m sure it has put you in the mood for some good old TexMex. Of course, what better way to experience the origin of Tex Mex cuisine than to look beyond the books and give your taste buds a treat. Thankfully, we Texans are lucky to have so many restaurants to celebrate our state’s cuisine and this only shows how time-tested our cuisine is by keeping it alive one taco or chorizo at a time.
If you’ve worked up an appetite from all that reading, check out these 10 TexMex restaurants that perfectly encapsulate the origins of our beloved State cuisine.
La Fogata Comida
This San Antonio classic is known for their authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, and their use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. La Fogata Comida menu features all of your TexMex favorites, like enchiladas, fajitas, and quesadillas. Their signature dish is the Texas-style chili con carne that will probably keep you up at night.
22211 I-10, San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 698-9700
Lonesome Dove
Located in Fort Worth, Lonesome Dove serves up modern TexMex cuisine with a focus on using fresh, local ingredients. Their menu features dishes like wood-grilled quail, Texas cowboy steak, and gulf shrimp and grits (how long do grits last?). And their signature dish is the Lonesome Dove pork chop – a 12-ounce bone-in pork chop served with green chili gravy.
2406 N Main St, Fort Worth, TX 76164
(817) 740-8810
Palmeras Tex Mex Con Sabor
Located in Harker Heights, Texas, Palmeras Tex Mex Con Sabor is a Texas favorite for their upscale TexMex dishes. Entering this food stop, you’ll find that the interior offers a pretty high-end vibe to it. This is coupled with excellent takes on traditional TexMex favorites like enchiladas, beef tacos (What wine goes well with beef tacos?) with queso Tex-Mex, and many more. Also, don’t be fooled by the classy interiors, food items on their menu are relatively inexpensive with some pretty great service to boot.
201 E Central Texas Expy #1460, Harker Heights, TX 76548
(254) 892-4323
Caracol
This Houston institution is known for their authentic seafood Tex-Mex cuisine. Their menu features all of your Texas favorites with a seafood twist like their Tacos De Pescado Estilo Baja, or their daily selection of Enchiladas Del Dia . Try their Tacos De Camaron En Chipotle - a wonderful medley of shrimp tacos paired with beans, and chipotle sauce. Caracol is a great destination for those looking for a great TexMex seafood joint in the Houston area.
2200 Post Oak Blvd #160, Houston, TX 77056
(713) 622-9996
Ojeda’s
The long-running old-timey Ojeda’s is a great place to enjoy your TexMex favorites whenever you’re in and around Dallas, Texas. First opened back in 1969, this Dallas favorite offers timeless takes on TexMex cuisine that has been dubbed by some as the authority when it comes to our State’s cuisine. Their Monday Mona Special will brighten up those first of the week blues with their puffed beef taco, cheese enchilada, rice, and beans.
4617 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 528-8383
Pueblo Viejo
Pueblo Viejo is a Tex-Mex restaurant with a twist – they focus on healthy, organic ingredients. All of their meats are hormone- and antibiotic-free, and they use locally sourced produce whenever possible. They have all of your Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas, but they also have some unique items like the Texas Tostada (refried black beans (how long do black beans last?), avocado, Texas salsa, and more) and the Texas Tamale Plate (three tamales with your choice of meat).
23724 Loop 494, Porter, TX 77365
(281) 354-8008
El Rinconcito Restaurant
El Rinconcito Restaurant is a family-run food joint that has been serving up Tex-Mex cuisine for over 20 years. Their menu features all of your favorites, like enchiladas, tacos, and burritos, but they also have some unique items like the Texas Fajitas (grilled steak or chicken with sauteed onions and peppers) and the Texas Tamales (three tamales with your choice of meat). Also, make sure to leave room for their refreshingly good shrimp cocktail. (What wine goes well with shrimp cocktail?)
1711 N. Mays, Round Rock, TX 78554
(512) 366-5349
La Hacienda Ranch
La Hacienda Ranch is a Texas-style steakhouse that also happens to serve some of the best Tex-Mex food in the state. Their menu features all of your favorite Tex-Mex dishes like enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas, but they also have some unique Texas twists like the Texas Tamales (three tamales with your choice of meat) and the Texas Fajitas (grilled steak or chicken with sauteed onions and peppers).
4110 Preston Rd, Frisco, TX 75034
(972) 335-2232
Mia’s Tex-Mex Restaurant
Mia’s Tex-Mex Restaurant is a Dallas institution, serving up mouth-watering Tex-Mex classics since 1981. They serve some of the best Tex-Mex food in Dallas. Once you get the chance to eat there, take your time and enjoy their wide selections of food items like their Homemade Beef Chile Rellenos, Mama’s Quesadillas, or their Mia’s platter so you can sample their best dishes. They also have some unique Texas twists like the Lucychanga that is packed with your choice of beef or chicken fajita strips wrapped in a flour tortilla then deep-fried and covered with Ranchero sauce.
4334 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 526-1020
Mi Dia From Scratch
Like the establishment’s name suggests, Mi Dia From Scratch in Grapevine offers upscaled made-from-scratch takes on TexMex favorites by Chef Gabriel DeLeon. Creating harmony between the traditional flavors of Mexican, Santa Fe, and Tex Mex cuisines, you’ll find that both the ambience and food will fill your senses. If you ever get to dine in this restaurant, I suggest trying their Cochinita Pibil, or their Duck Carnita.
1295 Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 421-4747
Celebrating the Tex Mex cuisine is always, for me, hits close to home. It’s great to experience the dishes that, at some point, have found their way into our hearts and taste buds. With these restaurants, we can keep Tex Mex alive for another 20,000 more years - living up to the name of big flavors for the biggest state in the United States.
Looking for something truly Mexican? Cross down south and check out the best Mexican restaurants south of the border.
Want to learn more about Tex-Mex? Read here.
Curious to delve into the captivating tale of queso's journey to becoming a cherished Texan delight? Dive deeper into its vibrant history.
