California is home to some of the most delicious and iconic Mexican food in the United States. From burritos to tacos to quesadillas, Californians have put their own unique spin on classic Mexican dishes. There are several factors that contribute to making California Mexican cuisine so tasty and craveworthy.
Blending of cultures
One of the main reasons California Mexican food tastes so good is that it combines influences from Mexican culture and California culture. California has a large Mexican population, especially in cities like Los Angeles. This means lots of authentic Mexican restaurants and taquerias can be found throughout the state. However, Californians have also adapted traditional recipes to suit local tastes. This blend results in Mexican food that feels familiar yet new and exciting.
Use of fresh, local ingredients
California is an agricultural powerhouse, producing tons of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients. Chefs take advantage of this bounty when cooking Mexican dishes. Fresh, ripe produce like avocados, tomatoes, onions, and chiles add amazing flavor. Local meats like carne asada and pollo asado are prevalent in California Mexican cooking. The use of top-notch, locally sourced ingredients sets California Mexican food apart.
Creative twists on classics
While staying true to tradition, California chefs put their own spin on classic Mexican recipes. For example, the California burrito contains French fries, sour cream, and other unconventional fillings not found in Mexico. Local restaurants experiment with non-traditional Mexican ingredients like soyrizo, crema, cotija cheese, and cilantro. This innovation and flexibility help make each bite of California Mexican food unique.
History of Mexican food in California
To better appreciate California Mexican cuisine today, it helps to learn about its origins. Mexican food first came to California along with Mexican settlers in the early 1800s. As more immigrants came during the Mexican Revolution, simple yet flavorful dishes like tacos, tamales, and tortillas became popular.
Early Mexican eateries
By the 1930s, Mexican restaurants started popping up across California to feed the growing Mexican American population. The first printed references to foods like tacos, enchiladas, and burritos appeared in LA newspapers by the 1950s. Soon after, fast food tacos stands and drive-thru restaurants opened their doors. Early eateries like Cielito Lindo and El Cholo helped introduce Mexican food to the mainstream.
Tex-Mex influences
Texas-style Mexican food also made its way west to California. In the 1970s and 80s, Tex-Mex chains like Taco Bell became drive-thru sensations. Elements of Tex-Mex cooking worked their way into California Mexican food, like crispy taco shells, nacho cheese, and fajitas. However, California maintained its own unique regional style.
Modern innovations
Today, California chefs continue to innovate by blending Mexican culinary traditions with fresh California flair. Celebrity chefs like Rick Bayless have helped elevate and popularize California Mexican cuisine. Food trucks and pop-ups make exciting fusion tacos and burritos with Korean, Japanese, and other global flavors. California Mexican food continues evolving while staying delicious and authentic.
Signature dishes and staple ingredients
From street food to gourmet restaurants, certain dishes and ingredients epitomize California Mexican cuisine. Learning the classics provides insight into what makes the regional style so scrumptious.
Burritos
Perhaps the most iconic of all California Mexican dishes, the burrito originated in Mexico but became perfected in California. The ideal California burrito contains carne asada, French fries, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and other fillings wrapped in a massive, overstuffed flour tortilla. Burrito variations like the California veggie burrito are just as tasty.
Street tacos
Small, delicious tacos served from food trucks and hole-in-the-wall taquerias define California street food. Fillings like spicy carnitas, milky al pastor, crisp pescado, and earthy mushrooms pair nicely with double corn tortillas. Onions, cilantro, and salsa add zesty flavor. Street tacos are a quintessential California Mexican experience.
Avocados
As one of California’s biggest agricultural exports, avocados find their way into countless Mexican dishes here. California produces 90% of all avocados grown in the US. Their buttery texture and nutty flavor elevate tacos, burritos, quesadillas, guacamole, and more. No other ingredient represents California Mexican cuisine quite like the avocado.
Salsa
With access to ripe, fresh chiles and produce year-round, Californians have perfected the art of salsa. Standard Mexican salsas like pico de gallo, salsa verde, and salsa roja are prepared expertly, with bold flavors and textures. Many restaurants also get creative, making salsas with mango, pineapple, cucumber, and other ingredients.
| Signature Dish | Signature Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Burrito | Carne asada, French fries, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla |
| Street taco | Carnitas, al pastor, pescado, corn tortillas, onions, cilantro, salsa |
| Quesadilla | Grilled tortilla, Oaxaca cheese, avocado, salsa |
| Fish taco | Fried white fish, cabbage, crema, corn tortilla |
| Tamale | Masa dough, pork, red sauce, corn husk |
Regional variations within California
Though the state is united by its love of Mexican food, regional differences can be found within California. Exploring how Mexican cuisine varies by area provides insight into California’s diverse cultures and landscapes.
Los Angeles
As home to one of the largest Mexican populations in the US, it’s no surprise LA is a hotbed for iconic dishes. From busy food trucks to hole-in-the-wall gems, LA offers fantastic Mexican food everywhere. Street tacos, burritos, birria, and aguas frescas shine in LA.
San Diego
San Diego’s proximity to Mexico means Baja style seafood shines here. Generous portions of tacos, tostadas, and ceviche overflow with fresh mahi mahi, shrimp, octopus and more. Burritos stuffed with French fries also originate in San Diego.
San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area blends California creativity with Mexican flavors. Tacos and tortas with quinoa, jicama, and other unique fillings demonstrate the fusion. High-end, modern restaurants put gourmet spins on traditional dishes too.
Central Valley
California’s Central Valley provides Mexican restaurants across the state with fresh produce. Abundant chiles, tomatoes, cilantro, and onions get incorporated into salsas and sauces. The ingredients’ journey from farm to table enhances the flavors.
Northern California
Extending far beyond San Francisco up to the Oregon border, Northern California offers rustic, rural Mexican dishes. Family-owned restaurants serve comforting favorites like pozole, menudo, and mole poblano that provide a taste of home.
Traditional cooking methods and preparations
To gain a deeper admiration for California Mexican food, it helps to understand the traditional cooking methods and preparations involved. How dishes are constructed greatly impacts their complex flavors.
Building layers of flavor
Authentic Mexican chefs build complex layers of flavor in their cooking. First, dried chiles get toasted and soaked to make flavorful sauces and salsas. Aromatics like onions and garlic get cooked down as a base. Spices like cumin, oregano, and cilantro add depth. Meats then get simmered or marinated in the sauce for maximum flavor infusion.
Masa mastery
The masa dough used for tamales and tortillas requires skill to perfect. First, dried corn gets soaked and cooked in limewater, then ground into a smooth, velvety dough. Properly rested and hydrated masa has a soft texture that steams and griddles beautifully. Great tamales or tortillas start with excellent masa.
Two tortilla techniques
Handmade corn tortillas get pressed or rolled by hand for a delicate, irregular shape. Flour tortillas are rolled uniformly thin before bubbles are added via quick griddling. Both methods, done properly, yield steamy, soft textures ideal for tacos.
Carne asada char
Traditional carne asada gets its smoky, charred flavor from the grill. Marinated steak strips are quickly cooked over high heat. The meat remains juicy inside while developing a charred crust. California chefs maximize this flavor by including carne asada in burritos, nachos, fries, and beyond.
Popularity of Mexican fast food in California
Part of what makes California Mexican food so special is its accessibility at beloved fast food chains across the state. From late night drive-thrus to quick counter service, Mexican fast food satisfies cravings.
Rise of Taco Bell
Taco Bell played a major role in introducing Mexican fast food to the masses. Founded in Downey, California in 1962, the chain grew rapidly with its hard shell tacos and uniform menu. While not authentic, Taco Bell’s twists on enchiladas, burritos, and more became wildly popular.
Del Taco diference
Del Taco set itself apart by offering higher-quality ingredients than competitors. Founded in Yermo, California in 1964, the chain used shredded cheddar, handmade salsa, and fresh produce. Its signature Quesodilla Taco combines a quesadilla with a taco.
King of California burritos
Perhaps no fast food joint perfected the California burrito quite like King Taco. Founded in 1974 in East LA, their enormous, foil-wrapped burritos bursting with carne asada, cheese, and fries became a local legend. King Taco proved Mexican fast food could be authentic and delicious.
El Pollo Loco’s fire-grilled chicken
Specializing in citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken, El Pollo Loco offered a healthier fast Mexican option when it opened in 1980. Customers loved its fresh flavors. El Pollo Loco continues thriving today with over 480 locations across the Western US.
Effects of produce and geography on the cuisine
California’s bountiful agriculture and diverse landscape significantly impact its Mexican food. Access to fresh produce and proximity to Mexico shape the regional style.
Produce capital of the US
California produces over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Abundant crops like avocados, tomatoes, chiles, onions, garlic, and cilantro are all staples of Mexican cooking. California’s produce dominance allows its Mexican cuisine to highlight fresh, ripe flavors.
Influence of Baja
Baja California, the Mexican peninsula below California, shares a similar climate and geography. Baja cuisine focuses on seafood like tuna, shrimp, and lobster. The proliferation of Baja-style tacos, ceviche, and fish preparations in Southern California demonstrates this influence.
Desert agriculture
Despite its arid climate, California’s Imperial Valley desert contains productive farmland along the Colorado River. The region supplies chiles, cilantro, and more Mexican staples. The desert’s hot climate also produces uniquely flavored chiles.
Avocado abundance
Coastal Southern California boasts ideal avocado growing conditions. In 2017 alone, the state produced over 2 billion pounds of avocados. No ingredient symbolizes California Mexican food quite like the creamy, versatile avocado.
| California Produce Item | Use in Mexican Cuisine |
|---|---|
| Avocados | Guacamole, tacos, burritos, quesadillas |
| Tomatoes | Salsa, pico de gallo, tacos |
| Onions | Salsa, guacamole, tacos |
| Garlic | Salsa, mole, rice |
| Chiles | Salsa, tamales, tacos |
| Limes | Ceviche, agua fresca, margaritas |
The Mexican and Mexican American chefs influencing the cuisine
Many talented Mexican and Mexican American chefs put California Mexican food on the map. Their skills and innovation inspire younger generations today.
Zarela Martinez
Born in Sonora, Mexico, Zarela Martinez opened several restaurants in New York and one in San Francisco focused on authentic regional Mexican cuisine. Her cookbooks and TV appearances in the 1990s increased visibility.
Diana Kennedy
British-born Diana Kennedy has authored countless cookbooks and documentaries exploring Mexico’s regional cuisines. She has lived in Michoacán, Mexico since the 1950s, dedicating her life to preserving traditions.
Rick Bayless
Chicago chef Rick Bayless has done much to elevate and popularize Mexican food in America. His restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo feature authentic dishes and his TV shows highlight Mexican culture.
Maribel Aldaco Silva
Maribel Aldaco Silva co-founded one of the most beloved Mexican eateries in California, Mariscos Jalisco in Boyle Heights. Her secret shrimp taco recipe with fried shrimp and avocado salsa draws huge crowds.
Wes Avila
Wes Avila’s Guerilla Tacos food truck took LA by storm with unique but authentic tacos like fried chicken mole and cauliflower al pastor. His blend of California flavors and Mexican techniques typifies where the cuisine is today.
The future of California Mexican food
As Mexican food continues rising in popularity nationwide, California will likely lead the way with new fusions and twists. However, preserving traditions remains important too.
Chef-driven evolution
Talented young chefs like Carlos Salgado, Eduardo Ruiz, and Gabriela Cámara are putting daring new spins on Mexican cooking. Experimental ingredients and modernist techniques will push California Mexican to new creative heights.
Elevated street food
Street food like tacos and burritos will continue moving from trucks into hip new restaurants. The casual food will get elevated with gourmet ingredients but maintain its simple, craveworthy appeal.
Preserving traditions
Authentic establishments focused on traditional regional cuisines will always have a place in California. Passing long-standing recipes down to new generations will ensure this delicious history is never lost.
Vegan Mexican
California’s health-conscious dining scene means vegan and vegetarian Mexican options will likely grow. Restaurants are using jackfruit, mushrooms, and soyrizo to reinvent classic dishes without meat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, California Mexican food offers an amazing blend of tradition, innovation, and regional flavors. Taking the best influences from Mexican culture and California agriculture has yielded a beloved and iconic cuisine. Talented chefs, high-quality ingredients, and cultural pride enable California to put its unique stamp on Mexican cooking. As this regional style continues evolving in California kitchens, both traditional and modern, its growing popularity nationwide is a testament to just how delicious it is. From street cart snacks to gourmet meals, California Mexican offers something incredible for every palate.
