Every time I visit my family friends in Texas, flavorful Mexican tacos infused with authentic meats and Hispanic spices hit my nose in every direction as I pass by countless authentic Mexican restaurants. The fresh flavors from ingredients like corn, chili, avocado, and fresh cilantro are often combined in complex dishes. But why does authentic Mexican food never seem to make its way to Bergen County? The absence of authentic Mexican restaurants is what kills the Hispanic food industry. Whenever we crave Mexican food, we foodies are forced to deal with fake Mexican restaurants that try to trap customers into thinking they are “the real deal.”
Bergen County is known for its diverse cuisine, but the lack of authentic Mexican restaurants in the region has become more noticeable. In the past year, Bergen County experienced an increase in various cultural foods such as Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, and Japanese. However, authentic Mexican food was nowhere to be seen. Sure, there is Chipotle or Blue Moon (a Tex-Mex restaurant), but those aren’t true Mexican restaurants. These dishes are filled with fake ingredients and unnatural flavors.
Bergen County may not be as diverse as it seems. In fact, according to the U.S Census Bureau, the largest racial group in Bergen County is White, with a population around 500,00 which is a little more than 50% of the total population. This shows how more than half of the population is White, while the remaining population contains all other races, including Hispanic.
Tenafly High School students have taken notice of this issue: “I believe that the reason why there are fewer authentic Mexican restaurants around Bergen County is because a lot of the people seem to get the wrong idea when it comes to … Mexican food, ” Maria Estua Carrillo (’27) said. “Especially with influencers from fast food chains like Taco Bell or Chipotle, it may sound more appealing to them. As a result, there’s a lot more ‘Tex-Mex’ cuisine in this area, which includes foods like hard shell tacos and poorly made burritos.”
Perhaps the main reason there are no authentic Mexican restaurants in Bergen County is that it lacks a strong Hispanic population. Meanwhile, in Texas, there are many populated Hispanic communities across the state that share their culture through food. Most of these people come from their native country and aren’t second or third-generation immigrants, which gives them that edge to cook authentic food. They truly know how the dishes should be cooked, and what ingredients should be added because they have lived it, tasted it, and smelled it all their lives.
Hopefully we will see new real Mexican Restaurants around Bergen County soon. We’ll just have to just wait and see.
