6 "Mexican" Foods You Won't Find In Mexico

We all love our Tex-Mex, which gets us excited about the thought of heading down to Mexico and indulging in burrito-ville. But, don't be disappointed when there isn't a burrito in sight.  Here are six examples of our much-loved Mexican fare that you're not likely to find south of the border.

Taco Salads

Photo Credit: Flickr/I Believe I Can Fry
When we want our Mexican fix in a way that makes us feel healthy, we go for the taco salad. Hate to break it to you, but Mexico is like a desert when it comes to taco salads.

Chimichanga

Tex-Mex at its best, the chimichanga is yet another much-loved American version of Mexican fare that travelers would have a difficult time tracking down.

Cheddar Cheese Enchiladas

Americans love their Cheddar cheese, especially when it's on an enchilada; however, don't expect to find this "weird cheese" used in Mexico. Don't worry, Cheddar, we still think you're the big cheese.

Burrito

Let's just put it this way: When Taco Bell tried to open up in Mexico City in the '90s, a local newspaper had to explain what a burrito was for the local consumers.

Chili con Carne

Another Tex-Mex specialty that we delightfully devour in the States, but sadly we'll have to do without it on our next trip to Mexico.

Nachos

Yet another Tex-Mex dish that you won't find in Mexico is nachos — at least the way we think of them, as a giant pile of chips swimming in sour cream or processed cheeses. Nachos in Mexico were originally individual tortilla chips, each with melted cheese and a piece of jalapeño. Sounds a bit more delicate, doesn't it?

Alexandra E. Petri is the travel editor at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @writewayaround.