The excess of Mexican restaurants isn't your imagination. (Phoenix, Mesa: population, inexpensive)

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

I am not in Phoenix or Iowa but I would like to make a couple of comments.

Went from OKC to Arizona in 1981. In 1981 there probably weren't more than 10 sit down Mexican places in the entire OKC metro. Moved to Arizona and they were limitless. Now OKC is that way. You couldn't eat at all the Mexican places in OKC if you ate at a different one every night for a year. Very much like Arizona was back in the day.

Today I live in a small OK town just outside of what might be considered the exurban part of OKC. This town is now 30-35% Hispanic. We have about 10 Mexican places including four which are literally right next to each other. This in a town of 10K.

What has happened here is that every time a restaurant closes it emerges as another Mexican joint. Slowly, we have lost a lot of our American food options. The funny thing though is that these Mexican places are all good. And they actually put Taco Bell out of business here.

I sure miss Sonoran style though. I've never found an OKC place that serves a cheese crisp. And I basically can't eat a chimichanga here after eating them in Arizona.

Name four good ones. Not canned beans. Thank you.

[mlulu23]

Originally Posted by Lodestar

When are people going to get it? It's not about race. It's about behavior.

^^^^^ This.

Back to food, Mexican food is my all time favorite with Chinese food next yummiest. Japanese, and South Korean look good too.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

There are 14, non-chain Chinese restaurants in Scottsdale. I excluded Fusion venues. I also didn't include Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Korean. I don't see a problem.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by exit2lef

My guess is that in a Midwestern small town, complaints about too many Mexican restaurants are really a thinly veiled complaint about too many Mexican people. Agriculture and meat processing wouldn't be viable without immigrant labor, but some people don't like to see their community demographics change.

There is no "dog whistling" on this topic. If someone thought that there were too many Mexicans in their Midwestern small town, they would bluntly say it loud and clear.

But you are right. Many people in Midwestern small towns are not into diversity and like it the way it used to be. So when they think there are too many Mexican restaurants, it's literal. But they include Taco Bell and Taco John's (Midwest garbage chain) in the mix.

Furthermore, in the Midwest small-town atmosphere, many owners of Mexican restaurants are not Hispanic. Or, they have an American restaurant with some chimichanga (not a Mexican dish) or a quesadilla on their menu. Of course, with some Pace brand salsa on the side. Ultra mild, please!! And let's not forget a Land-O-Lakes brand, single-sized tube of sour cream. I can visualize that dish as we speak. Both dishes are topped with some hard pink diced tomatoes. Yum! Ask me how I know.

[mborner]

Originally Posted by Lodestar

The ones who come for a handout, now that might be a different situation, but not because they're Mexican.

I love the Mexican culture. I'm married to a Mexican for pet's sake. Without calling this a blanket statement, I believe most Mexicans come here because they want a better life for their family and they want to bust their a$$ to make a living. They are not looking for handouts. I rarely see more dedicated, hard working people than Mexicans. Their family values and work ethic are astounding. We could learn a few things from them.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by mborner

I love the Mexican culture. I'm married to a Mexican for pet's sake. Without calling this a blanket statement, I believe most Mexicans come here because they want a better life for their family and they want to bust their a$$ to make a living. They are not looking for handouts. I rarely see more dedicated, hard working people than Mexicans. Their family values and work ethic are astounding. We could learn a few things from them.

Agreed ^^.

[engineman]

I miss the fried ice cream that I used to get when I lived in AZ.

[uaeebs86]

Originally Posted by Suesbal

Are there any Mexican restaurants in Phoenix that specialize in regional Mexican cuisine, such as Oaxacan?

La Parrilla Suiza in Mesa specializes in Mexico City food.

[Bondurant]

There isn't a scarcity of Chinese restaurants. A quick Google search shows at least 20 in Phoenix proper alone. I'm set with Westside Window.

Mexican restaurants are popular. Everywhere. We live in a state with a huge Mexican population. Couple the diaspora with an already popular food style, it's a no brainer as to why the proliferation of Mexican restaurants on Phoenix metro.

[sacreole]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

See https://www.city-data.com/city/Phoenix-Arizona.html

There are 4% Asians in PHX. And, not all PHX Asians are Chinese. Because of the lower percentage of Chinese restaurants, I'm inspired to start one... But with a twist. I'm thinking out loud. I'd call it "Whities." Maybe a fusion restaurant combining Chinese staple dishes with my Scandinavian heritage. Thinking out loud, maybe a "lutefisk stir fry" or "sardines or mackerel Chow Mein." Or how about spring rolls dipped in lingonberry sauce?

Or Mu-Shu Herring on Lefse? That would make for an interesting matpakke.