Your experiences with regards to Mexican are no different than any other ethnic food being peddled outside where they normally would be found. I had the displeasure of trying Mexican while living in Japan. It was mediocre at best yet the locals wouldn't have known different. How could they! Likewise when it comes to decent Asian fare in the States. Scattered across the fruited plain I've had my fair share of so-called Japanese restaurants being helmed by people with as much Japanese cooking flair as yours truly knows how to pilot a 747. Which is to say "NONE". Which only serves to remind me of what I read a long time ago that when someone from overseas comes to a foreign land, even without the requisite skills or experience, they're assumed to know what they're dishing out. And usually they're given a pass by everyone else because the "receiving" public is ignorant of the difference. Rule of thumb... observe any restaurant, regardless if it's German, Basque, Indian, Chinese, etc., and if you see plenty of those nationalities eating at that place then it's a safe bet it's as close to authentic as it gets. Equally important is notice if they get any significant traffic. If it's usually quiet or nobody appears to be home then there is an unspoken reason there to avoid it.

Reply