Dictionary

interior Mexican en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ɪnˌtɪɹiəɹ ˈmɛksək(ə)n/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪnˌtɪəɹɪə ˈmɛksɪk(ə)n/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Meanings

1. (Texas, US, qualifier:chiefly Austin) Especially of cuisine: of or pertaining to the country Mexico itself, in contrast to Tex-Mex (“a mix of Texan and Mexican”).
   • Texans go out to a "Mexican restaurant" for "Mexican food," although we know perfectly well that what we want is Tex-Mex, not authentic "Mexican food" as it would be found in Mexico. When Texans want that, they seek a place serving "interior Mexican food" or "Mex-Mex." 2016 November, Sylvia Casares, with Dotty Griffith, “Salsas, Appetizers, and Snacks”, in The Enchilada Queen Cookbook: Enchiladas, Fajitas, Tamales, and More Classic Recipes from Texas-Mexico Border Kitchens, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Griffith, St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 83, column 1:
   • Tony likes eating at interior Mexican restaurants because they put white cheese on their tacos, and not yellow cheese.
   • New Mexican merchants, along with interior Mexican merchants, combined to achieve economic dominance of the trade by the early 1840s, and the New Mexican sphere of trading expanded to tributaries throughout the Great American Desert. 2000, David A. Sandoval, “Gnats, Goods, and Greasers: Mexican Merchants on the Santa Fe Trail”, in Manuel G. Gonzales, Cynthia M. Gonzales, editors, En Aquel Entonces [In Years Gone By]: Readings in Mexican-American History, Bloomington; Indianapolis, Ind.: Indiana University Press, →ISBN, part I (Genesis of a People: 1598–1846), page 23:
   • It wasn't until the 1980s, however, that an earnest movement to serve what some called "interior Mexican" food emerged—in other words, Mexican food that hadn't yet penetrated the American market. 2012, Gustavo Arellano, “When Did Mexicans Start Making Food for Mexicans?”, in Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, New York, N.Y.; London: Scribner, →ISBN, page 163:
   • It [a particular restaurant] received a glowing review in this paper four years ago, but sadly, it's been all but forgotten. With a menu that features true interior Mexican cuisine, as soon as I saw that sopas are a main course rather than an afterthought, I knew the writing was on the wall. 2008 October 8, “Pozole party”, in San Antonio Current, San Antonio, Tex.: San Antonio Current Ltd. Partnership; Euclid Media Group, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 May 2022:
   • We also love their cochinita pibil ($11.99), Los Pinos' most traditional Interior Mexican dish. The pork comes out fork-tender with a powerful achiote and garlic kick. 2013 July 19, Wes Marshall, “Restaurant Review: Have your lake and eat there too”, in The Austin Chronicle, Austin, Tex.: Austin Chronicle Corp., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Sep 2015:
   • The supposed authenticity of interior Mexican cuisine has acquired a degree of prestige the hybrid form of Tex-Mex never achieved, even after some forms of Mexican cooking made their way into the US American mainstream. 2021, Russell Cobb, “American Counterpoints: Barbacoa and Barbecue beyond Nation”, in Rocío del Aguila, Vanesa Miseres, editors, Food Studies in Latin American Literature: Perspectives on the Gastronarrative, Fayetteville, Ark.: University of Arkansas Press, →ISBN, part IV (Latin American Food Writing: Between History and Aesthetics), page 222:
   • You can walk into most "authentic" or "interior" Mexican restaurants in Texas today and order conchita pibil—steamed pork (which, in southern Mexico, is cooked underground in banana leaves) with spiced sauce in a tortilla. 2009, Marvin C. Bendele, “Barbacoa? The Curious Case of a Word”, in Elizabeth S. D. Engelhardt et al., Republic of Barbecue: Stories beyond the Brisket, Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, →ISBN, page 89, column 1:
   • El Alma has definitely earned a regular spot in my Interior Mexican restaurant rotation; I suggest you add it to yours. 2011 November 4, Virginia B. Wood, “Restaurant Review: El Chile collaborates with a well-seasoned chef”, in The Austin Chronicle, Austin, Tex.: Austin Chronicle Corp., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Feb 2023:
   • Fonda San Miguel Restaurant in Austin is a local icon serving interior Mexican food. Over forty years ago, when the restaurant first opened, many Austinites were not familiar with the complex dishes of interior Mexican cuisine. […] There is a large herb and vegetable garden on the restaurant grounds that provides the kitchen not only with many herbs unique to interior Mexican cuisine but also with unique vegetables. 2017, Terry Thompson-Anderson, “Meat Lover’s Breakfast and Brunch Dishes”, in Breakfast in Texas: Recipes for Elegant Brunches, Down-home Classics & Local Favorites, Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press, →ISBN, page 139:

Forms

Antonyms

Tex-Mex · Tex-Mexican

Synonyms

Mex-Mex

Translations (2)

mk авте́нтичен мексика́нски (especially of cuisine: of or pertaining to the country Mexico itself, in contrast to Tex-Mex) · fi aidosti meksikolainen (especially of cuisine: of or pertaining to the country Mexico itself, in contrast to Tex-Mex)