Is Lubbock The Center Of The Tex-Mex Universe?

If we're not the center of the Tex-Mex universe, then we're certainly a major hot spot.

Let's start at the top and call it what it is. Tex-Mex could be oversimplified as "Mexican food with a lot of cheese." Having Mexican food traditions sitting right next to Texas cattle country and dairy production helped create this magical combination, and let me just say, it was and still is a pretty darn good idea.

There are certainly other differences, but you can't deny that cheese is one of the big things that separates Tex-Mex from many other styles of Mexican cuisine.

Regional differences usually come down to ingredients and availability. For instance, salsa in some areas tends to feature more tomatoes, while around here we love those deeper chile flavors. Speaking of chiles, our love for chile verde probably has something to do with our proximity to New Mexico and its legendary chile culture.

So why name Lubbock the center of the Tex-Mex universe?

Let's start with the incredible number of restaurants we have here. I could make a list of all the great Tex-Mex spots in town, but honestly, you could eat at a different one every day for a month and still not hit them all.

I've said it before: if you move away from Lubbock, one of the first things you're going to miss is the food.

It's also bigger than just restaurants. Tortillas in general are a huge part of our culture here. I'd be willing to bet our breakfast burrito versus breakfast sandwich ratio is completely ridiculous compared to other cities. Around here, a warm tortilla stuffed with goodness is basically the official way to start the day.

At the end of the day though, let's get back to the cheese.

Nessmania

We pile it high on tacos, burritos, nachos, and we even created one of the greatest food ideas ever: cheese enchiladas covered with even more cheese. Think about that. We looked at cheese wrapped in a tortilla and said, "You know what this needs? More cheese."

Read More: What Makes El Patron The New Favorite In South Lubbock?

I'll also stand by the fact that as you travel away from Lubbock, in most cases, the cuisine begins to shift. While the rest of the world may not have fully embraced Tex-Mex, around here it isn't a trend or a special occasion.

It's just what we eat.