The Complete Guide to Tex-Mex at Z'Tejas

Tex-Mex isn't just food—it's a bold, flavor-packed tradition rooted in the blending of Mexican flavors with Texas ranch-style cooking. While traditional Mexican cuisine leans on fresh ingredients and balanced flavors, Tex-Mex cranks it up with melted cheese, rich sauces, sizzling meats, and smoky spices. It's indulgent, satisfying, and unapologetically big on flavor.

At Z'Tejas, Tex-Mex is more than just a category on the menu—it's part of our identity. But what exactly makes Tex-Mex, Tex-Mex? Let's break it down.

What Is Tex-Mex?

Tex-Mex is the result of centuries of culinary fusion between Mexican cooking traditions and Texas ranch culture. The term "Tex-Mex" comes from the Texas Mexican Railway (abbreviated "Tex-Mex"), which started running in the late 1800s and became shorthand for the Mexican-American food served along the rail lines. Over time, the flavors and ingredients of Mexican cuisine merged with Texas-style ingredients—particularly beef, flour tortillas, and cheddar cheese—creating an entirely new style of cooking.

Tex-Mex is more than just Mexican food with a Texas twist—it's a distinct cuisine with its own rules, ingredients, and history.

Key Differences Between Tex-Mex and Mexican Cuisine

🧀 Cheese

Mexican cuisine sticks to fresh cheeses like queso fresco and cotija. Tex-Mex goes heavy on the melt—cheddar, Monterey Jack, and queso blanco dominate. If it's gooey and stringy, it's Tex-Mex.

Fun Fact: Queso as we know it isn't really Mexican—it's a Tex-Mex creation inspired by Mexican cheese sauces but adapted to American tastes with processed cheese.

🌯 Tortillas

Mexican dishes almost always use corn tortillas, but Tex-Mex leans toward soft, chewy flour tortillas. Why? Wheat grows better in Texas than corn, so flour became the go-to choice for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

🌶️ Spices

While Mexican food relies on fresh flavors from lime, cilantro, and chilies, Tex-Mex brings the heat with cumin, chili powder, garlic, and smoky paprika. Cumin, in particular, is a defining flavor of Tex-Mex—it's rarely used in Mexican cooking but essential in Tex-Mex.

Fun Fact: Cumin became popular in Tex-Mex because of the influence of Canary Island settlers in Texas, who introduced it to local cuisine in the 1700s.

🥩 Beef

Mexican food tends to favor pork, chicken, and seafood. Tex-Mex, on the other hand, is all about beef—likely because Texas ranchers had plenty of cattle on hand. From fajitas to barbacoa to ground beef tacos, beef is the protein of choice in Tex-Mex.

🍅 Sauces and Salsas

Mexican salsas are typically light and fresh—think pico de gallo and salsa verde. Tex-Mex goes for the richer stuff: red chile sauce, chili con carne, and heavy queso. Tex-Mex sauces are heartier, spicier, and often packed with cheese.

Fun Fact: Chili con carne—spicy meat and tomato stew—originated in Texas in the 1800s and became a cornerstone of Tex-Mex cuisine.

🍺 Borracho Beans

Mexican cuisine sticks with frijoles (beans) cooked with lard or water. Tex-Mex takes it up a notch by simmering pinto beans with beer, pork, onions, and spices—hence the name borracho (which means "drunk"). The beer adds a rich depth of flavor, while the pork gives the beans a smoky, salty edge that makes them perfect as a side dish—or a meal on their own.

The Evolution of Tex-Mex

Tex-Mex's rise started with working-class Mexican-American communities along the Texas border, but it gained mainstream popularity in the early 20th century. By the 1970s, Tex-Mex had become a defining part of American food culture.

The first wave of Tex-Mex restaurants leaned on heavy, Americanized flavors—mild chili sauces, ground beef, and lots of cheddar cheese. Over time, modern Tex-Mex chefs have gone back to the roots, bringing in more authentic Mexican techniques and ingredients while keeping the hearty, indulgent edge that defines Tex-Mex.

Tex-Mex isn't just regional anymore—it's now a national (and even global) cuisine, with Tex-Mex restaurants and taco stands popping up from New York to Tokyo.

Signature Tex-Mex Dishes at Z'Tejas

Tex-Mex has its own lineup of iconic dishes, many of which have become staples on menus across the U.S. At Z'Tejas, we take classic Tex-Mex flavors and put our own twist on them. Here's a look at some of the Tex-Mex staples we're serving up:

🔥 Fajitas

Fajitas are arguably the most iconic Tex-Mex dish. The name comes from the Spanish word faja (meaning "strip" or "belt") and originally referred to the thin cuts of skirt steak used by ranch hands in Texas.

At Z'Tejas, we serve our fajitas sizzling hot with your choice of:

• Grilled Chicken – Marinated and seared to juicy perfection
• Steak – Cooked to a perfect medium and sliced thin
• Cilantro Pesto Shrimp – A fresh, herbaceous twist on a classic

They come with sautéed fajita peppers and onions, warm flour tortillas, and sides of avocado crema and house salsa. That sizzle when they hit the table? That's Tex-Mex magic.

🧀 Queso

Queso is the undisputed king of Tex-Mex starters. At Z'Tejas, our queso is rich and creamy, made with melted cheese and spiked with chipotle adobo and pico de gallo for a smoky kick. It's smooth, spicy, and perfect for dipping with tortilla chips—or drizzling over just about everything else on the table.

🥑 Nachos

Nachos are the ultimate Tex-Mex comfort food, and ours are fully loaded. At Z'Tejas, we pile crispy tortilla chips with:

• Borracho beans (slow-cooked with beer and pork)
• Creamy queso
• Fresh guacamole
• Sour cream
• Pico de gallo

You can add barbacoa or chicken tinga to make them a full meal, but even on their own, these nachos hit the perfect balance of texture and flavor.

🌮 Quesadillas

Quesadillas are Tex-Mex essentials—crispy on the outside, melty on the inside. At Z'Tejas, we stuff flour tortillas with melted jack cheese and your choice of:

• Chicken Tinga – Slow-cooked with smoky chipotle and tomato
• Grilled Steak – Seasoned and seared to perfection
• Cilantro Pesto Shrimp – A fresh, herbaceous twist

Served with avocado crema and house salsa, they strike the perfect balance between crispy and gooey.

🌯 Barbacoa Enchiladas

Unlike traditional Mexican enchiladas, Tex-Mex enchiladas are all about the sauce and cheese. Our Barbacoa Enchiladas are stuffed with slow-cooked barbacoa beef and melted queso, then smothered in a rich red chile sauce and topped with melted jack cheese. Smoky, cheesy, and packed with flavor—this is Tex-Mex comfort food at its finest.

Why Tex-Mex Just Hits Different

Tex-Mex is more than just food—it's a cultural fusion that combines the best of Mexican tradition and Texas comfort. It's melted cheese, smoky spices, and grilled meats coming together in one perfect bite.

At Z'Tejas, we've put our own Southwestern spin on classic Tex-Mex, using fresh ingredients, bold seasonings, and scratch-made sauces to create a menu that honors the roots of Tex-Mex while keeping it fresh and exciting.

Come Experience Tex-Mex at Z'Tejas

Ready to explore the bold flavors of Tex-Mex? Whether you're craving sizzling fajitas, loaded nachos, or rich barbacoa enchiladas, Z'Tejas is serving up the dishes that make Tex-Mex so irresistible. Grab a table today and discover why Tex-Mex isn't just a meal—it's a way of life.

👉 Stay tuned for our next blog post: How Z'Tejas Blends Tex-Mex with Southwestern Cuisine.