12 Mexican Restaurant Dishes to Avoid
Entering your favorite Mexican restaurant is a feast for all your senses. With bold spices, vibrant flavors, and melt-in-your-mouth textures, Mexican cuisine truly turns every meal into a celebration.
Mexican culture beautifully enriches the dining scene in the U.S. In fact, around 11% of restaurants celebrate the flavors of Mexican cuisine, as highlighted by the Pew Research Center. Before you indulge in a delicious, cheesy, deep-fried platter, it’s good to keep in mind that some of these enticing menu items might contain more calories, saturated fat, or sodium than you’d typically consume in a day!
This list is here to help you make brighter, tastier, and healthier choices next time you dine out. Whether you’re aiming for authentic flavors or want to avoid common missteps, these are 12 Mexican restaurant dishes you might want to skip.
Chimichangas
Even if they sound unique, chimichangas aren’t as Mexican as spaghetti and meatballs are Italian. Fried burritos use a lot of grease, have little flavor, and tend to be unusually oily.
Not fun, right? If you’re craving something similar without the deep fryer, try a freshly made burrito or quesadilla instead. Your taste buds and arteries will thank you.
Americanized Taco Salad
Picture a generous, crispy fried tortilla shell overflowing with crunchy iceberg lettuce, creamy sour cream, rich cheese, and flavorful seasoned beef. Although it may look gourmet, the dish could contain a high number of calories and may not be a traditional Mexican dish.
Go for a salad made with greens, beans, chicken, and avocado because it’s both healthy and tasty.
Cheese-Smothered Burritos
Cheese is undeniably delicious; however, drenching a stuffed burrito in cheese sauce can overshadow the other flavors. Although they are undeniably comforting, these burritos rank among the highest in calories and fat content on the menu.
As Mexican food is all about balance, avoid the loaded burritos and opt for something lighter, such as a burrito with fresh salsa.
Nachos with Everything
Nachos satisfy many people at Mexican restaurants, but they are also full of calories and nutritional concerns. With a lot of beans, meat, sour cream, guacamole, and cheese (along with extra jalapeños), the “everything nachos” usually turn out wet from all the toppings.
Craving nachos? Be sure to use moderation with the toppings, as this will make your pizza better and tastier.
Fajitas with Only Bell Peppers
A good fajita is lively and tasty, including onions, bell peppers, sometimes zucchini, and mushrooms. If the restaurant serves you tough, undercooked bell peppers, it can leave you feeling sad and hungry every time. Why not reach out to your server to ask about other delicious options that might be available?
Margaritas with Too Much Sugar
You had your margarita brought, expecting to taste the right balance between lime, tequila, and sweetness. Instead, the wine hits you with the taste of sweet candy.
According to Healthline, High-sugar margaritas mainly served in restaurants may mask the flavor of good tequila but also leave you with a splitting headache the next day.
Pro tip? Try a version of the regular margarita, using only lime juice and agave syrup, and less tequila, or opt for a non-alcoholic beverage instead.
Refried Beans from a Can
Genuine refried beans are rich, tasty, and made with care (think lard or real butter). Yet, many contain a lot of sodium—one cup can offer as much as 753.48 mg of the recommended daily limit, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Because canned mashed potatoes are served at many restaurants, you may get a side that tastes bland and lumpy. Avoid fast food chains that use preprocessed beans; instead, opt for beans that are cooked in-house.
Rice with Artificial Coloring
The bright color of orange rice makes it stand out, but it may also indicate that the rice contains artificial colors or seasonings that are not suitable for you. The rich taste and natural color of real Mexican rice come from tomatoes, garlic, and spices, not processed powders.
Always ask your server if they are serving you freshly made rice. If something comes as a challenge, you can pick an alternative side dish.
Overly Sweet Churros
The outside of churros should be fried to a crisp, the inside should be soft and moist, and they should be lightly covered with cinnamon sugar.
Still, some places put too much sugar in their shakes, which makes them excessively sweet and soggy. If you want to eat churros, find a store that makes them fresh, not somewhere that only serves warmed-up churros.
Enchiladas with Mystery Meat
While enjoying an enchilada, have you ever thought, “What makes these ingredients so special?” Mystery meat fillings can have downsides; they are often bland, lack flavor, or are overly processed. Instead, choose enchiladas filled with familiar ingredients like shredded chicken, carnitas, or fresh vegetables.
Queso Fundido with Processed Cheese
Melting cheese can make queso fundido delicious, but the processed cheese option often turns into a very greasy and gloopy experience. According to Food Republic.com, Authentic versions use Oaxaca or Chihuahua cheese for a creamy texture and rich flavor.
Ask the staff about the available and consumed cheeses, or choose to leave them out if they say they’re processed.
Anything Smothered or Covered
When a dish is described as “smothered” or “covered,” it’s worth pausing for a moment to consider its excess calories, fat, and sodium. Typically, these terms refer to meals with excessive amounts of cheese, sauce, or toppings, which can overwhelm the main ingredients.
More than 70% of the sodium Americans eat comes from packaged, prepared, and restaurant foods, not the salt shaker, as reported by the American Heart Association. Select Mexican cuisine dishes so that every single ingredient can stand out.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
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