Mexican Food in Japan: My Favorite Tacos and a Taste of Texas

Those of you who have met me likely already know this, but I’m from Texas, and I really love Mexican food!

Growing up in Texas, Mexican food was always a big part of my life. There are so many different styles and types of Mexican food to enjoy, and it is something I never get tired of eating. So, naturally, after moving to Japan, one of the things I missed was being able to find good Mexican food whenever I wanted.

Over the years, however, I’ve found some of my favorite places to get Mexican food in Japan. There are actually quite a few good Mexican restaurants around Japan, and I’ve enjoyed discovering them.

Some of them remind me of home, while others have a really unique approach to Mexican food. I always enjoy the experience of trying something new, even when it is a little different from what I would eat in Texas.

That’s one of the fun things about food in Japan. You can sometimes find familiar dishes, but with a Japanese twist or a completely different interpretation. Mexican food is no exception.

If you want my recommendations on where to go for Mexican food, don’t hesitate to ask! I’d be happy to share some of my favorite restaurants. I would also love to hear some of your recommendations. If you know a great Mexican restaurant in the area, let me know!

Making Mexican Food at Home

Recently, my wife and I have also been enjoying making our own Mexican food at home, especially tacos.

There’s something really fun about making tacos yourself because everyone can make them exactly the way they like. You can choose your meat, toppings, salsa, and, of course, how spicy you want them to be.

Our favorite tacos to make at home are carnitas tacos with guacamole on the side.

Carnitas is traditionally made with slow-cooked pork. The meat becomes tender and flavorful, and it works really well in tacos. We usually prepare the pork and then add it to tortillas with our favorite toppings.

And, of course, we need guacamole!

I really enjoy making guacamole at home because it’s simple and tastes great with tacos. Fresh avocado, a little lime, and some seasoning can make a big difference.

How Spicy Do You Like Your Food?

One of my favorite things about Mexican food is spicy hot sauce.

I like to make my tacos with really spicy hot sauce. The hotter, the better!

However, I know that not everyone can handle spicy food. If you don’t like spicy food, you can easily make a milder version. You can leave out the hot sauce completely or use a much milder salsa.

When my wife and I make tacos at home, it’s easy for each of us to make our own taco exactly how we want it.

For me, that usually means plenty of hot sauce.

For someone who doesn’t like spicy food, it might mean guacamole, vegetables, and a mild salsa instead.

That’s another reason why I like tacos so much. There are so many ways to customize them.

A Little Taste of Home

Living in another country can make you appreciate food from home in a different way.

Sometimes you really miss a particular dish, restaurant, or flavor. Finding a good Mexican restaurant in Japan can give me a little taste of Texas, even if it isn’t exactly the same as what I would find back home.

At the same time, I enjoy discovering how people in Japan enjoy and interpret Mexican food.

For me, food is also a great way to connect with people. Talking about what we like to eat, sharing restaurant recommendations, and trying new dishes are all great conversation topics.

So if you see me at Jabble and you have a favorite Mexican restaurant, please tell me about it!

And if you want to know where I recommend going, feel free to ask.

Just be warned: if you ask me about hot sauce, I might recommend something very spicy!

【スタッフによる要約】

 Brandon先生が、出身地であるテキサスと大好きなメキシコ料理について紹介するブログです。日本で見つけたお気に入りのメキシコ料理店や、奥様と自宅で作っているタコスについて紹介しています。特にお気に入りのCarnitas（プルドポーク）タコスとワカモレ、辛いホットソースについて触れながら、海外生活の中で故郷の味を楽しむことや、食を通じたコミュニケーションの楽しさも紹介しています。Brandon先生の人柄が伝わる、Funabashi校の新しい先生ブログとして使用できます。