By Flavor & The Menu
January 14, 2022

Mexican cuisine is comfort food that explodes with flavor. It’s also easier for the consumer to spend more because its price/value perception is high. By adding Mexican menu items, operators can attract new patrons to their establishments.

MARK MOELLER

Two of the greatest aspects of Mexican fare are its portability and the complex flavors that emerge from simple ingredients. Operators who effectively capture these can amplify their takeout and delivery.

MIKE BUONONATO

Chefs and consumers have a greater understanding of authentic regional Mexican dishes, leading to little resistance for experimentation. The door is open to exploring new comfort foods with Mexican overtones.

CHRIS KOETKE

From traditional to esoteric, Mexican flavors and formats lend themselves to flavor-forward innovation. Push your signature flavors into familiar Mexican comfort formats—such as tacos, fajitas, quesadillas and tacos—or pull Mexican comfort flavors into your signature dishes—such as a birria-inspired burger, pizza or wing sauce.

ADAM MOORE

This trend is being fueled by the familiarity of ingredients and flavor profiles that balance spicy, savory and acidic. Next up: deeper exploration of pinpointed flavors that move beyond the homogenized Mexican-American restaurant experience.

CHRIS AQUILINO