When you order “authentic” Mexican food in Iowa

What in Sam hell is that even supposed to be? Like what did it say on the menu?

Cheese is not supposed to look like that...

It's like the recipe went through a game of telephone as it passed each state before reaching Iowa. I'd hate to see what Maine looks like

Yup, I moved to an Iowa town with a lot of hispanic representation and was excited that there was a couple mexican restaurants in my area. The one everyone seems to love isn't THIS bad but its 100% made for white people "mexican" food. Thankfully, the hole the wall a couple blocks away is authentic.

What the fuck

The beans and rice bowls look pretty good, although I'll bet they're not spicy enough.

The cheese things... I can't even figure out what's supposed to be in there.

This post is curiously short of details as to where such a feast is found in Iowa. I'll give you a hint: there is a lot of good Mexican food in Iowa. It is usually in hole-in-the wall restaurants that don't look like anything, and are owned by Mexican families. My guess is this food is from some sort of "family" restaurant. And the family is not Mexican or South American in ethnicity.

This photo reminds me of all the shitty restaurants that put the cheese on top of an omelette instead of inside it. And some of them are even using american slices.

It's authentically made by a Mexican cook, but that dude fell on his head a lot as a kid.

After moving from Chicago I was stunned at the lack of Mexicans around here, and the lack of food. After Hurricane Ivan we got workers to move here and now I can get legit Mexican.

I want to downvote this, but I won't.

What was ordered?

The hell? You guys are right next to Wisconsin, you should be able to get some real cheese...

This is utter filth and an insult to the fine people and cuisines of Mexico. Fuck Iowa.

When i go to Tennessee, I usually carry Texas Pete or a jalapeno in my purse because all the food tastes like a biscuit.

Sad Mariachi noises

Was that guacamole microwaved? Nevermind don't tell me, I don't think I can handle it rn

Idk man, the place by my house is really good and and serves nothing like this. The tacos are street tacos, served with verde and rojo. We do have a large Hispanic population in this area tho.

You have to remove the plastic wrapping first before microwaving those "objects".

Ah yes, classic balbita queso

Cheese tarps are scandinavian arent they?

Lived in Iowa for a few years, there were a few authentic Mexican places, just not as many as Americanized ones.

I'm down.

"Authentic" Mexican food = Tex-Mex in many places. This looks like it.

For all the "cheese product" hate in here: it has its place in certain foods. My favorite response I've seen to calling it fake with "it isn't cheese" is "is meatloaf meat?" Same concept. Meatloaf isn't fake meat. It's a product made with meat. Just like cheese with emulsifiers added. I think we just have different levels of linguistic classification attachment to different foods. It may not be "a" cheese, but it's "cheese". You're not far off from going after almond/soy/oat milk.

That look horrid. In Cedar Rapids there are a few good places. El super burrito is amazing. La cantina in Marion is pretty good.

description from a similar looking resaraunt ' Pollo Fundido! 😋You’re missing out if you haven’t tried this ! Crispy flour tortilla with shredded chicken and jalapeño cream cheese sauce topped with American cheese and guacamole ! #mistresamigos #mexicanrestaurant #authentic #mexicanfood #pollofundido

Bu- my lord,it is doused in your namesake as requested.

made sardine tacos yesterday. basically replace meat with a sardine. Any work but I like olive oil. add your favorite taco ingredients. Iowa should have a little corn, js

My "favorite" party here is just the random slice of tomato. Like... why? What is the person that is going to enjoy this culinary delight supposed to do with a slice of tomato?

What the fuck happened here?

I mean this looking pretty good tho