Finest mexican meals in houston texas – Finest Mexican meals in Houston, Texas—a vibrant tapestry woven with flavors from Mexico’s various areas. From the scorching streets to the intimate eating rooms, Houston’s Mexican meals scene is a culinary journey ready to be explored. This information will lead you thru the center of it, highlighting the highest spots, distinctive specialties, and neighborhood gems that make Houston’s Mexican meals so particular.
This exploration delves into the historical past and evolution of Houston’s Mexican delicacies, showcasing the varied types and regional influences that contribute to its distinctive taste profile. We’ll additionally dive into particular restaurant suggestions, highlighting their ambiance and distinctive dishes. Uncover the most effective spots in in style neighborhoods and find out about dietary choices, guaranteeing there’s an ideal meal for everybody.
Introduction to Houston Mexican Delicacies
Houston’s vibrant Mexican meals scene is a testomony to town’s wealthy cultural tapestry. From humble beginnings to a various and dynamic culinary panorama, Mexican meals has deeply rooted itself in Houston’s id, reflecting town’s evolving demographics and the culinary traditions of assorted Mexican areas. This journey by way of Houston’s Mexican meals heritage showcases the scrumptious evolution of a culinary story.The early Mexican immigrants introduced with them a wealth of culinary traditions, which started to form the distinctive flavors and dishes of Houston’s Mexican meals scene.
This preliminary wave of immigrants established eating places that have been each acquainted and tailored to the native tastes. These early institutions laid the inspiration for the unimaginable array of Mexican eating places that now grace town’s streets.
Historic Overview of Mexican Meals in Houston, Finest mexican meals in houston texas
Mexican meals’s presence in Houston dates again to the early twentieth century, with the primary wave of Mexican immigrants establishing small family-run eateries. These preliminary institutions have been typically a mirrored image of the delicacies from their house areas in Mexico. Over time, because the group grew and new generations emerged, the types developed to replicate each the heritage and the tastes of the Houston space.
Completely different Forms of Mexican Meals Kinds in Houston
Houston’s Mexican meals scene is a melting pot of various regional types. From the wealthy, complicated flavors of Oaxacan delicacies to the spicier, bolder tastes of Yucatan, and the hearty dishes of Jalisco, town boasts a large spectrum of Mexican culinary experiences. This range is mirrored within the eating places and eateries, making a dynamic and thrilling culinary panorama for diners.
Cultural Significance of Mexican Meals in Houston
Mexican meals in Houston is greater than only a meal; it is a cultural expertise. It is a celebration of household, custom, and group. It is a approach to join with one’s heritage, share tales, and create lasting reminiscences. From household gatherings to particular events, Mexican meals performs a pivotal position within the metropolis’s cultural life.
Evolution of Houston’s Mexican Meals Scene
The Houston Mexican meals scene has undergone a big evolution over the a long time. The early institutions have been typically small, family-run operations reflecting the particular regional cuisines of the house owners. As town grew and the group diversified, eating places started to undertake new approaches, incorporating revolutionary methods and mixing flavors to cater to a broader clientele. This evolution continues to this present day, with new eating places consistently rising, every providing its distinctive tackle traditional Mexican dishes and increasing town’s culinary horizon.
Mexican Areas Represented in Houston’s Eating places
| Area | Delicacies Fashion | Instance Eating places |
|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca | Wealthy, complicated flavors, mole dishes, corn-based dishes | El Cardenal, La Oaxaquena |
| Yucatán | Spicy, daring flavors, seafood dishes, cochinita pibil | Los Sabores del Sur, La Casona Yucateca |
| Jalisco | Hearty dishes, carne asada, tlayudas | La Guadalupana, El Charro |
| Baja California | Recent seafood, coastal flavors, fish tacos | El Pescador, La Baja |
| Distrito Federal (Mexico Metropolis) | Trendy Mexican delicacies, revolutionary dishes, various choices | El Cardenal, Maria’s Mexican Meals |
This desk offers a glimpse into the various culinary influences that form Houston’s Mexican meals scene. Every area brings its distinctive flavors and traditions, contributing to the wealthy tapestry of culinary experiences obtainable within the metropolis.
Restaurant Suggestions

Houston’s vibrant culinary scene boasts a plethora of outstanding Mexican eating places, every providing a novel taste profile. From conventional household recipes to revolutionary interpretations, town’s various culinary panorama satisfies each palate. This exploration delves into a number of the most highly-regarded institutions, highlighting their distinctive choices and ambiance.Exploring the wealthy tapestry of Houston’s Mexican eating places reveals a fascinating journey by way of various culinary traditions.
Whether or not you crave genuine flavors or adventurous creations, Houston has a restaurant to fulfill your cravings. The number of choices obtainable is spectacular, showcasing town’s dedication to offering a rare eating expertise.
Prime-Rated Mexican Eating places
Houston gives a big selection of Mexican eating places, starting from informal eateries to upscale eating experiences. This part presents a collection of top-rated institutions, categorized by their distinctive specialties. Every restaurant offers a novel style of Mexico, making it a delight to discover all of them.
- La Tapatia: Recognized for its genuine, conventional Mexican delicacies. Anticipate a heat and alluring environment, excellent for household gatherings or intimate dinners. Their signature dishes, together with the mole poblano and numerous tacos, are constantly praised for his or her authenticity and taste.
- Los Compadres: Specializing in up to date Mexican delicacies, Los Compadres combines conventional recipes with fashionable twists. Their revolutionary dishes and beautiful presentation elevate the eating expertise, making it a favourite amongst adventurous foodies. The ambiance is energetic and energetic, excellent for a enjoyable night time out.
- El Jardin: El Jardin gives a classy eating expertise with a deal with upscale Mexican delicacies. The ambiance is elegant and refined, supreme for particular events. They excel in seafood-focused dishes, that includes contemporary catches from native waters ready with regional aptitude.
- Maria’s: This family-run restaurant is a favourite for its home-style Mexican cooking. The restaurant is heat and welcoming, making a nostalgic ambiance harking back to household gatherings. They excel in traditional consolation meals, together with enchiladas and chile rellenos, which have earned rave evaluations from prospects.
Delicacies Comparability
Houston’s Mexican eating places showcase a spectrum of culinary types. Whereas all draw inspiration from Mexican delicacies, every restaurant interprets conventional dishes and elements with its distinctive method.
- Genuine vs. Up to date: Some eating places prioritize authenticity, adhering carefully to conventional recipes and regional specialties. Others supply up to date interpretations, incorporating fashionable flavors and methods into traditional dishes. This variation in method creates a various eating expertise for guests.
- Seafood Focus: Sure eating places, like El Jardin, specialise in seafood-focused Mexican delicacies, showcasing the contemporary catches of the area. This specialization displays the supply of native elements and a dedication to regional culinary traditions.
- Regional Variations: Eating places would possibly emphasize the distinctive culinary traditions of various Mexican areas, providing regional specialties that showcase the variety of Mexican delicacies. This typically consists of variations in elements, preparation strategies, and flavors.
Restaurant Ambiance
The environment of a restaurant performs an important position in enhancing the eating expertise. The ambiance units the tone, influencing how patrons understand and benefit from the meal.
- Intimate vs. Full of life: Some eating places are designed for intimate gatherings, offering a quiet and relaxed environment. Others are designed for energetic evenings, fostering a vibrant and energetic setting.
- Informal vs. Upscale: The design and decor of a restaurant can vary from informal to upscale, reflecting the restaurant’s general model and meant clientele.
- Household-Pleasant: Some eating places cater to households, offering an area that’s each accommodating and gratifying for households.
Restaurant Rankings and Pricing
A comparability of the highest eating places, contemplating buyer evaluations and common worth ranges. This offers a useful overview to help diners in selecting the best restaurant for his or her wants.
| Restaurant | Delicacies | Common Worth Vary | Overview Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Tapatia | Conventional Mexican | $$ | 4.5 |
| Los Compadres | Up to date Mexican | $$ | 4.7 |
| El Jardin | Upscale Seafood Mexican | $$$ | 4.6 |
| Maria’s | Residence-Fashion Mexican | $ | 4.4 |
Neighborhood Spotlights

Houston’s vibrant Mexican meals scene is not simply concerning the dishes; it is concerning the expertise. From the bustling vitality of the Heights to the comforting allure of the Westside, every neighborhood gives a novel taste profile, reflecting the various culinary heritage of the world. Exploring these neighborhoods reveals the wealthy tapestry of Houston’s Mexican meals tradition.Discovering the most effective Mexican eating places in every neighborhood is a journey of culinary exploration, an opportunity to style the tales embedded in each dish.
Whether or not you are craving genuine tacos, scorching fajitas, or a style of regional specialties, Houston has a neighborhood ready to fulfill your cravings.
Mexican Eating Delights within the Heights
The Heights boasts a energetic environment, and its Mexican eating places replicate that vitality. This space gives a various vary of choices, from informal taquerias to extra upscale eateries.
- The Heights gives a dynamic mix of conventional and up to date Mexican delicacies. This makes it a improbable place for these in search of quite a lot of choices. Many eating places characteristic distinctive preparations of acquainted favorites.
Westside’s Culinary Gems
The Westside’s Mexican eating places typically showcase a extra conventional model of cooking, emphasizing the wealthy flavors of traditional dishes.
- Westside eating places continuously supply a extra intimate setting, permitting diners to savor the genuine tastes of Mexico. The ambiance typically enhances the genuine delicacies, creating a whole eating expertise.
A Culinary Map of Houston’s Mexican Neighborhoods
This desk offers a snapshot of the various culinary scene throughout Houston’s Mexican neighborhoods.
| Neighborhood | Restaurant | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Heights | El Farolito | A preferred alternative for its genuine dishes and energetic environment. |
| Heights | La Tapatia | Recognized for its scrumptious tacos and pleasant service. |
| Westside | Los Compadres | A standard Mexican restaurant with a heat and alluring environment. |
| Westside | La Guadalupana | A family-friendly restaurant with a deal with conventional Mexican delicacies. |
| Downtown | Maria’s Mexican Restaurant | Recognized for its huge number of genuine Mexican dishes and nice worth. |
Meals Sorts and Specialties
Houston’s vibrant Mexican culinary scene displays town’s various inhabitants and wealthy cultural heritage. From traditional dishes to distinctive regional variations, the flavors inform a narrative of custom and adaptation. This exploration delves into the preferred forms of Mexican meals, highlighting specialties distinctive to the Houston space, and examines the elements and historical past behind these scrumptious creations.The Houston Mexican meals expertise goes past simply tacos and enchiladas.
It is a celebration of the numerous flavors and traditions introduced by generations of Mexican immigrants. The fusion of elements and methods typically ends in dishes which can be each acquainted and uniquely Houston.
Standard Forms of Mexican Meals in Houston
Houston’s Mexican meals scene boasts a various vary of choices, from conventional tacos and enchiladas to extra elaborate plates. Tex-Mex, a mode mixing Mexican and American cuisines, is especially prevalent. Anticipate a mixture of acquainted dishes, tailored to go well with native tastes, alongside genuine representations of regional Mexican fare. The town’s massive Mexican group ensures that genuine flavors are extensively obtainable.
Distinctive Houston Mexican Dishes
Sure dishes have change into emblematic of the Houston Mexican meals expertise. The distinctive mix of Mexican and Texan elements, in addition to native influences, has led to the event of distinctive regional specialties. A notable instance is the “Houston-style barbacoa,” which could characteristic a novel marinade or cooking technique. Different native variations typically incorporate regional greens and spices, leading to distinct culinary expressions.
Regional Elements and Their Significance
Houston’s Mexican delicacies typically showcases elements that replicate the area’s agricultural panorama. Using contemporary native produce, like particular kinds of tomatoes, peppers, and herbs, provides a novel contact to many dishes. These elements, mixed with conventional Mexican methods, contribute to the distinctive flavors of the delicacies. The abundance of contemporary produce is commonly an indicator of Houston’s Tex-Mex and Mexican eating places.
Historical past and Significance of Standard Dishes
The historical past of Mexican meals in Houston is deeply intertwined with town’s development and improvement. The evolution of those dishes displays the affect of assorted Mexican areas and the cultural alternate throughout the Houston group. For instance, the recognition of sure dishes could correlate with waves of Mexican immigration and the next improvement of native eating places. This historical past has formed the present culinary panorama, making a wealthy tapestry of flavors and traditions.
Desk of Frequent Mexican Dishes in Houston
| Dish | Origin | Houston Variation |
|---|---|---|
| Tacos | Varied areas of Mexico | Usually that includes distinctive fillings like al pastor, barbacoa, or carne asada, typically with native toppings. |
| Enchiladas | Mexico | Variations would possibly embrace distinctive fillings and sauces, typically incorporating Tex-Mex influences. |
| Pozole | Mexico | Regional variations in elements and cooking strategies could exist, typically incorporating native preferences. |
| Mole | Mexico | Whereas many eating places supply conventional mole, native interpretations could embrace particular elements. |
| Tamales | Mexico | Relying on the restaurant, variations could exist within the fillings, sauces, or corn husk wrappers. |
Dietary Concerns and Choices
Houston’s vibrant Mexican culinary scene caters to a variety of tastes and dietary wants. Whether or not you are a vegetarian searching for flavorful plant-based choices, a gluten-free diner searching for protected selections, or somebody with different restrictions, Houston eating places are more and more accommodating various dietary preferences. This part particulars the supply of choices for numerous dietary restrictions, offering a information to your subsequent Houston Mexican meals journey.
Vegetarian and Vegan Choices
Houston’s Mexican eating places are more and more embracing vegetarian and vegan selections. Many eating places now characteristic devoted vegetarian and vegan dishes, using contemporary produce, beans, and grains to create satisfying and flavorful meals. Anticipate revolutionary takes on conventional dishes, incorporating artistic preparations that fulfill each the palate and dietary wants. Look forward to finding a spread of selections from easy salads to elaborate entrees, permitting for personalization to make sure the most effective expertise.
Gluten-Free Selections
Gluten-free choices have gotten extra widespread in Houston’s Mexican eating places. Whereas conventional corn-based tortillas are naturally gluten-free, some eating places supply gluten-free options or modifications to current dishes. Many use corn tortillas, and even supply gluten-free flour tortillas from respected manufacturers. Speaking with the restaurant workers is vital to figuring out gluten-free choices, and plenty of institutions are completely happy to accommodate particular requests.
Different Dietary Restrictions
Houston’s Mexican eating places are more and more accommodating different dietary restrictions. Dairy-free choices have gotten extra obtainable, with eating places offering dairy-free cheese substitutes or omitting dairy fully of their recipes. Equally, many eating places are actually well-versed in catering to nut-free necessities, avoiding widespread allergens of their preparation. This consideration for various wants ensures a broader vary of selections for all diners.
Restaurant Choices
Discovering eating places with particular dietary choices may be simpler with a desk of selections. This desk showcases some Houston Mexican eating places recognized for his or her vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free choices.
| Restaurant | Vegetarian | Vegan | Gluten-Free |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Jardin | Sure | Restricted | Sure |
| La Taqueria | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Los Tacos No. 1 | Sure | Restricted | Sure (examine with restaurant) |
| Maria’s Mexican Delicacies | Sure | Sure | Sure |
| Tacos Jalisco | Sure | Restricted | Sure (examine with restaurant) |
Notice: This isn’t an exhaustive checklist and availability of choices could fluctuate. At all times affirm with the restaurant immediately earlier than your go to.
Suggestions for Selecting a Restaurant

Houston’s vibrant Mexican meals scene gives a various vary of culinary experiences, from informal taquerias to upscale eating places. Navigating this plethora of choices may be thrilling but in addition a bit daunting. This part offers sensible steering that will help you discover the right spot to your subsequent genuine Mexican feast.Selecting the best Mexican restaurant entails greater than only a fast look at a menu.
Think about your preferences, funds, and the general expertise you need. Authenticity, ambiance, and placement all play essential roles in making your eating expertise actually memorable.
Price range Concerns
Completely different eating places cater to varied budgets. Some supply inexpensive family-style meals, whereas others present an upscale eating expertise with a extra in depth worth vary. Consider the price of appetizers, entrees, drinks, and potential service prices when estimating your funds. Understanding your monetary constraints helps slim down your search and ensures you discover a restaurant that matches your spending plan.
Delicacies Choice
Mexican delicacies boasts a big selection of regional variations. From the fiery flavors of Puebla to the wealthy, creamy sauces of Oaxaca, every area gives a novel culinary expertise. Analysis the particular dishes and elements that enchantment to you most. Do you like conventional dishes or revolutionary fusion creations? Realizing your preferences will information you in the direction of eating places specializing in your required culinary model.
Ambiance and Environment
The environment of a restaurant considerably impacts the general eating expertise. Some eating places characteristic energetic, bustling environments, whereas others present a extra intimate and relaxed setting. Think about your most well-liked ambiance when making your alternative. A quiet and intimate area may be excellent for a romantic dinner, whereas a vibrant environment might go well with an informal gathering with pals.
On-line Critiques and Location
On-line evaluations can supply invaluable insights right into a restaurant’s strengths and weaknesses. Studying evaluations from numerous sources like Yelp, Google Maps, and TripAdvisor can present a complete overview of buyer experiences. Think about the placement of the restaurant in relation to your required accessibility and comfort. A restaurant in a central location may be handy, however a restaurant in a extra secluded space would possibly supply a novel expertise.
Authenticity of Mexican Delicacies
Figuring out a restaurant’s authenticity in Mexican delicacies requires cautious consideration. Search for eating places that prominently characteristic dishes from particular areas of Mexico, use contemporary, high-quality elements, and have a workers educated concerning the meals. A restaurant that prominently shows genuine Mexican decor and has a historical past locally might also be a great indicator. Search out eating places with established reputations or these frequented by native specialists.
Components to Think about When Selecting a Mexican Restaurant
| Issue | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | The estimated price of the meal, together with appetizers, entrees, drinks, and potential service prices. | Excessive – Ensures the restaurant aligns along with your monetary capabilities. |
| Delicacies Choice | The precise regional Mexican flavors, dishes, and elements that you simply take pleasure in. | Excessive – Ensures the restaurant caters to your culinary preferences. |
| Ambiance | The environment of the restaurant (e.g., energetic, intimate, relaxed). | Medium – Influences the general eating expertise and suitability for various events. |
| On-line Critiques | Buyer suggestions from numerous sources, offering insights into the restaurant’s high quality and repair. | Excessive – Offers invaluable insights into buyer experiences and helps gauge general satisfaction. |
| Location | The restaurant’s proximity to your required location and accessibility. | Medium – Influences comfort and ease of entry. |
| Authenticity | The restaurant’s adherence to conventional Mexican culinary practices and the standard of its elements. | Excessive – Ensures the restaurant gives a real and genuine Mexican eating expertise. |
Describing the Culinary Scene: Finest Mexican Meals In Houston Texas
Houston’s Mexican culinary scene is a vibrant tapestry woven from threads of custom and innovation. It is a distinctive mix of genuine flavors, regional variations, and a contact of Texan aptitude, leading to a very distinctive expertise. The town’s wealthy historical past and various inhabitants have formed a culinary panorama that is each acquainted and shocking.The Houston Mexican meals scene stands other than others as a result of it isn’t a monolithic entity.
Whereas rooted in Mexican traditions, Houston’s model has developed by way of interactions with different cultures, significantly Texan and American influences. This fusion creates a novel, typically sudden, taste profile that units it aside. It is a dynamic expression of Mexican heritage tailored to town’s particular context.
Key Elements and Strategies
Houston’s Mexican delicacies typically showcases a masterful use of contemporary, high-quality elements. Native produce, available, is continuously integrated into dishes. Using spices, significantly chiles, is important, with variations in warmth and taste relying on the particular dish and origin. Conventional methods, like slow-cooking and grilling, are prevalent, guaranteeing the event of wealthy and flavorful outcomes.
Using lard, in some circumstances, provides a novel depth to the textures and aromas.
Cultural Influences
The cultural influences on Houston Mexican delicacies are multifaceted. The presence of assorted Mexican communities, every with its personal regional specialties, contributes to the various taste profiles. Texan influences are additionally notable, with a deal with hearty, flavorful dishes. American culinary developments have additionally subtly impacted the presentation and accessibility of conventional recipes. The town’s multicultural setting is mirrored within the dishes themselves.
Distinctive Elements and Strategies
- Using native produce, like contemporary cilantro, tomatoes, and jalapeños, is a trademark of Houston Mexican delicacies. This emphasis on contemporary elements elevates the flavour profile past only a assortment of spices.
- Conventional methods, like slow-cooking and grilling, are used extensively. This technique permits the flavors to meld collectively, leading to a wealthy and complicated style.
- The mixing of regional Mexican types, together with these from Veracruz, Jalisco, and Puebla, produces a novel and infrequently shocking mixture of flavors.
- The addition of Texan elements, like smoked meats and sure spices, provides the dishes a definite Texas twist.
| Ingredient | Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Recent Poblano Peppers | Roasted | Provides a smoky, barely candy taste, typically utilized in sauces and fillings. |
| Lard | Sautéing | Utilized in many conventional dishes, including a novel richness and taste depth. |
| Native Cilantro | Chopped | Recent cilantro is a cornerstone of many dishes, offering a vibrant taste and aroma. |
| Corn Tortillas | Handmade | Using handmade corn tortillas, typically with a slight char, enhances the flavour expertise. |
Restaurant Environment and Ambiance
Houston’s vibrant Mexican culinary scene is not simply concerning the meals; it is about the entire expertise. From bustling taquerias to cozy, family-friendly eating places, the environment performs an important position in making a meal memorable. Understanding the nuances of ambiance can considerably improve your eating journey, permitting you to savor the flavors and the sensation.The ambiance of a Mexican restaurant in Houston can vary from energetic and boisterous to intimate and serene, reflecting the various tastes and preferences of town’s diners.
The décor, music, and general environment can set the stage for a pleasant eating expertise, enhancing the appreciation of the scrumptious meals.
Completely different Ambiance Kinds
Houston’s Mexican eating places supply all kinds of atmospheres. Some eating places cater to a energetic, social environment, excellent for teams and celebrations. Others prioritize a extra intimate setting, supreme for romantic dinners or quiet dialog. Understanding the completely different types may also help you select a restaurant that matches your required temper.
- Full of life and Bustling: These eating places typically characteristic high-energy music, a vibrant shade palette, and a fast-paced service model. Consider a preferred taqueria the place the aroma of scorching meats fills the air and the chatter of diners creates a buzzing ambiance. The main target is on the communal expertise and fast service. Examples embrace taquerias within the Heights and Midtown, the place the gang is often vibrant and bustling.
- Intimate and Cozy: In distinction to the energetic choices, some eating places prioritize a extra intimate environment. These might need softer lighting, subdued music, and comfy seating preparations. The main target is on a relaxed and gratifying eating expertise, excellent for a romantic dinner or an important day. Eating places within the River Oaks and Montrose neighborhoods typically supply this model, making a tranquil and intimate setting.
- Conventional and Festive: These eating places continuously characteristic conventional Mexican decor, energetic music, and a heat, welcoming ambiance. They goal to create a way of celebration and festivity, bringing a style of Mexico to Houston. Examples may be present in eating places within the East Finish and the Westside, typically that includes vibrant colours and patterns.
Neighborhood Variations
The ambiance of a restaurant can even fluctuate considerably based mostly on the neighborhood. The Heights, recognized for its stylish and eclectic environment, typically hosts eating places with a extra up to date and complicated ambiance. The Montrose space, with its various inhabitants, could have eating places that replicate a mixture of conventional and up to date types, making a vibrant combine. Conversely, the River Oaks district would possibly showcase extra upscale and refined ambiance, suited to the neighborhood’s picture.
Understanding the neighborhood’s character can present clues concerning the environment you’ll be able to count on.
Significance of Ambiance
The ambiance of a restaurant performs an important position in enhancing the general eating expertise. A well-designed environment can create a temper, set the tone, and even affect the notion of the meals itself. A snug and alluring area could make diners really feel extra relaxed and encourage them to linger and savor the meal. A visually interesting and harmonious setting can create a way of anticipation and delight earlier than the meals is even served.
Environment Comparability Desk
| Ambiance Kind | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Full of life and Bustling | Excessive vitality, vibrant colours, fast-paced service, communal eating expertise. | Standard taquerias, informal eateries within the Heights, Midtown |
| Intimate and Cozy | Smooth lighting, subdued music, comfy seating, relaxed eating expertise. | Eating places in River Oaks, Montrose, upscale family-friendly spots |
| Conventional and Festive | Conventional Mexican decor, energetic music, heat and welcoming ambiance, celebration and festivity. | Eating places within the East Finish, Westside, typically that includes Mexican traditions |