For all my amigos and gringos who want to know what the Top 10 Mexican National Foods are, here is a list of foods that you must try when visiting Mexico.

Popular Mexican National Foods

1. Mole is considered as Mexico’s National dish, originating from the three states of Puebla, Oaxaca and Tlaxcala. Pronounced “mole-ay,” it is the generic name for a sauce used in Mexican cuisine, as well as for dishes based on this sauce. There are many varieties of mole, using 20 or more ingredients and spices, usually containing chocolate. Mole Poblano, is called the National dish of Mexico and has been voted as the Number one of Mexican dishes. This dark chocolate and chili pepper sauce is most often served over turkey, over shrimp cakes and chicken at all festive and holiday events.
    

2. Tamale, is a dough made from hominy, called masa, stuffed with a sweet or savory filling, wrapped in corn husks or plantain leaves and steamed until firm. It is said that there are thousands of different types of tamales found in Mexico. This Mexican National food is a favorite street and comfort food, eaten for both breakfast and dinner.
    

3. Pozole, a traditional dish of Guerrero is a Mexican dish cooked in every house on Independence Day and other special occasions. It is a soup or stew made from nixtamalized cacahuazintle corn, (Hominy) with a meat, usually pork, chicken or turkey, pork rinds, chili pepper, and other seasonings and garnishes.
    

4. Enchilada is classic Mexican national food; a corn or flour tortilla rolled around a variety of fillings, covered with various types of colorful moles and topped with cheese or sour cream. It is popular and a cheap street food.
    

5. Tacos, a popular Mexican national food popular through out the world. Its composed of a corn or wheat tortilla, folded or rolled around a filling, accompanied by salsa, guacamole, cilantro, tomatoes, onions and lettuce. Traditional tacos are Tacos de Asador ("spit" or "grill" tacos), Tacos de camarones ("shrimp tacos"), Tacos dorados (fried tacos, literally, "golden tacos") Tacos Al pastor/De Adobada (shepherd style or shawarma style).
    

6. Chilaquiles are fried corn tortillas topped with red or green mole or salsa and with scrambled or fried eggs and chicken, and topped with queso fresco cheese and or sour cream, served with refried beans. The equivalent to the American ‘nachos’.
    

7. Chile relleno, "stuffed chile," originated in the city of Puebla . It is a cornflour batter fried, roasted fresh poblano pepper with a stuffing of queso cheese or pork, raisins and nuts, served with sauce. Chiles en nogada is a similar, non-batter fried pepper filled with picadillo topped with a walnut-based cream sauce and pomegranate seeds, giving it the three colors of the Mexican flag.
    

8. Cochinita pibil also called puerco pibil, is a traditional Mexican marinated and slow roasted pork dish cooked wrapped in banana leaf, from Yucatán.
    

9. Menudo is a soup or broth made with tripe (beef stomach) with a red chili base. It is usually eaten with tortillas or bolillo.
    

10. Carnitas is a type of braised or roasted pork, a dish by itself, or used as a filling in tamales, tacos and tortas.
     

So for those of you who think that Mexican food is tacos, fajitas, burritos and margaritas, you only know the Tex-Mex favorites. These are the true Mexican National foods that are symbolic of Mexico’s authentic flavors.

Image courtesy - salazarsfinemexicanfood.com