The blog
Mexican food, explained plainly.
Short guides to the dishes, ingredients and regional cooking behind what Doc’s Taco Shop served in Liberty City, Texas. Start with the menu it all came from.
73 posts · 7 topics
-
Mexico City Street Food: What to Eat and When
The city's street food runs on a clock: guajolotas at dawn, tacos de canasta at midday, al pastor after dark. Here is the schedule.
-
Jalisco Food: Birria, Tortas Ahogadas and Tequila
Jalisco gave Mexico birria, the drowned sandwich and tequila. Here is what the state cooks and why its denomination of origin matters.
-
Pueblan Food: Mole, Chalupas and Chiles en Nogada
Puebla produced mole poblano, the chalupa, the chile relleno and chiles en nogada. Here is what one city contributed to Mexican cooking.
-
Oaxacan Food: The Land of Seven Moles
Seven moles, tlayudas, quesillo, chapulines and mezcal. Here is what Oaxaca actually cooks and why it is treated as Mexico's culinary centre.
-
How Hot Is That Salsa? Judging Heat at a Taqueria
Colour tells you nothing about heat. Here is how to judge a salsa before you commit, and what actually works when you have overdone it.
-
What Is Mexican Rice? Why It Is Toasted First
Arroz rojo is rice toasted in oil before liquid goes in, then simmered with tomato. The toasting is why the grains stay separate.
-
What Is a Chile Relleno? A Stuffed Pepper in Egg Batter
A roasted poblano stuffed with cheese, coated in egg batter and fried. Poblanos are mild, so it is far less spicy than it sounds.
-
What Is a Margarita? Three Ingredients and a Salt Rim
Tequila, orange liqueur and lime, with salt on the rim. Here is what separates a good one from a bad one, and frozen from on the rocks.
-
What Is a Chimichanga? A Burrito, Deep-Fried
A chimichanga is a burrito that has been deep-fried. It comes from Tucson, not Mexico, and at least four restaurants claim it. Here is what to expect.
-
What Is Chili con Carne? The San Antonio Original
Chili con carne is a Texan dish, not a Mexican one, sold in San Antonio's plazas from the 1860s. Here is the history and the bean question.
Doc’s Taco Shop closed permanently on 19 July 2025. These guides stay up because the food they describe did not go anywhere.