Top Mexican Dishes Every Foodie in Japan Should Try

/ by meat express / in Blog
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Mexican dishes are products of the freshest ingredients, most flavorful spices, and techniques spanning centuries to perfect. In the streets of Japan, appreciation for Mexican flavors has grown, with more restaurants, specialty shops, and home cooks experimenting with everything from tacos to tamales. If you’re one of those looking to experience authentic Mexican food in Japan, here are some dishes worth trying.

Must-Try Mexican Dishes

If you’re interested in expanding your palate, here are the top Mexican dishes you should try, all available here at Meat Express Japan.

1. Tacos: Everyone’s Favorite Mexican Street Food

Tacos are arguably the heart and soul of Mexican cuisine. They consist of soft corn tortillas filled with various ingredients, from slow-cooked meats to vegetables and salsas. If you’re having tacos for the first time ever, or maybe looking for the next best tacos near you, we highly recommend the following from our own menu, all perfect for filling our blue corn and white corn tortillas with:

  • Carnitas: Slow-cooked, tender chicken or pork with crispy edges.
  • Beef birria: Juicy, slow-braised beef served with a flavorful consomé for dipping.
  • Mutton barbacoa: Lamb or sheep slathered in adobo sauce.

If you want more flavor, spice, and cheese, additional perfect pairings include our:

Related articles: Healthier Taco Options and Taco Party Planning Tips

2. Tamales: A Comforting Classic

Tamales are another traditional Mexican dish made from corn masa, filled with meats, cheeses, or chilies, then wrapped in corn husks before steaming.

Locals throughout Latin America, as well as foodies around the world, love tamales because of their:

  • Soft, fluffy texture that absorbs flavor: The masa (corn dough) steams to a light and tender consistency, soaking up the depth of the fillings and sauces. Every bite has a comforting warmth with a balance of corn sweetness and savory richness.
  • Layers of taste that develop during steaming: Spiced shredded meats, slow-cooked chilies, and other flavors meld together and infuse the masa as the tamale cooks.
  • Perfect for special occasions or a simple, hearty meal: Whether eaten at festivals, family gatherings, or for lunch this weekend, tamales are suitable for any time of day and occasion.

Not too long ago, Tamales Oaxaqueños were impossible to get in Japan, but not anymore! Meat Express has the following options available for delivery:

3. Quesadillas: The Ultimate Cheese Lover’s Dish

The word “quesadilla” combines “queso” (meaning “cheese” in Spanish) with the diminutive suffix “-dilla” or “-illa,” meaning “little.” Over time, the ”cheesy” and “little” quesadilla evolved to include meat, veggies, and a variety of other fillings, plus they’re definitely not as little anymore.

Here are some popular variations, all available at Meat Express:

4. Enchiladas: A Flavor Explosion

Enchiladas are corn tortillas rolled around fillings like chicken, beef, or beans, then topped with a ladle-full of tomato and chili sauce. The dish’s name is the past participle of “enchilar” in Spanish, which translates to “season (or decorate) with chili.” We recommend our best-selling Chicken Enchiladas to anyone curious about this traditional Mexican dish. And if you can handle your spice, add more kick with our:

  • Salsa Chipotle Sauce (Mild)
  • Aji Amarillo Sauce (Mild)
  • Salsa Verde Sauce (Mild)
  • Chile de Arbol sauce (Hot)

But if you want to tone down the spice, add a dollop of Crema Mexicana, similar to sour cream, to your enchiladas.

5. Burritos: Fresh and Fully Loaded

A burrito wraps everything you want in a meal into one neat package. A large flour tortilla holds a mix of flavorful ingredients, including seasoned meats, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa, rolled tightly into one grab-and-go meal.

For food lovers in Japan looking for something hearty, satisfying, and packed with flavor, these burritos from Meat Express Japan are a must-try:

  • Chicken Carnitas Burrito: Marinated chicken, arroz a la mexicana (Mexican rice), chile con carne, and cheese all wrapped in a freshly made tortilla.
  • Pork Carnitas Burrito: Slow-cooked pulled pork, seasoned rice, cheeses, and chile con carne rolled in a soft flour tortilla.
  • Vegetarian Burrito: A meatless combination of rice, beans, cheese, and veggies cooked with Mexican chilies and spices.
  • Matsusaka A5 Wagyu Burrito w/ 25ml Salsa Verde Sauce: Flour tortilla filled with buttery, decadent Wagyu beef, rice, beans, cheese, and a tangy salsa verde for extra depth.
  • Beef Birria Burrito: Slow-braised beef rolled with cheese, rice, and beans, served with a side of savory consomé.
  • Mutton Barbacoa Burrito: Juicy, fall-apart mutton infused with smoky spices, combined with beans, Mexican rice, and fresh salsa in a warm tortilla.

6. Birria: The Ultimate Comfort Stew

Birria is one of our most ordered dishes here at Meat Express Japan. As mentioned, it’s an unbelievably flavorful, slow-simmered beef stew. We cook the meat for several hours in a broth combining Mexican chilies, spices, and aromatics, until the beef absorbs the smoky flavors and becomes fork-tender.

Tacos, quesadillas, and burritos aside, here are fusion-inspired ways to enjoy birria:

  • Birria ramen: Replace traditional ramen broth with consomé for a spice-forward take on a Japanese classic. Add noodles, soft-boiled eggs, and green onions. 楽しむ！
  • Birria ochazuke (お茶漬け): Replace dashi with birria consomé. Pour the broth over rice and top with shredded birria meat, green onions, and sesame seeds for a fusion dish.
  • Birria donburi (丼): In this Mexican-inspired rice bowl, layer the slow-cooked birria beef over steamed Japanese rice, top fresh herbs, a boiled egg, and a drizzle of consomé.
  • Birria onigiri (おにぎり): Wrap some of the beef with a little consomé in rice and nori for an umami-packed rice ball. Perfect as a snack or quick meal.

Adding birria (available in 200g and 1kg) to familiar Japanese dishes is a great way to try new flavors without straying too far from what you’re used to. We hope you try these combinations at home and let us know whether you enjoyed them. Tag us on X, Facebook, or Instagram if you do!
Find out why Mexican cuisine is so popular without getting on a plane. Explore our menu and order now to taste authentic Mexican food in Japan. このガイドが、あなたの新しいお気に入りのメキシコ料理を見つけるのに役立つことを願っています。

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