Tacos, tamales and traditions : the role of immigration in the growth of Mexican food restaurants in Austin

This study examines Mexican food cuisine in the U.S. by analyzing five specific restaurants in Austin, Texas. It explores the incorporation of regional Mexican cooking, against a backdrop of the ever-popular Tex-Mex cuisine. It evaluates the influences of consumer identity and the quest for authenticity, in relation to what is defined as true Mexican food, on the evolution of these restaurants. A second aim of this study is to determine the role of Mexican immigrants in shaping the cuisines of Austin’s restaurants. Furthermore, it offers an analysis of the identity and significant historical position of these five restaurants in the Austin community