Comments on: The Chinese Mexican Phenomenon

By: Poetsona

Poetsona — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:46:54 +0000

Yep good spot … definitely in RIDGEWOOD..and not in Bushwick.

By: Nacho Average

Nacho Average — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:46:58 +0000

All these comments are hilarious!…”Tax-Mex” Get a steak burrito while you wait for your stimulus check. BTW, try Yummy Taco on Myrtle Ave, I can’t get enough of these Chinese run Mexican take-out joints and they deliver!!!

By: Kevin Backmann

Kevin Backmann — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:02:29 +0000

In response to Haley’s email above, Tex-Mex is not something that I’m fond of, however, Mexican cuisine is something totally different altogether. I truly like Mexican food, but Tex-Mex has always been blah to me.

But, I sometimes wonder if I had Tex-Mex while I was still swilling beer it might of been a different story. It strikes me as perfect beer food.

By: Armstrong

Armstrong — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:43:15 +0000

There were two Cuban/Chinese restaurants on 8th Ave in Manhattan until the early 2000s. La Chinita Linda, on about 19th St and Sam Chinita’s about a block away. Their menus were a combination of Latin and Asian foods (I said combination, not “fusion”). They were cheap places to get good food, very old school, before 8th Ave between 14th and 23rd became “upscale.”

These Fresh Taco places, on the other hand, were always at a lower price-point, and always more geared to take-out. Post #16 above is correct, these places have nothing to do with Chinese/Cuban culture or cuisine and are in fact franchise type places typically run by Chinese immigrants from China.

I think of them as Taco Bells actually, maybe a little bit worse in terms of quality of food though. After trying a couple different ones ten years ago, I never returned, as it was typically nasty fare smothered in cheese. Why someone would eat here rather than explore the authentic mexican options that abound in Bushwick nowadays is baffling to me.

The writer’s article on actual Chinese places last week, “Seeking Decent Chinese in Bushwick” was rather lame as well, as I was thinking we’d actually get a review of several Chinese places and instead got an inane “walking tour” with little substance. It would be great if someone would actually do some research on decent Chinese food in the hood, but I believe there was a Forum thread on that topic some time ago w/several people chiming in.

By: Peter Puleo

Peter Puleo — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:48:21 +0000

The Cuban Chinese restaurant was bega by Cuban immigrants who had Chinese ancestry dating back a generation or two in Cuba. Mainly from Hong Kong. Albeit fewer in number you can still find a few in Washington and Jackson Heights.

Cross culture stores are nothing to New York though the Chinese have taken it further then what was once the norm.

Before the late 1990s Mexican food in New York was about as rare as snow in Miami. Spanish in New York meant Puerto Rican and in the stores GOYA was the only game.

Sort of similar situation with Chinese businesses before the Chinese re-takeover of Hong Kong most outer borough neighborhoods had about two Chinese takeouts or even none. How fast that all changed by the late 90s and the name of the game is making money.

By: mopar

mopar — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:38:24 +0000

Anyone notice the neon sign says “Tax Mexican”?

I am confused by the photo of the burrito. It looks like a bunch of cheese melted over rice.

Best Mexican food I’ve ever had is at Barrio Chino (Chinese decor, not management) on the Lower East Side. The tacos al pastor at the place on Maria Hernandez park also rule.

By: FormerRidgewoodite

FormerRidgewoodite — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:57:32 +0000

Perplexed. This place is in Ridgewood, which still to this day is sort of starved for Mexican food….and when this placed opened, even more so.

By: pam

pam — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:35:52 +0000

it’s all about getting the most out of the dumpling rolling machine. i think that’s how it all began

By: z

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:09:34 +0000

“The Cuban-Chinese phenomenon I believe was started by actual Cubans of Chinese descent.”

yeah. it’s a whole different ballgame than these places, which are 99% operated by rural mainland chinese immigrants that couldn’t tell you which two countries bordered mexico with a blank map right in front of them.

the most hilarious misinterpretation of an entire cuisine since, well, taco bell.

By: Perplexed

Perplexed — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:24:37 +0000

Um, there are numerous authentic Mexican places in Bushwick… its a really large segment of the population. The food is good and inexpensive. There are even locals who sell delicious Mexican food on the street that they cook at home.

Why would anyone go to one of these places? Its like going to Italy and eating at the Olive Garden.