The food served in (even the best) Mexican eateries across the United States tends to be quite different from the authentic dishes you’ll find in Mexico. In fact, many dishes commonly believed to be ‘Mexican’ aren’t found in Mexico at all! Keep reading to find out what surprising dishes they don’t actually eat in Mexico.

You Can Get Small Tacos Using Flour Tortillas, But Not Burritos

We tend to think of burritos as a stereotypical Mexican food. Walk into almost any Mexican establishment in the United States and you’re guaranteed to find burritos on the menu. There are tons of burrito joints to choose from in L.A alone. But restaurants and eateries in Mexico will be a different story. In reality, burritos (as they are known in the United States) are not commonly eaten in Mexico. Of course, in Mexico, you can get small tacos on flour tortillas, which are similar to American tacos. But typical burritos are made with large tortillas, which you won’t find in authentic eateries in Mexico. Tacos made with flour tortillas in Mexico typically have a higher ratio of protein to tortilla, while burritos have a smaller ratio. RELATED: 5 Pizza Toppings You'll Never Find In Italy (5 You Will)

Chimichangas Are Tex-Mex

Chimichangas are thought of as a Mexican dish but they actually are more accurately categorized as Tex-Mex cuisine. That’s because you won’t actually find these foods in Mexico and are likely to have been invented in the United States. According to Reader’s Digest, the exact origins of chimichangas are unclear. There are rumors that the dish was invented in Arizona but no solid proof to back those rumors up. A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito, which is essentially adding a cooking technique common to the Southern United States to a dish that is already American (despite often being mistaken as Mexican). So really, there’s nothing Mexican about this American favorite! These days, people are exploring new ways to eat chimichangas, including baking them instead of deep-frying them. RELATED: Top 10 Addictive Persian Dishes

Orange Queso Dip

Cheese is a staple ingredient when it comes to Mexican food served in the United States. By contrast, authentic Mexican food tends to use less cheese. And the cheese that is commonly used in Mexico isn’t the orange queso-dip kind of cheese. No such dip exists in Mexico, although they do have queso fondido, which has a much firmer texture and is often sliced rather than eaten as a dip. You’ll often find this cheese eaten in a tortilla rather than with corn chips.

The color and texture of the cheese used in Mexican food can give away whether or not it’s authentic. Anything that contains orange, creamy cheese is generally Americanized.

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Hard Taco Shells Are An American Invention

Hard taco shells, like the kind commonly found at the supermarket sold by brands such as Old El Paso, are an American invention rather than an authentic Mexican one. If you go to Mexico, you'll certainly find an abundance of tacos, but what you won’t find is the hard shell that is commonplace across the United States.

There are flautas and taquitos, which are tortillas that have been deep-fried, but hard tacos as they’re known in the United States don’t exist. Tacos also aren’t typically served with ground beef in Mexico. Instead, they contain beans, salsa, and some form of grilled meat.

Chili Con Carne Originates From Texas

Another Mexican favorite that’s not actually Mexican? Chili con carne, which should be eaten a certain way. Mexican women in Texas are credited with inventing this classic dish which consists of meat, chili peppers, beans, and tomatoes. Although this dish is found at most Mexican joints in the United States, it is not widely eaten in Mexico. The inspiration behind this dish might be Mexican, and the name of it might be Mexican-sounding, but this is definitely a Tex-Mex dish! NEXT: You Can Try But You Won’t Actually Find These Common 'Chinese Foods' In China