Fifteen percent of counties don’t have Mexican restaurants, totaling four million Americans. That’s a mere 1% of the US population.
About 11% of all restaurants in the US serve Mexican food, even if it isn’t their specialty. Take that, Taco Bell.
California and Texas counties have the greatest number of Mexican restaurants. It makes sense, given their proximity to America’s southern neighbor.
Not only are Mexican restaurants most prevalent in Californian and Texan counties, but these states make up about 40% of all Mexican restaurants in the US.
Los Angeles County in California has the most Mexican restaurants in the state (30%). The state of California makes up 22% of the nation’s restaurants selling Mexican food.
Of the top ten US counties with the greatest percentage of Mexican restaurants relative to all other restaurants within their borders, a whopping eight are in Texas.
Although New Mexico touches the Mexican border, it contains relatively few restaurants serving Mexican food. Arizona also doesn’t have as large of a Mexican restaurant concentration
Cook County, Illinois, which is home to Chicago, has a seemingly out-of-place but impressive 1,584 restaurants serving Mexican food.