TIXTECO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑

Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout

Standout Dishes: Quesadilla Masa; Chorizo; Lengua

The first glance at the menu at Tixteco Mexican Restaurant might leave a newcomer feeling a bit intimidated. There are nine different authentic Mexican specialties, from tacos to tortas to gorditas, all of which can be ordered with a variety of proteins. Add that onto the wide selection of platters and signature dishes and deciding what to order becomes an exercise in FOMO.

Here’s the good news: whatever you order, it’s going to be authentic, and it’s going to taste great.

One might not expect a standout meal upon entering the restaurant. The humble dining room consists simple wooden tables and chairs and simple decor. The service values efficiency over pleasantries, though they are willing to explain dishes or accomodate customer requests.

But you’ll be too busy taking in the wonderful smells from the kitchen to notice the modest setting. The flavor practically wafts from the kitchen the moment you walk through the door. You’re not sure what your nose is taking in, but you immediately want it.

Tixteco delivers street food at its finest. Its dishes carry the inexplicable “homemade” flavors that make you feel like you’re home, even if you’re trying something completely new.

And if new is what you want, Tixteco has you covered. You’ll find dishes with lengua (beef tongue), goat, and tripe (cow stomach), and gorditas are are a far cry than what you’ll find offered at Taco Bell. Tixteco provides a peak into a cuisine that you thought you knew, but is actually much more complex—and flavorful—than you imagined.

The Menudo is a shining example. This traditional Mexican soup is made with tripe and a spicy red chili pepper base. The tripe is tender, but maintains a bit of rubberiness (and not in a bad way). The broth is somewhat reminiscent of a tortilla soup, though with less smoke. It’s a brilliant dish, and the portion size is large enough to fill a Gatorade cooler.

The Gorditas are pockets with a consistency between a tortilla and cornbread. Stuffed with your choice of meat, beans, onions, and cilantro, these put the Americanized version to shame.

Feel like sticking to dishes you’re more familiar with? No problem. Tixteco has your Mexican favorites, but with traditional flair. The Tacos feature hearty yet chewy corn tortillas, freshly made. The Toastadas are striking when they arrive at the table, as Tixteco piles a mountain of protein, beans, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and lettuce onto each offering.

The highlight (to these taste buds, at least) is the Quesadilla Masa, a brilliant quesadilla-taco hybrid. These greasy handhelds ooze melty cheese and are packed with whatever protein you choose.

Speaking of which, the meats truly stand out here. The chorizo tastes of both smoke and spice and is among the better versions you’ll find. The lengua is tender and moist, and the carne asada is steakhouse worthy.

You’ll almost feel embarrassed paying such modest prices for your delicious feast. Most individual items range between $2-6, though the flavor and portion sizes suggest a price twice as steep. You can easily leave comfortably full for $10—or go all out and happily gorge for $20.

Tixteco prioritizes flavor over frills, and that’s what makes this South Omaha dive great. Once you move past menu FOMO, you’ll experience flavors here that allow you to truly experience another cuisine.