I just spent 6 months in Baja and the Sea of Cortez, and ate a lot of local food. I frequently hear people say "the mexican food in the US is not real Mexican" and I have to disagree. Its very similar, at least to northern Mexico.
What is different is the tortillas are usually fresh in the better eateries and therefore much better than packaged. Kind of like the difference between a sandwich made with wonder bread or homemade. Food is much less salty than in the US, and less sugar as well. But the main difference is the pure heavenly spice and marinades that go into the meat and seafood. Again, the difference between made fresh and canned. Marinades take time and its harder to find a place in the US that will take the time to make good marinades. The markets are full of all kinds of dried red peppers, from hot to deep rich smokey flavor.
The seafood in Baja is incredible. If you like fish tacos, it is heaven. But in the US its not hard, in California anyway, to find "real" Mexican. Granted, the Taco Bell, Qdoba, etc, have taken Mexican flavors and components and made it into something else. But if you really try to find a good mexican restaurant in the US it is quite possible and it wont be that un familiar.
Also, whats up with those that say they spend extended time on the toilet if they eat Mexican- I can only imagine their spice rack consists of just salt and pepper. Maybe its time to turn it up a notch? Mexican food does not mean hot and spicy. It can, but its not by definition.
As a side note, the beef in Mexico is excellent. I happen to be a burger aficionado and the crave would drive me to seek them out from time to time. Mexicans have definitly latched onto the American burger and they are doing a fantastic job. Every burger I had was large, with a huge amount of cheese- what we would consider double or triple cheese. Delish.
