Tex-Mex

American  

[teks-meks] / ˈtɛksˈmɛks /

adjective

1. of or relating to aspects of culture that combine Mexican and Texan or southwestern U.S. features, especially aspects of culture developed in southern Texas based on or influenced by Mexican elements.

   Tex-Mex cooking; Tex-Mex music.

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noun

1. a form of Mexican Spanish having elements of English and spoken near the border of Texas and Mexico, especially Mexican Spanish as spoken in Texas.

2. Music. norteño.

Tex-Mex British  

/ ˈtɛksˌmɛks /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the Texan version of something Mexican, such as music, food, or language

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Etymology

Origin of Tex-Mex

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; by shortening

Example Sentences

Chips and a cup of Tex-Mex style queso as a snack, and a cardamon-spiked mandarin agua fresca to wash down everything.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Ms Lopez-Galvan hosted Taste of Tejano, a Tex-Mex music show, on community radio station KKFI.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2024

Another said Paxton once had the cake brought to a Tex-Mex restaurant for a staff lunch but never served it.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Ultimately, the winner was La Paz a family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant that served lionfish tostadas, epazote lionfish soup and lionfish fajitas.

From Salon • Aug. 14, 2023

Oklahoma Tex-Mex is some of the best food in the world, but the poops are soupy.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri