It's a running joke in Cedar Rapids. Stop me if you've heard it. "Hey look! A new restaurant is going in! I bet it's a Mexican restaurant!" It's true, Cedar Rapids does have plenty of Mexican restaurants to choose from. In an article from earlier this year, not counting fast food places like Taco Bell, Taco Johns, Pancheros, Chipotle, and others, Cedar Rapids is home to at least 30 Mexican restaurants. And that doesn't even count Marion and Hiawatha! So do we have too many in Eastern Iowa?

According to research from the Pew Research Group, the Corridor isn't unique when it comes to the number of Mexican restaurants. Nearly 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serves Mexican food. A stunning 85% of American counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. And despite the optics, Iowa doesn't have any more Mexican restaurants than other Midwest states.

Pew Research Group
Pew Research Group
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It shouldn't surprise anyone which states have the most Mexican restaurants. Pew reports that California and Texas have 40% of all the Mexican eateries in the entire United States. Other states that rank high include Florida, New York, and Illinois. Each state has 4% of the national total of Mexican restaurants.

So why do Mexican restaurants continue to be so popular? Well, they're delicious of course! I've long been a fan of Mexican food. From tacos to burritos and quesadillas, Mexican food appeals to a wide range of tastes. And the food is many times among the most affordable.

Fernando's Mexican Grill , Facebook
Fernando's Mexican Grill , Facebook
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Remember, there is a reason so many Mexican restaurants exist. People eat at them. They are popular! Get out and support the many wonderful places in Eastern Iowa that serve amazing Mexican food!

Perhaps stop by one of these great restaurants soon.

The Best Mexican Restaurants in the Corridor for National Taco Day

There are lots of Mexican restaurants here in the Corridor, but which ones are the best of the best? In honor of National Taco Day (October 4th), here are all the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City-area Mexican restaurants with a 4.5-star rating or higher (with over ten total reviews) on Google:

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Courtlin's Favorite Corridor Nachos on National Nachos Day

National Nachos Day is November 6th! Here are some of Courtlin's favorite nachos in the Cedar Rapids area:

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