Tacos, Burritos, and Tamales Olé: A Quiz About Mexican Cuisine

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Last updated · 7 min play time

Do you know the history of tacos? Where was the first burrito made? What is the most popular type of Mexican food in the U.S.? If you're as curious about Mexican food as you are hungry for it, this is going to be one delicious quiz. 

From tamales to margaritas to tortilla chips, we'll leave no stone unturned in serving up some tasty test questions in these 20 questions. So the next time you're at Taco Bell you can brag to your friends about how much you know about Mexican cuisine. 

Vamos!


I'm a 3-time Emmy-winning game show producer, writer, director and published author. I dig traveling, watching hockey, photographing wildlife and exploring the cultural and social fabric of society.

This quiz is about: food cuisine mexican taco burrito tamale

Mexican Food Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 144 Plays · 1 Comment

Question 1

If you eat this you're eating a "little donkey," or at least that's what the translation suggests. Name this Mexican staple.

  • A
    Taco
  • B
    Enchilada
  • C
    Burrito
  • D
    Quesadilla

Question 2

A staple of Mexican menus, a little pico de gallo goes a long way. What's another name for this common Mexican food item?

  • A
    Mole sauce
  • B
    Salsa fresca
  • C
    Chicken broth
  • D
    Guacamole

Question 3

If you were strolling down the streets of Tijuana chomping on chicharrones, what would you be eating?

  • A
    Chocolate cookies
  • B
    Roasted pistachios
  • C
    Carrot sticks
  • D
    Pork rinds

Question 4

Along with great food comes great drink. What's the main thing you need to add to beer to get a Mexican beverage called Michelada?

  • A
    Coconut milk
  • B
    Orange juice
  • C
    Raw eggs
  • D
    Tomato juice

Question 5

Blanco, Verde, and Rojo are all different varieties of Pozole, a special kind of Mexican soup with what main ingredient?

  • A
    Split peas
  • B
    Beer
  • C
    Hominy
  • D
    Chocolate

Question 6

Unique Mexican foods and drinks come with their own special methods of preparation. Used to prepare some Mexican dishes, what is a "molcajete"?

  • A
    An s-shaped knife
  • B
    An oversized wooden ladle
  • C
    Stone mortar and pestle
  • D
    Extra thick straw

Question 7

There are many origin stories for how the beverage known as the margarita came to be, some suggesting it was invented in NYC and others somewhere in Baja California. Whatever the real story, what does the word "margarita" mean in Spanish?

  • A
    Slippery
  • B
    Daisy flower
  • C
    Butter
  • D
    Ladybug

Question 8

You can learn "Elote" about a culture's palate from its street food. In Mexico, what is elote, found frequently at street food markets in the country?

  • A
    A type of donut
  • B
    Fried peanuts
  • C
    Crickets
  • D
    Corn on the cob

Question 9

Spanish for "flute," a "flauta" is a delectable little Mexican snack. On a Mexican food menu, what's another word that you might see that refers to the same food?

  • A
    Chimichanga
  • B
    Taquito
  • C
    Chalupa
  • D
    Churro

Question 10

With the traditional variety including only a tortilla, cheese, beans, and lettuce, what Mexican dish is named for a small boat or gondola?

  • A
    Chalupa
  • B
    Cruzana
  • C
    Tamale
  • D
    Flauta

Question 11

Corn tortillas are a mainstay in Mexican cuisine, and they come in three colors. Which of these is NOT a hue of Mexican tortillas?

  • A
    Red
  • B
    Yellow
  • C
    Green
  • D
    Blue

Question 12

Agua de Horchata is a popular Mexican drink, and was immortalized by the band Vampire Weekend on their Contra album. In addition to milk and cinnamon, what do you use to make traditional Horchata?

  • A
    Pineapple juice
  • B
    Oats
  • C
    Rice
  • D
    Peanuts

Question 13

Flavored with orange zest, juice, or blossom water, Pan de Muerto is a Mexican treat most often made in the weeks leading up to what holiday?

  • A
    Christmas
  • B
    Halloween
  • C
    Easter
  • D
    New Year's Day

Question 14

Though there's really nothing light about Mexican food, which of the following staples of Mexico translates roughly to "light lunch" in English?

  • A
    Chimichanga
  • B
    Tamale
  • C
    Gordita
  • D
    Taco

Question 15

Since 1897, residents of Oaxaca, Mexico compete for prizes by carving what food into ornate designs every December 23?

  • A
    Chocolate bars
  • B
    Radishes
  • C
    Loaves of bread
  • D
    Sides of beef

Question 16

Corn smut could not sound less appetizing, but in Mexico this fungus that grows on corn plants is used to flavor tacos and other dishes. What is the Aztec word for this mushroom-like delicacy?

  • A
    Pambazo
  • B
    Huitlacoche
  • C
    Shrumachanga
  • D
    Menudo

Question 17

Full of pork, which of these Mexican dishes is akin to Lebanese shawarma (pictured here), and is described as a combo of "Middle Eastern spices with those indigenous to central Mexico"?

  • A
    Albondigas
  • B
    Mole poblano
  • C
    Barbacoa
  • D
    Tacos al pastor

Question 18

In Mexico, street food is everywhere, and you can satisfy your craving by grabbing something from a vendor. What word meaning "little cravings" is synonymous with Mexican street food?

  • A
    Antojitos
  • B
    Carnitas
  • C
    Despacitas
  • D
    Mezcalitas

Question 19

Created just about 30 years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico, Bionico is a Mexican dish that most closely resembles what?

  • A
    Fruit salad
  • B
    Spinach souffle
  • C
    Fish and chips
  • D
    Macaroni and cheese

Question 20

A Pambazo is a special and exceedingly tasty Mexican offering. What makes a Pambazo different from a regular sandwich?

  • A
    It's deep fried
  • B
    It's drenched in salsa
  • C
    It's inside out
  • D
    It has no bread at all

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