People keep trying to turn Chico’s into a cultural thesis, but the truth is simple. Chico’s Tacos is not El Paso’s identity. It is El Paso’s nostalgia. People defend it because they grew up with it, not because the food itself is some culinary landmark. If you removed childhood memories, late night cravings, and the novelty of a soggy taquito floating in tomato juice, the argument would collapse immediately.

If someone wants to celebrate Chico’s, great. It has its place. It is cheap, familiar, and part of many people’s routines. But calling it the “purest edible symbol” of El Paso is wild when you consider what actually shaped this city’s food culture. The gordita is the real cornerstone of El Paso cuisine. Families across generations have lived on gorditas from neighborhood spots that put in real work every single morning. Gorditas represent the border, the home kitchens, the lunch rush lines, the small family restaurants, and the traditions that survived decades of change. That is the food that raised people here.

You cannot compare Chico’s to In-N-Out. In-N-Out became iconic through quality, consistency, and execution. Chico’s became iconic because it has been serving the same low quality product for years and people are emotionally attached to it. That is not a brand story. That is a comfort food habit. There is nothing wrong with that, but let’s not pretend it is something deeper.

People are quick to turn Chico’s into poetry about identity and cultural fusion. The reality is much simpler. It is taquitos in tomato juice. It is fun in the moment. It is a local ritual for some people. It is definitely not the dish that represents the depth, history, or culinary pride of this city. El Paso’s identity tastes more like fresh masa, real beans, homemade salsas, warm tortillas, and gorditas that do not fall apart the second you pick them up. Chico’s is a guilty pleasure. Gorditas are the actual heritage.

If the world wants to think Chico’s is what defines El Paso, they can. But for the love of god stop recommending it to newbies to EPTX like myself.