Tijuana Flats is a popular Tex-Mex restaurant chain known for its fresh, made-to-order Tex-Mex dishes served in a fun, laidback atmosphere. One of the signature items at Tijuana Flats is their fresh, handmade tortilla chips and salsas. So are Tijuana Flats tortilla chips made from corn or flour?
The Quick Answer
Tijuana Flats tortilla chips are made from corn, not flour. The chips are made fresh in-house every day using simple ingredients – corn, water, lime, and salt. The chips are fried to order throughout the day to ensure they are served warm and crispy.
More Details on Tijuana Flats Chips
Here are some more details on the Tijuana Flats tortilla chips:
- Made from non-GMO white corn – The chips start with non-GMO white corn sourced from the U.S.
- Nixtamalized corn – The corn is nixtamalized, meaning it is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution using lime. This helps release nutrients and gives the chips their distinctive corn flavor.
- Made fresh every day – The chips are handmade and fried fresh every day in house at each Tijuana Flats location.
- Cooked in 100% canola oil – The chips are fried in heart-healthy canola oil. Tijuana Flats uses a blend of GMO-free and organic canola oils.
- Simply seasoned – The chips are seasoned with just a sprinkle of lime juice and sea salt.
- Served warm – The chips are fried to order in small batches throughout the day so they are served warm and crispy.
Why Corn Chips Rather Than Flour?
There are a few reasons why Tijuana Flats opts for corn tortilla chips rather than flour:
- Corn provides better chip texture – Corn chips provide a crisper, crunchy texture that stands up to salsas and dips better than flour chips.
- More authentic taste – Corn chips have a more authentic, traditional tortilla flavor.
- Easier to make fresh – The simple corn dough is easier to press and cook fresh in house compared to flour.
- Corn is gluten-free – Corn chips fit better in Tijuana Flats’ gluten-free menu options.
- Customer preference – Market research shows most customers prefer the hearty corn chip taste.
Tijuana Flats Chip Flavors
While the classic Tijuana Flats chips are simply seasoned with lime and salt, the chain does offer a few other chip varieties and flavors:
| Chip Variety | Description |
|---|---|
| Original Chips | The classic chips simply seasoned with sea salt and lime juice |
| Red Salsa Chips | Chips tossed in and seasoned with Tijuana Flats’ signature red salsa |
| Green Salsa Chips | Chips seasoned with a blend of cilantro, garlic, jalapeño and serrano peppers |
| Chile Con Queso Chips | Chips covered in Tijuana Flats’ creamy queso sauce and topped with pico de gallo |
Serving Tijuana Flats Chips
Tijuana Flats chips are a complementary addition to any dine-in meal. Chips and salsa are automatically brought out to tables as an appetizer. Tijuana Flats estimates each dine-in customer eats an average of 3 baskets of fresh chips!
The chips are also available to purchase for take-out in quantities of pint, quart, half-gallon, and gallon serving sizes. They make for a great take-home snack or addition to a party or event.
Conclusion
Tijuana Flats’ signature tortilla chips are made fresh in-house every day from corn, not flour. The nixtamalized corn provides a hearty, crispy texture that perfectly accompanies the Tex-Mex restaurant’s salsas and dips. The chips are simply seasoned with lime and salt, allowing the true corn flavor to shine through. So next time you enjoy Tijuana Flats’ chips and salsas, you can be assured you’re crunching on an authentic corn tortilla chip!