h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mexicali is the name of a border town between Mexico and California (along with its sister town, cleverly named Calexico), but I doubt that this is the origin of the name for that restaurant. Mexicali is also the name of a specific type of cuisine that has its roots in Mexican food, but has been developed entirely in California. Tex-mex is another such cuisine, based on Mexican food, developed in Texas. If you're ever in doubt as to whether you're in a Mexican or Mexicali restaurant, just check the menu. If fajitas show up anywhere, you're in a Mexicali restaurant.

You'll have to tell the managers that then, they're going around billing themselves as a 'mexican food' restaurant. Of all the nerve! Thanks for the info actually... I have been to mexico before and I doubt most people could stomach anything resembling 'authentic' mexican cuisine unless they happened to own stock in rol-aids.

I don't think too many Canadians can appreciate the difference, other than a traveled one such as yourself. Outside of Mexico and the American Southwest, anything that involves tortillas is considered Mexican food.