El Paso's Menudo and Bread Tradition Lives On

There are very few food debates in El Paso that will divide a room faster than this one:

Do you eat your menudo with bread or tortillas?

Around here, the answer feels obvious. If your bowl of menudo doesn't come with a warm bolillo ready to soak up every last drop, something feels off. But mention that to someone outside the Borderland, and they'll probably look at you like you've lost your mind.

As it turns out, El Paso isn't the norm. Across much of Texas and Mexico, tortillas are the go-to side for menudo. It wasn't until I learned that as an adult that I realized, wait- not everyone eats it with bread?!

And lately, I've been seeing videos from outside El Paso proudly calling it "El Paso style" menudo. From a San Antonio food truck serving bread instead of tortillas to a former El Pasoan joking about missing bolillos after moving away, it's been a fun reminder that one of our favorite Borderland traditions is getting the recognition it deserves.

Why Bread and Menudo Just Belong Together in El Paso

There's actually a reason bread became the go-to side here.

According to Borderzine, the tradition comes from El Paso's deep ties to the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where bread has long been served alongside menudo. Over the years, that custom crossed the border and became part of Borderland food culture.

So while much of Texas and Mexico reaches for tortillas, many El Paso families grew up doing the exact opposite- and never thought twice about it!

"El Paso Style" is Catching On

That's what made these recent videos so much fun to watch.

One San Antonio food truck proudly serves menudo "El Paso style," complete with warm bread instead of tortillas.

Another video from a former El Pasoan living in San Antonio jokes about the surprise of being served tortillas instead of bread after moving away.

For those of us who grew up here, it's a fun reminder that something we always considered normal is uniquely Borderland.

Whether it's Chico's Tacos, our burritos or the belief that menudo belongs with bread, El Paso has always had its own way of doing things. And now, it has a name: El Paso style!