Mexican food is the future of American cuisine write The Associated Press and Venessa Wong:

• Salsa has overtaken ketchup to be America’s number 1 condiment.
• Tortillas outsell burger and hot dog buns.
• Tequila recently entered the top 10 liquors in the world.
• Yum! Brands’ top chain isn’t Pizza Hut or KFC but Taco Bell.
• Just like Pizza and Spaghetti are now thought to be more American food than Italian food, soon too Mexican food will be seen as an established part of American cuisine.
• There are other similarities between Mexican and Italian food. They have both seen rapid adoption because they’re easy to cook at home.
• The ingredients for the food are also more widely available than ingredients for Indian or other cuisines.
• Mexican food also appeals due to its health benefits – there is an abundance of salsa and vegetables.

Read more about the rise of Mexican food and how tortilla chips compare to potato chips over here and here.

Source: The Associated Press; Businessweek