Mexican food here vs actual Mexico -- am I wrong?

Tex-Mex is not Mexican food and nobody who grew up eating both would confuse them. Both are good. They're just different cuisines at this point.

The real authentic spots are usually in strip malls with no English on the menu. If abuela is in the kitchen you're in the right place.

Birria tacos here have gotten so much better in the last few years. The trend actually brought legit birria spots out of hiding.

My Mexican friends refuse to eat at most Tex-Mex places. But they also admit that queso (which doesn't exist in Mexico) is addictive. Cultural exchange works both ways.

Skip the places with "Mexican Grill" in the name. Find the places with handwritten specials on the whiteboard. That's where the real food is.