Chinese were once the second largest immigrant population in Mexico during the mid to late 19th century.
This is where soy and fish sauces came into play along with some cooking methods.
Carne asada almost always contains soy sauce.
And similarly you'll find a lot of German influences in food, music and blond haired, blue eyed Mexicans in certain regions.
Another classic example is Al Pastor, it originates from the middle eastern shawarma.
Brought to Mexico by the Lebanese in the early 1900's.
Take India as one small example of somewhere very far away that people don’t usually associate with Mexico. In India there is a delicious dessert that is based on rice and milk.
Mexico has an identical typical dessert named “arroz con leche”.
The only difference is Mexicans use cinnamon and top it with raisins, Indians use cardemum (and even the flavor in these two spices is similar).
Both countries think it was invented locally.
Who influenced who? Who knows? Both traditional dishes are hundreds of years old by now.
Historically, Mexican cooks have been extremely effective at adopting and incorporating new flavors and techniques. They’ve been doing it continuously for half a millenia, longer than any other civilization.
Mexican food is perhaps the first world fusion cuisine
