Queens restaurant brushes off controversy over Whitexicans name — which woke online scolds are branding ‘racist’
The name of the eatery has whipped up fury on social media. Katherine Donlevy
A new restaurant in Queens is stirring debate before it’s even had a chance to settle in. The owners of Whitexicans, a recently opened Mexican eatery in Jackson Heights, are pushing back against critics who have accused the establishment of using a racially insensitive name.
The owners say that despite online backlash — including calls to change the restaurant’s name — their intention was never to offend.
“We knew it might spark some disagreement, but we weren’t trying to make this a political issue,” co-owner Mateo Gomez Bermudez told The New York Post. “A lot of people assume Mexicans have to be brown or look a certain way. But there are also white Mexicans, and that’s perfectly normal. The whole point was inclusivity — anyone, from any background, is welcome here. We’re all Whitexicans.”
The term “Whitexican,” as described by Mexico News Daily, is sometimes used as a criticism of light-skinned, upper-class Mexicans who enjoy privileges not shared by many others in the country.
“They attend private schools, travel abroad, speak English, and have access to opportunities many Mexicans only dream of,” the outlet explained.
That definition hasn’t sat well with some locals and online commentators, especially since three of the four owners are from Colombia, not Mexico.
“They’re ignorant for using racist terms that divide the Mexican community,” one Facebook user complained. Another Reddit commenter joked, “This has to be a gentrified Taco Bell.”
One person called the name “classist and racist.”
However, Claudia Lopez, the restaurant’s only Mexican co-owner — and wife of Gomez Bermudez — dismissed claims that the name was offensive. She said she even checked with other Mexicans before finalizing it.
“It’s not insulting — not for me, not for my family, not for any Mexican I know,” Lopez said. “This place is about good food, good vibes, and enjoying time with people from all cultures and backgrounds.”
That message of inclusivity is also reflected in the restaurant’s design and branding. A large sign at the entrance reads “All Humans Are Legal,” and the slogan is printed on the back of the staff’s shirts.
Despite the controversy, Whitexicans has drawn strong foot traffic since opening its doors on October 9. Customers have largely praised the food and atmosphere, with menu items priced competitively — a rice and bean bowl costs up to $15, while the most expensive dish, a seafood mix of sea bass, calamari, and shrimp, runs $18.
“The criticism mostly comes from people online who haven’t even stopped by,” said Gomez Bermudez. “We opened a business in a tough economy, and before people start hating, they should at least give us a chance.”
He added, “Don’t be part of the hate.”
The controversy follows a recent one in Queens, when Astoria’s Wolf’s Lair restaurant came under fire over its name’s historical ties to Adolf Hitler’s World War II bunker. The owners there also claimed innocence, saying the name was inspired by a UK-based MMA gym.
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