Mexican food is delicious, but many of dishes feature lots of rice. As a bodybuilder, you know that you need protein for your muscles. This doesn't mean that you have to skip the Mexican restaurant. Instead, you can choose Mexican food that is based more around a protein than a carbohydrate. Below are a few dishes that are good alternatives to rice and that have the protein that will help you build muscle.

Carne Asada

Carne asada is grilled steak. The meat is marinated and rubbed with spices and then grilled. It can be served with a soft taco, but you can ask that it be served without the taco if you're looking to eliminate excess carbs. Many places will serve the carne asada with slices of avocado and pico de gallo. The avocado is nice because it contains healthy fats, and the pico de gallo is a type of chunky salsa that has lots of vitamins due to the onions, peppers, tomatoes, and lime juice.

Chile Verde

You should also look at the hearty pork chili, especially the chile verde. This is made by slow roasting pork with peppers, tomatillos, onions, and cilantro. The dish gets its name because the peppers and tomatillos provide it a green color. This dish is filled with protein thanks to the pork. This dish is sometimes served over enchiladas, but if you're looking to avoid the excess carbs, then simply order it in a bowl.

Baja Shrimp

If you love shellfish, particularly shrimp, then the good news is that you will get loads of protein. A three-ounce serving of shrimp has 19 grams of protein. That's a really nice amount of protein. Many restaurants serve shrimp in tacos, but you should ask for the shrimp to be served sans taco. A popular type of shrimp is baja shrimp. This is shrimp that is marinated with garlic, lime juice, white wine, and parsley and then brushed with butter and grilled.

Queso Frito

This is a nice appetizer. It's made by taking cubes of white cheese and then deep frying it. It will be served with a spicy salsa sauce.

Queso Flameado

This is a cheese dish that will be served as an entrée. It's similar to a fondue, but a bit thicker. It is normally made with a spicy sausage called a chorizo. The dish is also made with tomatoes and onions. Some restaurants will also add a brandy or tequila and flambé it. 

For more advice on choosing the best Mexican dishes for your goals, contact a restaurant like Lares Restaurant.