Which Mexican state is the birthplace of the Caesar salad?

The Mexican state recognized as the birthplace of the Caesar salad is Baja California.

The salad is generally credited to restaurateur Caesar Cardini, who served it at Caesar’s restaurant in Tijuana on July 4, 1924. Tijuana is in the Mexican state of Baja California, making the state the expected answer even though the dish became internationally famous through restaurants and chefs in the United States and Europe.

The original preparation was reportedly made tableside during a busy holiday rush, when the kitchen was running short of ingredients. It centered on romaine lettuce, croutons, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, Parmesan, and citrus. Modern recipes frequently add anchovies, garlic, mustard, or chicken, but these additions do not define the salad’s birthplace.

The name is sometimes mistakenly linked to Julius Caesar, the Roman leader. It actually honors Caesar Cardini. The invention story has competing claims involving Cardini’s brother Alex and restaurant employees, but Tijuana in Baja California remains the standard geographic answer.