For decades, free chips and salsa have been one of the small pleasures of eating at a Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant. But rising tomato prices are putting that tradition under pressure — and some restaurant owners say the days of unlimited free salsa may be numbered.
The U.S. Department of Commerce imposed antidumping duties of 17.09% on most fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico in July 2025, after ending a long-running trade agreement with Mexican growers. The Trump administration said the move was intended to protect American tomato farmers from Mexican tomatoes being sold in the U.S. at unfairly low prices.
The consequences are now being felt in restaurant kitchens.
Mexico supplies the overwhelming majority of imported tomatoes consumed in the United States, and restaurants rely heavily on those tomatoes for salsa, pico de gallo and countless other dishes. This year, weather-related supply problems in Mexico and Florida have added even more pressure.
At one point this spring, fresh tomatoes reportedly reached around $80 per box, according to the Texas International Produce Association.
That is a serious expense for Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, where salsa isn’t simply a condiment. Some restaurants can go through enormous quantities every week, all while customers traditionally expect the chips and salsa arriving at the table to be free.
Restaurant operators are also dealing with higher costs for labor, utilities, insurance and other ingredients. The Texas Restaurant Association says restaurants generally operate on narrow margins, leaving businesses with fewer places to absorb another major increase in food costs.
That doesn’t mean free chips and salsa are disappearing everywhere.
But some restaurants are already reconsidering how much they give away, while others may charge for additional servings, reduce portion sizes or quietly raise menu prices to compensate.
For customers, it could make one of the most familiar rituals of Mexican dining noticeably different.
You may still hear the basket of chips hit the table.
The salsa beside it just might not be free forever.