Furthermore, "X isn't as authentic as it is in X country" is lowkey bigoted towards immigrants. A lot of the times, the dishes being talked about are ones made by immigrants who are trying to cook dishes they are familiar with but using ingredients and equipment available to them in their new home. Whenever I hear about "authenticity" arguments, it's always acting like this food was being made by white Americans trying to krib and distort another culture's food to suit their palate, instead of immigrants authentically expressing their culture with what's available in their new context.

I for one can't think of anything more authentic than someone applying their cultural knowledge in creative and unique ways to survive and make a life in an environment unfamiliar to them.

The "this is not authentic" exist because the food is sold as "authentic".