Category Archives: Mexican food

Two new restaurants for the west side

Oct. 23, 201211:09 a.m.

The west side has one new restaurant as of today and will get another one on Nov. 5.

Wichita’s newest Chipotle is officially opening today at Maple and Ridge. The restaurant took over the spot at 7130 W. Maple that once held Scrapbook Garden.

It’s Wichita’s fifth Chipotle, and it joins the restaurants at Kellogg and Rock, at 29th and Rock, at 21st and Maize and at Central and Hillside. Its hour are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and its phone number is 316-942-0263.

Another anticipated chain will open nearby on Nov. 5. Wichita’s first Mooyah, which will be operated by former KSN anchor Anthony Powell and his wife, is almost finished in the former Blockbuster spot at 352 S. West St.

There’s a Mooyah in Garden City that opened in May, and more are planned for the Wichita area. It specializes in burgers, fries and also has a long list of shakes, including chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter.

I called Powell this morning and interviewed him while he huffed and puffed on a stair master. He’s a health nut and said that Wichitans will be pleasantly surprised by the restaurant’s turkey burger and veggie burger, which he said both are unusually delicious.

The restaurant also will have several flat screen television sets mounted, so customers have the option of eating quickly and leaving or staying for a while to linger over a shake, he said.

Mooyah’s hours will also be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under About-to-open, Burgers, Fast food, Mexican food | Comments

New Chipotle at Maple and Ridge has opening date

Sept. 21, 20123:31 p.m.

Wichita’s newest Chipotle at Maple and Ridge is almost finished, causing many burrito fans to ask me when it’s opening.

The answer: Oct. 23.

The restaurant is going into the spot at 7130 W. Maple that once held Scrapbook Garden. It will be Wichita’s fifth Chipotle, joining the restaurants at  Kellogg and Rock, at 29th and Rock, at 21st and Maize and at Central and Hillside.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under About-to-open, Mexican food | Comments

Playa Azul at 21st & Tyler will close in two weeks

Sept. 17, 20122:04 p.m.

The Playa Azul at 8760 West 21st St. will close in two weeks, manager Daniel Rodriguez said today.

The business just isn’t getting enough traffic, he said. The last day in business will be Saturday, Sept. 29.

Derby’s Plaza Azul at 311 N. Baltimore in Derby closed in January of this year for the same reason. The Playa Azul in Old Town will remain open, he said.

The about-to-close space has held several restaurants since I’ve lived here, including Semolina, Dino’s, Italian Garden and Senor Tequila. Playa Azul opened there in January of 2011.

For more information, call 316-722-2929.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Mexican food, Uncategorized | Comments

Now open: Villar’s Mexico Cafe

Sept. 12, 20122:12 p.m.

William Villar just opened Villar's Mexico Cafe at 1860 S. Hillside.

William Villar, who already owns Mexico Cafe Delano at 555 W. Douglas, on Tuesday opened his new Villar’s Mexico Cafe in the building at 1860 S. Hillside where his family operated a restaurant from 1970 to 1990. (The location most recently housed a Chinese restaurant.)

His brother, Ben, and Ben’s wife, Kim, will manage the place. They had Ben Villar’s Mexican Restaurant at 1930 S. Oliver until it closed in June.

William helped re-open El Mexico  at 2544 S. Seneca back in 2008. But he left that restaurant after a falling out with partner Brent Helm. Over the years, the Villar family has had a hand in 15 Mexican restaurants around town.

The new restaurant specializes in famous Villar family recipes such as deluxe burritos, special Monterreys and flour tacos.  It will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 316-686-1070.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Just opened, Mexican food, Uncategorized | Comments

Las Tias de Beto scheduled to open Friday

July 19, 201211:37 a.m.

Las Tias de Beto, a Mexican restaurant going in at 1064 N. Waco, right  next door to Juarez Bakery, is scheduled to open at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow.

The restaurant is owned by Manuel Fernandez, owner of Juarez, and a partner. It’ll offer the standard fajita/taco/burrito options plus fish and steak dishes typical of Northern Mexico. It also will serve breakfast dishes such as chorizo and eggs. Fernandez is working on getting a liquor license.

I stopped by this morning to take a peek. There’s a subtle sign on the door, but so far, no big outside signage. The biggest challenge for me with this place will be avoiding the Mexican pastries next door. There’s almost nothing I love more than Mexican pastries.

Hours for Las Tias de Beto will be 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, call  316-977-9336.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under About-to-open, Mexican food | Comments

Villar family closing one restaurant, opening another

June 26, 201211:53 a.m.

Ben Villar's Mexican Restaurant will close for good on Saturday.

The Villar family, who founded Wichita’s first Mexico Cafe in 1970 at 1714 George Washington Blvd. and has gone on to open and operate several Mexican restaurants all over town, is moving its pieces around again.

Saturday will be the last day in business for Ben Villar’s Mexican Restaurant at 1930 S. Oliver. The restaurant has operated for two and a half years in the spot and was run by Ben Villar and his wife, Kim. It’s closing for “financial reasons,” Kim said. “The economy should be better,” she said. “It’s just been tough.”

But Ben Villar will not be out of work long if his brother, William’s, plans work out. William says he is very close to signing a deal to open Villar’s Mexico Cafe in the building at 1860 S. Hillside where his family operated a restaurant from 1970 to 1990. (The location most recently housed a Chinese restaurant.) If the deal goes through, the new restaurant should open in mid-July or early August, specializing in all the famous Villar family recipes, William Villar said. Ben Villar will run the restaurant with his brother.

William Villar also owns Mexico Cafe Delano at 555 W. Douglas and helped re-open El Mexico  at 2544 S. Seneca back in 2008. But he left that restaurant after a falling out with partner Brent Helm. Over the years, the Villar family has had a hand in 15 Mexican restaurants around town.

Ben Villar’s final Saturday hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. In a strange timing twist, the soon-to-be-vacated Ben Villar’s building was the last place Angelo’s operated before going out of business. Last week, Gina Fasciano-Hogan announced plans to reopen her family business in the old Barrier’s building at Douglas and Oliver.

I’ll let you know when William has more firm plans for Villar’s Mexico Cafe.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , Filed under About-to-open, Mexican food, Restaurant closings | Comments

Wichita a test market for new Abuelo’s dishes

June 25, 20123:02 p.m.

Restaurants sure do love to test their new dishes on Wichitans. Now, Wichita is one of eight markets testing out a new tapas and small bites menu at Abuelo’s, the Mexican restaurant at 1413 N. Waterfront Parkway.

The items on the menu range in price from $2.99 to $5.99 and now are available at both lunch and dinner.

Here are Abuelo’s descriptions of the new dishes:

Classic nachos – Crispy tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, seasoned ground beef, chicken or refried beans in any combination. Served with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and jalapeño slices

Acapulco shrimp cocktail – An individual-sized light and fruity Mexican shrimp cocktail, served with crispy flour tortilla chips
Jalapeño cheese fritters – Delicious minced jalapeño and cheese fritters, hand-breaded and fried to golden perfection. Served with ranch dressing for dipping

Mexican flat bread pizza – A flour tortilla baked with a white cream sauce and topped with fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and Monterrey Jack and Mozzarella cheese

Chicken and spinach mini chimis – Two small chimichangas stuffed with spicy, tender pulled chicken, spinach and cheese, golden fried and served with a honey lime ancho cilantro sauce

Bacon-wrapped shrimp – Three wood-grilled, bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with jalapeño and cheese

The other seven test markets: Peoria, Ariz.; Chandler, Ariz.; Lakeland, Fla.; Kissimmee, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio; Myrtle Beach, S.C. And Hampton, Va.

For more information, call Wichita’s Abuelo’s at 316-634-2230.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Mexican food | Comments

Wichita Eagle Dining Panel review: Thai House

June 1, 20124:07 p.m.

Deliciousness from Thai House. Photo by Ching Brubaker.

I’m continuing to love the work of the members of the Wichita Eagle Dining Panel. They’re enthusiastic, smart and — BONUS — it turns out they’re great food photographers.

Today’s Go! section was too full of River Festivalness to fit in Ching Brubaker’s first effort. We’ll publish her review of Thai House on Sunday. You can take a look at it now online, but I warn you, don’t read hungry.

I also failed to point out last week’s review of Paleteria La Reyna by Philip Warren and the previous week’s Pho Chopstix review by Natasha Creasman. These both are places I can’t wait to visit in the very near future. They sold me, for sure.

Also, watch the paper this week for reviews of River Festival food court food from panel members Warren, Andrew Gough and Jeff Christensen.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , Filed under Asian food, Mexican food, Wichita Eagle Dining Panel | Comments

Jalapeno’s should open on Friday

May 15, 20123:30 p.m.

A few weeks ago, I told you that Pimiento, the Mexican restaurant that opened last summer in the former Quizno’s space at 738 N. Waco, had been sold to Hector Hernandez of McPherson.

Hernandez now has a new sign up at the restaurant, and he hopes to open it on Friday with its new name, Jalapeno’s.

He had a restaurant in Dodge City called Jalapeno’s from 2007 to 2010, and it was known for its giant hamburgers. Hernandez will offer the same menu here and also will serve tacos, burritos and other Mexican dishes.

The hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Once open, Jalapeno’s can be reached by calling 316-425-5189.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under About-to-open, Mexican food | Comments

Just opened: La Reyna 2

May 14, 201210:43 a.m.

As of Saturday, all of the ice cream goodness of Paleteria La Reyna — the ice cream and Mexican food place at 2925 N. Arkansas — is more accessible to west-siders.

Gabriela Velasquez, the daughter of Paleteria La Reyna’s owners, opened Hamburgesas y Helados: La Reyna 2, on Saturday. The restaurant is in the old Sonic building recently vacated by Sloppy Joe’s at  803 N. West St., which closed in January after six months in business.

It’ll be different from the original in that it will specialize in hamburgers and hot dogs, available topped with pico de gallo for a Mexican twist. It’ll also serve Paleteria La Reyna’s wonderful Mexican ice cream bars and homemade ice cream, of which I am a big fan.

There’s room for about 30 to sit inside.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Wednesdays, when the restaurant is closed.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Burgers, ice cream treats, Just opened, Mexican food | Comments