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| - We've survived the dreaded Mayan apocalypse and now get to enjoy Chicken Itza's delicious Cancun-style cuisine. Already open for a month or two, I've driven by numerous times and I could not be happier with my experience here when I finally stopped in for lunch! I'm a sucker for a cute name, but Chicken Itza delivers so much more than that.
The menu keeps it simple with eight different food options: panuchos, salbutes, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, nachos, and enchiladas. Panuchos and salbutes are regional Yucatan specialities that I've never seen at the average border-style Mexican eatery. It's different from the traditions of Mexico City (DF was Aztec territory, naturally), too. The priciest item on this menu is the steak nachos at $7.99, with most plates around $5.
You'll find proteins like turkey and pork (cochinita pibil), real Mexican cheeses, delicious horchata, and the hallmark of Yucatecan cuisine-- pink, pickled onions-- on nearly every dish. Forget that thing you've heard about a lack of ambiance indicating the food tastes more authentic. They've put some thought into decorating here, with new, bright orange paint, Mayan Riviera-themed artwork, and large, colorful wooden chairs. It's a comfortable environment for dining-in. After 3pm on Sunday, you may catch some live music.
As we placed our order, we were presented with a basket of chips and salsa verde, as well as cups of lentil soup. The soup contained visible pieces of meat, but my husband was happy to finish what I didn't eat. It was hearty and reminded me of my southern Grandma's lentil soup. The bright green salsa contained tomatillos, cilantro, and pieces of avocado, and had excellent flavor! I later tried a smoky, red salsa and I'm having a hard time picking a favorite.
My order of panuchos included three pockets of fried, fresh corn masa filled with a black bean paste and topped with sliced avocado, tomato, lettuce, and pink, pickled onions. The flavors were fresh, clean, and rich, almost buttery, due to the crispy masa and ripe avocado, yet not heavy or greasy at all. My husband's order of three tacos included cochinita pibil, carne asada, and chicken, of which only the chicken was a bit bland. Some dishes are served with flavorful sides of seasoned rice and refried beans. You must order the horchata.
We were pleasantly surprised once again when our enthusiastic waiter (possibly the owner) brought us each a complimentary dessert of arroz con leche and flan. Both tasted amazing, the flan being a bit different from any I've ever tried, with a spongy, firm texture. I felt like I was being invited to try some really great family recipes. It was the perfect ending to a memorable meal.
After ordering a burrito and quesadilla to go, our total bill for this feast was only $25. We will return here whenever a Mexican food craving hits. In fact, my parents are visiting this weekend, and we won't be taking them to Border Grill. We're headed to Chicken Itza!
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