[eat] Nuñez Mexican Grill
For the past few months, I’ve observed a pretty strict vegetarian diet. But then fellow verb-er, Matt Tharp, introduced me to the magic that is Nuñez Mexican Grill and all bets were off.
The non-descript restaurant at 2111 East Central (west of Hillside) may not look like much from the outside, but the food is amazing.
Ok, so maybe saying “the food” is a little too all-encompassing because I’ve only had their tacos. Each time I go back, I fully intend to try something new, but the tacos continue to lure me in.
The ambiance leaves a bit to be desired (such as the way the artwork has been nailed to the walls – the nails go right through the frames), but the smell of fresh, flavorful Mexican cooking hits you as soon as you walk in the door.
Every meal comes with a basket of fresh, well-seasoned tortilla chips and salsa (beware: the salsa verde is HOT, but good). Beverage options include pop and water, but if you choose anything except a Mexican Coca-Cola, you’re missing out. Unlike American Coke, it’s south of the border counterpart has only a few ingredients and includes real sugar instead of corn syrup. It’s fabulous.
On my first visit, I tried the carne asada (steak), barbacoa (super tender, slow-cooked, shredded beef), and carnitas (pork). The steak was excellent and the barbacoa was incredibly flavorful and practically melted in my mouth. The carnitas was a bit chewy for my taste, but was still good. Subsequent visits resulted in skipping the carnitas and sticking to the asada and barbacoa.
The tacos are served with two heated and softened corn tortillas – traditional for Mexican street food. They come garnished with sauteed onions, fresh cilantro and a lime – that’s it. Simple, but delicious. If you’re a guacamole fan, the freshly-made guac at Nuñez is excellent and is the perfect accompaniment to the tacos.
At $1.50 apiece, Nuñez’s tacos make the perfect budget-friendly lunch (or dinner). Service, while not the speediest, is very friendly.
The Nuñez menu also includes tortas, tostadas, flautas, burritos, fajitas and quesadillas, plus burgers and fries for, I assume, picky eaters. Picky eaters who I’d like to publicly shun for ordering a burger in a great Mexican joint. But you have to start with the tacos, knowing full well that you may become so hooked that you’ll never try another item on the menu.
As for my vegetarianism… Well, let’s just say it’s on hiatus.
I’m a sucker for authentic Mexican food, so I gotta know – what is your favorite hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant?
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My favorite place is The Taco Shop on Pawnee, between K-15 and 135. It has the best food hands down, and we have hit just about every mexican dive in town. The Super Nachos are a thing of gastronimical beauty and you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Except the fish tacos. Don’t go there. Fish stick on a tortilla. Really. I don’t get it, when everything is else is so home made and awesome. AND they have a drive through for a quicky taco fixy when needed. I also used to love Ajuua, which was right by my office but they left. (boo) My other guilty pleasure is one of the mexican food trucks on Broadway, out by 21st across from the rail yard. I doubt it has a name, but it does have the best tortas on the planet, and I have probably tried tortas in 20 different places in the last 4 years. Its a big siver truck/van thingy wedged up against an old ware house with an old canvas tent and a bunch of beat up tables with attached chairs underneath. Delicios, cheap and the “ambiance” of the trains speeding past adds extra flavor. :)
Excellent! My boyfriend has been raving about this place and I’ve actually got plans to go check it out Friday. I guess now I know I need to order the tacos!
El Torero in Derby and El Mexico Cafe on Seneca just south of Pawnee are two of my favorites. I also recently discovered Marcos off Maple by Town West.
Mexican food is my favorite. I love La Chanita’s on Broadway. It is so good and very cheap. I love chips and salsa and could eat them all day if allowed. Margarita’s and Felipe’s are among my favorite as well. I used to go to a great place called La Familia on South Seneca but it is not there anymore. Thanks Shea for the recomendation of a new Mexican place. I am always interested in food.
There’s nothing better than a Colorado at Renee’s on west Central at 3 in the morning. Particularly if you’re a bit on the tipsy side. Or maybe it’s just good BECAUSE I’ve been drinking. Hmm. I should try it sober some time…
I second the goodness of Renee’s. Their breakfast burritos are fantastic. Same with the carnitas burrito.
I definitely gotta give these other places a try. Thanks for the recommendations!!
Wow, those tacos remind me of a place I used to love in Eastern Washington called Paraiso Vallarta. The steak tacos there were the absolute greatest thing ever.
I must visit Nuñez and see if it compares.
Is the salsa actually hot? Or is it Kansas Hot?
I’ve been wondering about that place… thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try it! Mexican coke is by far the best! I don’t drink soda regularly, but when I can get a Mexican coke I don’t pass it up!
lol! at Carreen… my hubby feels the same, but he’s Puerto Rican and likes it really hot! So is it hot or just KS hot?
El Jalisco at 47th St S and I-135 is FANTASTIC. Its small and very clean, located in the strip mall. Family-owned and operated, cash-only business.
My favorites are Tacos Lopez just south of West and Zoo Blvd., Tony’s Tacos west of Central and Hillside, and Lalo’s at Seneca and Harry. And, sorry, but I love carnitas.
My friend recently took me to a place on Arkansas called La Mancinata or something like that and it was awesome. Looking for authentic Mexican food in ICT, GO NORTH.
A chillada and chili verde from El Rodeo is a weekly ritual. I know it’s not a hole in a wall, but their chilada is Rodeo’s best kept secret. Maybe better than their chicken nachos.
James – El Rodeo is a weekly ritual for me too, but now I have something new to try. Thanks for the head’s up!
As for the salsa verde at Nunez. It is HOT. Like actually hot, not Kansas hot (this comes from a California girl who’s spent a fair amount of time at hole in the wall burrito joints). But the regular salsa is way too mild, so I like to spike it with the salsa verde.
Lil’ Mexico-Pawnee and Hydraulic–It is definitely not authentic, but the fried flour tacos are the best when you want Tex Mex,crunchy, hot, goodness-the chips are thick and always fresh and the xtra hot salsa is addictive.
My friend Mickie and I finally tried out Munez a few days ago, and although the food was fantastic (I’ll be back!), we had a much different experience. We were the only two people in the place, and the service was very poor, due to the Mexican soap opera that was blaring from the tiny TV up on the wall. We helped ourselves to our drinks but had to wait and wait for someone to bring us a bottle opener. We also were not offered any chips or dip or ever even spoken to except when asked for our order and given our food.
However, the fact that they offer carry-out is enough of a reason for me to forgive all of those transgressions. Six bucks for 3 fresh tacos and a Mexican coke? I’ll take that any day.
Hopefully the soap opera that the staff was so caught up in was on its season finale, though, and just a one-time thing.
I drive by Nunez every day, so I’m happy to hear it’s tasty! I’ll try it! However, my Mex bf will be the real judge…….
Lalos’ Texano is the biggest most beautiful burrito baby in all the land. And their salsa verde is kinda like crack, or how I would imagine it to be. Mexican cokes are the best.
Frida’s nachos are pretty bomb, and there is a place on Arkansas in the adobe bldg El Paisa, tacos with pastor (marinated and slow cooked pork or beef, can’t remember), and I love their rice milk (don’t bash it till you try it! Sugary goodness).
Ah! Now this mexican food craving is getting out of hand!! And it’s 10:00 AM!…. Ergh!
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