6-12-10 Fiesta Azteca

Sometimes plans and food adventures don't turn out as expected. This week, we planned on going to Big T's BBQ on Blue Parkway only to find out that only the drive through was open at 1 pm in the afternoon. A sign in the window said "inside not open - maybe later today." We tested the door anyway as the sign wasn't on the door but next to the hours posted in the window. Sure enough it was locked. Maybe someone didn't show up for work?

Mark was our guest and drove us to another location. His GPS wasn't finding the satellites all the time so we continued to drive and ended up on 350 Highway in Raytown. That's when we saw Fiesta Azteca on the corner by Apple Market. JE had heard about this place and since we weren't totally set on BBQ we decided to drop in.

This place has been here for at least 7 years from what the menu said.

The decor was full of Mexican flags, framed photos of reviews and customers and they lined the walls. And of course, World Cup soccer was playing in Spanish on the televisions. We weren't aware until we were there but this place was voted Best Mexican Restaurant by the Pitch last year.

The menu was huge and a little pricey for a store front in Raytown (given that we're used to Chelly's), but there were cops there so we knew it couldn't be bad. Chips and salsa came for all three of us quickly. The chips were warm and the salsa was good with cilantro. After you had a few chips and salsa, then you felt the small kick that the salsa packed. We were so hungry, we tore through two bowls of chips.

Just FYI - the menu says if you don't order a meal, they will charge you $5.95 to eat their complimentary chips and salsa. You've been warned so don't try to eat the chips and salsa and run!

While we were ready to order, it did seem that we were overlooked for awhile as a single customer came in and her order was taken 15 minutes before we were able to put our order in. Each of us decided on a combo platter from the back of the menu.

I ordered the #11 which was a cheese enchilada, chicken burrito and beef taco which came with rice, beans and sour cream.

JE had #21 which was a beef burrito, bean tostada and beef taco all of course holding the shredded lettuce.

And Mark decided on the #29 which was a ground beef chimichanga and ground beef taco.

Everything was fresh to order and we were graciously refilled on our drinks when they were low. The food was good but not the best we've ever had. The beans and rice that came with the combos were good. I'd classify it as a typical Mexican-American restaurant which serves decent food at a somewhat higher price point than I would have expected. The tab for the three of us was just at $40 with each combo meal we ordered being $10-$11. 


I will add that our our lunch conversations ranged from Archie Bunker - the rape episode and tranny episode, Lost, Smallville, Torchwood and tons of things that Mark and JE shared about college (it's very typical for them and I was surprised they didn't start singing songs from their way off Broadway musicals - it always happens when they're together). I was trying to watch parts of the USA vs England soccer game which ended in a tie. I don't know that much Spanish, but the soccer games shown sounded like they scored on almost every play they were so animated. Alas, it ended in a tie. 

Fiesta Azteca is a fun, neat little place in Raytown, but we wouldn't have voted it the best Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. Check it out for yourself if you're around Raytown.