Mexican Restaurants in Chanute

“I was feeling a bit peckish between shows in Mid America so it was time for some #roadfill. Checking my map app for eateries in the area, I came across El Rincon Azteca Mexican Restaurant and thought, who would know Mexican cuisine better than the residents of Chanute, Kansas? The restaurant was non descript on the outside, and the front doors were plastered with handwritten signs warning ‘Cash-paying customers to not pay the servers directly’…reminders ‘tips are not included in the bill’…. ‘No checks’… one could infer that there are trust issues in the community… Inside, the walls were alive with colourful murals, copper art, tv screens and more handwritten signs… I arrived at the hostess stand and was met by a young Mexican lass who directed me to one of the booths. The booth was furnished with tall back boards finished in what I’m assuming is faux leather; all in black. I was handed a rather substantial menu, with 5 pages of offerings and very small type. It was kind of like a Chinese food menu, where the basics are pretty much available in every conceivable combination. Lots of burritos, quesadillas, mariscos, fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, etc. It would take me a while to peruse. To accompany me on my search thru the menu, I was served a plate of tortilla chips and three types of salsa…. I dug right in and tried all three individually… there was a mild green, what I think was Pace in red, and then another green, but carrying substantial attitude. My tongue sizzled up with each taste of that one. My server suggested a beverage to tame my tongue, to which I requested a frozen strawberry margarita… Medium? she asked… nah, I’m going for the large. A half dozen more chips down the hatch, and the glass, err VAT of margarita arrived - all 38 ounces of it. Aye Carumba! I imbibed. Oh my. My, my, my…. This was good. And after the third long draw on the straw, it was potent. By the time I was on my fifth pull on the straw, I was pretty much loaded. I needed fuel. An entry on the menu was called ‘The Happy Pig’… it featured Steak, Shrimp, Chicken & Bacon, with grilled onions, cheese and bell peppers with their handmade Chipotle sauce. I’m not sure what the Pig was so happy about considering his cousin probably provided the bacon in this dish, but…. I ordered one up. I was feeling pretty happy as it was, so I may as well invite the pig to the party. The chips now just a distant memory and a quarter of the way thru my vat, my Happy Porker arrived. It was served in a tall stone bowl, along with foil wrapped warm flour tortillas and a plate of accoutrements including pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, rice and beans. If I finished this I realized it would be I that was the very Happy Pig. I dug right in, and with the first bite, it was delicious. Everything was tender and tasty. Shrimps were a decent size and the tortillas were warm and fresh. I made multiple returns to the Vat to wash the yummy into my tummy… each swallow made my eyes a little heavier and my smile a little wider. Other patrons came and went, whist I courageously partied on with my marvelous margarita. Eventually the bottom of the glass was reached and the bill for the celebration arrived. $39.40 including tax. Doing math and paying cash would not be a smart undertaking at this juncture, so I paid with my card; absorbing the dreaded ‘credit card fee’ which has become ubiquitous in restaurants in the US these days. I bumbled and bounced outside and back to my van, where I crawled up inside and proceeded to fall asleep for a few hours… with a big slobbery smile on my face.“

“Excellent service, good food, big portions, will come again“

“The manager was amazing and so very kind. The food was hot and sent out fast!“