Maui Tacos
by Donny Ray
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My dream has finally come true. For years, I've thought someone needs to open a fast-food joint that serves delicious, fresh food that is also good for you. I mean, in this fast-paced society and the need for us all to eat better, it seems like someone would have this idea besides me. Well, not only did Maui Tacos have the same idea, it's better than I had even hoped for. The food is refreshingly innovative, it's very inexpensive (about 10% more than you'll pay at your typical burger place), and they serve alcohol. I couldn't ask for anymore, at least not from fast-food.
To begin, your table is graced with tortilla chips and two salsas, "red authentic" and pineapple. Both are very mild, but the unique pineapple salsa is sweet and usually the favorite with women. If you prefer a hotter, spicier salsa, just ask for the chipotle papaya. It is very good too, and complimentary, but you must ask for it.
What do they serve? Recently, I was trying to describe the food to my son over the phone: "It's a fusion of Tex-Mex and Hawaiian cuisine," was as far as I got before I heard, "Yuck! That sounds horrible." Well, maybe it sounds horrible (to a young guy, anyway), but just hold on a minute before you draw any ill-conceived conclusions. Much of the average Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes found elsewhere get their flavors from greasy meats and heavy cheeses. Not here. Maui Tacos starts their Mexican dishes with quality ingredients, like lean meats, fish, and fresh produce, plus bold Mexican flavors like lime and cilantro but then they add novel flavors like pineapple, mango, or coconut. The end result is Mexican food with a Hawaiian twist.
They serve traditional favorites like tacos, burritos, enchiladas, nachos, chimichangas and quesadillas, as well as some newly invented dishes. My favorite menu item is the Avocado Beef Relleno with mango salsa. You can have your avocado stuffed with chicken or pork instead of beef, or with a different salsa. It combines several of my favorite foods; tastes fresh and light and yet is filling and very satisfying.
You can get a big salad that is freshly made, not the tasteless pre-made junk that lots of fast-food restaurants are currently pushing. The Mango Chicken Salad is a winner. There are some vegan choices too at Maui Tacos. If you are watching your weight, they are happy to substitute certain items for an even less caloric creation. See their website for more details or ask at the counter.
The Hana Bowl and Hana Burrito are made with slow cooked Hawaiian BBQ pork. Both are very good.
An interesting item to try is the Mexican Sushi. It's made with cooked shrimp, raw vegetables, and then rolled in a tortilla, cut into bite sizes, drizzled with a sweet soy-based sauce and sesame seeds, and it looks like a sushi roll. It's worth trying at least once.
They have a variety of salsas at the salsa bar with varying degrees of heat. Their signature pineapple salsa is great, and a refreshing change from boring, run-of-the-mill salsas. It has the sweetness of pineapple with just a mild bite to it. They also have a smokey chipotle pineapple salsa, Chile Arbol salsa, a tomato salsa and a green tomatillo salsa.
You can get items a la carte which are a superior value, or get a combo which adds black, pinto or refried beans, rice, chips (with no trans fats), salsa bar, and a drink.
Of all the desserts, the Banana Chingalinga is probably the best. It's a caramelized banana wrapped in a crunchy shell, served warm, with ice cream, whipped topping and strawberry sauce.
They have a few selections of beer. Because they have a liquor license they are able to serve margaritas with tequila (big ones) and tasty pina coladas made with Bacardi rum. They are five bucks each.
Dine in, and your food is served on real plates; and you get to sit at one of the cool tables that have a National Geographic map of the Hawaiian Islands.
Maui Tacos is a franchise, but currently there is only one location in Houston, and only two locations in Texas. The other one is at Texas State University in San Marcos. There are only a handful of other states lucky enough to have a franchise, and most of them only have one or a few locations. As expected, Hawaii has the most locations.
The manager says others are planned for Houston. Wow, we are going to be able to eat delicious, healthy food, in upscale fast-food restaurants, for really cheap prices! Houston is so lucky.
Maui Tacos is located at FM 1960 at Eldridge, the southwest corner. It's just east of Hwy 290, right in front of Target between Panda Express and FedEx Kinko's.
12719 FM 1960 W 281-955-8533
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