|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When you're on the road in California, how often do you fine a unique family owned and operated Mexican restaurant that serves authentic Mexican cuisine? Add to the equation... breakfast? You'll find it all at Maria's Mexican Restaurant, located in Barstow, CA. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's just past the 08:00 in the morning opening time on Thursday, May 25, 2023, and I've arrived at Maria's Mexican Restaurant, located in Barstow, CA, to enjoy a delicious Mexican breakfast. The restaurant is tucked away in a truck stop, off Interstate 15, and if it wasn't for the sign, you'd think the restaurant was simply an extension of the truck stop. Barstow locals, truckers and travelers on Interstate 15 know that Maria's Mexican Restaurant is a great place to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine.
Photo: The dining room is quite large, sparsely decorated and very long. It's quite comfortable and attractively lit, thanks to the many windows which let in the sunlight. Inside, you'd almost forget you are dining at a truck stop Mexican diner. Well... almost... Furniture is spartan, as it's mostly tables, but with booths on one side, and is comfortable, but definitely nothing fancy. No worries, as I came for the food and not the furniture. If you're looking to enjoy beer or wine, you're out of luck as Maria's is "dry," by Texas standards.
Photo: As you walk in to the restaurant, the first thing you'll see is the order counter, where you'll make your selection from the overhead menu, place your order, and pay for it. In return, you'll receive a receipt and when your order is ready, it will be brought to your table by a friendly member of the staff. On this early Thursday morning, Laura was taking orders, and seeming doing everything else except for preparing the meals. Many menu selections are listed on the menu board, over the counter, but Maria's also has printed menu, and like many restaurants in 2023, seemed to do a brisk to-go business. The restaurant is a favorite of Interstate 15 truckers, Barstow locals, and of employees of the many truck stops located nearby.
Photo: Maria's Mexican Restaurant is serious about breakfast, as they open at 08:00 every morning and the menu offers Mexican style breakfasts. The restaurant also features "comfort food" diner style breakfasts, in case your taste isn't on the Mexican side of the border.
Photo: When you place your order, you can peek over the counter and catch a glimpse into the kitchen, and watch the talented chef work his magic.
Photo: Meet Laura, who greeted me, took my order and brought my breakfast to my table with a friendly smile.
Photo: Laura places my delicious breakfast on my table, with an order of corn tortillas wrapped in aluminum foil to keep them warm. The tortillas made for a perfect way to enjoy this amazing breakfast.
Photo: Thanks, Laura for taking my photo, as I'm a happy guy as I'm ready enjoy a delicious breakfast.
Photo: From the "Mexican Style Breakfast Plates" section of the menu, I went with #12, "Bistec con Huevos," which is Mexican style steak and eggs. Oh my... such a beautiful presentation! The menu goes on to describe this as, "A broiled steak and eggs done your way with tortillas. Comes with Mexican potatoes and beans." I ordered my eggs to be fried sunnyside up, and corn tortillas as my choice. Oh yes... I asked my carne asada - steak - to be broiled to medium. My breakfast was delivered to me in a record-setting 10 minutes! I was happy to see my breakfast included a cup of in-house made salsa and a slice of orange, which added to the flavor of this delicious breakfast. The main entree, the steak, or known in Mexico as carne asada was lightly seasoned, broiled medium to perfection, and arrived with perfect grill marks. A steak knife was included, but it was simply window dressing, as the steak was fork tender, as I cut it to size simply using my fork. I ordered my eggs fried sunnyside up and they arrived exactly the way I ordered them, thanks to the talent of the chef. The Mexican potatoes were diced, fried on the griddle to a light golden brown, and included diced red and green chili pepper. The potatoes were slightly crunchy on the outside, but tender on the inside, just like the breakfast potatoes I've enjoyed during my countless trips to Mexico. The steak was absolutely delicious, but ... the refried beans! I've enjoyed refried beans in my life, but Maria's Mexican Restaurant absolutely excels when it comes to refried beans. I could taste the lard, which gave the beans a down-to-earth, nutty flavor, and the shredded Mexican cheese boosted the flavor up a notch or two. Great refried beans in the Mojave Desert! Maria's Mexican Restaurant truly serves a delicious breakfast! They are a little hard to find, as they're tucked away in a truck stop, but ask any trucker who travels Interstate 15, and I'm sure they'll recommend Maria's, for outstanding Mexican cuisine. You'll enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at Maria's Mexican Restaurant while you get your big rig washed, gassed-up or serviced. Or, if you're like me, you'll just drop in and enjoy the amazing food and the friendly service, including breakfast. A Barstow, CA classic, Mexican restaurant... Cheers! Maria's Mexican Restaurant Copyright(c) 2023 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
|
