Houston Hideaways: Chuy's spices up Tex-Mex cuisine
Like most Tex-Mex restaurants, we were first provided a hearty helping of chips and salsa. The chips tasted fresh and salty and their flavor complemented the two different types of accompanying salsa. The first sauce seemed to be an original salsa, but we discovered after the first bite how spicy it tasted. The other sauce was a creamy ranch dressing. Although ranch dressing is not a typical condiment for tortilla chips, we welcomed its cool flavor in comparison to the salsa's spice. It was nice to have a choice of two sauces to go with the tortilla chips.
We ordered a taco salad and deluxe chicken enchiladas. The taco salad comes with a crispy homemade tortilla bowl, fresh salad greens, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole, and a choice of fajita chicken, fajita beef or seasoned ground sirloin. The spicy chicken we ordered went well with the fresh guacamole and vegetables. Everything on the salad was fresh and the ingredients combined to create an subtle spicy flavor. The portion was quite large and could have easily been split between two people. The tortilla-shell bowl added a nice touch because it provided a crunch to the salad. We would definitely order the taco salad again. It is a good option if you are going to a Tex-Mex restaurant but do not want to absolutely gorge yourself on hearty, filling Tex-Mex food.
The two deluxe chicken enchiladas were too much to finish in one sitting. The cheese was plentiful, and a light and creamy tomatillo salsa topped off the dish. The enchiladas contained white meat pulled chicken, which tasted juicy and fresh. The enchiladas also came with two sides, refried beans and Mexican rice. The beans added a simple flavor to balance the richness of the enchilada cheese but the rice was subpar.
Although Chuy's may not be the best place for a date because of the loud setting, it is definitely ideal for gatherings with friends or family. It is a casual restaurant with ample seating both inside and out. Although it was a busy Saturday night when we arrived, we were seated quickly and served within a reasonable amount of time.
Be prepared for a noisy but comfortable environment served with all of the Tex-Mex dishes alongside Chuy's own specialties. The menu has something for anyone who's a Tex- Mex lover, and we were impressed by the quality and portion sizes. The next time you are in need of a giant burrito, chimichanga or any other Tex-Mex favorite, check out Chuy's.
Sasha Schoch and Allie Schaich are Wiess College freshmen. Houston Hideaways is a column that explores Houston restaurants beyond the usual Rice student haunts.
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