Menu items listed with their Spanish names first emphasize the fact that Manuel Martinez prepares authentic Mexican food at his new carryout restaurant in Batavia.
A native of Mexico City, Martinez came to the United States in 1966 and since then has been working as a cook, but he always wanted his own business here, as he had had in Mexico when he was a produce vendor.
Now, with his whole family helping him, he dishes up 13 kinds of tacos and 18 different burritos in the shop decorated in the cheery red, white and green colors of the Mexican flag.
A first-timer to the restaurant might want to try taco grande burrito, said Martinez. It`s filled with steak (they cut, boil, marinate and shred their own beef) and two types of cheese, then topped with Mexican Chihuahua cheese, avocado, tomatoes and jalapeno peppers ($4.95).
He also recommends the vegetarian burrito, filled with sauteed vegetables such as cauliflower, carrot, broccoli, green peppers and tomatoes, then topped with cheese ($3.50), or the burrito Chicago style ($3.75). ”Everything is in there, just like the hot dog,” said Martinez.
All the burritos come with rice and salsa, plus Martinez can make up any combination a customers asks for, since all the food is made to order.
Tortas, another item on the menu, are giant-sized hot sandwiches that are plenty big enough for two people to share. A Mexican-style gyros, actually called al pastor, uses pork and beef marinated in a mixture of hot pepper sauce, lemon, vinegar, oregano and cloves ($3.95), skewered and grilled.
Sopes are handmade corn tortillas about the size of an English muffin that are then topped with salsa, onion, crumbled farmer`s cheese and meat, if desired, for $1.50 each.
For the thirsty, Martinez offers licuados, a healthy shake of fruit and milk for $1.50 or agua de horchata, his own homemade rice water flavored with cinnamon and sugar ($1).
Martinez hopes to continue to add more authentic dishes to his menu, such as Mexican seafood, Spanish vegetable burritos and green enchiladas, and then eventually expand to include space where customers can dine in.
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El Taco Grande, 6 N. River St., Batavia, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 708-406-8415.
