Restaurant Review: Azteca Real

I recently discovered that one of my favorite local restaurants, Azteca Real in Davie, Florida, is actually part of a larger chain called Azteca Mexican Restaurants. Although Oregon, Washington, and Florida are currently the only states that the chain is operating in, I decided to do a review on them anyhow. Florida and the Oregon/Washington area both see a lot of tourists each year, and I wanted to personally recommend this restaurant to anyone who might be traveling through these areas.

The restaurant is one of those places that is sitting the fence between traditional Mexican food and the more americanized tex-mex blend of food that many of us have come to love. A quick perusal of the menu reveals items that are for those who are after the usual: nachos, mexican pizza, enchiladas and tacos. But then the menu begins to get more interesting: Tacos al Pastor, Carnitas, Chicken en Mole. For those who are looking for something more authentic without veering too far from the familiar tastes, this is the place to go.

While this restaurant isn't going to be a "cheap" one, I wouldn't complain for one second about the cost. The dinners range anywhere from around $12 to $20 a plate depending on what you get, which is more than fair considering how well they are prepared and the large amount of food you receive. I ordered the Macho Burrito a couple of weeks ago, and that was enough food for my meal, lunch the next day, and dinner the next day.

The food reheats perfectly, so if you are traveling and staying at a hotel, this meal is well worth it if your room has a fridge & microwave in it. I don't know about you, but when I stay in hotels, I always get the late-night munchies and end up reheating my leftovers at around midnight.

The meals start off with complimentary chips & salsa. The salsa varies from night to night depending on how it has been prepared and can be anywhere from chunky to a bit watery, and has a largely tomato taste to it. It isn't very spicy, so those that don't care for heat in their foods will be spared. For those looking to kick up the flavor, the restaurant provides the usual bottles of hot sauce to add to whatever you'd like.


 During our last visit I ordered the Pollo Mexicano, which is my favorite dish there. Many of the menu items can be served with chipotle sauce and peppers if you ask, and this is one of them. The smoky flavor of the peppers provide the perfect kick to the meal and I frequently find myself craving their rice and beans, which I love to mix into the spicy sauce. My husband orders something different nearly everytime we go there, and hasn't been able to find a favorite yet.

For those who are looker for lighter fare, or don't eat meat, they have a whole section of vegetarian options. For kids they have American food, like their surprisingly delicious chicken tenders, or Mexican food, like a quesadilla or burrito. The particular location we go to even has a small pork chop (complete with rice & beans) on their children's menu.

All in all, I have no complaints about this particular restaurant. Parking is great, the food is excellent, service is fast, wait staff is friendly. The most difficult part about going here is deciding what to get off of their huge menu. And that's a task we enjoy.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post and, as always, my opinions are purely my own.