Plaza Azteca:

Authentic Mexican Food

By Matthew Buckwalter

Looking for something spicy or just some really good food? Look no further than Plaza Azteca. Everything from enchiladas to burritos, Plaza Azteca has it all. I have been to this restaurant many times, since it was introduced to me, and have always enjoyed it. Plaza Azteca is one of the greatest Mexican restaurants on the Peninsula and is located at 12099 Jefferson Avenue in Newport News.

As soon as I  entered the parking lot I noticed the colorful building of Plaza Azteca. Right now they are doing some remodeling, but are still open to the public, so don't be discourage by the construction work. They are fixing up the outside eating area and the entry. Upon entering I felt like I had been transported somewhere else, possibly Mexico. There are paintings on the walls depicting various scenes of Mexico, and everything is done in very warm colors.

Plaza Azteca is broken into two sections. To the right of the entrance is the bar and smoking section and to the left is the non-smoking section. Even though I have quit smoking, I still enjoy sitting in the smoking section. There are usually less children and disturbances in that section. After being seated, the waiter/waitress brings out some tortilla chips with salsa and a white sauce. The white sauce is divine, especially if you mix in some salsa. It's a creamy sauce with a slight spiciness to it. Soon afterwards, they come back to take your drink orders. There is a bar, and they have a pretty big selection of beers and mixed drinks. I usually order a mug of Dos Equis, which is thirty-four ounces of thirst-quenching Mexican beer. It only took a few minutes to get my drink and place my order for my meal. Most of the time, the meal will be brought to the table within ten to twenty minutes. Be careful, the plates are usually hot.

Plaza azteca has many dishes to choose from. They have a big selection of combination dinners. The combination dinners are various combinations, go figure,  of enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and usually come with a side of rice and/or refried beans. With the combination dinners you can either order them with beef or chicken. There are other meals besides those that are combined. Plaza also offers great fajita meals with chicken, beef or shrimp.

My last meal at Plaza Azteca was the Burrito San Jose, a ten-inch burrito filled with rice, beans, onions, tomatoes and chicken, covered in a creamy cheese sauce. If you have any room left in your stomach, you could try one of Plaza Azteca's desserts. By far, their fried ice cream is the best. It consists of fried vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.

The meals are filling and are moderately priced, between six and twelve dollars. The service is wonderful and the wait minimal. There are those nights where there's a longer wait to be seated and served, but that happens at every restaurant once in a while. The staff is very friendly and informative.

If you are going for a fast meal or a nice relaxing time, Plaza Azteca is the place for you. They serve authentic Mexican food fast, not Mexican fast food. Go on down to Plaza Azteca and have a good time.

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