Will Fly for Salsa: 5 Airport Shops Serving Mexican Cuisine

Escalating level of competition among restaurants suggests that quite a few of us have far more possibilities of wherever and what to take in when we dine out. That wide variety extends to eating places at normal aviation airports. In which we once anticipated to come across the standard “$100 hamburger” ready in the vicinity of the principal ramp, we now appreciate a broadening variety of food items with a assortment of countrywide and cultural origins.

This time, we are concentrating on Mexican meals, a complicated category that signifies a broad vary of regional cuisines inside the place. An appreciation for reliable recipes, refreshing ingredients, and individual, homestyle preparation cuts throughout our collective backgrounds as pilots.

Surveying the fly-in menus in your location and marking the ideal prospective customers on your sectional chart (electronic or paper) can assistance you strategy memorable outings. I uncover that my family’s enthusiasm for flying grows exponentially when the destination contains a food. 

Right here are five airport restaurants serving up Mexican cuisine that incorporates familiar favorites and a few specific twists.

Bob Maxwell Memorial Airfield (KOKB), Oceanside, California

Mariscos is Spanish for seafood, the specialty of this family members-owned cafe serving Mexican dishes influenced by common and up to date recipes. The assortment of foods is tempting and diversified, from burritos and fish tacos to shrimp ceviche. Fish dinners of tilapia, snapper, catfish and many others are fried, grilled, and steamed. Octopus, scallops make the record as very well. Oceanside renamed the airport in 2013 for the late Bob Maxwell, a former Tuskegee airman and longtime aviation advocate who fought strategies to close the subject in 2006. 

Ponca City Regional Airport (KPNC), Ponca Town, Oklahoma

Regarded for “the most popular jalapeno on the runway,” this spouse and children procedure opened in 1983 with 8 tables and a modest menu. Because then, it has expanded far more than 5 times and now has 35 employees. The menu includes Mexican, Cuban, and American dishes. Amid the favorites are nachos supreme, tampico fiesta, and chili relleno, which is a stuffed poblano pepper dipped in batter, fried, and served with queso or ranchero sauce. 

College of Illinois-Willard Airport (KCMI), Champaign-Urbana, Illinois

Although Maize is not very a fly-in cafe, you can get there by taxi, rideshare, or an airport shuttle to its location on the University of Illinois campus. There is also a 2nd location downtown. Maize opened in 2011 with a concentration on recreating common meals from Mexico Metropolis, Michoacan, and Guerrero, Mexico. Maize states its food is designed in dwelling, including corn tortillas that are handcrafted for each individual get. The menu involves gluten-totally free versions of customary Mexican fare “so everyone can enjoy the meals we liked increasing up.” 

Arcadia Municipal Airport (X06), Arcadia, Florida

Taco Tuesday has turn into a massive offer at this airport many thanks to the mother-son staff of Yolanda and Jose Hernandez. They have been dispensing tacos from their orange foodstuff truck and reportedly attracting pilots from all over Florida and over and above. Last June, news stores had been abuzz soon after two gentlemen took off from Miami on their way to Arcadia to select up tacos but built an off-airport landing on the way subsequent an motor failure. The good news is, they weren’t severely injured, but coverage of the incident boosted the truck’s profile.

El Paso Worldwide Airport (KELP), El Paso, Texas

The Arrambide relatives has run restaurants in El Paso for much more than 65 a long time, and one particular of its a few Carlos & Mickey’s spots is in the city’s airport, a well-liked satisfy-up location for travelers and nearby people. A energetic bar scene and menu goods which includes flautas, tacos al carbon, albondigas, and quesadillas to seafood which include shrimp Jalisco and Alaskan cod. There are also burgers, steaks and many meal mixtures.