Tortillas' round shape makes them an ideal medium to wrap around savory fillings or record 45-rpm singles of Weird Al Yankovic's "Eat It." Munch on corny albums with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Mexican fare and drinks at Memo's Mexican Cuisine in Concord.
The father-daughter team behind Memo's Mexican Cuisine wields an array of family recipes to transform fresh farmers-market ingredients into authentic Zacatecan fare. Fresh cactus marinated in a bath of vinegar and olive oil plays with onions and tomatoes carved into duck shapes in the nopal cactus salad ($7.95, plus $4 for grilled prawns). Diners savor every last droplet of pumpkin-seed mole sauce on the chicken pipian, Memo's house specialty made from a secret recipe written on the back of the Declaration of Independence ($16.95). Combination plates encourage guests to mix and match classic Mexican dishes such as tacos, pork or veggie tamales, or enchiladas stuffed with chicken, beef, or Aztec prophecies ($10.95 for one item, $12.95 for two, $14.95 for three).
White tablecloths cover tables surrounded by brilliant saffron and blue walls decorated with Mexican art, creating a warm and intimate dining experience. High ceilings fill the space with the lively sounds of busy service and the distant echoes of pre-meal stomach growls.
Memo's Mexican Cuisine
For generations, Ivalina and Adelio’s family have jotted down guidelines for crafting dishes in the tradition of Zacatecas, a north-central region of Mexico. Today, the father-daughter duo reap the rewards of their ancestors’ ingenuity and excellent penmanship at Memo's Mexican Cuisine, an eatery spotlighted by Check, Please! for its exceptional eats. Its chefs intertwine fresh ingredients, many hailing from local farmers' markets, and house-made sauces into dishes made fresh every day. Nicknamed The Royal Dish, chicken pipian is a signature dish and a traditional wedding-day entree, which showcases a chicken breast coated with an original sauce containing pumpkin seed, nine chilies, and 12 different herbs. At the bar, a wide selection of quality tequilas tempt shot glasses or find their way into margaritas. Catering services offer the same libations and fare without the restaurant's saffron and blue walls, which are partially obscured behind Mexican artwork.