a mexican shack in new buffalo, mi

My in-laws have a house in Coloma, MI which is north of St. Jo and south of South Haven (blueberry and peach country). We don't tend to stop to eat much between Chicago and the house because we're usually itching to get to there or lunch or dinner is waiting. But on Sunday we stayed at the beach as long as we could and then it was past lunchtime. The thought of a greasy burger on the sweltering day just wasn't flying but we also knew with our feisty 2 year-old covered in sand, eating at a sit-down place wasn't going to work either. So a friend suggested we try out this little Mexican place in New Buffalo, what sealed the deal for me was she described it thusly "It's just a little Mexican taco stand, sort of like the ones in southern California. There isn't even inside seating just old picnic tables out front. And the guacamole is outstanding."

I lived in Sab Diego for 5 years and had many, many burritos from the various red and/or yellow taco stands around the city. No burritos bigger than your head, just tacos, burritos, flautas for the most part.

So in New Buffalo we found Rio's, it's just down the road from the crazy Joe Jackson's produce stand, past Oink's, on the same side of the road. Their menu was straightforward: tacos, burritos, tortas, flautas and quesadillas. They also had rice and beans, nachos, guacamole and had horchata and Mexican Jarritos sodas. I ordered one pork taco on soft corn tortillas, one steak taco on the same, my husband ordered one pork taco and one ground beef. Ours both came with beans and rice, but you can order anything a la carte. For our son we ordered a quesadilla with steak on corn tortilla. I didn't order the guacamole because I thought we had too much food with the rice and beans. The pork and steak tacos were very good, the pork was moist and smoky, there was a nice topping of fresh cilantro and chopped white onion and there were 2 salsas: a thin, hot red one just like they serve in SD and a nice tangy green tomatillo. The steak taco was good too, standard, not too fatty or tough. They did the double corn tortilla to soak up the juices. The ground beef was boring, not much seasoning like you usually get in a good picadillo (lots of garlic and cumin usually).

But here's the unexpected total rock star of the Rio's Taco Stand experience: the little one's quesadilla. This was not a typical quesadilla all safe and predictable. Usually, with a quesadilla, you sprinkle cheese on the tortilla, and just like a grilled cheese, close the tortilla (or stack another on top) and cook it until the outside toasts and the inside melts.
With the Rio's quesadilla, they took a big hunk of some type of mexican grilling/melting cheese and they grilled it on the flat top grill until it got all browned and crispy and then put this inside the tortilla, folded it over and toasted the tortilla. Sam was sucking down the grapefruit soda and plowing down the fluffy rice but not touching the quesadilla, so I tore off a piece to show him how delicious it was. I took a bite and I was in a grilled cheese blissed out stupor. I tore another piece and then said to my husband, "It's like a saganaki taco. Or a haloumi taco." It had that browned cheese thing going and it was a little greasy but not in a bad way. y husband, being a lover of the flaming cheese, then tore a hunk off "That is the best grilled cheese anything I've ever eaten."

Good thing Sam didn't want his quesadilla because his parents woolfed it down quite heartily. While we were polishing off the last bits and licking our fingers another family came up and we could see a large order of guacamole and fresh chips. When we were getting up we asked about the guac "Is it any good?" we asked. "It's amazing," said the Mom scooping a big portion on her chip.

I left the menu in the car so I'll have to add the details later but it's Rio's in New Buffalo, just past Oink's on the same side of the street.

If anyone else has eaten there, I'd love to hear about it. We'll certainly go back to try some other items.

bjt

I've been there at least once before for a quick snack and enjoyed it. I've also talked to a couple of locals one day last winter who also mentioned that the was great. I might have to take a road trip pretty quick. I'm only 20 miles away.

Is that North or South of Oink's? There seem to be a few Mexican restaurants around there. I wnat to make sure I find the right one.

It's south. You really can't miss it.

Rio's kicks butt. Try their pico de gallo too next time.

They have another location that just opened this summer. It's in Bridgman, where the old O'Malleys bar used to be. On Red Arrow Hwy, about 1mi north of 94 Exit 16 on the east side of Red Arrow.

You can sit inside at this location, and they serve beer & a passable margarita. Same menu, exact same food + AC. Odd set up, you step up to the counter and place your food and drink order then they bring it out when it's ready - like a Culver's with alcohol.

thanks for the tip on the Bridgman location, I was wondering what made the Pico so special that you actually have to pay for it. So next time we'll get the guac and pico. And a couple of those dangerously great but non traditional quesadillas.

bjt

Thanks for the info....August is a low-key month for me and Mr Delk....I was thinking of whisking him away for a fun road trip lunch and now I have a destination. Thanks!
Will take pics!

Since Oink's is mentioned in passing above, here's a link to my mention of it in the ice cream list thread.