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Culture
Take Your Taste Buds on a World Tour by Visiting These McAllen Restaurants
The ambiance of Kumori reflects a new, young and hip attitude in McAllen and is a favorite among locals for sushi, such as the Charrito roll, pictured.
Just eight miles north of the border‚ you can’t swing a sombrero in McAllen without hitting some of the most authentic Mexican restaurants Texas has to offer. But venturing outside that culinary comfort zone is easier than you think. You won’t need a passport to do some gourmet globetrotting within the tip of Texas.
The Southwest and South Asia have plenty in common at Taste of India. Owner Satnam Singh keeps things spicy with specialties including chicken tikka masala‚ lamb vindaloo and a tandoori mixed grill with king prawns. Can’t handle the heat? Lap up a mint or mango lassi‚ a yogurt-based drink that’ll keep things cool.
Continue along the continent to Japan‚ the main influence on the menu at Kumori. All three locations of this restaurant keep the focus on fresh fish and sushi including tuna‚ salmon‚ flounder and even octopus‚ rounded out with soups‚ salads and desserts. Banana tempura‚ anyone?
We can’t say hasta la vista to Asia without a refreshing cucumber martini at Onyx‚ a rare gem in the Rio Grande with influences that straddle the line between east and west. Voted one of the hippest restaurants in the Valley by Texas Monthly‚ its distinctive dishes include a Cuban Cobb salad and king crab-stuffed flounder.
You’ll be hungry from the long haul to Argentina‚ land of inspiration for La Pampa owner Antonio Lopez.
“Argentinean steaks are our specialty‚” Lopez says of the never-frozen Black Angus beef his customers clamor for. “A lot of restaurants use spices and sauces‚ but the secret to our steaks is the true charcoal taste.”
From there‚ make the toothsome trek to Mexico via Koko’s Café Uptown‚ where the chile con queso is the best way to begin‚ and the four-person botana platter – full of flautas‚ bean and cheese tostadas and more – is the fastest way to feed the family.
Before you cross the border‚ make a culinary stop in Monterrey‚ Mexico‚ where Pier 67 Bar and Grill owner Fernando Muzquiz was born. Muzquiz says his seafood-centric menu of tapas and entrees was built for sharing.
“The tuna manchego is definitely our best seller‚” he says of the sublime steak served with fried sheep’s milk cheese. “The salmon carpaccio is also a favorite.”
Back home on Texas turf‚ chef Justin Rowland has fans of J Row’s in northwest McAllen hankering for panko.
“We get a lot of people in here for our gulf shrimp because we use panko‚ or Japanese breadcrumbs‚ to fry them‚” Rowland says. “It’s light and fluffy and doesn’t hold onto the oils.”
Rowland also counts among his top sellers his nilgai antelope burger‚ which is based on a recipe from Texas Style‚ a wild game cooking show from years past hosted by his father‚ Bud‚ that plays continuously in the restaurant.
Story by Danny Bonvissuto
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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