Amaya’s Fresh Mexican Grill offers a relaxed dining experience during the evening with a quicker-paced service during that lunchtime crunch. And, weather permitting, you can opt for dining on the patio.
Managing partner Tino Amaya, an insurance agent from Monroe, MI, was a part owner of Salsarita’s, Amaya’s predecessor. He bought the restaurant outright, renamed it Amaya’s, and included his family recipes on the menu. Amaya and staff take pride in not serving anything they wouldn’t serve to family, using only fresh, quality ingredients. The menu ranges from tacos and salads to burritos and Mexican pizzas, as well as specially prepared vegetarian dishes. The generous-sized margaritas are made in flavors such as strawberry, original, peach, mango and pineapple.
On the salsa side, Amaya’s offers medium or hot cantina-style salsas, the hot variety having a pronounced flavor of cumin, as well as a cucumber or a mango ghost pepper salsa. The ghost pepper is blisteringly hot, but when used sparingly and in the right balance—as it is here—it is actually milder than the hot cantina salsa and definitely worth a try. Opt for the salsa fresca or the salsa verde, both are also excellent and made fresh daily. None of these salsas are out of a jar and you can really taste the freshness.
Happy hour combo
For those looking for a bargain, Amaya’s has a happy hour from 4-7pm Monday through Friday featuring a taco, chips and salsa along with either a margarita or a beer for only $5. Their chips are thin and crisp and, just like all the food here, made in-house daily,.
Specials range from a rice bowl to a Mexican pizza and taco salad for $5 without a beverage or $6.50 with one. If you’re in the mood for something more substantial, try the ground beef or chicken burrito for $5.75 (small) or $7.10 (large). The burritos can be sauced with queso, enchilada, tomatillo or medium salsa. The large burrito lives up to the description—it is imposingly large. They are made to order while you watch, adding your choice of beans, rice, queso, shredded cheese, tomato, olives, corn, black beans and refritos, to name a few options.
Steak, shrimp and pork are available options, with tender chunks of grilled skirt steak a delicious addition to any entree. The same goes for the nachos, which you can build from the same large variety of toppings. The guacamole is chunky and adds to any entree.
Tacos, pizza, tamales
Tacos come in soft or hard varieties. I especially liked the soft corn with shredded beef, made from tender and juicy smoked brisket. Tacos are $2.69 for one or $7.99 for three. The Mexican pizza is made on a thin crisp tortilla and topped any with a choice of chicken or ground beef ($6.39) or steak or shrimp ($7.46). Tamales are three for $7.99. The menu will change, depending on what fresh ingredients are available.
Amaya’s is family-friendly and offers meal specials for kids—and they eat free on Sunday with each adult purchase. The restaurant also offers a 10% discount to service members.
With delicious food and affordable pricing, this new local addition makes for the perfect spot to unwind after work for a drink and a quick bite to eat.
Amaya’s Fresh Mexican Grill,
1470 Ford St., Maumee, 419-482-5500 or
amayasmexicangrill.com
