Restaurant: Poblano's Mexican Grill
Address: 1250 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of latest visit: 2/11/19
Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about a new halal restaurant that offers Mexican food. It has been a while since there was a full fledged halal Mexican spot that offered more than the basics (tacos, quesadillas, etc).For the most part, halal full fledged brick-and-mortar Mexican food hasn't fared well in Houston. The last one to have a large variety of halal Mexican options, El Beso Cantina, closed down in 2017 only a few months after being open. The same deal was with El Plato Caliente back in 2017, and AlCaliente back in 2016. Often, halal Mexican items such as tacos and quesadillas are either fused with other cuisines (examples include Twisted Turban, and Crispy or Grilled), or are served with other cuisines (examples include Family Kitchen in Sugar Land, Halal Taqueria near Bush airport, and The Chew Shack). So a place that could be the halal version of Pappasito's or Ninfa's was needed. A place that would be like Dona Mary in Dallas and offer a wide variety of halal Mexican food.
This started when I got a message from the owner that also owns Fogao (Brazilian Steakhouse that has halal options available). He told me about his Mexican place that he owns, and how he plans to add halal options to it. That place turned out to be Poblano's. I looked at the menu, and I saw that it was a full fledged one (menu described more in detail below)! Finally, a spot that has that potential of being like the popular Mexican places but with halal meat. He also told me about how he is planning on introducing halal tamales (the first halal Mexican spot in Texas to offer halal tamales) and to also have halal options at his location in downtown. So I made two trips there before writing this review, since the difference in time between the first and second visit would allow me to try out a variety of things before writing up. Also, the idea of halal tamales would excite many people who eat halal. I once posted on social media about someone having a catering business that has halal tamales as the main seller. And many people were interested in it. On both trips, I went after work.
Let The Experience Begin!
Poblano's is located just after the intersection of Eldridge and Memorial. It's located just south of where Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen is. The inside was dark and cozy. I met Rafiq (who also owns Fogao) and his partner on the first trip, and just the partner for the second trip. Since I met with the owners, I will not grade service. We got a table, and then went over what was going to be eaten that night.
Let's Eat!
The halal options available are: chicken fajita style (aka sliced), shredded chicken, beef fajita style, and ground beef. On the first day, we got an assortment of tacos, chile relleno (poblano pepper stuffed with choice of meat, which was ground beef, spinach and mushroom enchilada with their poblano sauce, an assortment consisting of sope, gordita, and tostada, beef torta, carne guisada - a beef stew, caldo de res, which is beef soup with vegetables, and a basic serving of chips and salsa). On the second trip, I got tamales, and chicken and beef fajita platter with salad, guacamole, grilled veggies, and pico de gallo. While waiting for the food to come, the owner talked about how successful Fogao is in terms of the amount of customers requesting the halal meats, as well as hoping that the same would be repeated at Poblano's. On the second trip, the partner was talking about how it became popular as soon as news broke out about the place having halal meat, which is a good sign that this may be the one place that can deliver.
Menu: https://poblanosmexicangrill.net/menu
Once you click on the link, you have to click on the options on the page. Then, it will drop down and you can see scanned pictures of the menu items.
The menu reminds me a lot of El Beso. It has a huge variety of Mexican options. They have a large selection of enchilada options, a whole lot more of the popular Mexican options including gorditas and sopes, and tamales. They are even open for breakfast, and the breakfast items are served all day. They have breakfast tacos and breakfast burritos as well!
While this place has pork items and items such as barbacoa that are not halal (for now), they are cooked separately from the halal meats. All the tortillas and beans are vegetarian as well. There are two other things to avoid. One is their queso flameado. It's melted cheese and ground beef that is flambeed (alcohol is added to the dish and then lit up with a match. The other is the enchilada sauce that has white wine. I am assuming that you can get the shrimp one with a different sauce.
Address: 1250 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of latest visit: 2/11/19
Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about a new halal restaurant that offers Mexican food. It has been a while since there was a full fledged halal Mexican spot that offered more than the basics (tacos, quesadillas, etc).For the most part, halal full fledged brick-and-mortar Mexican food hasn't fared well in Houston. The last one to have a large variety of halal Mexican options, El Beso Cantina, closed down in 2017 only a few months after being open. The same deal was with El Plato Caliente back in 2017, and AlCaliente back in 2016. Often, halal Mexican items such as tacos and quesadillas are either fused with other cuisines (examples include Twisted Turban, and Crispy or Grilled), or are served with other cuisines (examples include Family Kitchen in Sugar Land, Halal Taqueria near Bush airport, and The Chew Shack). So a place that could be the halal version of Pappasito's or Ninfa's was needed. A place that would be like Dona Mary in Dallas and offer a wide variety of halal Mexican food.
This started when I got a message from the owner that also owns Fogao (Brazilian Steakhouse that has halal options available). He told me about his Mexican place that he owns, and how he plans to add halal options to it. That place turned out to be Poblano's. I looked at the menu, and I saw that it was a full fledged one (menu described more in detail below)! Finally, a spot that has that potential of being like the popular Mexican places but with halal meat. He also told me about how he is planning on introducing halal tamales (the first halal Mexican spot in Texas to offer halal tamales) and to also have halal options at his location in downtown. So I made two trips there before writing this review, since the difference in time between the first and second visit would allow me to try out a variety of things before writing up. Also, the idea of halal tamales would excite many people who eat halal. I once posted on social media about someone having a catering business that has halal tamales as the main seller. And many people were interested in it. On both trips, I went after work.
Let The Experience Begin!
Poblano's is located just after the intersection of Eldridge and Memorial. It's located just south of where Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen is. The inside was dark and cozy. I met Rafiq (who also owns Fogao) and his partner on the first trip, and just the partner for the second trip. Since I met with the owners, I will not grade service. We got a table, and then went over what was going to be eaten that night.
Let's Eat!
The halal options available are: chicken fajita style (aka sliced), shredded chicken, beef fajita style, and ground beef. On the first day, we got an assortment of tacos, chile relleno (poblano pepper stuffed with choice of meat, which was ground beef, spinach and mushroom enchilada with their poblano sauce, an assortment consisting of sope, gordita, and tostada, beef torta, carne guisada - a beef stew, caldo de res, which is beef soup with vegetables, and a basic serving of chips and salsa). On the second trip, I got tamales, and chicken and beef fajita platter with salad, guacamole, grilled veggies, and pico de gallo. While waiting for the food to come, the owner talked about how successful Fogao is in terms of the amount of customers requesting the halal meats, as well as hoping that the same would be repeated at Poblano's. On the second trip, the partner was talking about how it became popular as soon as news broke out about the place having halal meat, which is a good sign that this may be the one place that can deliver.
Menu: https://poblanosmexicangrill.net/menu
Once you click on the link, you have to click on the options on the page. Then, it will drop down and you can see scanned pictures of the menu items.
The menu reminds me a lot of El Beso. It has a huge variety of Mexican options. They have a large selection of enchilada options, a whole lot more of the popular Mexican options including gorditas and sopes, and tamales. They are even open for breakfast, and the breakfast items are served all day. They have breakfast tacos and breakfast burritos as well!
While this place has pork items and items such as barbacoa that are not halal (for now), they are cooked separately from the halal meats. All the tortillas and beans are vegetarian as well. There are two other things to avoid. One is their queso flameado. It's melted cheese and ground beef that is flambeed (alcohol is added to the dish and then lit up with a match. The other is the enchilada sauce that has white wine. I am assuming that you can get the shrimp one with a different sauce.
 |
| Chips and Salsa |
 |
| Assortment of tacos with their habanero salsa ($1 extra) |
 |
| Carne Guisada |
 |
| Vegetarian Enchilada |
 |
| Assortment of gordita, tostada, and sope |
 |
| Beef torta |
 |
| Caldo de Res |
 |
| Chile Relleno |
 |
| Tamales |
 |
| Chicken and Beef Fajita with grilled vegetables, guacamole, salad, and pico de gallo |
The Verdict:
The place was awesome. My favorite items from the first trip were the soup, the chile relleno, and the enchilada. The food from the second day (tamales and the fajita platter), was great as well. I, however, will ask them to make the beef fajita medium rare. The chicken one was excellent though. Two thumbs up.
The place was awesome. My favorite items from the first trip were the soup, the chile relleno, and the enchilada. The food from the second day (tamales and the fajita platter), was great as well. I, however, will ask them to make the beef fajita medium rare. The chicken one was excellent though. Two thumbs up.
Conclusion:
I have high hopes that Poblano's would become Houston's most successful halal Mexican restaurant, and the first to successfully survive for over a year. The food is something that I believe should be tried if you are in the Energy Corridor. On the 19th, they will start having halal options (tamales there aren't halal) in their downtown location. I can't wait to go back on my next trip
Grading:
Food: 8/10
Total: 8/10 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$
Restaurant Information:
Poblano's Mexican Grill
Address: 1250 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX
Phone: (281) 531-6637
Website: https://poblanosmexicangrill.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoblanosMexGrill/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 7 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 7 AM - 12 AM; Sun: 7 AM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes
Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!
Cheers!
Zain Mohammed
Restaurant Information:
Poblano's Mexican Grill
Address: 1250 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX
Phone: (281) 531-6637
Website: https://poblanosmexicangrill.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoblanosMexGrill/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 7 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 7 AM - 12 AM; Sun: 7 AM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes
Cheers!
Zain Mohammed
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