Chattanooga Pulse

Ah, Cancun…warm, white sugar-sand beaches and crystal-clear cerulean water.    Coral reefs, Mayan history and deep-sea fishing combine to make Cancun Mexico’s most visited tourist destination—not to mention a haven of relaxation and fun.  Oh, wait—you thought this was going to be a travel article?  No, no…27 years ago, a restaurateur decided to bring a little bit of Cancun’s hospitality to Chattanooga, opening an eatery on Broad Street downtown.

As you pass through the arched doorways of Cancun Mexican Restaurant, it certainly feels as if you’ve walked into an authentic cantina.  Bright, vibrant colors surround you, verdant plants cling to wires strung above your head or spill from plastic Corona buckets, and the booths serve to stir up feelings of comfort and peacefulness, some with intricately carved backs, others that appear to have maps of Mexico branded into them.  Throughout the restaurant, you can look up and see clay tile overhangs, giving the impression of being in the open air.

Everywhere you look, there are shades of Cancun. But it’s not just the décor.  You’ll also find that famous Cancun hospitality.  Raul Rojas, manager of the restaurant, has worked there for more than 20 years.  Raul has stepped in wherever needed in those 20 years—just the other day, he was in the kitchen chopping jalapeno and habanero peppers.  His wife, Nina, was running the cash register and waiting tables.

Then, the food: Everything from authentic Mexican fare to specialties like “Camarones al Diablo”, marinated grilled shrimp covered with a special spicy sauce and dished up with rice, pico de gallo and lettuce.  Many of the dishes at Cancun Mexican Restaurant are family recipes handed down through generations, but there are concoctions created right there on Broad Street as well.  Take their “Nachos Cancun”, crispy tortilla chips loaded with huge portions of beans, beef and chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream.   Sometimes the kitchen just gets creative and scores a winner.” Fajita Quesadilla” is a case in point.  Who’d have thought to combine fajitas and quesadillas?  But now that it’s out there, I’ll bet you’re thinking, “H’mm, why didn’t I ever think of that?”  Tamales, chimichangas, enchiladas—order them as part of a dinner or a la carte.

But, hey, if you’re not sure what you’d like, check out their Sunday buffet.  Starting at noon on Sundays and running until 4 p.m., you can try a little bit of everything for only $7.99.  Fajitas, quesadillas, chimichangas, three different choices of enchilada, tamales, rice, beans, even BBQ ribs can be found on the Sunday buffet, along with guacamole, salsa, cheese dip and several desserts.  Children 12 and under eat for only $3.99.  Just think: You could feed a family of four a good, hearty meal for less than $30.  But if you’d rather leave the kiddos at home, Monday through Thursday from 3 – 7 p.m., it’s happy hour!  Two-for-one margaritas (no sharing, though).  You order one, you get two and they’re both for you—yum!  Their margaritas can be ordered from a 12-oz. size all the way up to a Monster Margarita, a whopping 36-oz., served in what looks like a fishbowl.

Take the atmosphere, add a dash of Cancun hospitality, a liberal helping of absolutely delicious food, and great savings from Cancun Mexican Restaurant to you, and you’ve got a recipe for success.  Twenty-seven years in one location proves it!

Cancun Mexican Restaurant, 1809 Broad Street, downtown Chattanooga.  Hours: Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., Saturday noon – 10:30 p.m., and Sunday noon – 9 p.m. (423) 266-1461.