Mauricio’s: Homestyle Mexican Food For Today and Tomorrow

After a few recent recommendations, I decided to check out Mauricio’s, which is located in the strip mall next to the popular cake and candy supply store, .  Business was brisk on the weekday I chose to visit for lunch—a good sign. 

A couple girlfriends joined me for lunch and the first decided on the chile verde ($9.95). The second demonstrated a strong sense of irony and chose the Asian chicken salad ($8.95). She was aware that it was not the most helpful selection when reviewing a Mexican restaurant, but that is what she was craving that day. 

As usual, I had a difficult time deciding and ended up with a combo: the enchilada and chile relleno ($7.95), to be exact. The waitress, who was clearly very busy, still managed to be friendly and helpful in answering our questions without making us feel rushed, despite all my uncertainty.

The crispy homemade tortilla chips arrived with two salsas. The first was a slightly sweet, roasted tomato salsa, blended smooth. The second was a chunkier one, along the lines of a salsa fresca. Both were just the slightest bit spicy and absolutely delicious. 

My friend who ordered the Asian chicken salad thought the grilled chicken was quite tasty, but bordered on chewy, perhaps from the grilling.  The greens were fresh and dressed with a typical Asian vinaigrette, but she was disappointed that there was nothing else in the salad aside from a few sliced bell peppers and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

My cheese enchilada and chile relleno were exactly the warm and gooey comfort food I was craving on this day. The enchilada held plenty of melted cheese and the chile relleno was a breaded mild green chile stuffed with queso blanco. 

Both were swimming in plenty of tangy sauce with slices of sautéed sweet onion, which lent just the slightest bit of crunch. Unfortunately, the rice and beans were unexceptional. The beans tasted a bit too strongly of chicken broth.

All of us unanimously voted the chile verde as the best dish of the three. Chunks of luscious, incredibly tender, roasted pork floating in a tomatillo sauce were a savory pleasure. The saltiness of the pork was complemented by a little spiciness in the green sauce. A couple corn tortillas on the side were perfect for sopping up the piquant sauce. 

As we left, Mauricio cheerfully shouted out his trademark sendoff, “See you tomorrow!”  I was not ready to return as soon as the next day, but I would certainly consider returning another time for more of his magical green chile verde.

Mauricio’s

Address:  2256 Route 66, Glendora 91740
Business Hours:  Monday – Thursday, 8a.m. – 9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Phone Number:  (626) 963-7515
Web site: http://mauriciosglendora.com/
Price Range: $4.95 - $13. 95
Type of Cuisine:  Mexican
Standout Dish: Chile Verde