Aryn Sanderson
asanderson@mustangdaily.net
Sandwiched between San Luis Obispo staples Shin’s Sushi and Mo’s Smokehouse BBQ is a new restaurant ready to make a name for itself. Que Pasa! Mexican Café features a vibrant menu and a full bar with more than 100 varieties of tequila. In a town with two Chipotles and two Taco Bells, Que Pasa! aims to fill the void with an upscale, authentic Mexican eatery.
“My brother a long time ago, 20 years ago, started a place called Los Hermanos,” supervisor Omar Cisneros said. “We went to Pismo Beach first. We looked at it, and then he says to me, ‘One of these years, we’ll open something on the coast.’ There’s Mexican food here, but nothing like ours.”
Que Pasa! officially opened on Jan. 10 at 1009 Monterey Street, making it the fifth location of the family-owned and family-operated chain. Cisneros’ brother-in-law is head chef Richard Garcia.
Though there are traditional Mexican menu items, it’s the sophisticated southwestern-influenced eats that stick out. Garcia’s bestseller is his signature molcajete, a soupy stew served in a hot lava rock bowl (the literal “molcajete”).
“Nopales, chiles toreados, grilled onions,” Garcia said, listing off a few of the gourmet molcajete’s bold flavors. ”It’s very Mexican; it’s very authentic.”
Roasted cactus, melted queso fresco, chorizo and roasted jalapenos blend together beautifully in this mouthwatering, aromatic dish. Although diners can choose steak, shrimp, chicken or a combination, the hearty grilled steak makes the stew sing. Cisneros suggests a pairing with the Tequila Avión.
The molcajete is served with freshly made corn or flour tortillas. An extra order was used to sop up as much of the delightfully rich molcajete as possible.
Garcia recommends the sizzling chicken enchiladas, another bestseller, for less adventurous patrons. The enchiladas’ chipotle cream sauce is heaping with flavor and spice. Subtle notes of garlic compliment the enchiladas’ earthy roasted bell peppers and onions.
Que Pasa! has it right down to the details. Guacamole is made tableside, so you can dictate just how you like it. Lunch specials average around $7 and dinner deals won’t break the bank.
“This is a college town,” Cisneros said. “We’re here to survive and get a great reputation. Our food will taste for itself.”
Wine and viticulture junior Emilie McKinny can vouch for that. McKinny has been to the Atascadero location.
“I’m excited for Que Pasa! to come to San Luis because it has a fun atmosphere and a full tequila bar,” McKinny said. “The menu has a wide variety of Mexican dishes with an awesome sampler platter for someone indecisive like me.”
Que Pasa! closes around 11 p.m., so it’s not likely to become a fixture in the bar scene. But for a one-time payment of $25, customers can join the tequila club and get 25 percent off all future tequilas. During happy hour, house margaritas are mixed with homemade agave nectar and homemade sweet and sour for only $3. And with the Fremont Theatre only two doors down, Que Pasa! is the ideal hotspot for a pre-date dinner or post-date margarita.