A few years ago there was not a single representative of the fast casual mexican restaurants that are sweeping the nation. Then in the last quarter of 2015 a Moe’s Southwest Grill opened in Hernando County. Since then a Chipotle Mexican Grill and a Tijuana Flats have opened up as well as Wraps Mexican Grill. All of these provide burritos, tacos, and bowls of Tex Mex creations.
Moe’s Southwest Grill provides several meal options which have regular ingredients. You can substitute your favorites ingredients as the meal is assembled in front of you or just let the assembler add the default ingredients. Moe’s also has a salsa bar where you can choose from four salsas to add to your meal.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is the best known of all the fast casual Mexican restaurant chains. They don’t have default ingredients. You choose from burritos, tacos and bowls. Then the type of meat that you prefer. You then choose what other ingredients you would like in your burrito: rice, beans, salsas, lettuce and other toppings. They provide several flavors of tabasco sauce if you want to liven up your burrito.
At Tijuana Flats you choose your ingredients, but you do not get to watch them assemble it. They bring it out to your table when it is finished. They also have a large hot sauce bar where you can find sauces from mild to incredibly hot. Tijuana Flats also serves beer, and it has a college bar feel.
Wraps Mexican Grill is a local entrant in the space. You get to watch them assemble the ingredients and you can choose from a number of options. They provide several interesting salsas including mango salsa.
In a few years we have gone from not having a fast casual Mexican restaurant to having our pick. The trend that is sweeping the nation has come to Hernando.