Main Street in Huntington Beach is slowly evolving into the place to
eat your way around the world from the coming summer opening of Sushi &
Teriyaki, the long-established, all-American Sugar Shack and the recently
opened Momo's Margarita & Taco Bar for south-of-the-border specialties.
The sun warms you, the yellow umbrellas protect you and the menu at
Momo's satisfies your taste from a $2-breakfast of scrambled eggs with
cheese, chicken or ham to a rib eye steak ($14.95) at dinner.
We happened by on Taco Tuesday when any taco on the menu goes for
$1.50 and had a soft tortilla with lots of salsa and lettuce, though the
beef could have been more tender. Owner Tom Black says Taco Tuesday has
been a happy experience but come before 6 p.m. if possible -- it gets
busy!
Lunch specials have something for every taste -- the carne asada
burrito ($5.95) filled with beef, rice, tomato and Pico de Gallo is a
good blend of tastes and, if you're a vegetarian, there is a grilled
vegetarian one ($6.95) with eggplant, zucchini, red peppers and feta
cheese and a small salad. The good creamy tortilla soup (cup $2.95, bowl
$4.95) has a tomato base thickened with crushed tortillas with lots of
cheese and cilantro on top. Soup and a taco make a good combo on cooler
spring days.
Young chef Travis LaFaye does a great job with the grilled Argentine
rib eye, ($14.95), a tender steak laced with slender ribbons on the fat.
It's served with a really huge pile of thick-cut crisp French fries and
grilled yellow squash and zucchini with red peppers and onion strips.
Done with finesse, it's a steak that would rival any steak house.
Black buys fresh locally and the yellow tail mojo de ajo ($15.95) is
only available in a short season off the coast of Southern California and
Mexico. It is grilled in lemon garlic sauce with a light crust and moist,
medium firm meat that is delicious.
The pizza ($6.96-$8.95) prepared in a wood-burning oven such as Momo's
has a lingering smoky flavor an especially firm handmadethin crust. Ours,
the Mexican ($8.95), a six-slice pie has a mix of pesto (fresh basil and
garlic) and mozzarella cheese with meat crumbles and tomato slices -- not
a heavy dish but satisfying.
The only dessert, flan ($3.95) is homemade as are all dishes, says
Black, "Nothing is Frozen." The rich medium-sized caramel custard, topped
with whipped cream rosettes has more whipped dabs around the dish -- a
rather large one for the lonely flan.
Black, who has 30 years experience and comes from a family of
restaurateurs, says "It's exciting to be part of the blossoming of new
restaurants along Main Street with such well qualified owners. It's a
real challenge."
Momo's is a relaxed place where diners bask in friendliness as well as
sunshine.
* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have comments
or suggestions for her, call (562) 493-5062.
FYI
Momo's Margarita & Taco Bar
WHERE: 211 Main St., Huntington Beach
PHONE: (714) 960-5282
FAX: (714) 960-6053
HOURS: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
MISC.: Full bar, credit cards accepted
