COYOTE BLUFF - THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
The Coyote Bluff is the perfect Joint. If you want to experience a myriad of the hallmarks of a Joint in one location, visit the Bluff. It has: hard to find parking spots, wooden floors, bathtub full of beer bottles, dirt parking lot, fast moving waitresses, “intimate” seating, chalkboard menus and a patina of years of patronage. When a new restaurant is being built and they want to imitate the “Roadhouse” vibe, this is what they try to imitate. Poorly.
The Coyote Bluff is the perfect Joint. If you want to experience a myriad of the hallmarks of a Joint in one location, visit the Bluff. It has: hard to find parking spots, wooden floors, bathtub full of beer bottles, dirt parking lot, fast moving waitresses, “intimate” seating, chalkboard menus and a patina of years of patronage. When a new restaurant is being built and they want to imitate the “Roadhouse” vibe, this is what they try to imitate. Poorly.
As cool as the Joint is, the food is better. Everything on the menu is high-caliber, but the burgers are the reason of the Bluff’s mythological status. The green chili cheese, the hickory, and the bacon cheese are among the elite Amarillo has to offer, but the Burger From Hell is Coyote Bluff’s unique contribution to Amarillo’s culinary landscape. The name conjures up images ranging from a cow with demon horns to the Devil in a Burger King Crown. I picture a short order cook working over a bubbling stew that looks like the Dagobah swamp. The way that name lurks on the chalkboard menu, hiding between the Chili Cheese Burger and the Hickory Burger belies its potency.
In reality, the BFH is a tolerable journey into spice. I shied away from it for years due to the fear of a painful dining experience followed by an unpleasant evening. But it is like a cozy blanket of spice. Just what you need to get through a cold Amarillo day. The patty has their own Hell Sauce mixed into it along with Tabasco. It is topped with delicious sautéed, fresh jalapeños and onions along with ooey-gooey cheese.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
My favorite time to hit the Bluff is Friday for lunch (this doesn’t just go for Coyote Bluff. Friday lunch is the best time to visit almost any Joint). The energy of everyone looking forward to the weekend gives a euphoric aura. There are a few folks getting in their first beer of the weekend along with those that wish they could be doing the same. The conversations change from work to weekend plans and philosophical discussions.
Today's order was the BFH and cheese fries with green chiles. The fries were delivered first. These are Spot On. It is a huge aluminum platter of goodness. The fries are fresh cut and covered in cheese and green chiles and are excellent.
Then the Burger From Hell makes its entrance. DUDE! LISTEN! Stop what you are doing and run to the Coyote Bluff RIGHT NOW! This burger exists on an astral plane that humankind cannot understand. When the burger arrives and you cut it in half, steam rises from within as if an angel is ascending to Heaven. The beef mixed with Hell Sauce and Tabasco has a vinegary, spicy, savory aspect that I have never experienced in a burger. The jalapenos and onions are perfect as is the bubbly cheese. The onion bun is the ideal happiness distribution vessel. The entire thing transports you to an enjoyment level seldom visited. No discussion of the Best Burger In Amarillo can be had without the Burger From Hell being included near the top.
The Bluff is where Amarillo’s Big Little City personality shines through. Everyone runs into someone they know or wish they didn’t know. Alliances are formed and strategies plotted. This Joint is the epitome of what makes Amarillo a great town and a great food town; folks enjoying their gem of a Joint over a spectacular burger and a beer.
Go to the Bluff, make a deal with the Devil, say your prayers and enjoy the ride.
2417 S Grand
Amarillo, TX 79103
806-373-4640
Recommended Dishes
Burger From Hell
Any Other Burger
Chile Cheese Fries
LA CAMPANA - THE TORTILLA WHISPERER
Sometime around 2007, my wife and I discovered La Campana. When we would drive past their location near I-27 and 26th, on any given morning, there would be a full parking lot. On what seems like a dozen occasions, we would say “We need to go by there for breakfast.” But the situation never presented itself. Work or parental duties or honey-dos would always get in the way. The final time we said the same “We need to try that place” we made a pact; the next morning we were going. We did, and we have never looked back.
Sometime around 2007, my wife and I discovered La Campana. When we would drive past their location near I-27 and 26th, on any given morning, there would be a full parking lot. On what seems like a dozen occasions, we would say “We need to go by there for breakfast.” But the situation never presented itself. Work or parental duties or honey-dos would always get in the way. The final time we said the same “We need to try that place” we made a pact; the next morning we were going. We did, and we have never looked back.
On our first visit, the Joint was filled with police officers and tradesmen. #1 hint of a good Joint: Look for the cop cars and pickups/vans with ladders on them. They will never steer you wrong. First order of business, chips and hot sauce. THE Hot Sauce. It deserves to be capitalized. This is not like any hot sauce you have had anywhere else in town (I know it is technically salsa, I don’t care. I was born in Amarillo. It is hot sauce). I have no idea of the ingredients, but I know it is not your everyday, out of a jar, tomato and jalapeno afterthought that haunt so many restaurant tables. This is a green, potent, delightful concoction that I can only surmise includes green onions and tears of an Aztec God.
WARNING! Never try THE Hot Sauce until you have a drink. I assume due to it being made fresh, its spiciness fluctuates at each visit from “Pleasantly Tingly” to “Oh My God, Make It Stop.” Do not let my description dissuade you. Full disclaimer; I like spice, but have my limits. I would consider myself to like it hotter than the average person. Maybe not the average Texan, but the average person. I have friends that THE Hot Sauce even in its hottest form, is merely a blink to them. I am not this person. Once you have your drink, dig in. And don’t stop. If you have hit the motherlode of spice, it only affects you when you quit application. Then you struggle to make it end. The only remedy is to just keep loading up a vessel of a fresh made chip with the brew until you have to give up.
On our first visit, I remember my first flour tortilla. It was so large, it was folded into quarters to be able to fit into the tortilla server that it was delivered to our table in. They are so tasty, no matter my order, there will be a flour tortilla involved. As I was reveling in how good the tortilla was, the Tortilla Whisperer appeared from the kitchen. A small lady with flour all over her apron is the secret to these circles of delight. They are like no other tortilla I have ever had. Treat yourself to one. Or 6.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
Over the years and countless visits, I have tried almost everything on the menu. While their lunch and dinner offer some of the best Mexican Food in town, the breakfast is the standout. My go-to at La Campana is the Pork in Green Carne Guisada with scrambled eggs. Included are home fried potatoes and top-notch refried beans along with 2 of the Tortilla Whisperer's best work. *Note Tell-Tale Sheriff's Vehicle in the Parking Lot
But before the food was ordered, the chips and THE Hot Sauce arrived; I patiently waited for water to arrive so I could prepare for the analysis of today's spiciness. Yahtzee! About 5 chips in, you realize it is creeping up on you. Your nose starts to water, and you start gauging if you can keep going or will have to give up and power through the sensation until food arrives. You apply water which only helps until you swallow the water. You slowly keep dosing out a chip with hot sauce on it until you realize that you will run out of hot sauce before the food arrives and then panic sets in. I had to flag down the waiter so I could resupply my ammo. Do not get me wrong, the sauce is hot, but it is spectacularly delicious. It has a savory, umami, buttery flavor that has to be experienced to be believed.
When breakfast arrived, the pork was tasted and appreciated. I do not know if better pork in green exists. This is pretty damned near perfection. I began assembling a tortilla filled with eggs, pork, sauce, beans and potatoes. As I work my way around Amarillo, I will be sampling breakfast burritos to find the best ones in town. This is the current benchmark. It is warm, fresh, slightly spicy, and comforting. Everything is harmonious. The tortilla is a little on the soft side, so it has some difficulty holding together under the strain. You will have green sauce on your hands; plan accordingly. There is enough on the plate to create 2 burritos and have some beans leftover.
I have a soft, flour spot in my heart for La Campana. It has never disappointed me. It will not disappoint you either. Go experience THE Hot Sauce and please an Aztec God at your earliest opportunity.
2220 Canyon Dr
Amarillo, TX 79109
806-373-4486
Recommended Dishes
Pork in Green Carne Guisada
SUSHI HOUSE - UNAGI IS A TOTAL STATE OF AWARENESS
I have always been a fan of teppanyaki dishes. I remember going to the original Kabuki on Western and being fascinated with the show that the cooks put on. The banging of the utensils, the flaming shrimp, the table of strangers and the chef’s knife skills enthralled me. I always loved the fried rice off the flat-top and the ginger sauce that I could cover everything in.
I have always been a fan of teppanyaki dishes. I remember going to the original Kabuki on Western and being fascinated with the show that the cooks put on. The banging of the utensils, the flaming shrimp, the table of strangers and the chef’s knife skills enthralled me. I always loved the fried rice off the flat-top and the ginger sauce that I could cover everything in.
One day in 1999, my coworker asked if I wanted sushi from Kabuki. Back in 1999, sushi was an unknown to me. I had never even seen sushi and it sounded exotic. I have always been a somewhat adventurous eater and have always liked seafood, so I asked her to pick out something for a beginner. I am not sure what I was expecting, but I’m sure I was picturing a slab of raw fish. When this green burrito showed up, I was perplexed. I had grown up using chopsticks when my dad would take me to eat Chinese food at China Inn on Paramount (where Pacific Rim is now) so picking up the slices of sushi roll didn’t intimidate me. I dove in to the California Roll. It was like no taste I had ever had. The sticky and sweetness of the rice, the brininess of the seaweed wrapper and the creaminess of the crab and cream cheese hooked me. I had to have more.
I took my wife there and we fell in love with sushi. At Kabuki back then, you only had about 8-10 options, so me and my wife tried them all. Unagi became our favorite. Every time we would order, we would have Unagi and try one other to branch out. This was beginning to be an expensive habit, so we decided to try it at home.
The internet was in its infancy, but I was able to cobble together enough information that we could pull it off. Today we would just hop on Amazon, add the items to our cart and in 2 days had everything we needed, but back then, no grocery stores had the ingredients we needed. Market Street did not exist yet. We adventured to the world of the Asian Market. We visited Dong Phuong on Amarillo Boulevard. I had never seen anything like it. What a crazy land of exotic wonders. They had nori, rice, mirin, and wasabi. We wandered around for hours just looking at all of the shelves stocked with things I didn’t know existed. We bought a rice cooker and all of our supplies and headed home to make our first sushi.
What a production that was. This is before YouTube, so we didn’t have the luxury of seeing how this concoction was assembled. We had no idea what we were doing. We didn’t use plastic wrap or a rolling mat, because we had no clue that was how you did it. We didn’t have a sharp knife, so we just mangled the rolls. But they were delicious. We tried a few more times over the next few years to similar results.
Since then, Amarillo has added a number of sushi Joints. We are not relegated to a homemade mashed ball of nori, rice and substandard fish. We have plenty of options now. One of the best is Sushi House.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
Sushi House is located in a strip mall in Wolflin Square. Some of the best Joints I have ever eaten at are in strip malls. There is something about the joy of finding a gem located between a shoe store and a mattress shop.
I love sitting at the sushi bar and watching them perform their craft. Experiencing the knife skills of a sushi chef makes me doubt everything about myself in my kitchen. “There is no way a knife is that sharp.” Oh, you don’t roll it with your bare hands into a lumpy, uneven mess and then smush it with a dull knife.” The thin slices of fish that come off their knives are a work of art. It makes me almost feel bad to eat it. Almost.
An Unagi roll is a given anytime I do sushi. In addition to that we had a Tiger Tear, Dragon Roll, and a Spicy Cowboy. All of them were spectacular. I am sucker for anything with eel on it, so my standouts were the Unagi and the Dragon Roll. The freshness of everything is a pleasure.
I have heard friends of mine who are scared to try sushi. “Ewwwwww…..Raw Fish!” I implore you to experience it. For God’s Sakes, they have a roll that is steak and fried shrimp; it doesn’t get more Texan than that. Amarillo has never been known for our progressiveness, especially when it comes to food. We tend to run about a decade behind national trends, but when we embrace them and they take root, the results can be spectacular. Sushi House is among the best in Amarillo.
Now, go order the Unagi Roll and tell the sushi chef to “Surprise Me” on the other one. You will be glad you did.
2630 Wolflin Ave
Amarillo, TX 79109
806-803-9470
Recommended Dishes
Any of the Sushi Rolls
ICHIBAN - HOT & SOUR HEAVEN
Have you had Ramen? I mean, honest to God Ramen. Not the packets at the grocery store that are a staple of the teenage diet. Those are delicious, but they are not what Ramen connoisseurs everywhere seek.
I hadn't either until I had Ichiban. It is still the only place I have ever had Ramen. Ichiban sets my expectations so high, I fear that any place else I would have Ramen would be a let down. I want to try other Ramen, only because Ichiban is so good, that if there is anywhere better I cannot imagine how good it must be. Amarillo, to my knowledge, only has one place to get Ramen. And boy are we lucky it is Ichiban. I want to have David Chang or Ivan Orkin come visit Ichiban to justify my captivation with this Joint.
Have you had Ramen? I mean, honest to God Ramen. Not the packets at the grocery store that are a staple of the teenage diet. Those are delicious, but they are not what Ramen connoisseurs everywhere seek.
I hadn't either until I had Ichiban. It is still the only place I have ever had Ramen. Ichiban sets my expectations so high, I fear that any place else I would have Ramen would be a let down. I want to try other Ramen, only because Ichiban is so good, that if there is anywhere better I cannot imagine how good it must be. Amarillo, to my knowledge, only has one place to get Ramen. And boy are we lucky it is Ichiban. I want to have David Chang or Ivan Orkin come visit Ichiban to justify my captivation with this Joint.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
When you visit Ichiban, be prepared for a wait unless you go before 11:30. It is small and crowded. You can usually find a seat at the bar, but total seating for the entire Joint might be 35. Also, it is not fast food. Typical wait after ordering Ramen is about 20 minutes. But these are just minor obstacles you overcome to be rewarded with the nectar of their labor of love. The chefs working behind the bar are slaving over these huge wok/cauldrons that are heated by flames from one of the 7 levels of hell. To watch them work makes me sweat by proxy. Every time I go, I am astonished by the waitress that moves around the room taking care of every table’s orders, delivering the dishes, bussing the tables, taking call in orders and doing cashier duties. The way that she moves around the room, always seeing 3 steps ahead reminds me of Barry Sanders at his peak.
The menu doesn’t look like most Asian menus in town. Sure there are the usual suspects of Kung Pao Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Fried Rice and Pad Thai, but in addition to the Ramen-Udon & Noodle Soups, you will see things not offered anywhere in Amarillo. Donburi (Rice Bowls), Curry Fried Noodles, and something called Atomic Chicken (the 4 Chiles symbol makes my lips burn just thinking about it, among other things) beckon me to branch out, but my salivating tongue always produces “Tom Yum Shrimp Ramen” before I can stop it.
The Tom Yum Shrimp Ramen is Heaven in a bowl. When you are given the bowl, the first thing you notice is the care taken in presentation. Everything is fresh and appetizing. The second thing you notice is the boiling heat. It comes out so hot, you should wait before eating it. But you don’t, because you are a dummy that never learns. You would think that burning the roof of your mouth repeatedly would teach you. But you don’t, do you dummy? The noodles are perfectly cooked to transport the delicious broth to your taste buds. It has tender shrimp, bean sprouts, scallions, cilantro, a fish cake and a piece of nori. But the star is the broth. It is a combination of spicy and sour that cannot be described. I have no idea what is in it, but I am sure it includes unicorn blood and dragon horn in the list of ingredients. I find no greater joy in the moment eating it when I have polished off enough of the noodles to pick the bowl up for my first slurp of broth. The spice is just right for me. It is the top level of pleasurable and the low level of macho. When I am done and finally push the bowl away, my lips have a perfect tingle, my nose has taken notice and my tummy is warm. Perfect cure of a cold or a hangover.
I have begun to form my list of Restaurant Resolutions, formed in large part by Ichiban. That list includes “Try Everything On the Ichiban List, Starting With All Of The Soups.” I just need to convince my tongue to cooperate.
As we were paying for our meal, I asked for a take out menu. The cashier/waitress/Hall of Famer told us that they were in the process of updating the menu. They would be removing some of the items that are more common at most restaurants in town. That sounds fine; just don’t mess with my Ramen.
3309 Wimberly Rd
Amarillo, TX 79109
806-355-5031
Recommended Dishes
Tom-Yum Shrimp Ramen
Mee Ka-Ti
POLLOS SINALOA - MEXICAN HOT DOGS
I have always been enamored with food. When my wife and I were getting married, the schedule for the weekend that we handed to family and friends ended each event with “See You At The Next Meal.”
If you have ever met me, chances are we had a conversation over a meal. And it was probably at a Joint. It may be a dicey Joint. Or a fancy Joint. Or an ethnic Joint. But it was a Joint, and a local Joint at that. If it is in my power, I will pick a local Joint. Very seldom do I go to a chain or something mass produced.
I have always been enamored with food. When my wife and I were getting married, the schedule for the weekend that we handed to family and friends ended each event with “See You At The Next Meal.”
If you have ever met me, chances are we had a conversation over a meal. And it was probably at a Joint. It may be a dicey Joint. Or a fancy Joint. Or an ethnic Joint. But it was a Joint, and a local Joint at that. If it is in my power, I will pick a local Joint. Very seldom do I go to a chain or something mass produced.
Some people that I work with try to eat together on a weekly basis and eat at a Joint. We have a few in the rotation, but occasionally we will branch out. Somebody will say “I saw a new Joint we need to try,” and we go give it a shot.
That is how I discovered Pollos Sinaloa. The food was so good, I started telling my other friends. None of them had ever heard of it. Not even the ones that turn me on to new Joints. Not a one. That is when I decided to start a food blog. This place is a hidden gem and more people need to experience it.
THE JOINT EXPERIENCE
The outside of Pollos Sinaloa does not scream “Come Eat One Of The Best Hot Dogs Of Your Life!” If you don’t know where it is you will probably drive by it and have to circle back. As you walk to the front door, you pass the screened-in porch where the chicken is cooked. It is the most appetizing fragrance you can imagine. You could put that smell on a menu and charge $4.99 for it as an appetizer. When you go in, you are greeted with a colorful menu with a very limited selection. Some tacos, burritos, mulitas (I have no idea the difference between this and a quesadilla), whole or half mesquite smoked chicken, and the tractor beam of the Mexican Hot Dog.
The first time I went, I had a Mexican Hot Dog and the chicken. The Hot Dog is a hot dog frank, slice of bacon, avocado, onions, mayo, mustard and what I am guessing is ketchup or some derivative of ketchup. All on a toasted bun. Not some steamed, gummy white mess. They take the time to toast and slightly dry out the bun so it can hold up to the mess of the hot dog. I had found my favorite hot dog. You will love it. You will have food all over your hands and face, but you will love it. The chicken was good, but the beans and rice that come with it are other-worldly. I am not the biggest beans and rice guy. I have been known to leave them untouched on my plate. I cannot go here and not have beans and rice. They are that good.
The next day, I had to go back. First thing out of the box; Mexican Hot Dog. I wanted to try something else. I knew I wanted the beans and rice. The lady taking the order says “The burrito has rice and beans on it.” You had me at rice and beans. An adobada (pork) burrito was ordered. It could be the best burrito I have ever had. All of the pieces of pork are juicy and crispy. Again, messy as all get-out, but delicious. The 3 hot sauces they have to choose from are all well above average in spice and flavor, get them all and enjoy!
There is a plethora of choices for drinks. Mexican Coke and Fanta are there. Remember Squirt? They've got that too.
I have tried all 3 kinds of tacos. They are all delicious. $1 each. How do you beat that?
Since first visiting Pollos Sinaloa, I have been about 5 times. Every time the experience is legit. There may be other places in Amarillo that have Mexican Hot Dogs; I have never heard of one. Go take a trip and reward yourself. Don't forget the beans and rice.
Website
2618 E Amarillo Blvd
Amarillo, TX 79107
806-367-8935
Recommended Dishes
Mexican Hot Dog
Asada Burrito