When food and salsa make a perfect Mex

If a platter here ever went super, it was for a delicious reason. At Tia Maria’s, a super sampler platter may be enough to feed a company of eight. But because it is so addictively good, I’d say it’s only perfect for four. And if you had a pitcher of strawberry margarita to go with it, you’d understand why.

For years, Tia Maria’s has been the one place where Mexican favorites can be had, alongside a medley of cocktails, from afternoon till evening. And as it opened its latest branch in Festival Supermall Alabang, you can clearly see that Tia Maria’s has never lost its touch.

The restaurant is full of bright colors and lights. The mood is festive. Everyone is cheery. And the menu is full of delicious things that patrons have enjoyed for many years. According to Tia Maria’s operations manager Leny Aguila, the food in the restaurant is always made fresh daily — from the guacamole and salsa to the flat, soft tortillas they serve. Take, for example, the super sampler platter, a huge plate with slices of barbecue pork, chicken wings, cheese flautas, taquitos or small tacos and nacho chips. Served with freshly made guacamole, salsa, and some sour cream, this platter is best enjoyed with any of Tia Maria’s cocktail creations, including a strawberry margarita that you can enjoy by the glass or by the pitcher.

And of course, Tia Maria’s serves all the classic Mexican favorites that its patrons have been enjoying over the decades. Among them are my personal favorites, the fish enchiladas, deep-fried dory fillets, wrapped in freshly made soft tortillas, smothered with tomato sauce and cheese, and served with a side salad of fresh greens. There’s also an assortment of burritos, of which my choice is the carne asada burritos, with tender-cooked strips of strip loin rolled in tortilla with Mexican rice and beans.

Meanwhile, make room for another special platter, the Tia Maria’s seafood platter with a pile of good, crisp calamari that’s tender on the inside, deep-fried shrimp, and nacho chips. As with all platters, the seafood platter also comes with the restaurant’s three signature dips: guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

Tia Maria’s is open all the way till 2 a.m. on weekends and until 11 p.m. on weekdays. Clearly, there’s plenty of time to enjoy a margarita and all of the restaurant’s good, classic Mexican food!