Manny's

[Highlander]

Manny Lopez died today (see KC Star article). I remember when his place just started out - it only occupied the front room of the now much larger restaurant. I loved the ambience of the restaurant when it began and KC didn't have that many good Mexican restaurants at the time - for my family, it was either Manny's or Ponak's.

Regardless of how one feels about the quality of the food, I think he deserves some credit for the success of the SW Boulevard restaurant scene.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/ar ... 75142.html

[earthling]

It's gringo KC cheezmex but not bad for that format. I like their Monterrey burrito though the 'salsa' tastes like pasta sauce, no cilantro/lime. KCK has always been where most of the real street Mex can be found like El Camino Real, San Antonio Market, Ninfa's, El Pollo Rey, and a bunch more on Central Ave.

edit: Just caught that Manny died. Sad to hear, I used to have same barber and have chatted up with him many times.

[Highlander]

It's gringo KC cheezmex but not bad for that format. I like their Monterrey burrito though the 'salsa' tastes like pasta sauce, no cilantro/lime. KCK has always been where most of the real street Mex can be found like El Camino Real, San Antonio Market, Ninfa's, El Pollo Rey, and a bunch more on Central Ave.

Isn't KCK and Central Avenue a pretty recent phenomena?

[aknowledgeableperson]

"KC didn't have that many good Mexican restaurants at the time - for my family, it was either Manny's or Ponak's."

We didn't get to that part of town much, stayed south. Mama Tia's, think that's right, on Paseo just north of 85th was a popular spot starting in the mid 70's. Still operating I believe.
There was another at 99th and Holmes. Can't remember the name.
The best, from the tales of many and from my two experiences in the 70's, was a family restaurant in one of those old houses in St. Joe. More Mexican than Tex-Mex.

[grovester]

Patrikio's was at 99th & Holmes.

[brewcrew1000]

It's gringo KC cheezmex but not bad for that format. I like their Monterrey burrito though the 'salsa' tastes like pasta sauce, no cilantro/lime. KCK has always been where most of the real street Mex can be found like El Camino Real, San Antonio Market, Ninfa's, El Pollo Rey, and a bunch more on Central Ave.

Isn't KCK and Central Avenue a pretty recent phenomena?

For White People

[earthling]

Yeah, KCK has always had among largest Latino population in metro, though did pass black population in last census.