A more than 200-year-old mole recipe with roots in southern Mexico is among the culinary delights at Pueblo’s newest authentic Mexican food restaurant, Pampano Foods, which opened in June.
Pampano Foods is a drive-through and pick-up-only restaurant at 430 S. Santa Fe Ave., which is owned by Luis Munoz and his wife Lorena and her family. The name Pampano refers to a tree that is symbolic of the tree of life.
“Our little business came in as a storm. We are really busy,” Munoz said.
“It is different than anybody else with unique recipes,” he explained. “It’s not Pueblo Mexican food, it’s not Tex-Mex, it’s 100% authentic Mexican.”
Take for example that mole recipe. Munoz said he “goes the extra 3, 4 or 5 miles” to make it authentic by buying the chiles and spices from Puebloa in southern Mexico.
“The recipe is over 200 years old and it is different to make. We cook it with chicken so you can get the chicken mole tacos, burrito or the mole plate,” Munoz explained.
Besides the mole, customers also are crazy for the Mexican pulled pork carnitas dish, which Munoz said is flavorful and devoid of grease. The carnitas come with a dipping sauce or consommé, and all ingredients are sourced from local farms.
Another favorite is the Birria Quesa Tacos which is “like a taco quesadilla hybrid.”
“We start with a tortilla that is made with real yellow corn, load it with cheese, put another tortilla, load it with more cheese and then add the birria beef which is made from a high quality cut of beef,” Munoz said.
The goal is to allow customers “to eat an experience.”
“We use the highest of standards and create a party of flavors on the mouth. Even if you are having a bad day, when you eat something that blows your mind you are like, ‘OK life is good,'” Munoz said with a laugh.
Munoz said customer support and kind reviews have helped the business flourish.
“We have customers who love everything on the menu and are trying everything we make in line right down the menu so they get something different each time they come in,” he explained.
The hours at the Santa Fe location recently changed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. as Munoz and his wife prepare to open a second location at 1027 S. Pueblo Blvd. in about three weeks. That restaurant will have some seating, but also will have a drive-thru and take out options and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
To be able to open two Pampano Food locations is especially rewarding for the family because, “we almost quit the whole food business,” Munoz said, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other setbacks that dragged out permitting approvals at the Pueblo Boulevard location.
“We owe thanks to the support of our customers who love our food and give us love. We strive to do something different and to make it with love and passion, not because of the money — the money is just the bonus,” he said.
The business also offers catering for special events. To find out more, call 719-281-5284 or visit order.spoton.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page.
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Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.