Ixtapa Grill is best known for its delicious fajitas.
Photo courtesy of Yelp
Serving authentic, Mexican dishes for the past sixteen years, Ixtapa Grill, located in the heart of Hamden, has provided locals with a traditional Mexican dining experience. From the Mexican music and aromas of fresh food to the gorgeous paintings of the Mexican countryside, the restaurant experience has captured the hearts of the many customers who have become regulars. Ixtapa Grill attracts a variety of members from the community, especially groups of college students and families.
The restaurant is a family business that began when four brothers of the Brambila family came together in 2002 to start their own restaurant. The brothers started their first restaurant in Hamden, branching out to Lunenburg, Massachusetts in 2005; Grotton, Connecticut in 2006; and Watertown, Connecticut in 2015.
The four brothers hired Mr. Abel Ramos to serve as the restaurant’s head chef and manager. Mr. Ramos arrived in Connecticut from Washington with his family twenty days before the restaurant’s grand opening. He felt joining Ixtapa was a great opportunity for him to share his love and knowledge of Mexican cooking. He also wanted to bring his personal experiences with Mexican culture to the restaurant. One of Chef Ramos’s favorite Mexican celebrations is Cinco de Mayo. At the restaurant, foodies and staff alike celebrate the triumphant day in Mexican history with food and songs. Chef Ramos created an original Cinco de Mayo menu for the restaurant.
Serving an extensive menu of traditional style items, Ixtapa Grill is well-known for its amazing fajitas. A platter of freshly mixed, creamy baked beans is served with a robustly seasoned indigenous rice, homemade guacamole, and the perfect amount of vegetables — along with golden-toasted tortillas, grilled onions, peppers, and either chicken, steak, shrimp, or a combination of two meats. Customers will know the meal is ready when the server exclaims, “Fire,” as he or she places the sizzling veggies and meats in front of them, an Ixpata tradition. The tantalizing aromas, strong flavors, and large portions are staples of Ixtapa Grill. The number of tortillas is unlimited, so customers are able to enjoy the irresistibly tasty fajitas until they are satisfied.
Other items recommended by Mr. Ramos include the quesadillas served with melted jack cheese; a choice of steak, beef, chicken, or spinach; and a myriad of toppings, such as bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. The menu also includes fish tacos with marinated grilled codfish and a variety of other toppings including shredded cabbage, cheese, and cilantro. The prices for entrees range from $8.50 for a sopa de albondigas, an authentic meatball soup, to $22.75 for tres amigos, marinated chicken with juicy jumbo shrimp and a fresh salsa on the side. The restaurant also has delicious options for vegetarians like the spinach enchiladas.
The cooks make the restaurant’s salsa and hot sauce fresh every morning. They also bottle their recipes to sell, allowing customers to enjoy the Ixtapa experience at home.
Regular specials on Groupon and the option to order from UberEats and Doordash make the restaurant, only fifteen minutes from campus, a particularly attractive option.
