Zuzu’s Handmade Mexican
Rating: 4/5
31 North Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
Price Range: $1-10

Looking for an affordable meal off campus can seem like a nightmare. The choices are usually slim and include things like greasy pizza and fast food. Fortunately for students who are short on cash but unwilling to compromise quality, Zuzu’s Handmade Mexican is located just a few minutes from campus on North Central Avenue in Clayton. We gathered a group of friends together to try out this new find.

At first glance, Zuzu’s looks just like those fast food restaurants we’ve been trying to avoid. Orders are placed at a counter, and diners are given big plastic numbers so the cashier can bring their meals to the table. Needless to say, it’s pretty much the exact opposite of eating in an authentic Mexican restaurant. However, our attention was quickly shifted to the salsa bar where patrons are invited to choose one of three salsas (mild, spicy, or salsa verde) and add things like chopped onions, lime, or cilantro. It started to seem like Zuzu’s might be better than the average cheap restaurant after all.

Though the menu was not as extensive as those at more established restaurants, it did not disappoint. Zuzu’s had traditional items like soft and hard shell tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and quesadillas. Also on the menu were several different grilled chicken and combination platters. The combination platters consist of tacos, enchiladas or burritos with gorditas (corn patties with black bean puree) and a flauta (a corn tortilla rolled and filled with cheese). The side dishes ranged from Mexican rice to roasted potatoes to side salad. In addition to these dishes, there were unconventional choices like Mexican pizza and large salads. The drink selection consisted of several Mexican beers and margaritas. Perhaps the most appetizing aspect of the menu was the price of each plate. The average diner could get an entire meal for less than ten dollars.

Right after ordering we realized one of the best things about eating at Zuzu’s: a bowl of chips is free with every platter. This is where the make-your-own salsa bar comes in handy. After picking and choosing our own unique salsas, we sat down to wait for the cashier to bring our meals. By the time the chip bowls were empty, the food had arrived. For a restaurant that takes your order and delivers your food in about ten minutes, the presentation at Zuzu’s was surprisingly attractive. The steak fiesta salad was served in a tortilla bowl with a sour cream flower decoration on top; quesadillas and tacos were graced with a similar garnish. One of our favorite dishes was the enchilada platter, succulent and a little spicy. We all agreed that the enchiladas were among the best we had ever tasted, and the accompanying potatoes were well cooked and also exceptional. In all our dishes, we found the steak to be marinated, tender and much better than expected. The chicken, however, was a little dry and left something to be desired.

After our meal we were excited to try Zuzu’s desserts, specifically their flan, “catega nacho sundae,” and sopapillas. We were thus very disappointed to learn that the restaurant was out of every single one of their sweets. Upon leaving, we noticed something worth mentioning: a newly opened Chipotle a few doors down. Unfortunately for Zuzu’s, this other fast Mexican restaurant is better known and was more crowded. Still, for an alternative to the more-processed Chipotle, we recommend Zuzu’s for a cheap, authentic meal.

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