Full disclosure, Shane has been trying to pick this place for quite literally a month now. The first time he brought it up we had just driven past it on our way up to Macedonia to satisfy a taste for burgers with a revisit to the Blue Willow. He said he had been hearing good things about it, so I pulled up the menu online. Let’s just say that by the time we arrived for burgers we actually wanted Mexican food instead. Talk about great marketing.

Then of course Ted and I couldn’t steal the pick out from under Shane – because we’re nice people – and then last week it was 75 degrees and sunny outside so with our new rule that we must celebrate such evenings with a patio visit … and so here we are.

This place has been about four other Mexican restaurants in the decade we’ve lived in the Falls. All of which we’ve tried and have liked various aspects of – including the one rendition that continually gave us free tequila shots. Hmm, let’s try to figure out why they went out of business?

But now it’s Mexhibachi – and it’s exactly what the name implies, with a combination of Mexican entrees and Japanese specialties. And a little bit of American in there too. So someone in your party wants sushi but someone else wants wings and yet another really has a taste for Mexican food? Welp, here’s the perfect place!

There are also 120 items in the menu. Literally 120. They’re numbered so I’m not making this up (check out the photo above for evidence!) All that to say, make sure you bring your reading glasses and plan for some reading time at the table before making your selection. AKA don’t arrive too hungry (*ahem* Shane).

Fortunately like any good Mexican restaurant they supply you with endless supplies of chips and salsa to tide you over as you peruse the novel of a menu. We also got guacamole.

I mean, if that’s not the cutest dish you’ve ever seen. It’s like it’s smiling at us.

And margaritas of course.

Ted and I both got the mexibachi burrito – which is basically hibachi inside of a burrito shell. We thought that was the best way to try this new combo experience to the fullest.

Ted of course orders his without cheese, which it arrived covered in. Boooo. But we convinced him to send it back because that was definitely not going to be a scrapeable experience.

Shane got the double meat hibachi with fried rice, steak and scallops, and a side of noodles.

He admittedly was disappointed in the size of the portions when it arrived. Because remember we order sheet pizzas for one person in this group. But I’m the end he said the extra side of noodles did end up filling him up.

We all agreed the food we ordered this time around was just OK. Like the guacamole didn’t have a ton of flavor and the salsa needed extra spice. Ted and I agreeed the burrito was fine, but not the best we’ve ever had. I took half of mine home – partially because it was pretty stuffed with meat and veggies, but also probably more so because of chips and salsa.

But then they came around with free shots – must be something with this location feeling like they have to offer some sort of alcoholic beverage to everyone for free? – only this time they were giving our shots of a house made cream coconut tequila.

Let me just tell you, whatever you need to order to have this magical round of shots delivered to your table, JUST DO IT.

I swear to you, Shane and I are not the childbearing type, but if we were, we just might sacrifice one in order to have another of those. It’s that good.

We were surprised to learn you apparently can’t order them as a drink, which is disappointing. But if you’re good customers – as in ordering two pitchers of margaritas and a bunch of food – then that seems to be the magic word that gets you a round for free. Our server also said that he will make pina coladas with that liquor, so we’re making note of that for the next visit. We also may or may not have googled how to make flavored crème tequila at home. If you don’t hear from us for a while we either started a new business or suffered some sort of alcohol poisoning in the efforts.

Speaking of our server, he was phenomenal. He was cheerful, attentive and personable, and truly made you feel like he wanted to be there – which was a welcome change from many service industry positions these days.

We’ll definitely be back.

Picked by: Shane