Chimi's Fresh Mex Opens in Wildwood

Step into Mexico, right here in Wildwood.

Chimi's Fresh Mex restaurant is newly open and waiting for diners eager to take a food-induced mini-vacation. With authentic Mexican cuisine, vibrantly colored walls and intricate paintings, secret-recipe margaritas and Spanish music in the background, it's quite a treat. The cantina is located at 17209 New College Ave., in the business district complex near and .

"Try us; we obviously can brag about ourselves, but we think everyone will realize on their own that we are original Mexican food from traditional Mexico recipes," said Luis Sanchez, Chimi's general manager and one of the restaurant's owners.

Sanchez created many of the interior's build-out components himself, such as the stucco-vibrant, patio-oriented walls between tables. He moved from Kansas to work here, and has been in the restaurant business for the past eight years. He was born in California, but grew up in Mexico.

He said another Chimi's owner, Jesus Casillas, is inspired by his grandmother's recipes. Casillas often visits his grandmother, who lives in Mexico, to try to recreate some of her methods in the kitchen.

Chimi's Chef Julio Casillas also tries hard to bring out the best of Mexican tastes with his personal creations through eceletic recipes.

Chimi's menu includes:

• appetizers
• soups and salads
• vegetarian dinners
• signature dishes, including green chili dishes, fajita chimis and chorizo chimis
• combination plates
• chef's specialties
• enchiladas dishes
• fajita-based specialties
• chicken (pollo dishes)
• beef (carne dishes)
• seafood (mariscos dishes)
• pork (puerco dishes)
• burritos
• grilled specialities, such as steaks and tortillas
• desserts

Chimi's offers lunch combination plates. Side orders provide traditional rice, beans, quesadilas, tamales, tacos, burritos, chalupas and chile poblano.

The "extra" speciality emphasizes pico de gallo.

Desserts range from home-made sopapilla, flan (Mexican custard), fried ice cream, tres leches and banana chimi.

All items are available for take-out. For a $5 off coupon, click here.

"You can certainly tell the food is fresh-made," said Eureka resident Christine Hasenback, a new Chimi's customer who heard from her co-worker Tuesday that the restaurant was open.

"Everything's got a clean taste; you can tell nothing's out of a can. We definitely will be coming back to try many more items on the menu."

For anyone interested in brushing up on their Spanish, this is a great place to go to try conversing in another language besides English. Of course, the Chimi's staff will vocalize items and explain them in both languages.

Sanchez said they plan to have daily food and bar specials. Sports fans also can watch from Chimi's five, high definition screens. Three parts of the restaurant can be sectioned off for parties or large groups.