March 30, 2025
This might be the first time I went to a restaurant twice in a period of four days. I wanted to be sure before I awarded Poblanos Mexican Grill in Wichita,Kansas with the oft coveted designation “Mastro Gastro.”
Poblanos has been open in Wichita for twenty-one years and is a local mom and pop shop that sells Tex-Mex cusine, just like Chipotle/Qdoba. The options are quite similar to Chipotle/Qdoba (for example, you can get a bowl with white or brown rice, black or pinto beans, etc.). In every way it is a similar experience to a Chipotle/Qdoba other than the following four major differences. First, the ingredients taste 100% fresher. Second, the owners are always there and are the ones serving (and giving samples). Third, both Gertie and I noticed the bowls “mix” better. And fourth, it feels good spending money at Poblanos to keep this mom and pop shop open — I felt the prices were either less or comparable to the aforementioned.
As for the food, the first and second bowls you see were to-go. The first included carnitas, chicken and steak. I thought the carnitas and the chicken were exceptional. The second bowl is Gertie’s and she went basic — no proteins, but black beans, corn, cilantro, sour cream and cheese. The third bowl is from the second trip where I ate at the location. The sauces you see on the top are the pesto sauce (which I thought was fantastic) and the avocado sauce, which had a nice little kick to it. This bowl really came together with the black beans, white rice, carnitas, medium salsa, cheese, onion, cilantro and the pesto and avocado sauces. And the fourth bowl is Gertie’s and again, super basic.
If you have not been to Poblano in a long time or ever, I encourage you to check it out. I give them a Mastro Gastro for sure. Poblano is located near Greenwich & Kellogg at 343 S. Greenwich Rd., Wichita, KS 67207. Menu is in the photos.
— TKG
