When Hugo Ortega decided to open his first Mexican-style restaurant in Bentonville about 17 years ago, choosing the establishment's name was the easy part.
"Take your pick," he said with a laugh, when asked who it was named after. "My mom, my wife, my daughter, my sister, my sister-in-law ..."
They all share the same name, Maria.
Now, almost two decades later, Maria's Mexican Restaurant, located at 2503 S. Walton Blvd., is carrying on not just a family name but a family way of life. With a vast menu packed with the authentic Mexican cuisine and a rich family history steeped in food preparation and service in Mexico City, Maria's has become a staple of dining in Benton County.
"When I decided to open my first restaurant, I was thinking Bentonville would be a great city to open it," Ortega said recently. "It definitely has been. The customers are very good to us and seem to keep coming back to eat."
He began with a small restaurant, equipped with only 15 tables, that has now grown to seat 160 customers. That doesn't include the expansion of his chain: A restaurant opened at 2813 W. Walnut St., in Rogers in 2002, and another opened in Fort Smith. All three have the same menu.
Ortega's most recent edition is Los Tres Hijos Tortilleria, a tortilla factory next door to the Bentonville Maria's. Opened in January, Ortega makes all sizes of flour and corn tortillas fresh daily, as well as the chips and tamales served inside his restaurants. He monitors the entire process, from whole grain to the finished product. Customers are welcome to come in to purchase packages of the fresh tortillas.
"I want the tortillas and chips to be as fresh as possible," Ortega said. "Now, I make them right next door. That is very fresh, and I think that tastes better for my customers."
It has remained a family business from the start, but the foundation now includes the Ortega children who are becoming contributors in this growing business. His daughters, Stephanie, 18, and Maria, 15, have become well-adapted to the operation, while his son, Hugo, 13, is just beginning to learn the ropes so he can work there someday as well.
"My whole family helps out," the proud father said with a grin. "Maybe one day they will take over."
Many of the dishes on the menu Ortega created himself, taking traditional favorites and adding his own flair.
One of his personal favorites, and a huge seller, is his specialty burrito, aptly named the Burrito Mexicano. It is a large burrito overstuffed with a choice of chicken or steak, plus onion, cilantro, hot sauce, mushrooms, Monterrey and cheddar for $5.99.
His wife and daughters created one of their newest items and another customer favorite, the Burrito Patron, which is a flour tortilla burrito with a choice of fajita chicken or beef, stuffed with rice, beans, tomato, lettuce, onion, cilantro, hot sauce, sour cream and shredded cheese for $7.59.
Fajitas are another house specialty and come in seven varieties, including the Fajita Estrella, which includes a combination of grilled shrimp, steak and chicken cooked with bell peppers, onions and fresh tomatoes. The hearty single serving is priced at $14.59, or a double serving is $24.59.
There are also a variety of 16 combination plates. The Maria's Special is one of the most popular and includes a cheese enchilada and a house-made tamale, both covered with chili meat. It also comes with a soft cheese taco covered with chili con queso, and a guacamole tostado, as well as sides of beans and rice, all for $9.99.
Another new item, the spinach chicken, is one of the dishes that Ortega created himself. It is a chicken breast cooked and served in spinach, mushrooms and tomato, topped with cheese, and served with pico de gallo and sliced avocados on the side for $7.59.
A list of lunch specials range from $5.99 to $7.99 if ordered before 3 p.m. A popular choice is the No. 2, which is two tacos de asada with chicken or steak cooked with cilantro and onions. All lunch specials come with sides of beans and rice.
The menu also includes other traditional entrees, such as chimichangas, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and a variety of seafood dishes.
A kids menu includes many of the adult favorites, but in smaller portions ranging in price from $3.59-$3.99.
All meals begin with a complimentary basket of fresh chips and house-made salsa, either the hot tomatillo or mild.
All three Maria's locations are open seven days a week at 11 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., except for Saturday and Sunday when they close at 9:30 p.m.
NAN Dining Guide Spotlight on 03/11/2016