My Maria Mexican & American Cuisine — Restaurant in Odessa

As soon as you enter, the owner, the mom, greets you from her seat at the table nearest the door. She's still wearing her apron, soiled from preparing the food for the day. She proceeds to extol the virtues of her famous Chilaquiles and Cafe de Olla. If you've been to, say, Fuddruckers, or Dickey's BBQ, or similar restaurants, then you'll get how this place works. You place your order at the counter, pay, give your name, and then seat yourself. 15 - 20 minutes later, they bring out your food and drinks. There will be no server, hovering over you, or seeing if you need anything. That's not how this place works... If you want water or anything, you ask for it. Cold water is served in a glass carafe with a stopper and disposable cups. The Cafe de olla is served in a Mexican clay pot with sweet bread on the side. Very festive and delicious! The coffee has cinnamon, cane sugar, and doesn't even need cream, because it's so good. My husband ordered the breakfast plate. It came with 2 eggs, fried potatoes, refried beans, and a plate of 2 large, fluffy pancakes. I ordered the Chilaquiles Montados. The food was very good, hot, and the red sauce was not too spicy. Our coffee didn't come until after our food, but to her credit, the young girl working was new. She'll get the hang of it. Everyone has to start somewhere. I do...

I highly recommend the café de olla, it’s a must if you haven’t tried it. It’s Mexican roast coffee with spices and brown sugar prepared in a clay pot. They serve the coffee in custom clay coffee cups if you stay to eat. It’s so aesthetically pleasing that you can taste the difference in the coffee preparation as opposed to any coffee otherwise. They also offer a conchita on the side for your first cup for $2. The service here is so warm that coming from Midland, it was a great surprise because most people act cold there, so I enjoyed having such friendly staff checking in on me since I ate solo today. The owner/ manager herself checked in on me after I finished and offered a second cup of coffee, so I wanted to make sure her restaurant received a just review. It’s a smaller establishment, but very quick service that most groups that came in were in and out and no one stood around waiting for a table. I’m thoroughly impressed with this small-business. I didn’t see one hiccup or unhappy patron. I wish I lived closer, I would frequent here...

This spot is an absolute YES!!! Everything tasted authentic like momma and Uelas cooking! I loved the Chilaquiles Montadas. Perfect portions to fill you up! The Chile Verde was really good. Dont forget your Lemonade, Champurado with a panisito, or your Cafe de Olla!! We will definitely be back!!! UPDATE: I made it back with some friends to try out more food! Today I had the Quesobirria Tacos and the Iced Cafe de Olla. Both amazing! I think the tacos could have used more queso. I dont recall tasting queso in them. I didnt open them to look and see if there was any there as I devoured them too quickly. I tasted my friends menudo because she said she didn't like it. I think it was good. Im assuming the almost bland flavor is what she was talking about. It comes with sides of lime and onion. It could use more salt and more chile, but that something you can add to your own preference. The pozole was the harder type of pozole rather than soft. It your not a fan of harderJuanitas like hominy....get the...