Ruiz family at El Meson. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)More Info
EL MESONAddress: 248 Northgate Park and 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Phone: 423-710-1201 (Hixson) or 423-894-8726 (Hamilton Place)
“New year, new menu, new food!” said Raul Ruiz Sr., who co-owns Hamilton Place’s El Meson.
Yes, 2018 is starting strong for both El Meson’s Hamilton Place and Hixson locations — both owned and operated by Ruiz family members. Now on tables is its shiny, upgraded menu, featuring a number of new sides, entrees and desserts. And later this year, El Meson celebrates its silver anniversary.
But first things first — meaning, of course, El Meson’s recently added small plate: Mexican street corn. The authentic recipe features grilled corn cobettes, topped with special sauce and gooey cheese.
“It’s a great side dish if you don’t want rice or beans,” said Tony Ruiz, who owns the Hixson location.
Other recently added recipes include decadent lobster tacos, steak a la Mexicana, shrimp camarones and the pollo bigotes — which translates to “mustache chicken” — named in honor of Raul Ruiz Sr.’s famous facial hair. And finally, El Meson is now spotlighting an expanded dessert selection, from rice pudding to churros to tres leches cake.
But while El Meson celebrates all that is new, soon diners will get to celebrate something that has withstood the test of time: El Meson itself.
This April, the restaurant will celebrate 25 years in the Scenic City. Stay tuned for all the delicious details on upcoming specials; for example, 25-cent chicken or beef hard shell tacos are available all day on April 16 at both locations.
Yes, 2018 is off to a strong and satisfying start.