Authentic Mexican Takeout Restaurant Comes to Iowa City

After the death of her mother, Elsa de La Paz, 51, of Muscatine, knew that she had to do something to keep her memory alive.

In 2004, de-La-Paz opened Mami's Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Muscatine in tribute to the mother whose her children knew as "Mami." She said her mother Estela Rodriguez, was well known for her excellent cooking, with recipes she learned in her hometown of Piedras Negras in the North Mexican state of Coahuila.

"I missed her so much, and we wanted to carry on her food and recipes, and also the love and satisfaction that she brought with her her," de-La-Paz said. "She made us all happy through her food."

The restaurant in Muscatine is open to this day, and a few weeks ago, de-la-Paz helped her son, Jerry Vasquez, 27, open a new take-out location at 221 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City.

De-la-Paz said this move is intended to give Vasquez the opportunity to expand the business while still keeping it in the family. She said starting the expansion in Iowa City was a natural fit.

"He (Jerry) lives here in Iowa City and he loves Iowa City," she said.

De-la-Paz said that Mami's is going to attempt to offer a similar freshly made to order approach to that which has already made and  popular downtown eating destinations, but to offer slightly different food options, such as Mexican style enchiladas. The restaurant also offers freshly made to order burritos, enchilados, piedras nachos, tacos and hard or soft shell chimichangas with a variety of meat options.

She said her mother's recipes are typical of the Northern Mexican cuisine that shared influences with its nearby neighbor, Texas.

The restaurant also offers freshly made tortilla chips and salsa (coming in hot and mild, depending on the jalapenos). The salsa is also bottled and sold in grocery stores.

De-la-Paz said the primary idea for the restaurant is to emphasize the fresh and convenient delivery of authentic Mexican food. The current location is small and features only a few chairs, and is obviously designed to be more friendly to carry out. However, she said if Mami's grows into a new location it could add sit down eating to what it offers.

For now, though, de-La-Paz plans to be present at the Iowa City location for the year to help the business get off the ground. She hopes Iowa Citians like the food that is just the way "mami" used to make it.

"I just hope that people will love our food and keep calling us and keep us busy so we can continue to grow," she said. "So far we've had a great response."

Mami's is open from 10 a.m. until 3:00 a.m. The restaurant also offers catering and delivery. If interested, call 319-354-6264.