Hingham Chili's Transforms into New Mexican Restaurant

The sight of red chili peppers and smell of baby back ribs used to stick out to drivers at Queen Anne's Corner in Hingham.

Now the former Chili's restaurant has been transformed into an Aztec looking building and will serve Mexican dishes and drinks.

The Chili's Grill & Bar on Whiting Street in Hingham closed on January 29.  Eight month later,  Plaza Azteca, a family owned Mexican chain restaurant will open in its place.

Marketing Director Manuel Rubio expects the restaurant to open in late August.
 
The restaurant is currently hiring wait staff and bartenders.

They have also hired one of the top five bartenders in the Nation to create their drink menu, which will offer frozen margaritas, sangria, and a variety of other drinks made with fresh fruits.

The restaurant’s signature platter is their Sizzling Fajitas.  The menu lists a variety of Mexican dishes including, burritos,  enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, steaks, chicken and seafood options and nachos with a multiple different dips.

There is also a kids menu, salads and vegetarian options.

Plaza Azteca was started in Virginia by two gentlemen from the Jalisco, México back in 1994.  They have since kept the business in their family and have expanded to Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Their two other locations in the state are located in Worcester and Methuen.

Rubio said they chose to expand to Hingham because there is a need for a high quality Mexican restaurant on the South Shore. 

“There is a good opportunity for a Mexican restaurant here in Hingham,” Rubio said.  “We knew it’s a good town, with good people.” 

The owner’s nephew, Hector Angel runs the New England locations, according to Rubio.

Antonio Melendez will manage the Hingham location.

Plaza Azteca is planning to expand across New England and expects to open 50 new locations in the next 10 years, Rubio said.