KCK Chamber President & CEO Daniel Silva had the opportunity to highlight and tour KCK hidden gem restaurants with KC Star reporter Aaron Torres.
Featured in the article were KCK Chamber Members GG’s Barbacoa, Micheladas Culiacan, and El Pollo Rey.
Torres wrote:
I tapped Danny Silva, the president and CEO of the KCK Chamber of Commerce to help identify and tag along to three places: GG’s Barbacoa Cafe, Micheladas Culiacán and El Pollo Rey. Silva has lived in the area for seven years. Originally from Chicago, Silva’s father is from Mexico and his mother is from Guatemala. He grew up in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in Chicago and went to school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In his current role, which he’s held for six years, he often ventures out into the community, whether it be for lunch meetings or simply opportunities to introduce people to the food and culture in KCK.
“Food is such an important part of culture,” Silva said. “And so it’s awesome for folks to be able to have the same types of food they would have had, whether it’s in Guatemala or Mexico or Puerto Rico.
“I think it’s always a good connection to our community, to be able to sample foods our moms made, or restaurants that we went to when we were little.”
GG’s Barbacoa
The main entrance of GG’s Barbacoa. “It’s a small piece of Tabasco here in Kansas,” said co-owner Gabriel Gonzalez. Emily Curiel [email protected]
The Quezabirria platter is GG’s most popular dish and sticks to owner Gabriel Gonzalez’s Tabascan roots. Emily Curiel [email protected]
Micheladas Culiacan
A platter of fruit, shrimp, beef jerky and chips is served with a variety of beers at Micheladas Culiacán. Owner Jenny Barraza opened this restaurant in hopes of bringing to KCK an element of Culiacan in Mexico, where she’s from. Emily Curiel [email protected]
Jenny Barraza, co-owner of Micheladas Culiacán, prepares the restaurant’s signature michelada drink. She loads them with shrimp, curling around the rim of the glass, and beef jerky. Emily Curiel [email protected]
El Pollo Rey
On the menu at El Pollo Rey: a pollo medio platter with beans and rice. Emily Curiel [email protected]
Whole chickens are grilled over high heat at El Pollo Rey. The wood smoke supplies the flavor. “What attracts people is that you walk in and you see the grill, you see the wood, you see the flames and they are cooking right in front of you,” said Edna Quintana, whose family owns the restaurant. Emily Curiel [email protected]