It’s not every day that you get to sample original Mexican recipes passed down through generations of Hispanic families that immigrated to our area straight from places like Mexico City. Or that you can order from a diverse Mexican breakfast menu. Both of these possibilities and more have become a reality in Calhoun County with the opening of Besitos Mexican Kitchen, situated in the heart of Downtown Anniston, Alabama in the space formerly occupied by Sam Sutcheleo’s Thai One On Restaurant. As Ariel Vicars, one of three partners and managers of the new restaurant stated, the opportunity to open the restaurant in that particular location “fell into their laps” one day when she was dining there–ironically, on the last day Thai One On was open for business. After overhearing this piece of news, Ariel asked the waitress to give her phone number to Sam to call her if he was interested in leasing the space. He did call her that very day, and as she shared “the rest is history.”

Besitos Mexican Kitchen–A Second Location

Walking into the newly renovated restaurant, you likely won’t recognize it compared to how it looked in the hands of the former occupant. It’s been refurbished to resemble the courtyard of a hacienda, showcasing fresh white-washed walls, Hispanic pottery, and lush plants. Most all of the attractive tables, booths, and furniture were hand-made by Ariel and her two Hispanic partners–Gustavo Lopez and Jesus Olivarres (Oxford natives). Ariel Vicars, who is local to Ohatchee, has known these two men for years and collaborated with them on various ventures, one being managing a restaurant in the area with one of the partners. Later, they were approached by a realtor out of Birmingham who was seeking to sell her friend’s restaurant space. The three jumped on the opportunity and opened the restaurant Besitos Mexican Kitchen in February 2022. The venture has been a huge success, with customers lauding their authentic Hispanic recipes. Armed with that achievement, as well as the desire to bring a taste of original Mexican food to the Calhoun County area they call “home,” Vicars, Lopez, and Olivarres have opened their second location Besitos Mexican Kitchen Anniston as of Friday, March 31st, 2023.

Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Your Fingertips

Their exciting menu does offer many dishes that most folks have grown accustomed to, such as a variety of burrito, quesadilla, and enchilada choices, Tex Mex favorites like fajitas and chimichangas, and tacos like street tacos and fish tacos. They also serve Mexican street corn, which has become a popular item on modern Mexican cuisine menus. However, the menu sets Besitos Mexican Kitchen apart with its “Authentico” section. Ariel said, “My partners had recipes that were in their family or recipes that they had cultivated that we wanted to bring to life, which is why our menu is a little bit different than other Mexican restaurants in the area. We have a lot more authentic food on our menu because it is recipes that came from somebody’s grandmother or somebody’s mother that you won’t find anywhere else.” 

An example of an original recipe is the Milanesa Verde–a breaded chicken breast served over a green poblano and cilantro-based spaghetti, sprinkled with queso fresco and Mexican cream. Another is Gustavo’s mole recipe (Pollo con Mole) which is a regional spin on that dish from Mexico City. Besitos Mexican Kitchen offers unique Mexican soups like their Tortilla Soup, which has a roasted tomato and chile base with queso fresco, avocado, Mexican cream, and housemade tortilla strips. Their Pozole Verde is a traditional Mexican celebration soup containing shredded chicken, cabbage, radish, onion, and hominy. In Hispanic culture, it’s typically served around Christmas time, but at this restaurant, it’s a daily menu item.