A Mexican eatery that also offers waffles with chicken tenders may sound unusual, but Aristo Gaspar has his reasons for the menu options. The owner and head chef of Raizes Mexican Kitchen and Coffee House, at 345 Dulles Ave., Stafford, combines tastes that are both new and familiar to his Fort Bend County customers.

Aristo has worked in Houston’s restaurant industry since 1988, two years after he moved to the U.S. from Mexico City. He opened Raizes in November 2013 with his younger brother, Miguel, joining him.

“For most of the immigrants, if you come here the idea is to open your own business,” Gaspar said.

He said he hopes to open new locations in the Galleria and Katy within two to three months.

He described the menu as “Mexican” Mexican food, with influences from around the U.S. that go beyond the traditional taco. One of his signature dishes is chilaquiles: fried corn tortilla quarters simmered in green tomatillo salsa, topped with queso fresco, sour cream, onions, cilantro and beans.

The chilaquiles come with chicken, eggs or arrachera beef, which is a marinated flank steak. Gaspar also makes his own sauces, including mole.

“We have to cook this very, very slow, slow, slow to get the flavor,” he said.

He previously operated a coffee shop in the River Oaks neighborhood in Houston, so Gaspar kept a variety of espresso and smoothie drinks on his restaurant menu. Raizes offers a customized blend of Katz Coffee, which is a medium roast combination of Central American and Indonesian beans with flavor notes of orange and chocolate.

Raizes also offers catering service. Catering for groups, such as local TV stations, schools and even Houston professional sports teams including the Houston Astros, has helped inform people about Raizes, he said.

Miguel said the thing he most enjoys about the job is the people.

“When you go up to the people and everybody’s happy, that is the part [I like],” he said.

Raizes Mexican Kitchen and Coffee House

345 Dulles Avenue, Stafford
281-969-5211 (restaurant), 832-526-2879 (catering)
www.raizes.us
Hours: Mon-Sun 7 a.m.-3 p.m.