Pokez Mexican restaurant has a South American feel and a clean, comfortable environment.

The food is above average, if you can wait for it.

Pokez is located on the corner of 10th Avenue and E Street.

It was 25 minutes between the time I ordered and when I was actually served.

While the music, pictures and artwork made time pass by, it was still 25 minutes of waiting.

The restaurant was half vacant at the time.

What took so long to cook?

Fajitas. A relatively simple dish made by sauteing strips of beef with tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions.
At Pokez, you get it garnished with guacamole, sour cream, salsa fresca and limes. It also comes with rice, beans and flour tortillas.

Aside from the lack of timeliness, the cook did a very good job with the preparation.  The meat was succulent with a mix of bold flavors.  The mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and onions were all bold with their own flavor, yet contrasted with a hint of the other parts of the dish.

The meal is served on a sizzling platter, hot juices noisily jumping into the air.

However, don’t waste any  time to dig in. It is served on a metal dish on a wooden platter, so it doesn’t retain its heat for long (and there is no hotplate under it).

At $8.75, the fajitas are the most expensive dish on the menu.

Pokez serves most of the traditional dishes found in a Mexican restaurant and you can select from a variety of meat with most of the dishes. Even vegetarian and vegan options are available.

Their combo platters, some of which consist of classic Mexican flavors, cost $8.25.

There are a few goofy additions like the “You don’t want it!” combo.

They have a full breakfast menu that averages $5.50 per dish, a variety of sodas, side orders and a full list of beers and wines available on request.

You can check out their full menu online at Pokezsd.com.