California’s Playa Papagayos Arrives on the Westside

Playa Papagayos
Address: 4760 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 21
Phone: 702-822-6691
Status: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A new arrival from California has debuted at the westside’s Sahara Center, creating a casual dining option serving a flavor twist on traditional Mexican favorites. Translated as "parrot beach," Playa Papagayos takes over a corner, 3,163-square-foot site that used to be a Baja Fresh.

The seafood specialty restaurant has been a popular Coulton, California, destination for the last five years, with chef Alberto Ocampo featuring spices most commonly used in the southern Mexico state of Guerrero, resulting in a different set of flavors than more familiar northern Mexican dishes.

Ocampo is using mole sent to him direct from his hometown and the seafood options begin with oysters on the half shell, "rare shrimp cooked in lemon juice" and fried fish strips as appetizers. Tostadas are topped with fish, crab and octopus and dinner plates include a $14.95 fried tilapia.

Early arrivals can choose the $6.95 breakfast burritos or $7.95 huevos rancheros and the menu also includes familiar dishes like tacos, chimichangas, fajitas and menudo and pozole soup.

The restaurant also recommends the Arroz con Leche or Flan Napolitano for dessert.