Gabby Arzola // Contributing Writer
With Miami’s diverse culinary community, you can find just about any kind of food on the infamous Calle Ocho.
On Sunday, Oct. 4 my mom and I decided to go to a Colombian restaurant called Moe’z Express across the street from MMC.
Unbeknownst to us, there was a massive Jeep club that hung out inside and outside the Moe’z parking lot.
Many played music through their large stereos as they showed off their monster truck sized wheels and some stayed inside the restaurant to eat and drink.
Obviously, there had to be something special about Moe’z for all these people to flock here on a Sunday.
When I walked in, the décor was nothing fancy.
With white walls, simple brown chairs and tables and TV screens, this place doesn’t scream “Colombian food and culture,” but that doesn’t mean much.
However, the environment was exciting.
With all the different types of people in the Jeep club, there was a mix of “old and young” throughout the guests.
With everyone’s rugged aesthetic, with their biker jackets and wearing all black, Moe’z almost seemed like a biker bar.
Because my mom and I have never tried Colombian fast food, it took us a while to figure out what we wanted.
When browsing the menu, Moe’z has a pretty unique selection—most of which I have never even seen before.
Burgers with queso frito (fried cheese), quesadillas, steak, salchipapas (French fries with hot dogs), maicito (sweet corn kernels mixed in with cheese, sauce and a type of protein), hot dogs and even Paleo friendly options.
My mom got the Miami Chop with carnita frita (shredded beef), salad and guac.
I opted for the less healthy route and ordered Maicito Chicken Mini-Wraps.
When our food came, I was drooling.
My mom’s meal was colorful and fresh. With the green lettuce, juicy red tomatoes and fresh carnita right off the grill, the smell was smoky and meaty.
The smoky smell took me back to when I was a kid and my family and I had weekly barbecues outside.
My maicito mini-wrap was filled to the brim with crunchy potato chips and smothered with sauce.
As I bit into the wrap, there was an extreme crunch from the chips that overwhelmed my mouth.
At first, all I tasted were the salty fried chips and the flour tortilla, then I was hit with a sweet flavor of corn kernels. As I continued to chew, I tasted the seasoned chicken bits and finally I savored the smooth and cheesy notes of the melted mozzarella cheese.
Every bite was layered with flavor and although it wasn’t the healthiest meal, it was definitely tasty.
My mom’s meal was light with the crisp salad and the carnitas was well seasoned with salt and pepper and tasted a lot like mojo.
Even though we were both too stuffed to get their famous fried double stuffed oreos, I will definitely come back to try their different dishes.
Moe’z Express is surely a joint to go after a night of drinking or partying, just make sure to arrive on an empty stomach because their servings are huge!
I can now officially cross Colombian food off my foodie list!
Photo Courtesy of: Gabby Arzona
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