Evaluating the Nutrition of Plaza Azteca’s Menu
Plaza Azteca offers traditional Mexican fare like enchiladas, tacos, burritos, fajitas, and more across its many locations. With so many tempting options featuring cheese, sour cream, beef, and other indulgent ingredients, you may wonder about the nutrition facts behind this popular restaurant’s menu.
Understanding the calorie, fat, carb, protein, and sodium counts of Plaza Azteca’s dishes can help you make informed choices that align with any dietary needs or health goals.
Plaza Azteca Nutrition Resources
Luckily, Plaza Azteca publishes complete nutrition information for nearly all menu items both in-restaurant and online:
- Check the website’s nutrition calculator for an easy searchable database.
- Scan the QR code on tables at locations to pull up nutrition facts.
- Ask your server for the designated nutrition menu available upon request.
Armed with this Plaza Azteca nutrition info, you can satisfy cravings without overdoing calories, carbs, fat, or sodium.
Highest and Lowest Calorie Plaza Azteca Menu Items
With appetizers, entrees, combo plates, sides, desserts, and drinks, Plaza Azteca’s expansive menu runs the gamut from lighter to heavier fare. Dishes range wildly from just 30 calories per serving to over 2,000 calories.
Lowest Calorie Options
If limiting calories is your goal, consider these sub-100 calorie Plaza Azteca choices:
- Chicken Tortilla Soup: 100 calories per bowl
- Charro Beans: 90 calories per side serving
- Rice: 60 calories per side
- Black Beans: 30 calories per side
Highest Calorie Options
On the flip side, these ultra high-cal options weigh in at over 1,500 calories each:
- Chile Relleno Platter: 2,060 calories
- Azteca Chicken Chimichanga: 1,590 calories
- Fish Tacos Especial: 1,570 calories
- Quesadilla Grande Combo: 1,520 calories
Key Plaza Azteca Nutrition Facts Per Menu Category
To make sense of Plaza Azteca’s extensive selections, examine the general nutrition profiles of dishes by menu type.
Appetizers and Sides
APPS AND SIDES
Many starters and side dishes provide relatively reasonable options for watching calories, carbs, fat and sodium:
- Queso dip: 330 calories, 28g fat, 730mg sodium per serving
- Guacamole: 120 calories, 10g fat per serving
- Rice: 60 calories per side
- Black Beans: 30 calories per side
- Pico de Gallo: 20 calories per 2 oz
Soups and Salads
SOUPS & SALADS
Craving something fresh? Plaza Azteca soups and salads provide lower calorie, higher nutrient options:
- Chicken Tortilla Soup: 100 calories per bowl
- Taco Salad: 510 calories, 20g fat for full
- Chicken Fajita Salad: 300 calories without dressing
Ask for dressing and high-cal toppings like cheese, tortilla strips, and avocado on the side to control portions.
Tacos and Enchiladas
TACOS & ENCHILADAS
Typical Plaza Azteca tacos and enchiladas deliver higher calories, fat, carbs, and sodium:
- Brisket Tacos: 300 calories, 16g fat for two tacos
- Chicken Enchiladas: 630 calories, 32g fat for two
- Seafood Enchiladas: 790 calories, 39g fat for two
Skip extras like sour cream, cheese, and rice and beans to lighten these up.
Fajitas
FAJITAS
Sizzling platters, Plaza Azteca’s fajitas vary by protein with veggies adding bulk:
- Steak Fajitas: 1,040 calories for one platter
- Chicken Fajitas: 800 calories for one platter
- Shrimp Fajitas: 810 calories for one platter
- Veggie Fajitas: 560 calories for one platter
Build your own with moderate portions and skip fatty additions like sour cream and guacamole.
Chimichangas and Burritos
CHIMICHANGAS & BURRITOS
Typically deep fried, Plaza Azteca’s chimichangas and burritos tend to serve up more calories and fat:
- Chicken Chimichanga: 1,080 calories, 60g fat
- Burrito Deluxe: 1,470 calories, 78g fat
Order a burrito bowl or soft taco instead for lighter takes when craving these favored fillings.
Creating Low Calorie Plaza Azteca Meals
Despite dishes with eye-popping nutrition numbers, you can indeed dine at Plaza Azteca without sabotaging health goals. Simply follow dietitian-approved tips for lighter, better-for-you orders:
Pick Lean Proteins
Choose chicken, shrimp, or veggie primary dishes instead of higher fat, higher calorie beef and pork options.
Emphasize Fresh Add-Ins
Fill up on fiber-rich fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños. Skip fatty cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
Watch the Tortillas
Cut back to just one or two small corn tortillas instead of three large flour shells with entrees.
Ask for Dressing on the Side
Add just enough vinaigrette, salsa, or other low cal dressing to salads and dishes to moisten.
Share, Don’t Skimp on Flavor
Order your favorites, but scale back portions by sharing meals family style.
With awareness of Plaza Azteca nutrition numbers and smart selections, you can craft lower calorie, better-balanced Mexican meals.
FAQs
What is the lowest calorie item on the Plaza Azteca menu?
The black bean side dish is the lowest calorie Plaza Azteca menu item with just 30 calories per serving.
What Plaza Azteca entrées are under 500 calories?
Choose lighter options like the ensalada Azteca (300 calories), chicken tortilla soup (100 calories), or brisket tacos (300 calories for 2) for under 500 calorie Plaza Azteca entrées.
Should I avoid rice, beans, and tortillas to cut calories?
You don't have to skip them, just watch portions. Enjoy single servings of rice (60 calories) and beans (30-90 calories) and 1-2 small corn tortillas (50-100 calories) per entrée.
What are some low calorie Plaza Azteca add-ons?
Boost flavor without excess calories by topping entrées with fresh pico de gallo (20 calories per 2 oz), salsa, cilantro, lime, grilled onions, grilled jalapeños, and grilled veggies instead of cheese and sour cream.
Can I make fajitas or chimichangas lower in calories?
Yes! Choose chicken or veggie fajita fillings instead of steak or pork and use just a small amount of oil to sautée. For chimichangas, request baked instead of deep fried and avoid extra toppings.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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