Enough with the Spanish tapas, it’s time for an injection of colours, spices, and hot sauces into the food scene! If you thought you couldn’t find authentic Mexican food right here in our sunny island, you thought wrong. Here’s where to satiate your cravings. Buen provecho!
Best Gourmet Tacos: Lucha Loco
This joint serves up some good and authentic Mexican food, which explains why it’s bustling every night. Try their delicious taco de Pescado, smoky pieces of snapper with achiote, red onion salsa, and chipotle mayo in a corn tortilla, or the taco de carnitas, juicy and tender pork belly combined with crunchy jicama and a creamy garlic and cilantro sauce, also served in a corn tortilla.
Best Elotes: Lucha Loco
You can’t leave without ordering yourself some elotes, Mexican street-style grilled corn rubbed with mayo, chili, and cotija cheese. The heat from the chili and tangy cheese balance the sweetness of the corn beautifully. Speaking from experience, you won’t stop at just one.
Lucha Loco, 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598, p. 6226 3938. Open Tue-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 6pm-1am.
Best Nachos: Viva Mexico
Nacho lovers, be prepared to be blown away. Crispy fried tortillas covered with your choice of meat, Mexican beans, properly melted cheese with chipotle paste, and get ready for it, REAL jalapenos! Big, fat vinegary jalapeno chilies, just as it should be.
Viva Mexico, 23 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace, Singapore 229453, p. 6235 0440. Open daily 12-230pm, 6-1130pm.
Mex Out
Best DIY Mexican: Mex Out
Take your pick from tacos, burritos, and salad bowls, choose your meat, top it off with Mexican rice, fresh salsas and other toppings. We vote for their cochinita pibil (Yucatan style pulled pork), which is tender and juicy and their mango salsa. Fresh and tasty Mexican food right in the middle of the CBD, what’s not to like?
Mex Out, #01-01 39 Pekin Street, Singapore 048769, p. 6536 9953. Open Mon-Fri 1130am-10pm.
Best Fusion Tacos: Pistola
This Asian-Mexican fusion takeaway joint has a small menu but that hasn’t stopped the public from devouring its offerings. All five fillings are Asian-inspired, which comes as no surprise, but we love the Korean galbi-style steak, with kimchi, spring onion salad, and sriracha mayo served in a crunchy corn tortilla. Layer on some of their specially imported hot sauce to make it even tastier.
Pistola, 93 Club Street, Singapore 069461, p. 6438 2185. Open Mon-Fri 12-230pm, 5pm-12am, Sat 5pm-12am.
Best Burritos: Muchachos
It’s hard to mess up a burrito, and this place serves up some good and authentic Mission-style ones outside of San Francisco. It’s all about the tortillas, which are imported directly from North America. Stuff it with rice, refried beans, your choice of meat, some lettuce, and don’t forget the guac! Try the tender and flavourful lamb barbacoa or the carnitas (pulled pork).
Muchachos, 22 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089129, p. 6220 0458. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-12am.
Piedra Negra
Best Guacamole and Chips: Piedra Negra
This brightly colored bar and restaurant is hard to miss as you wander around Arab Street and Haji Lane. A must-try here is their chunky guacamole that’s made fresh right in front of your eyes. Paired with warm and crunchy tortilla chips, their guacamole will definitely hit the spot.
Best Margaritas: Piedra Negra
Come here for to-die-for frozen margaritas with flavours like pineapple, lime, and strawberry that are not too boozy, with a perfectly balanced amount of tequila. Get a jug or two to share and enjoy the energetic vibe this place has got going on.
Piedra Negra, 241 Beach Road, Singapore 189753, p. 6291 1297. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-1am.
Best Arepas: SUR Nuevo Latino Kitchen
Yes we know it’s not strictly Mexican, but we just had to include this one. A Venezuelan staple, arepas are pretty much the Latin American version of a slider. You get crisp on the outside but warm and soft on the inside cornmeal flatbread that’s stuffed with different fillings. Try the reina pepiada, avocado and chicken, or the carne mechada, shredded beef with gouda cheese.
SUR Nuevo Latino Kitchen, #01-01/02 13 North Canal Road, Singapore 048826, p. 6222 2897. Open Tue-Fri 1130am-230pm for lunch, Tue-Sat 530pm-1030pm for dinner, Sundays for brunch 11am-230pm.
Best Tres Leches: El Rocho’s
Being the only dessert on the menu, it has to be top-notch, and it is! Imagine a light and fluffy vanilla sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk (which gives it its name), evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk, and garnished with pistachios. You’d think it’d be heavy but it’s the perfect sweet ending to your meal.
El Rocho’s, 36 Circular Road, Singapore 049392, p. 6438 7879. Open Mon-Thu 1130am-230pm, 630-10pm, Fri 1130am-230pm, 630pm-12am, Sat 1130-230pm, 630-10pm.
Top image: Lucha Loco