I know it may sound a bit ignorant, but it is true that I had not tried proper Mexican food before. Growing up so far away from North America (Hong Kong), I had hardly any exposure to the cuisine from that part of the world. Even after living in the UK for ten years, I think I had only eaten in one of the high street chains a couple of times. When we were planning a trip to NYC, my husband suggested to me that we should try some proper Mexican food. To be honest, I was not convinced, what was so special about it? Isn’t it just some soggy tortillas covered in cheese? Let’s find out...
Barrio Chino
As you might have guessed from the name, this restaurant is not far from China Town, in the Lower East Side. I liked this place as soon as I walked in - the open dining area, the Chinese portraits hanging on the exposed brick walls, the red lanterns and the liquor filled bar, very casual yet cosy.
It was our first dinner in NYC, so we arrived at the restaurant pretty early in case the jet lag kicked in - just in time to take the last table by the window! But in case you have to wait, I heard that the trick is to go to the Ten Bells bar next door, they have one dollar oyster happy hour from four to seven most days.
We started with two refreshing drinks - a fresh grapefruit margarita and a light rum mojito.
Ceviche de camaron - cured prawns in lime juice with tomatoes, onions, and coriander. This eye catching dish was presented in a high sundae glass, filled with exciting fresh ingredients. The acidity of the sauce was just right, and it was also a perfect dip for the crispy homemade tortillas.
Arrachera - grilled marinated skirt steak with avocado, coriander and onion. Pieces of soft avocado and chunks of smoky grilled steak loosely folded in a tortilla, simply delicious.
Ensalada de calamari - grilled squid salad with sesame vinaigrette. I loved the caramelisation of grilled squid, which was a good balance with the salad and the dressing. A very decent portion too!
Enchiladas verdes - green enchiladas stuffed with shredded chicken, topped with melted oaxacan cheese, black beans and queso fresco. The sauce was surprisingly light, and totally different from any enchiladas I had tried before. The whole dish was gently seasoned with salt and pepper, and then topped with Mexican soft cheese to give an extra flavour. I had found my Mexican version of comfort food.
La Esquina
This place is famous for its secret underground restaurant, which only opens in the evening. It is yet another place which is so popular that the booking phone line is constantly engaged, and you have to make a reservation three weeks in advance. But besides the restaurant, there is also a take-out and a cafe on the street level open for lunch and dinner. We were not able to get into the restaurant, so we went for the cafe instead.
Opposite to Petrosino Square is a converted diner with a bright sign saying ‘Corner Deli’, and the take-out of La Esquina is located right under the sign, serving freshly made Mexican classics like burritos and tacos. The entrance of the cafe is around the corner from the take-out, on Lafayette street. The white wooden furnishings and book shelves give this cafe a relaxing and laid back atmosphere.
I like the varied menu, ranging from simple salad, Mexican street sandwiches, and tacos to more hearty dishes like roast chicken. This is what we had...
A refreshing passion fruit margarita to start.
Tostadas de cangrejo - crab meat, mango, chipotle mayo. When I looked at the menu, I did not expect to see such a big lump of crab meat. The mango came through subtly, together with the mayo made this a perfect start of our meal.
Ellotes callejeros - grilled local corn. This is really the BEST grilled corn in the world. The corn is brushed with mayonnaise while grilling, then topped with chili pepper and Cotija cheese. It is not the standard sweet corn and mayo combination, the smokiness from the grill and the saltiness from the cheese, and the kick of the chili pepper, giving wave after wave of flavour.
Pescado - grilled skewered market fish, shredded cabbage, red onions, salsa verde.
Bistec - char-grilled skirt steak, charred onions, cilantro, salsa de chile de arbol
I loved the flaky fish served on skewers. The beef taco was charred beautifully, although I would have liked it with a bit of sauce or with avocado like the one we had in Barrio Chino.
I truly enjoyed both Mexican meals we had in NYC. They were exciting, delicious and most importantly, they changed my view of Mexican food forever. It is a bold statement, but I am quite confident that you could not find anything vaguely similar in Hong Kong. Apparently there are a few good Mexican places in London, now I cannot wait to check them out!
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