This matter-of-factly named restaurant, owned by two American restaurateurs, one from Texas, carries a serious bar mood despite its day-long operating hours. The decor plays around with a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) theme, with a painting of a skull-faced lady greeting you at the door—a rather more macabre picture than the usual brightly-colored walls.
The owners boast about the use of imported Mexican chilies as well as some specific breeds of corn and tomatoes grown on their own farm in Saraburi. The placemat menu features Tex-Mex favorites like nachos (B365), chili con carne (spicy minced pork stew, B400) and fajitas (B440-570), along with some more traditional Mexican fare.
The kitchen nails the recommended wet burrito (B430): hearty and flavorful seasoned ground beef smothered in chili con carne, cheese and sour cream. Another hit is the tender chicken breast fajitas (B440), served on a hot plate with flour tortillas and side guacamole, cheese and sour cream. We really rate this guacamole (B250 for a full serving), which is light and fresh, while the sopa de lima (Mexican lime soup, B150), a slightly sour chicken soup, also helps to cut through what is otherwise a very rich meal.
On our last visit, though, the chicken mole (B350) was a letdown. The brown mole sauce did feature the expected deep and complex flavors, with some chocolate notes standing out, but it came with lean chicken meat that was rather too dry and difficult to enjoy. On the plus side, dessert spotlights a nice mostachon (Mexican meringue cake, B220) that’s sweet, nutty and dense, balanced out by cream cheese and strawberries on top.
What this spot lacks in atmosphere (our last visit on a Saturday night was a super-sad, super-quiet affair), it makes up for with a lengthy drinks list—try Catrina’s Kiss of Death cocktail (habanero-infused tequila, grapefruit juice, grenadine, soda, B270). In a town increasingly swamped with Mexican restaurants, The Mexican is a solid enough Tex-Mex contender, though the higher-than-usual prices don’t translate to the liveliest of atmospheres. Corkage B500.
This review took place in September 2016 and is based on a visit to the restaurant without the restaurant's knowledge. For more on BK's review policy, click here.
