BANGKOK RESTAURANT

The Mexican

The new player on Sukhumvit's Mexican food scene.

2
Average: 2 (1 vote)

The new player on the city’s Mexican food scene plays around with a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) theme in its decor while sticking to tried-and-tested Tex-Mex favorites.

Nachos (B365), chili con carne (B400) and fajitas (B440-570) pad out the menu, along with the must-try “fabulous wet burrito” (B430) filled with beans, chicken, pork or beef, and smothered in chili con carne and a blend of monterey jack and cheddar cheese.

The owner, Bonnie, who hails from Texas, grows chili peppers, corn and tomatoes at a farm in Saraburi, and plans to expand the menu with more classic Mexican fare made using these ingredients shortly. 

The bar stocks a few tequila, with the highlight drinks of habanero-infused shot and the signature Catrina’s kiss of death cocktail (habanero tequila, grapefruit juice, grenadine, soda, B270).

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.

Venue Details
Address: The Mexican, Rajah Complex, Sukhumvit Soi 2, Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: 094-330-0390
Website: www.facebook.com/TheMexicanBKK
Area: Nana Asoke
Cuisine: Mexican
Price Range: BB - BBB
Open since: January, 2016
Opening hours: daily 10am-11pm
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The Mexican