Luga’s will continue to draw in the crowds based on their strengths—great drink specials, good atmosphere and standard Mexican fare.
The end of 2008 not only saw the world enter into a financial meltdown but also saw a raft of new Mexican eateries enter onto the Shanghai restaurant scene. Although, I very much doubt that these two events are in anyway related they have both helped lower my bank balance.
Near Fudan University, on Handan Road, El Mexicano, while being just a step above overseas student fare, its digs, Mexican flags, sombreros, the colors green, orange, and white, are attractive enough for families, but still gentle on a student’s bare pockets. Cheap prices and a fiesta atmosphere leave the impression that El Mexicano is a family cantina in a university town.
Start with a Mexican horchata (cinnamon, rice, and milk) tea or purple Jamaican tea, each at 7rmb.
The area around Fumin road in the French Concession is fast becoming a hotbed for Western restaurants. One of the latest editions to the long list of quality eateries is the Mexican restaurant, Cantina Agave.
Like a matador’s cape, a thick, brown drape is pulled back and glass doors open to reveal an upscale Mexican oasis in the heart of the French Concession. Welcome to Maya Restaurant.
A wide, angular, wooden bar and similarly shaped burgundy sofas set in a low-lit lounge guide you to an attractive dining room, Mayan paintings and motifs creating the atmosphere.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… and that’s a saying that Mexican Wave has kept to. Since 1989, this casual dining restaurant has been a main-stayer amongst Beijing’s meteoric change, still in the same location and owned by the same owners.
Over the past year, Shanghai has witnessed a trend of Mexican inspired restaurants entering the dining scene. Peter's Tex-Mex Grill may have arrived with this pack, but it has quickly emerged to be not just another Mexican restaurant.
In Shanghai, breaking into the niche market of Mexican food hasn’t been historically easy. There are a few places that have withstood the fickle climate of the local restaurant scene, but hardly any to warrant a “best” designation; choices are limited to grimy Ladies Night meat markets or sub-par Taco Bell knockoffs.
El Fogoncito, brings Mexican hospitality and unique flavours to Beijing. A passionate Mariachi band performs while you are enjoying the authentic food. Parrillada Fogoncito and Fjitas are some of their specialty dishes.
This venue's interior is a cross between a Mexican hacienda and American sports bar, with a somewhat rustic ambience partly due to heavy furniture. It has two small dining areas.