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It’s impossible to go hungry in Singapore. Whatever cuisine you crave, Singapore promises to deliver. So where do you go when the mood for hearty vegetarian Mexican fare strikes your fancy? Check out our fave cantinas here for everything from simple nachos, burritos, tacos to hearty enchiladas – oh, and of course, endless pitchers of margaritas.
Here’s our pick of the Top Mexican Restaurants in Singapore for Vegetarians. Head to one of these Mexican eateries and you won’t be disappointed.
Piedra Negra
An offshoot of the BluJaz Café, which occupies an adjacent corner in the same neighbourhood, the brightly coloured Piedra Negra is located at the sleepier end of the hip Arab Street and Haji Lane. Start with the Insalada Mixta (S$ 8.90) and à la minute chunky Guacamole (that’s made right in front of you), served with warm tortilla chips, and wash these down with shaken Margaritas (S$14) as you watch the world stroll by. For the mains, try the Vegetarian Enchilladas (S$ 13.90) or the Vegetarian Burritos. Though not technically Mexican, their Blueberry Cheese Blintz (S$ 7) is interesting – a crispy crunchy blintz with cheese, topped with blueberry syrup. They have several other veg dishes on the menu too, so vegetarians will have choice aplenty.
Piedra Negra: 11 Bali Lane, Historic Kampong Glam, Singapore 189848. P: +65 9199 0610
Muchachos
For a quick lunch, check out Muchachos – an edgy burrito bar serving up wallet-friendly San Francisco Mission-style burritos, tacos and quesadillas along Keong Saik Road in Chinatown. Their flour tortillas are steamed rather than grilled to keep them moist, and the Burritos are great when washed down with a refreshing Margarita Slushie. They offer a Vegetariano (peppers, onions and mushrooms) option for Burrito, Burrito Bowl, Taco, Quesadilla and Salad Bowl. And then of course, there’s the Chips with Salsa/Guacamole (S$ 4.50/S$ 6).
Muchachos: 182 Cecil St, #01-01 Frasers Tower, Singapore 069547. P: +65 6513 0215
Cafe Iguana
Part of the Brewerkz family, Café Iguana has been doing top notch contemporary Mexican fare by the Singapore River, since 2000. Dine here for the Portobello Fajitas and their specially brewed Iguana lager to go with the sizzling fajitas. With over 100 labels of 100% agave tequila, frozen margaritas and mezcal, Café Iguana has one of Asia’s best spirit selections, so be sure to pace yourself. Tip – nachos and salsa come free with drinks. We recommend going with the jalapeno poppers – they are so simple yet still so addictive, but all too rare these days. And for a decadent sweet ending, their banana chimichangas with avocado ice cream are sure to hit the spot.
Cafe Iguana: 30 Merchant Road, #01-03 Riverside Point, Singapore 058282. P: (+65) 6236 1275
El Mero Mero
Roasted Poblano Pepper (Image courtesy: El Mero Mero’s Facebook page)
With a name that literally translates to ‘the best of the best’ in Mexican slang, you can expect the casual vibes to go up a couple of notches here. With an al fresco bar boasting amazing views of the chapel at Chijmes, El Mero Mero’s menu is certainly exhaustive, brimming with classic Mexican dishes that have been whipped up using imported but authentic Mexican ingredients. Ditch the burritos and tacos for more exotic plates such as the Donas de Huitlacoche a.k.a. Street Corn Sampler (grilled baby corn and mushroom donuts with cotija-chili mayo) and the Josper-charcoal grilled Roasted Poblano Pepper stuffed with sweet corn, cheese sauce, epazote, serrano chilies (S$26), before finishing off on the Tequila Pecan Pie with cinnamon ice cream (S$14). Grab a quick three-course lunch set if you’re in a rush ($28++), but for a more leisurely dinner, we recommend starting with the sizzling Volcan de Queso with breaded cheese and green tomatillo salsa for choice of botanas (snack) before tucking into the Veggie Enchiladas for mains.
El Mero Mero: 30 Victoria Street, #01-20 Chijmes, Singapore 187996. P: +65 6337 1377
La Salsa
This is the place if you want some serious heat in your food. While you can ask for everything to be mild, try the spice challenge with your favourite dish to see how spicy things can get. Head to La Salsa for home-style hearty Mexican fare with ample margaritas and sangrias to complement delicious plates such as Chili Sin Carne dip (mixed bean stew with melted cheese) that is served with corn chips, and the house special Stuffed Poblano. But we’re happy just to keep going back for their homemade guacamole with fresh corn chips – it doesn’t get better than that when you want to unwind with a chilled margarita after a long day. Be sure to save some tummy space for their homemade cinnamon Churros. They’re not overly greasy or heavy despite being deep-fried, so it’s kind of impossible to nibble at just one.
La Salsa: 11 Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249673. P: +65 6475 6976
Lucha Loco
Nestled in Duxton Hill, this taqueria and bar serves authentic Mexican street food in a casual setting. Lucha Loco is best known for its Elotes – grilled corn on the cob till charred and nutty, slathered with a creamy sauce seasoned with garlic, chilies, cilantro and cotija cheese. If you’re feeling adventurous, start the meal backwards here and get the Enchilada de Manzana with green apples, agave cream cheese, chocolate sauce, pine nuts and vanilla ice cream. Then move on to a salad. One of our team members really likes their Ensalada Mixta (S$ 12) – with quinoa, pomelo, sweet corn and mojo verde (which is a green sauce made of cilantro, garlic, cumin and olive oil) – for its clean and fresh flavours; and the Batata tacos, which houses caramelised sweet potato, agave nut granola, lime crema alongside corn salsa.
Lucha Loco: 15 Duxton Hill, 089598 Singapore. P: +65 6226 3938
Margarita’s
Enchiladas Suicas Chatas de Nuevo – The Ultimate Enchiladas DishWith a rich history dated all the way back to 1988, Margarita’s is a gem in Dempsey Hill with great food, affordable prices and margaritas made with 100% blue agave tequilas. It’s hard to decide what our one favourite dish here is. We recommend sipping on the house special Chile Margarita while you look the menu over. For something healthy and a little different, we recommend getting the hearty Enchiladas Suicas Chatas De Neuvo (Swiss spinach flat enchiladas), topped with an optional sunny side egg. Finish off with the Kahlua Tiramisu (S$ 16) and the Frozen Chocolate Chile Mousse (think dark chocolate with chile ancho and agave nectar), both of which are must-dos. Oh, and their soups are really good too – a hit with kids aswell. Also a hit with kids are the cheesy Quesidillas (S$ 18) and the Mexican Rice (S$ 6). Read our full review of Margarita’s here.
Margarita’s: Blk 11, Dempsey Road, #01-09, (S) 249673. P: (65) 6471 3228
Señor Taco
Señor Taco was the first Taqueria to open in Singapore at Clarke Quay in 2009, bringing with it the authentic Mexican-style street food culture, rife with tacos and quesadillas. The food here is as vibrant as the restaurant’s lively ambience. Though they import fresh ingredients and chillies from Mexico to make amazing salsas and sauces, they have their own tortilla factory here to make sure that you get the best fresh corn and flour tortillas in the country. They cater to the vegetarian diner by offering veggie options for Burrito, Enchilada, Quesadilla, Flauta and Torta. They even have a Veggie Chorizo (S$ 8) on their menu.
Besides the food, we love the cool vibe they always have going on. Live Latin Band, Salsa Workshops, Bachata Classes – this is your place if you like to groove.
Señor Taco @ Clarke Quay: 3A/3D River Valley Road, #01-07/12, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179023. P: +65 6337 6376
Señor Taco @ Orchard Towers: 1 Claymore Drive, #01-06, Singapore 229594. P: +65 6235 511
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