Best burrito – found at eaten at an authentic Mexican cantina.
Being a great fan of spicy Mexican cuisine,I have often thought how sad it is that there are so few eateries serving Mexican in Kyiv. And there are even fewer places that actually specialize in Mexican cuisine – restaurants usually serve primarily European or American dishes. So, I decided to find out which place serves the best Mexican food. To make the task easier on myself, I decided to pick a typical Mexican dish, and see which eatery cooks it best. And what could be more characteristic of Mexican cuisine than the ever-popular burrito?
Before recently I had only tried a burrito at Potato House, a popular cafeteria-style fast-food restaurant. The place has higher quality food, better prices and a nicer atmosphere than McDonalds and other Ukrainian fast-food restaurants. It is also not as crowded and boasts original interior design and food – freshly prepared and served on stylish plates – as opposed to the disposable containers used at many other places.
However, at Potato House burritos look more like home-style burgers than restaurant dishes. They come with different filling options: beef, pork, chicken, salmon, cheese, fried mushrooms, and/or raw vegetables. All of the ingredients of your burrito are then served to you on a sombrero-shaped tray, and you roll it yourself. Or you can order one readymade. I really like being able to choose the ingredients and roll them myself – and it usually comes out quite tasty, but of course I always know it isn’t exactly the real thing.
Starting my research into the Mexican fare available at different restaurants in Kyiv, my first choice was TGI Fridays, located in the center, on Besarabska Ploshcha. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any burritos on their menu and had to continue on my search elsewhere. My next stop was Akapulko – a place I didn’t know much about and, as it turned out, for a good reason. It was located on Saksahanskoho street, and I figured it would be a quick walk there from Bessarabska Ploshcha. It turned out I greatly miscalculated the distance. Saksahanskoho is very long indeed, and the restaurant was located at the opposite end of the street.
When I finally got there, my feet aching badly, I discovered that the restaurant was closed for good. At that point I nearly gave up on the idea of having a burrito dinner that night. But being stubborn, I decided to continue on to Vorovskoho street, where Mexican restaurant Azteka was situated. Finally taking a seat at the eatery, situated underground, I gave some rest to my feet and ordered a chilli burrito for Hr 52. The filling was a combination of stewed beef, pork and chicken, plus sour cream and some chilli paste for a spicy taste. It tasted pretty good, but I disliked the crazy mix of different meats and the general absence of vegetables.
The atmosphere of Azteka was very calm and the dim lighting gave it some intimacy. Yet the Mexican accessories adorning the walls didn’t go well with the modern pop music playing in the background, and in the end there wasn’t much of a Mexican flavour there – it seemed like more of a European-style eatery.
The last and only hope in my burrito search was Tequila House. Though it was already one of my favorite restaurants, I hadn’t tasted their burrito until then. The exotic decor of the place always makes me feel more energetic. The furniture and accessories are all designed in Mexican style and, accompanied by Mexican music, look and feel bright and friendly.
From the menu, which included a funny section called “rules of eating and drinking at a cantina,” I ordered a roll stuffed with cheese and Mexican beans. After trying it I understood how much beans add to the dish – the burrito had a slight spiciness and yet a mildness at the same time. The price, Hr 49, was a bit lower than at Azteka, and at the same time the burrito was much better quality.
Tequila House (8A Spaska, 417-0358)
