I love Mexican food. It’s those flavours of spicy, sweet, tangy and fresh made corn tortillas that makes me addicted to want to eat more. I have travelled to various regions of Mexico and believed it or not I began to love the traditional Mexican food, people and culture. Having said that it really makes it even more difficult not to compare the Mex Mex food here in The Netherlands or Europe. Many times when we travelled to the neighbouring countries here such as Germany , I would “request” to find a Mexican restaurant and the nearest I get is a Tex-Mex restaurant. So here I am entering a Mex-Mex restaurant in Amsterdam, telling myself not to put such high hopes. Firstly getting fresh corn tortillas in a restaurant is not that easy here.
Los Pilones is the nearest you can get if you want to eat Mexican food here. Luckily they are not serving burritos or fajitas which are Tex-Mex. Ask any Mexican person that you want to eat fajitas and they will frown at you 🙂 We went to the branch in Jordaan. Nice cosy place. Spicy salsa and good creamy guacamole. I would recommend to go for their “Classics” such as “Pollo con mole”- shredded chicken stew with mole. Mole is made with chocolate, chillies and spices. Another dish “Tiras ala Mexicana” – slices of beef or chicken with cactus and “pico de gallo”. “Pico de gallo” is basically salsa made with chopped tomatoes, habaneros, lime juice, onion, coriander.
I have learned and resorted to making my own corn tortillas with masa harina at home and cooking some Mexican classic dishes. What’s missing are some Mariachis singing at home. I miss Mexico.
Food (8/10) Service (7/10) Ambience (8/10) Price/Quality (8/10)
Pros: Nice ambience, good margaritas.
Cons: Would love if they serve Tamarind Margaritas and more Mexican traditional classics.
Leidsebuurt
Kerkstraat 63, Amsterdam
T: +31 0203204651
Jordaan
1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 6, Amsterdam
T: +31 020620 0323
Nieuwmarkt
Geldersekade 111, Amsterdam
T: +31 0207760210
