Note: Traditionally, all Mexican tacos are served with yellow or white corn tortillas. (Flour tortillas are used for quesadillas and burritos, if you must.) In Thailand, you’ll mostly come across yellow corn tortillas, which are coarser and more likely to crack when rolled. So best eat your tacos fresh! Hard, crunchy shells? Leave that to Taco Bell. The fact of the matter in Bangkok is that many restaurants outsource their corn and flour tortillas from the likes of El Charro, a Mexican-run food company around since 1992.
 

 

Barrio Bonito 


Who: The Commons’ Koh Chang blow-in, decked out with Day of the Dead skulls. 
The Tortillas: Mostly sourced through El Charro (see box: “Know Your Tortilla”), though they regularly use homemade versions in specials.
Get this: The best-selling tacos de barbacoa (B200) has seven-hour slow-cooked lamb marinated in ancho chili paste with fresh coriander and onion, but we suggest the lip-smacking tacos placeros (B180), in which corn tortillas are filled with beans, salsa fresca, Mexican crumbled cheese and crispy pork rinds, served with a side of avocado mousse.  
G/F, The Commons, 335 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-712-7832. Open daily 11am-11:30pm 

 


Charley Browns 


Who: The former Suk 11 stalwart now at Asoke. The decor’s as vibrant as always, while the menu’s packed with Tex-Mex favorites and booze deals. 
The Tortillas: Perhaps the only place that uses Maseca corn flour and a traditional cast iron tortilla press. 
Get This: Chicken taquitos (B165/4 pieces), amazing rolled tacos filled with spicy, pulled chicken then deep-fried until crisp. Order a side of guacamole (B95) for dipping. The tacos de la baja (beer-battered fried fish, B130), are another good bet. 
G/F, iCheck Inn Hotel, 19/9-10 Sukhumvit Soi 19, 02-044-2553. Open Mon 5pm-midnight; Tue-Sun noon-midnight. BTS Asoke

 


El Mariachi


Who: Formerly located way out on Srinakarin, this husband-and-wife team recently brought their home-style meals to On Nut’s Habito mall.
The Tortillas: Made in-house from beginning to end, including the process of nixtamalization (a method of soaking corn in an alkaline solution to improve nutritional quality). 
Get This: The beef barbacoa (B290/4 pieces) is the big winner: corn or flour tortillas with a generous helping of slow-cooked beef, topped with onion, cilantro, lime and homemade salsa. 
1/F, Habito Mall, On Nut Soi 1/1, 09-179-6429. Open daily 11am-midnight 

 

 

The Missing Burro  


Who: From a shipping container-turned-kitchen, two Mexican brothers serve up traditional Yucatan cuisine to a sprinkling of tables in the garden. 
The Tortillas: Sourced from El Charro. 
Get This: The panuchos de cochinita (B300/5 pieces) are a true taste of Mexico; corn tortillas filled with a Yucatan-style roasted pork marinated in achiote, sour orange and spices then cooked slowly within a banana leaf to seal everything in. The shredded pork is topped with briny red pickled onion, sliced, orange chilis and a small side of refried beans. 
145 Thonglor Soi 7, 090-913-2131. Open daily 5-11pm

 

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Get a complimentary Pineapple Chimichanga valued THB 160 when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip (limit 1 dish /card /table /sales slip)
Today - 31 Aug 19

 


La Monita 


Who: Sukhumvit’s enduring favorite for an after-work burrito and beer. The vivid decor gives every indication of the super-flavorful quesadillas and tacos on offer. 
The Tortillas: The corn tortillas are made in-house and have a pliable texture perfect for rolling up. El Charro’s flour tortillas are no let-down either. 
Get This: For something authentic, go for the carne asada taco Mexi-style (B135) with tender, flavorful New Zealand rib eye steak and chopped white onion and cilantro on a soft corn tortilla — just like you’d find on the street in Mexico. The carne asada taco Cali-style (B175) adds guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese.
888/25-26 Ploen Chit Rd., 02-651-5605. Other branches: EmQuartier, Siam Paragon

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Get 10% on food only discount on food only when spending THB 1,000 or more /sales slip (EmQuartier branch only)
Today - 28 Feb 19

 


Slanted Taco


Who: Part of the Suk 23 commune home to Whisgars cigar lounge and Craft beer terrace, this restaurant has a happening cantina vibe, complete with vibrant murals and a thumping Latino club soundtrack 
The Tortillas: Made in-house, the corn tortillas are deliciously pliable, but not recommended for delivery as they quickly turn to mush. 
Get This: Chorizo tacos (B200/3 pieces), flavor-packed Mexican chorizo (fresh pork sausage seasoned with ground chilies and spices) topped with melted cheese inside a small corn tortilla. 
16 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-258-0546. Open daily 11am-midnight

 


Tacos & Salsa 


Who: Bright and bold describes not only the decor, but also the food. Tacos & Salsa also just opened a second branch right by BTS On Nut, too.  
The Tortillas: Sourced from El Charro. 
Get This: Forget the hit-and-miss service and tuck into an all-timer like the baja fish tacos (B270) with fried or grilled fish, cabbage, salsa and a creamy chipotle dressing.
21/3 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-663-6366
250/2 Sukhumvit Soi 77, 02-015-2682. BTS On Nut

 

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Get 10% discount on food
Today – 31 Mar 19

 


Mexicano


Who: Formerly Senor Pico, Rembrandt hotel’s long-running Mexican institution not only got a new name a couple years back, but also a more traditional direction.
The Tortillas: Sourced through El Charro. 
Get This: The tacos al pastor (B295), which stars pork marinated in spices then served with fresh pineapple, chopped coriander and white onion. Beware: the bar features a wide selection of tequila. 
1/F, Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, 19 Sukhumvit Soi 18, 02-261-7100. Open daily 5-11pm; Sat 12pm-3pm 


About the writer: Raised between California and Mexico, Megan Leon is a former chef who’s worked in the kitchens of Bo.lan and Eat Me. She now spends her time writing, seeking out in-any-way authentic Bangkok Mexican food, and perfecting her own tortilla recipe. 


Put on your stretchy pants, forget about the macros and tuck in to BK Best Eats 2018. This is the Bangkok dining that ignores fancy restaurants and 10-course tasting menus and goes straight for the comfort food—steaming bowls of fat-rich ramen, triple-decker burgers, all-you-can-eat dim sum buffets with an extra helping of pork buns. In other words, the stuff most of us eat out, most of the time.

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