This is one of only a few Mexican restaurants in Bangkok that’s actually run by Mexicans. Jorge Bernal, who originally set up another of this town’s most reliable Mexican joints, Tacos & Salsa, has kitted out his new 20-seater restaurant with a homey, intimate vibe that doesn’t skimp on Mexico’s bold signature colors of blue, red and yellow. Expect to be warmly welcomed by the owner and his staff, who will guide you through the three-page menu, which contains every traditional Mexican dish you can think of as well as a few that go beyond expectations.

 

Leaving our Tex-Mex tongues behind for a while, we start with a traditional pozole soup (B170) and fall in love straight away. The mixture of pork broth, corn, lettuce and radish tastes perfect: slightly sour yet so balanced. The waitress might recommend you add some hot sauce, which lifts the flavor even more.

 

The nopales salad (cactus salad, B250), though unusual-sounding, has a comforting flavor of mild pickle (if a little slimy), while the rich nuggets of deep-fried pork skin, avocado and feta cheese cut through the acidity of the lime juice and tomato. We also like the chicken with mole enchiladas (B280) thanks to the thick, moreish mole sauce and well-fried enchiladas, which go well with a michelada (beer cocktail, B40 addition to beer price). The horchata (rice drink, B70) has a refreshing rice and cinnamon aroma, resembling arroz con leche (Mexican rice pudding) in drink form. 

 

There are eleven different taco fillings (B220/3 pieces) but we’d go cheesy with quesadillas (B270). Though the richness of cheese nicely cuts through the sourness of some of the other dishes we have on the table, it’s a bit overwhelming—in fact we can hardly taste the pork. The guacamole (B70) here is not the familiar green cream but more like avocado chunks in tomato salsa, which for us tastes too salty.

 

Finally, we’d recommend the well-cooked and mildly sweet arroz con leche (B65) over the intensely sweet Napolitano flan (B60) for dessert. All in all, we’d happily drop by Sabroso again, especially for Saturday’s B500 taco buffet.

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This review took place in May 2015 and is based on a visit to the restaurant without the restaurant's knowledge. For more on BK's review policy, click here.