For the Love of Agave Spirits, Tacos and Trompo Al Pastor: El Taquero Opens in Wan Chai

Injecting a dynamic dose of modern Mexican living into the city's dining scene, El Taquero, the latest dining concept by the Epicurean Group, is a meeting place dedicated to refreshing, intriguing drinks and satisfying comfort food in a vibrant and easy-going setting.

Nestled at the corner of Ship Street and Queen's Road East in Wan Chai, the 45-seat eatery takes its name from the Spanish description for "the taco vendor". El Taquero evolves through the day from a delightful lunch spot to a fun post-work tippling and casual dining destination. The main dining room is an interplay of light that seamlessly transitions through the day, an effect aided by large modern windows that open across the façade, allowing natural daylight to create an accessible ambience.

Vibrant coral-pink plaster on the façade, matched with a neon sign and equally eye-catching interiors pay homage to modern Taqueros eateries across Mexico City. The space is elegantly dressed in rustic stone tile flooring matched with light timber panels; a large mirror installation at the back of the banquette in navy green and brown leather complements the vibrant orange tabletops.

The eatery's clean and modern look is further accentuated by the wood motif, including an extended, curved timber panel wall with integrated wooden shelves filled with an extensive collection of tequilas and mezcals across the ceiling. The vibe is completed by the action of the restaurant's open kitchen counter seating, where the culinary team adds a theatrical touch by preparing the dishes right in front of guests, echoing the conviviality of dining out in Mexico City.

The venue also features a standalone cocktail bar matched with red bar shelves against a white tile wall, while guests can enjoy a range of refreshing Mexican-inspired cocktails front and centre at the marble-topped cocktail bar.
 
For the Love of Agave Spirits, Margaritas and Micheladas

At El Taquero, complementing the diverse food menu is an impressive drinks selection with an extensive collection of tequilas and mezcals. Try a shot of these timeless Mexican spirits with a traditional chaser – Sangrita, with tomato, lime juice and spices, or Verdita, with pineapple, mint, coriander and Jalapeño.

The drinks list is inspired by iconic Mexican flavours and classic cocktails that have brought agave spirits to the forefront of menus all over the world. Whether you want to relax with a post-work tipple or are preparing to paint the town red, guests can expect some familiar favourites like Margaritas and Micheladas, served classic or with a modern twist; each drink is priced at HK$88 and guaranteed to immerse cocktail lovers with the flavours of Mexico.

El Taquero has a little something for every Margarita lover, ranging from the classic Margarita to floral, herbal and fruity twist concoctions. These include the Mezcal Margarita with mezcal, blanco tequila, citrus, a dash of orange liqueur and margarita bitters; the Sage Margarita, made with reposado tequila, citrus, sage syrup and apricot liqueur; a Hibiscus Margarita with reposado tequila, citrus, Ancho Reyes  (Mexican chilli liquor) and hibiscus syrup; the earthy Bell Pepper Margarita with reposado tequila, citrus, bell pepper puree, a touch of honey and cilantro; and the delicate Rose Hip Rose with jalapeño-infused tequila, strawberry, citrus and a touch of ground pepper.

"Michelada" in Spanish means "my cold beer" and is a playful word inspired by a combination of words, including "chela" (a slang for beer), "ada" for "helada," meaning cold, and "mi" for mine. Widely known as a Mexican Bloody Mary because of the similar colour and often served with spices, this popular drink is crafted with a light beer subbing in for vodka in a Bloody Mary. Micheladas appeal to bartenders because of their unique and versatile blends of flavours, which are easily paired with a range of cuisines. The most common form of Michelada in Mexico City is prepared with light beer, lime, salt, hot sauces or chilli slices. A Michelada is one of the great Mexican drinks with a lower ABV, making it perfect on a hot summer day.

Check out the Classic Michelada, mixed with tomato juice, orange juice, hot sauce, citrus, salt, and pepper and topped with Mexican light beer; the Corn Sangrita, with tomato juice, corn syrup, and light beer, garnished with a piece of grilled corn; the Verdita Michelada with pineapple juice, jalapeño sauce, Mexican spices, fresh mint, and coriander, topped with light beer; and the Savoury Michelada with clamato juice, fresh orange juice, hot sauce, and light beer.

A Passion for Authentic Cooking

El Taquero's culinary team is led by Executive Chef Alejandro Ramírez Pérez, who is passionate about authentic Mexican cooking, creating an ambience akin to inviting guests into his family kitchen. The restaurant menus offer diners of all persuasions and appetites by showcasing regional dishes and traditional Mexican cooking techniques, demonstrating the versatility of Mexican cuisine, especially from the regions of Hidalgo, Nayarit, Jalisco and Mexico City.

Chef Alejandro boasts a solid 15 years of culinary experience and is no stranger to authentic Mexican cuisine. Born and raised in Mexico City, he grew up understanding the importance of authenticity in cooking by helping his grandmother prepare traditional family fare. Chef Alejandro's curiosity and passion for cuisine was inspired by his grandfather, a train conductor who used to travel across Mexico for work and often brought home some unique regional ingredients from the four corners of the country.

Chef Alejandro decided to follow his long-cherished dream of a culinary career by studying at the El Claustro de Sor Juana, one of Mexico's best culinary schools, before beginning his career in Spain at some of the world's most demanding kitchens, including the Michelin-starred El Bulli.

"Our menu reflects traditional Mexican flavours and techniques. We take pride in sourcing our ingredients straight from the heart of Mexico, creating a truly authentic dining experience. We make our tortillas and salsa selection in-house daily and are excited to present the Trompo Al Pastor experience to Hong Kong diners," said Chef Alejandro.
 
The Authentic Trompo Al Pastor Experience

In fact, the true showstopper at El Taquero is the Al Pastor experience, a rare find among Mexican restaurants in Hong Kong. Al Pastor is a Mexican dish with thinly sliced marinated pork, slow-cooked on the "trompo", a vertically rotating spit rotisserie. The meat is topped with pineapple and rests on onions. The theory is that the citrus juices and aroma of pineapple run down the pork while preventing the meat from getting overcooked.

This cooking method was inspired by the traditional Shawarma brought to Mexico around 1800 by Lebanese immigrants. The Mexican adaptation of Shawarma in the 1950s took the form of pork, marinated with a blend of spices, chillies, pineapple, and vinegar, which gave it its distinct flavour and served on a soft tortilla. It is also known as tacos al pastor, tacos de trompo, or simply pastor, and it has since become the taco most associated with Mexico City.

The pork shoulder is marinated overnight with achiote paste, a classic marination blended with annatto seeds, coriander seeds, Mexican oregano, black pepper, cumin, cloves, garlic and a touch of bitter orange juice, and then slow-cooked on the trompo spit grill. The succulent pork is served on a freshly-made corn tortilla as Taco Al Pastor (HK$48), served with fresh onion, coriander and charred pineapple, topped with the house-made salsa roja. Alternatively, the Al Pastor Experience (300g for HK$276, 500g for HK$360) is a "DIY" sharing platter with succulent spit-grilled Al Pastor pork served with warm tortillas, onions, coriander, salsa roja and fresh lime on the side.
 
Where Tradition Meets Modernity

El Taquero's enticing a la carte menu features a selection of approachable Mexican classics with a touch of innovation that pairs well with signature and classic beverages, no matter the time of day.

The taco selections are all served with freshly house-made corn tortillas. Choose from the Fish Sayulita (HK$56), featuring battered crispy mahi mahi served with shredded cabbage, refreshing pico de gallo (fresh chopped tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño chilli, coriander, fresh lime), and drizzled with chipotle aioli for a hint of smokiness; Chapulines (HK$46), a popular taco from Oaxaca featuring crispy Mexican grasshoppers served with guacamole, pico de gallo and crumbled cheese; and Nopales (HK$46), which is preserved cactus slices served with pico de gallo, salsa roja and crumbled cheese.

Other taco selections include Bistec (HK$52), sliced Prime beef ribeye dressed with salsa verde, fresh onion and coriander; Lengua (HK$48), slow-poached ox tongue with garlic, star anise and clove; and Pollo Adobado (HK$42), the grilled chicken thigh is marinated with Mexican Adobo made with ancho and guajillo peppers and topped with fresh onion, coriander and salsa roja.

For Chef Alejandro and his team, salsa is crucial to any good taco. All of the salsa selections are freshly made on-premises with authentic Mexican ingredients. Opt for the Tortilla Chips with Five House-made Salsas (HK$118) to try them all; the basket of freshly made tortilla chips is served with Salsa Verde made with Mexican tomatillo, serrano chilli and coriander; Salsa Roja blended with árbol chilli, ancho chilli and slow-roasted tomatoes;  Pico de Gallo made with freshly-chopped tomatoes, onions, serrano chilli and coriander; Salsa Pasilla with dried pasilla chilli with slow-roasted tomatoes and garlic; and Habanero Salsa, the spiciest of the selection, made with marinated red onions, oregano, lime and habanero chilli.

Other starters and small bites include Tamales (HK$48), corn-based masa dough steamed in corn husks and topped with black beans, salsa verde, sour cream, cotija aged white cheese, onion and coriander; and Elotes Preparados (HK$88), a popular street snack made with a whole steamed white corn rubbed with mayonnaise, crumbled cheese, chilli powder and fresh lime.

Seafood lovers will enjoy the Tuna Tostadas (HK$62) with raw yellowfin tuna and a touch of chipotle mayo, serrano chilli, and cucumber served on top of a crispy toasted tortilla. Also look out for Shrimp Aguachile Tostadas (HK$58), a raw seafood dish from the north-west region of Mexico featuring shrimp marinated in aquachile (serrano chilli, lime juice, salt, cucumber, red onion, coriander) and served atop a toasted tortilla; Ostiones El Taquero (HK$78) is created to be slurped up like a cheering shot - the freshly shucked oyster is topped with pico de gallo and tequila; and Ceviche Punta de Mita (HK$188) is sure to whet the appetite with a combination of lightly-poached tiger prawns, scallops and octopus, served with a tangy salsa bruja.

Diners looking for something a little heartier to share can choose from Chicken Enchiladas (HK$168), made with corn tortillas stuffed with pulled chicken and cheese and topped with salsa verde, sour cream and red onion; Tiger Prawns Al Ajillo (HK$248 for 3 pieces; HK$348 for 5 pieces), these fresh tiger prawns are cooked in guajillo, a sauce made with chilli, olive oil, garlic and fresh lime and served with warm tortillas; and Short Rib Mixiote (HK$288), slow-cooked boneless short ribs with cactus leaf served with fresh tortillas, habanero salsa, onion and coriander.

Dessert lovers shouldn't miss out on classic Churros (HK$68) served with Mexican chocolate sauce and others. 
 
A Lunch Menu to Get You Through the Workday

El Taquero's lunch set is available daily from Monday to Friday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and a two-course menu starts from HK$148 per person.

Choices include a Taco Set with your choice of three tacos; the Signature Al Pastor, spit-grilled Al Pastor pork served with salsa roja, cheese, onion, coriander, warm tortillas, grilled chillis, and Mexican rice; Al Pastor Torta, grilled Al Pastor pork sandwich served with mixed cheese, onion, coriander and salsa roja, and a side of guacamole and habanero salsa; Chicken Enchiladas, corn tortillas stuffed with pulled chicken and cheese and topped with salsa roja, sour cream and red onion; and many more. Guests are welcome to add HK$30 to enjoy made-to-order Churros served with Mexican chocolate sauce or classic Flan, sweet custard topped with caramel sauce.

All prices are subject to 10% service charge.
 
El Taquero is located at Shops B-F G/F Yan King Court, 119 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner with a seating capacity of 45 guests. For reservations, please call +852 2811 1998 or follow the restaurant on social media @eltaquerohk.

About Executive Chef Alejandro Ramírez Pérez

Executive Chef Alejandro Ramírez Pérez boasts a solid 15 years of culinary experience and is no stranger to authentic Mexican cuisine. Born and raised in Mexico City, he grew up understanding the importance of authenticity in cooking by helping his grandmother prepare traditional family fare.

Chef Alejandro decided to follow his long-cherished dream of a culinary career by studying at the El Claustro de Sor Juana, one of Mexico's best culinary schools, for five years before beginning his career in Spain at some of the world's most demanding kitchens, including the Michelin-starred El Bulli.

Choosing to return to Mexico, he experienced diverse regions, from the beach to the highlands, where he had the opportunity to learn to grow fresh produce, fully appreciating the entire process of creating diverse and authentic Mexican food. During this time, Chef Alejandro won recognition from the National Competition in Culinary Arts Copa Thierry Bluet and the French Culinary Academy.

In 2015, he decided to take the plunge and move to Hong Kong, falling in love with the bustling city and its fascinating culinary experiences. He hasn't looked back since, creating unique menus in popular restaurants across the city. His background has taken him to lead Mexican projects since 2019, including Taqueria Super Macho or Te Quiero Mucho, collaborating and creating a solid bond with the city's Mexican community.

Address
Shops B-F G/F Yan King Court, 119 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Reservations
+852 2811 1998

Seating
45 seated guests

Opening Hours
Sunday to Wednesday - 12 pm to 3 pm; 5 pm to 11:30 pm
Thursday to Saturday - 12 pm to 3 pm; 5 pm to 1 am

Corkage
HK$300 per wine bottle
HK$500 per spirit bottle

Cake Charge
HK$250 per cake

Social Media
FB & IG: @El Taquero HK