Q Mex’s Taqueria: Go for 1/2 Price Taco Tuesdays!

Q Mex was, in my mind, the classic business in China story where investors open a restaurant, bring in a good foreign chef to consult and after great first impressions, the foreign chef departs and then begins its slow descent into oblivion, only drawing crowds for their 1/2 off food specials and extended happy hour drink deals.

Q Mex seemingly has defied this trend and resurrected itself and in the process, opened up a new branch: Q Mex Taqueria: Taco & Tequila Bar.

Focused on tacos and tequila (as their signage says), it is located just north of International S.O.S. aka Raffles Medical Center, next to Bottega’s massive new relocation.

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Huguosi Hangouts: Xalapa, Mistica + NBeer Pub

Xalapa Mexican Food + Mistica Cafe + NBeer Pub

tl;dr Great if you’re in the area. Go for a beer in NBeer Pub when you finish!

Xalapa may seem like in an odd place. Named after a city near the Mexican gult, this is a traditional Mexican restaurant that was actually first opened in Argentina, and has now been transported to Beijing. Even its location seems rather random. Located at Huguosi 护国寺街, this is a Chinese traditional snack street to the west of Houhai 后海, near Pinganli 平安里 subway station.

It has all the classic hallmarks of a hutong tourist trap with a supposed ban on cars, renovated hutongs and a bunch of people selling stuff you would never want to buy. It also has a brand new looking shopping centre called Huguo Xintiandi (ring a bell?) which houses, among other cafes and retail shops, Xalapa and NBeer brewpub.

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The Taco Bar’s Weekday Lunch Set Commences

Starting Thursday, September 18th, The Taco Bar Commences Lunch Service

Since Team Rocky re-opened The Legendary Taco Bar in South Sanlitun mid-June this year, they have gradually started expanding their opening hours to not only include boozy late-nights of six-too-many-tequila shots and those dangerous cocktails they keep letting people purchase. After launching their weekend brunch in mid-July, I’m happy to share that they’re now offering a lunch set that’s basically too temptingly good to deny.

The Taco Bar Weekday Lunch Set

(Available Tuesday-Friday, closed Mondays)

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Revisiting Cantina Agave: New Mexican Dishes

New Menu Additions Worth a Visit to Cantina Agave

When Cantina Agave first opened in Beijing in March 2013, it was caused quite a stir as their popularity in Shanghai is unparalleled by any other Mexican taqueria and tequileria.  Famous for their California-Mexican style menu dishes and serving over 100 types of tequila, this trendy Shanghai brand managed to lock in a sweet location across from Flamme restaurant on the 3rd floor of Sanlitun Taikoo Li Village. Making a big splash at their opening party, Cantina quickly made a name for themselves as a hot spot for tequila shots and tasty cocktails.

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The Orchid + Taco Bar Pop-Up in Dashilar for BJDW

The Coolest Event of BJ Design Week Thus Far:

The Taco Bar Pops-Up in The Orchid’s Upcoming Space in Dashilar

A pop-up that spread through Beijing’s foodie community like wildfire, news of The Taco Bar making a brief return was reason enough for me to cancel all prior engagements and head straight over knowing that they would most definitely run out of seats and, more importantly, tacos.

Located in what looks like an abandoned warehouse just off of Meishijie in Dashilar, this is what you step into:

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Taqueria & Tequileria Cantina Agave Opens in Sanlitun

Shanghai Import Cantina Agave Replaces VaVaVoom in Sanlitun Village

Yet another Shanghai import has made its way to into Beijing’s Sanlitun hood, Cantina Agave is a legend in the Shanghai dining scene known as “Shanghai’s favorite Taqueria & Tequileria” with its tasty margaritas, tequila flights and house specialty cocktails matched by an equally impressive range of California-style Mexican food.

“We use only top quality ingredients including imported chilies, cheese and garden fresh produce. Age old recipes make your experience with us as authentic as Mexico. With over 100 different types of tequila, regular food specials, daily wine boards, and monthly events, we want to satisfy your cravings for authentic Mexican food and certifiably amazing tequila.” – Cantina Agave

Owners Kelley Lee and Raffe Ibrahamian just opened their doors last week and a few of us came in on Saturday night to admire the view over a couple of margaritas and shared dessert.  I gotta say, the restaurant design is stunning.

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The Secret (and Semi-Opened) Taco Bar in the Hutongs

The Taco Bar is now OPEN!! (well, sort of…)

I know it’s cruel how I’ve been taunting you all with photos from The Taco Bar’s test kitchen the past few months, but it’s finally happening and the million dollar question is whether or not The Taco Bar is actually open?!

The answer:  umm….sort of.

The Taco Bar is open five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday) with limited hours and reservations are required for tables that are 8 or more.

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Gourmet Mexican Cuisine by Q Mex Bar & Grill

Q Mex is undoubtedly one of Beijing’s new dining hot spots.

Only open for a few months, many foodie friends are already regular customers of Q Mex and it’s all the rave, popping up everywhere in the English magazines. (see below for links to other websites for more reviews)

And I am proud to say that I had the privilege of being among the very first tasters, one of many eager and very curious Mexican food enthusiasts who attended BJ FOoDiEs’ June Charity Dinner for their monthly featured charity organization TEACH FOR CHINA (TFC), an organization that recruits, selects, trains, and supports outstanding US and Chinese graduates to work side-by-side to deliver an excellent education in high poverty, rural Chinese communities.

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