Muy bueno

Reviewed by: Laura Fulton

Looking for a reason to nosh on some fantastic Mexican food? How about a celebration of the Mexican militia over the French army in 1862? The colourful Cinco de Mayo (or the 5th of May), holiday is right around the corner - a fitting opportunity to dig into some hearty Tex-Mex at Cantina Laredo.

The creamy, cheesy Queso Laredo - made with aged imported beef mince and authentic salsa on the side - goes down a treat with the crisp tortilla chips made fresh in house and avocado aficionados simply should not miss the Top Shelf Guacamole. Made tableside, diners are treated to a guacamole-making demonstration with plump avocado, coriander, jalapeno, onion, tomato, chilli powder and fork squeezed lime. This chunky dip is everything guacamole should be - fresh and tangy - like a naughty salad.

The menu is full of traditional favourites, including several variations of enchiladas, plus plenty of chef's specials and vegetarian options, although people with allergies should beware - the chefs may simply pick out the ingredient you can’t have.

Allergies notwithstanding, there's little fault to be found with the food. The speciality drinks are uninspiring, but you can hear the sizzling fajitas coming from across the room, and the handmade corn and flour tortillas really are the same as the ones Mexican mothers make at home. The enchilada Veracruz, stuffed with chicken, was fresh and filling like everything else.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with live music and prizes for winning tables, Cantina Laredo is definitely worth a try.

What? Cantina Laredo
Where? Khalidiyah Mall, first floor near LuLu Hypermarket
Why? They hit the basics and mix it up a bit with some excellent specials
Why not? While Cantina Laredo is lovely, with no sombrero in sight, there’s no escaping the fact you’re still in the mall
We say: Simple, inexpensive, tasty and plenty of food for a good price
Cost: Super-size portions means value for money – most mains run between AED 40 and 60
Contact: 02 635 4877