COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Though this small Mexican joint, tucked into the back of Habito community mall in On Nut, has only been open a year, the owners have a long history of making Mexican food in Bangkok.
The couple, Abel Coutino Castilla and Donaya Siamwalla, previously owned a restaurant by the same name on Srinakarin Road for three years. He’s from Chiapas, Mexico, and she’s from Thailand but they met years ago in Hawaii, while both were working in hospitality. Though their restaurant is not large, their business is far-reaching — they also have a factory that produces the corn chips and tortillas for many of the big name Mexican spots in the city.
Donaya’s background in hospitality means she knows how to chat up guests. When we dined anonymously recently, she came over and chatted to us like old friends after deftly creating a Mexican feast for us.
We started with the chips and salsa (THB100) and mucho queso bowl (THB200), a Oaxacan-style interpretation of a classic queso fundido cheese dip. Thankfully, they offer it in pork, chicken, or vegetarian versions. We took the veggie option which features fresh cheese (a soft Mexican cheese that is not unlike a mozzarella) with pureed corn and potatoes for a satisfying, warm, comforting dip.
The shrimp quesadilla (THB300) was definitely the best I’ve had in Bangkok — if not in the world — and I lived in Mexico for a year. This is due, in no small part, to the high quality of the ingredients used, all of which are homemade, imported, or both.
A quesadilla is not a hard thing to to make but most places in Bangkok, where good cheese is pricy, tend to skimp on the key ingredient. Here the quesadilla is stuffed with cheese and large, plump, firm shrimp inside a perfectly cooked quesadilla that was crispy instead of limp and didn’t fall apart when picked up. In fact, when I went to eat the leftovers the next day, it was still a bit crisp. The tortilla dish is served with generous bowl of El Mariachi’s fresh salsa, which is not pureed but more like a chunky pico de gallo without all the cilantro.
Next up was a carne asada chimichanga (THB315) which was well-made if a bit too heavy to finish. But, hey, no one orders a deep fried beef burrito when they want to eat light. The beef was well-seasoned and cooked and again served with a large cup of fresh salsa and sour cream.
A burrito mojado vegetarian (THB290) came next, overflowing with homemade refried beans and roasted veggie goodness. It was well-presented, dappled with a spicy red sauce and sour cream.
We washed down our food with a couple of bulldog margaritas (THB305) which involves a beer turned over into a margarita. The margaritas were not too sweet and the beer makes them refreshing, perfect for al fresco dining. They reminded my dining partner of a Mexican-style shandy that he described as “more than the sum of its parts.”
Donaya told us that she’s planning to introduce several new drinks soon, including a sangria and spiked horchata. She’s also planning salsa dance nights with a buffet available.
One word to the wise: El Mariachi hosts Taco Tuesday, which offers all-you-can-eat tacos in seven varieties, for THB399 from 6pm-9:30pm. The night is very popular so beware the Wednesday visit, when they may have run out of many menu items the night before.
FIND IT:
Habito Mall, 1st Floor
Open daily, 11am-12am
BTS On Nut
