Tat3
Tacos Mercado @ Tokyo, Kodaira City (Hanakoganei) @ Tacos and other dishes made by a Mexican lady here are truly exceptional. It's the best Mexican restaurant I've been to in Japan so far. It leans more towards American TexMex than authentic Mexican cuisine. I've been wanting to go back, and after 9 months since my last visit on September 19, 2022, I finally made a return. It was a Saturday lunchtime, so there were two groups ahead of us, and we had to wait for about 15 minutes before being seated. You can find it easily by turning right onto Seibu Street from the Suzuki Machi intersection on the north side of Koganei Park, just off Koganei Kaido. On the other side is a Chinese restaurant I frequent called "Dohshin-Kyo." They have a convenient free parking lot for two cars. If you're taking the train, it's 550 meters from Hanakoganei Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line or 2.5 kilometers from Musashikoganei Station on the Chuo Line. There are two parking spaces in the gravel space across the road, but please be aware that the other spaces belong to the Chinese restaurant "Dohshin-Kyo" across the street.
The restaurant has a bright and spacious interior with a large open kitchen. There are two counter seats, three 2-person tables, an 8-person table, and two 4-person tables with wooden backrests that are elevated. Outside the window, there's an open-air basement terrace with two 4-person tables. The restaurant's decor is vibrant Mexican, and the background music adds to the atmosphere with Mexican tunes. The food is prepared diligently in the open kitchen by an elegant Mexican lady, which enhances the Mexican vibe even more.
For lunch, they offer four options, including taco plates, ranging from 1,180 to 1,880 yen. They also have a kids' plate for 680 yen. Their grand menu includes various tacos, nachos, chicken fajitas, enchiladas, taco rice, guacamole with tortilla chips, and other typical Mexican dishes. However, it feels more like a casual TexMex place with a focus on tacos rather than an authentic Mexican restaurant. This makes the flavors more approachable for Japanese palates.
Today, two of us had the following for lunch, and it was so delicious that we finished everything:
- Deluxe Plate 1,880 yen
- Mercado Taco Rice 1,400 yen
- Elderflower Iced Tea 550 yen
- Lime Soda 550 yen
It was my first time trying the Taco Rice, and it was delicious with homemade chili con carne, sunny-side-up egg, fresh vegetables, and Mexican rice. The Deluxe Plate was beautifully presented with a variety of items that instantly increased our appetite. The Tacos were made with soft corn tortillas filled with carnitas (pork stew), a street food classic. The Tostada had shrimp, guacamole, and crispy vegetables on a crunchy tortilla, which was incredibly tasty. The Quesadilla, which had minced meat in my previous visit, surprised me this time with a unique filling of soybeans from Yamagata, which added a distinct texture and wonderful flavor. It also came with avocado, making it incredibly delicious. The Chicharron (fried pork skin) that comes with just two pieces was like a light crispy rice cracker, perfect as a side.
The food here leans more towards refined TexMex rather than pure Mexican, and that's exactly to my liking. I'll definitely be revisiting soon. Highly recommended.
Rating: ★★★★★
Parking: Free parking for two cars available
Visit date: June 24, 2023, lunchtime
Lunch hours: Yes
Takeout: Available
Closed on Sundays
Business hours: 12:00-14:30, 17:30-22:30
Smoking: Completely non-smoking
Credit cards: Accepted
Electronic money: Accepted (PayPay, RPay)
Point cards: Not available
Free WiFi: No, but they have their own WiFi
Power outlets at tables: Not available
Likelihood of revisiting: High
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