Think about it, do you really know anything about Mexican food besides tacos, nachos, and burritos? Highly unlikely unless you’re a Mexican cuisine connoisseur.

Keen to broaden your horizons? Well you’re in luck because, hidden along a thoroughfare in Sri Hartamas is Flavours of Mexico Asia. This culinary gem has brought the flaming flavours of Mexican street food to our part of the world, promising authentic taste and bold seasonings.

Regulars are raving about the food at this eatery, but does every bite reflect the rich tapestry of Mexican cuisine? We had to find out because the best-kept secrets are meant to be shared and savoured.

The owner of this restaurant is a chef from Mexico who has 20 years of experience in the culinary field. A quick conversation with him revealed that he started cooking at the age of 18, before pursuing culinary arts in Mexico.

He claims that they only serve the most authentic and comforting Mexican street food, and that he worked hard to bring the unique flavours of his country to our side of the world. Locals often mistake him for being a Malay, but he’s a certified Mexican. Trust us, you won’t question his culinary background once you try his food. 

The menu at this eatery offers dishes rarely found outside the vibrant streets of Mexico. They even have Pollo y Mojo, Tamales, and Flautas. It is a pork-free establishment that uses halal certified ingredients. Their spices and chilies are all imported from Mexico, so you know this is as close as you’ll get to the real deal.

Now, they use ingredients imported from Mexico, but did the food actually measure up in terms of taste or were we met with a lacklustre experience? 

MFT’s Review

Tamales 

Starting off strong, we had to try their highly complimented tamales. We got the chicken and vegetarian tamales and boy do we have some things to say. This was absolutely insane and we mean that in the best way possible. It was warm, fluffy, and steamed to perfection. The dough was not too dense and was well seasoned with Mexican spices, which really came through in each bite. The filling was spicy and flavourful and not bland at all, which can sometimes be the case with tamales. This one was dare we say, perfect? At least in our books. 

Tacos 

We were most excited for the tacos so we had to get both the lamb and the chicken. They also have prawn (RM14), fish (RM13), and vegetarian tacos (RM10). 

The Lamb Birria Tacos (RM16) got a 9/10 from us. The lamb is slow-cooked for 12 hours, giving the meat a chance to tenderise and really soak up all the spices. Their marinade is made with indigenous chillies such as Guajillo chilli and Ancho chilli.

We were also warned by the waiter to be careful with the salsa because it’s really spicy. “No like, REALLY SPICY,” he emphasised dramatically a second time. The meat is placed on a generous spread of homemade avocado. It was not dry or tough at all and did not have a gamy undertone. It was juicy and delicious.

We immediately craved more meat filling in the taco so we could stuff our faces. As for the supposedly “really spicy” salsa, well, try it out for yourselves to see if you can handle the heat. Psst, some of us could not. 

We were sure that the chicken taco would not be able to outshine the lamb one, but we were wrong. Unlike most places, the Taco De Pollo Al Pastor (RM12) was made with chicken thigh instead of chicken breast, so the meat was extra tender and simply bursting with flavour.

The chicken is marinated with Mexican spices for about 8 hours and cooked for 2 hours. They use an array of special ingredients like mexican black pepper and anato seeds, which gave it a special place in our hearts, because this ended up being one of our favourites.

Am I desperately craving it as I write this? 100 percent. 

Cheese Flautas

Cheese lovers, do not miss out on their cheese flautas. I repeat, do not miss out! This was a heavenly combination that hit the spot in every sense. Soft charcoal corn tortillas are filled with cheese and placed on a bed of thick and creamy tomato sauce.

The star of the dish? Sour cream and cheese sauce, made with mozzarella and cheddar, are layered thick on top of the tortillas, before being topped with chopped tomato, red onion, coriander, and pickled radish.

Think of it as like a deconstructed pizza. Doesn’t the sound of that alone make you drool? 

Nachos & Cocktail De Cameron

When I tell you we wanted to try everything on the menu, I am hardly exaggerating. While we unfortunately could not, these sharing platters were the perfect portion for two to three people.

The nachos were not as loaded as we thought they would be, but they were still really good and added the perfect crunch for bites in between the tacos and tamale. The prawn cocktail was served with corn chips and a tomato based broth with lime, chilli, and avocado. It was a surprisingly light and refreshing side, perfect for our humid weather. 

Churros Con Cajeta 

You have to end your meal with their churros (RM17). Were these the best churros we’ve ever had in KL? Possibly. They were so crispy but fluffy on the inside, and the caramel sauce that they served it with? Divine! 

After stuffing our faces, my colleague admitted that this dining experience closely resembled the Mexican food she thoroughly enjoyed during her time in the United States. It was deeply nostalgic for her and she was bubbling with excitement, having found her new go-to Mexican spot.

Don’t fret if you can’t fly to Mexico for a taste of their cuisine, you have a seasoned Mexican chef pulling out all the stops in Sri Hartamas. From the loaded tacos to the fluffy tamales, each dish did in fact capture the essence and richness of Mexican street food.

If you have been fortunate enough to roam the streets of Mexico, you have to try the food here to see if it transports you back there.

If you have not, then we urge you to venture beyond the familiar and drop by Flavours of Mexico Asia. Treat your taste buds to some truly authentic Mexican food and gain firsthand experience of what it means to indulge in flavours that transcend borders. You won’t know until you try. 

Flavours of Mexico Asia 

Address: Ground Floor, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Operating Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm, Closed on Mondays 

Food Status: Pork-free, Alcohol-free, Halal certified meats

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