The Saddle Cantina
81 Sanlitun North Rd., Nali Studios East, 2F,
Sanlitun
From the main street, walk into the construction site just south of Tongli and ask the security guard for the "Moxige Canting."
三里屯北路81号北京那里花园内西侧二层小楼
5208-6005
Open M-F: 6pm-2am, Sat and Sun: 11am-4am
Price Y200-Y299 per couple
- Send to mobile
- Share with a friend
- Add a review
- Add an event here
- Report corrections or abuse
- Is this your business?
Claim it!
- City Weekend
says -
Beijing's "it bar" for margaritas and cold beer, the Saddle Cantina serves up descent Mexican fare and drinks at Western prices that pack a punch on a beautiful patio. With live music, an outdoor pool table and name-brand tequila, it's hard to beat the Cantina for a late-night summer fiesta.
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
-
cityweekend -
-
This place just opened up and is very likely to become one of my favorite places in Beijing: great decor and stunning rooftop terrace (already looking forward to some massive BBQ's out there). What I love about this place is that the roof can be opened up and the windows are huge; hence, in summer you get this actually inside but feeling like outside feeling. The margaritas are huge and quite tasty. The food is alright and I believe they will improve as they go. The music was mostly Colombian, which is my favorite anyway.. What they should think about is the price of the beer.. too expensive! As a first impression: great. I will be back to see some more (and potentially add one more star to my review)!
-
-
I absolutely loved the Saddle Cantina. Apart from friendly managament (of Rickshaw fame) and good service, the margaritas and daquiris are enormous and absolutely tasty, and the number of tequilas at the bar will make your head spin. There's wifi, a terrace, pooltables, and a roof that opens up for nice weather, so I highly doubt that many other places will have their draw during the summer. And the food? Generous portions of solid Tex-Mex, not to mention that famous guacamole. I'll be there at least once a week.
-
-
At the moment, it's a good place that, with some tweaks, could be a great place
The Good
The patio's great. You can tell already this place is going to be rocking in the summer.
The place was swarming with fuwuyuans who were polite and efficient. They seemed to have some trouble understanding the names of menu items, so it might help to bring at least one Chinese-speaker with you.
Solid chips and salsa. Two of the salsas (a chunky tomato salsa and the Rickshaw salsa) were great, and the other two (a green sauce and a bean sauce) were lackluster. Great + lackluster = solid.
The chicken burrito was delic. It's smothered in red enchilada sauce, and super tasty. Didn't have any of the alcoholic beverages, but they looked massive (esp. the margaritas).
Whole layout of the place feels open, clean and friendly. Has a real nice vibe to it.
Looks like they're going to have a promotion or event virtually every night of the week.
Instead of bringing tables free chips and salsa, they bring popcorn. The popcorn has a nice dusting of spices on it, although the dusting was a bit too firey for me and my dining companion. We were each coughing until we got used to the spice.
They bring a free pitcher of water to every table. Nice touch, and something we don't see enough of in Beijing.
The Bad
Drink prices: 20 kuai for a single can of Coke? That's US$3 for something I can get at 7-11 for two kuai. This one actually made me a little angry. Order two cokes, and you're already in for the price of a satisfying meal at a decent Chinese place. Other menu/drink items I can understand being a bit more expensive b/c of difficulty acquiring ingredients and the like, but selling a soft drink at this price is coming dangerously close to gouging. Markups in the alcoholic beverages weren't quite as egregious, but still fall into the high end of booze prices in and around Sanlitun (ex: 70 kuai for a large Hoegaarden).
At the moment, their "opening menu" only has three entrees on it: burritos, enchiladas, and tortas (with the burritos and enchiladas each coming in beef, chicken, pork, and veggie varieties). This is sure to change with time, but it means that, for the moment, their menu's a little sparse since one of their three main offerings isn't quite up to par (see below)
The pork carnita enchilada was disappointing. Seemed to be lacking a certain zing, and after it started getting cold, I lost all desire to eat it. The refried beans and Mexican rice were clumpy (i.e. too dry).
The side of the patio closest to the courtyard (the east side) is a little dark after nightfall. Made it a bit difficult to make out the menus.
All in all, I'd say the good outweighs the bad, mainly because there's nothing in the bad that
a) Chad and Kris aren't already working on (adding to the menu and tweaking existing items, for instance)
b) couldn't be easily fixed (lowering prices just a tad)
Whether this becomes a "once every week" place or a "once in awhile" place for me depends mainly on the prices. We shall see.
-
-
This place brings Beijing the obnoxiousness of the Rickshaw's drunks at ten times the price.
Yes. The patio is beautiful, and they do have smothered burritos, but the service and food quality leave much to be desired. There's tremendous potential if they can figure out how to make a palatable burrito and a decent margarita for less than 55 kuai.
-
-
At 7:30pm on a Friday night, this place was already packed... with families, men wearing straw faux somberos and Beyonce music. Somehow, I'm still enraptured, probably thanks to Saddle Cantina's enormous margaritas and open terrace. The only negative, should a Corona set me back 40 RMB? Hmmm. Dinner for two w/ a margarita, chicken burrito and Corona each cost us 300 RMB exact. Hmm. Still, booze, terrace, Mexican food... Chris and Chad, I think we figured your formula out.
-
-
Just about as close as you're going to get to real Tex-Mex in China. Margaritas = good. Guacamole = good Queso = good. A bit pricey for what it actually is, but its well worth it all.
Atmosphere is great.
Will be back over and over and over and over.
-
-
The don't take credit cards.....it sucks!!! Why bother putting in the patio, when you don't take card? Place s pricey so i don't want to have to go to a money machine after dinner because The Saddle has drained all my cash. Message to owners, call Bank of China so you can accept C-R-E-D-I-T C-A-R-D-S
-
-
Most definitely one of my new favorite bars in town. The atmosphere, the retractable roof, and the patio is great. The Tex-Mex is deelicious by Beijing standards, and I'm okay with the higher price of the drinks as long as I know for sure that it's real alcohol (vs. the fake stuff at Shooters or Kai) and they keep the expansive margarita list. Also love the fact that they have pinatas!
-
-
Because my experience at the Saddle left me speechless, I decided to write a poem that summarizes my feelings.
Wtf, what is this eateries draw? Is it the same drunk aholes from the Rickshaw? Is it the fact, that when I order a drink, it costs a hand and a dime, and the pool table stinks? Is it my burrito, stuffed with too much rice, my queso with too much flour, or my margerita with to much ice? Oh there are so many things that this place has forced me to learn, mainly that nice decor and big hype is not enough reason to return!
Go to tex mex, or just wait for a good south of the border place to open up somewhere else. See this once if you must, but dont be fooled by the decor and the empty hype.
-
-
Though people seem to be fired up on both sides of the spectrum about this place, I have no strong feelings either way. The decor is nice, the drinks are pricey, and the food is ok. It looks like the place attracts a small but loyal fanbase on a daily basis (I came twice and saw the same people) and other than that, there not much mystery here.
I wouldn't recommend it for the intellectual types, and I wouldn't recommend it for any roughnecks, for all of you that dont fall at either extreme, this might be a place to check out.
-
-
The Saddle Cantina has been open for barely a month, and I've already been there five times. No, I wasn't coerced to go by anyone else, nor was my food or beverage tab on the house. I've gone because I liked it and thought it was worth it. The service wasn't at five-star level, but for a place that just opened and has been packed every time I've been there, I was pretty impressed. While Beijing isn't exactly the best spot in the world for Tex-Mex, I still think that the Saddle is the best we have on offer at the moment, so I stand loyally by my previous positive review.
-
-
Hello beijing, wake up! They don't accept credit cards becuase they don't want to report income or revenue to the government. Don't let them tell you it's because of the fees - it's not. Cash businesses can under report thier income to the government because there are a million ways to evade the real income numbers.
-
-
Get the sap off the pool table and maybe I'll come here as often as I do to the Rickshaw. Oh, and then make the beer cheaper and start serving Tsingtaos. Give us poor, common people who teach English for a living something to grab on to.
-
-
Warning: Stay away from the margueritas. Tastes great, feels absolutely terrible about an hour after just one. A couple of friends have also gotten sick from the marguerita. Not drunk. I'm willing to admit to light-weightedness, but we were straight sick. Stick to beer.
-
-
Wow, The Saddle must be doing something awfully right to have so many people slamming them as hard as they've been. I'm a buck and change soaking wet, and I had not only one, but TWO margaritas, without incident a few weeks ago.
-
-
From the owner. Credit cards: obviously want it on and will do it as soon as i can! Drinks: we buy from the largest and most reputable supplier in BJ. Yes they are leathal. The poet: Idiot. Haaa The food is constantly improving and will be perfect by the time we get our gas on in the kitchen so we can do it the right way. The pool table: Its an outdoor pool table under a tree! thats how it is sorry. The price: Kai is cheaper go there. We also have a deal every night. Five stars for reading that idiots poem. loser.
-
-
Been there yesterday(Thoursday night). Food was avarage at best and we all thought it was overpriced as well. On top of that, when the check arrived they tried to overcharge us for a drink we didn't have and we had to argue with the waiting staff to get the check fixed. Took us over half an hour and lots of broken Chinese to go this done (No English was spoken whatsoever)
-
-
Did you ask for the manager? He is American.
-
-
Is this 2008? What manager calls his patrons losers? Is business that good that you can afford to toss those aside that express dissatisfaction? Moreover, should we as patrons put up with such a cavalier attitude to customer service? Why should we have to ask for the manager?!?!
Your prices dictate our expectations.
In this case, the Saddle is at or near the top of the market so YES, we should expect English-speaking staff instead of tracking down the manager. YES, we should expect exemplary customer service. YES, we should expect a better pool table. YES, we should expect credit cards to be accepted. Finally, YES, we should expect good food NOW (instead of when your kitchen figures things out. Why should we pay inflated prices while your kitchen staff produces below market fare?).
You publicly state that the kitchen is not up to par (“The food is constantly improving and will be perfect by the time we get our gas on in the kitchen..”) so how can you call someone that shares your observations a “loser”. You know and we know your food isn’t worth what we are paying for it so how about giving us, your patrons, a price break in the interim? So you offer “a deal every night”. So what! Your deal just brings the Saddle up to average and average deserves little congratulations or fan fare. You promise things will get better? Great! But that is expected. You set the standard by setting the prices.
I can put up with Beijing’s quarks but a foreign manager that does not respect his patrons or the feedback they offer is too much. You will not see me in the Saddle again!
-
-
One final comment - at the time of writing I count 20 reviews with a cumulative total of 39 stars. That is an average of 1.95. How can this restaurant have a "buzz" worth "5" when on average it has received 1.95 stars out of a possible 5! Someone is rigging the system...
-
-
Mr. Napp, Constructive criticism is always welcome, calling myself and my patrons from our other establishment "drunk aholes" is not feedback. Insinuating that there is something wrong with our alcohol verges on slander. I was here ALL night last night and the night before and individually asked EVERY patron for their feedback. We do have some things to brush up on, but I mostly received very good comments. I did though read your other reviews and feedback for other establishments. I'm wondering if you have ever been to a place that you enjoyed and written something positive. :) You have rated 5 places with a cumulitve value of 7 what does that average out to Mr. Napp? Most of our patrons know where and how to find myself and our partners if there is a problem. We are more than flexible to meet our client's needs when we are asked. Mr. Napp, you may think that I am slamming customers, but I do take it personally when someone calls me and our patrons "aholes" on a public domain. If I go to a restaurant and there is a problem that I feel worthy of a poem and time on a public blog, I'm sure that it would at least warrent calling a manager at the time of the problem? I wouldn't do it anonymously in an attempt to discredit a business. Saying that, thank you again for your comments and I do wish you luck on your journey to find the place that suits your tastes. As I mentioned earlier: From the owner. Credit cards: obviously want it on and will do it as soon as i can! Drinks: we buy from the largest and most reputable supplier in BJ. Yes they are leathal. The food is constantly improving and will be perfect by the time we get our gas on in the kitchen so we can do it the right way. (The food by the way had all good comments, from the burritos, to the salad, to BBQ to the massive taco plate to the margs)The pool table: Its an outdoor pool table under a tree! thats how it is sorry. (One can always play indoors)The price: Kai is cheaper go there. We also have a deal every night. If I had feedback that night, I guarantee we would have shared a beer and solved the issue that night. Thank you Mr. Napp.
-
-
I've been to the Saddle Cantina several times since it opened and have really enjoyed it every time. The chicken burrito is delicious, and I love the generous serving of sour cream that comes with it. The salads are enormous and perfect for two to four people to share. The drinks are strong and delicious and I with my sensitive stomach have never felt sick afterwards. Actually, the last time I went I had a stomach ache when I arrived that went AWAY after a margarita... The margaritas made in the margarita mixing machines are especially excellent -- I recommend the strawberry one. I haven't noticed service being particularly bad any of the times that I've gone -- a little confused maybe, but this is unfortunately typical all over the city (or the entire country...) and hopefully the staff will improve with time.
-
-
Love the food, the ambiance, and the super cool beer.
Could wish for more variety in the menu, though I know the place is still in its infancy.
It's great to see some many new quality Mexican food places pop up in Beijing!
-
-
To the management: As a mexican national I can sincerely and regrettably tell you that your "mexican" food is tasteless (that is the "tacos" and the "burritos" which was what I had, oh yeah and the Salsa!) You guys really need to add some flavour to your food, I thought it was impossible to make mexican food be so insipid, c'mon guys!. Try using "chipotle" chili for adding flavour to your dishes (you can get those at Wal Mart, Ole, Jenny Lu, etc) some red mexican rice (take some tomato chunks add some garlic, coriander and some pepper powder and that's it!) Mexican food can be so easy! I really like the location and the place in itself but you have to revisit your recipes and bring down the beer prices(30RMB!?). I strongly suggest you go to "El Fogoncito" in Wanda Plaza and take a look at their dishes (those are the ones that come the closest to the real thing in Beijing) and they are about to open their second restaurant near The Place so you guys have to watch out! I ll be happy to recommend a mexican friend of mine (professional chef) as a consultant who could actually use a part time job now...
-
-
good atmosphere and location, but sadly completely overpriced!
the beer and cocktail prices are almost on the same level? 70 kuai for a hoegaarden beer?! sorry, but that is ridiculous - even when imported!
at least introduce a local beer at a reasonable price, so one can choose - or else your customers won't be coming back once the hype has cooled down...
and krisryan: as the manager your comments regarding criticism are way out of line! calling your patrons idiots/losers (even if they stoop to a level that is not acceptable - e.g. calling people "drunk aholes") you should definitely not retaliate in such an ungracious way, stooping down to the same - maybe even a lower level. that is just bad judgement on your part and will cost you customers who read your comments!
-
-
Food: The worst Beijing-Mex ever!! Drinks: Expensive watery margaritas with lots of ice, sour mix but no tequila. Ambience: extremely bad music, Dusty, noisy music system. Service: could be worst. Décor: the place is falling apart with the most horrible furniture in the world.. Crowd: White trash drunks. For a Beijing with out trash!
-
-
Some Replies..
Our Hoegaarden beer is 40 kuai. The Same as a dozen other venues around Beijing 40 is the RRP (recommended retail price) The 70 kuai is the giant draft wich you cant find it sold in other venues.
Our Sol Beers are 30 and 20 on Taco Tuesdays Our Homebrew Draft is 35 Our Stella Draft is 40 (only 5 kuai more than we sell it at The Rickshaw)
Our Margaritas have 2 and a half shots of tequila in them and cost 55 (only 5 kuai more than we have been selling them at the rickshaw for a year)
we have a happy hour every Friday from 5 to 8 we have deals on Tuesdays and Mondays
and the 5th of every month from midnight to midnight ALL drinks are half price.
Yep, we are more expensive than the Rickshaw we are also the same or cheaper than other tex-mex places around Beijing.
We had a large group of Mexicans in the other day who told me that the food was the best they have ever had. Come and see our new hot sauce collection straight out of Mexico.
sigh.... people love to hate.
But its all good, we love our customers and our customers love us. If there are any problems ask for Nick or Phoebe, there is always at least one foreign manager on duty all day and night to solve problems.
see yall soon!
-
-
I don't know why people are slamming this place -- what the heck are they comparing it with? I had to hold back a bit, I was going to The Saddle every day for a while. It's just that nice, especially now that the temperature is good for sitting outside.
As for the food... Maybe it's not as "real Mexican" as El Fogoncito, but it sure as heck tastes a lot better! I've been to El Fogoncito three times, just because there wasn't anything else around and I heard it was the real deal. I hate their club atmosphere upstairs, and I still haven't found a dish that I really like. Compare this to The Saddle; I love all (well, there are only 4 or 5 so far) main dishes on their menu.
I do wish they had similar beans burritos as you find at Rickshaw, though. They seem a bit... healthier.
-
-
My family and I had Saturday lunch at the Saddle a couple of weeks ago. The service was friendly, but slow (there was only 1 other table when we arrived, 2 when we left so they weren't overwhelmed). The amount of food was HUGE, but lacked flavour and it was room temperature when it arrived. Rather than wait for our server to materialise again so that we could have it heated, we had a few bites, drank our really cold beers (which were lovely) and left vowing to return for a couple of drinks in the coolest new block in Sanlitun, but never for food.
-
-
Hi "ricksaddle" , above u wrote "Our Hoegaarden beer...The 70 kuai is the giant draft wich you cant find it sold in other venues" I beg your pardon??? I think you have not been to Kro's nest hye? They do have 500ml Hoegaarden draft beer as well and I dun think they are selling at your price(I was last there 2 months ago so u maybe right only if they have increases their price recently, but I doubt so. But at least you are not the only one selling your so called "giant" Hoegaarden draft beer!) Cheers!
-
-
Agree with "heydude" on his above comments that This place brings Beijing the obnoxiousness of the Rickshaw's drunks at ten times the price(we are comparing it with "Rickshaw" cos this two outlets are run by the same management). However I think the increase in the prices is worth it for its ambience. It will be better if a small section of this place can have their lightings made to dim; so that this place can be made as a romanatic dating/pick-up place : )
The service are just average, the food is nothing Mexican at all, yucks! Oh they really really really need to buck up and train their staff on how to make a good Mojito! And it is ridiculous that such a big place DO NOT ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS!!!! For this they derserve nothing more than 2 stars out of 5
-
-
We DO accept credit cards.
thanks for your comments Kelvin very constructive.
As for your remarks about our cocktails.... the voters tell us another story. We got an award last night at The Beijinger's Bar and Club awards for "Best Cocktails" and "Best New Bar of the Year"
Thanks voters!
-
-
Hi "ricksaddle" congrats on the award...pity I only tried your Mojito and that is eenuff to deter me away from trying other cocktails in your place. Maybe when I pop by tomorrow on 20JUN, you may wana offer me to try your best cocktail to "win back my heart".?? This time I will not bring cash since Credit Cards are now acceptable.
See u!
-
-
Kelvin
my name is Phoebe and I'm the manager
Please ask for me tomorrow and I will buy you a drink which will change your mind.
get your visa card ready
-
-
See u Phoebe : ),
-
-
Lots of problems. Food is lousy. Order some brunch dish with raisins and it was inedible. Also got ice water, there was little black floating around in it.
Came for the last two Cinco de Drinkos--both times it took over 30 minutes to get half priced margaritas. I'd rather pay full price than wait that long.
Service is good, friendly, and legitimately feel bad when they tell you they won't have any more margaritas for "who knows how long." They should offer a full priced margarita option upstairs (on Cinco de Drinko) that removes all the hassle.
-
-
2 stars.
-
-
whew... busy busy above there... well, ive been there twice. and i think the food is ok. my other 2 friends also agree that the food is good. its not blah yikes. its good. we had 2 burritos and 1 nachos. 2 margarita and 1 tequila. later we added 1 mojito and 1 qingdao. those beverages were fine as well... when we first arrived there, we didnt have table but then we decided to eat at the bar. it was ok too. i like the outdoor (the 2nd time i was there i finally got the outdoor seat). it seems like with all those bad reviews about this place, this restaurant keeps running well judging from the crowd. service was ok. some room for improvements. when we got our bill, we went quiet for a while looking at it, but yea... again, its ok. since we enjoyed the food, the drinks, the ambiance, the companions and the conversation, we didnt think much of it. maybe not a place to go too often for a tex-mex food, but im more than happy to come back here again.
-
-
don't know about the food, but LOVE the margaritas and cocktails, atmosphere is great (love the retractable roof) and there's always a vibrant crowd. Perfect place to start the night. Also, LOVE LOVE CINCO DE DRINKO! Wish it was more than once a month!
© 2007 Beijing Ringier International Advertising Company. All rights reserved.
京ICP备05061149号
Let the Fiesta Begin
Poised to become one of the summer’s most popular venues, this new project by Rickshaw owners Chad, Kris and Nick, follows in the footsteps of its older, uglier brother with punch packing cocktails (YY50-55), big booths and a fun atmosphere for a night out with friends. Tequila fans will love the additional 15ml “tequila float” option for already strong margaritas, as well as the selection of top grade Mexican tequila. The Saddle Cantina boasts China’s first ice tap, with draught Stella (YY40) and Hoegaarden (YY70 for a large) served at below-zero temperatures, and they’re developing their own microbrewery, too. Service is friendly, but certainly not flawless, something time will hopefully improve. The music, featuring a heavy concentration of Latin beats, is fun but thankfully not played at Rickshaw volume, and on Wednesdays the bar hosts Beijing’s favorite Xinjiang mariachi band, Tribe. Between the colorful Mexican décor, the margaritas, the fresh tortilla chips and guacamole and the stack of sombreros provided for customers who forget to bring their own, we have to admit we felt a little nostalgic for Chili’s.