Let the Games Begin!

Let's face it. Great Mexican food is hard to come by in this city. While Shanghai likes to bill itself as international, and while the dining scene does boast a plethora of cuisines from various nations and ethnicities ... it's still difficult to get a taco just right. Ironically, it's something I've discussed with many people--my columnist, Crystyl Mo, my friend and experienced chef / restaurateur Steven Smith and a few other foodies most recently as well as a good Mexican friend of mine. She made some homemade Mexican food once--delicious, and unlike anything I ever saw on the menu at the ill-fated (perhaps we should say, euthanised?) Taco Bell Grande--may it rest in bad Mexican food peace. So why is it that a type of cuisine so popular could have such poor representation in Shanghai?

There have been a few venues that have made a go at it, many of them Tex-Mex. We've heard rave reviews about Peter's Tex-Mex Grill and a new burrito stand called Togo. Mexican-style venues in Shanghai boast everything from a fast-food approach--think Cal Kitchen and Taco Popo--to a large Mexican hombre's mustached face on the side of Hengshan Lu (that's Zapata's, legendary for Ladies Nights more than its burritos, in case you're unaware). Interestingly, the lack of, or defense of, the city's Mexican establishments seems to strike a chord in the hearts of those who truly embrace, love, and likely miss, the zesty flavors from the southern tip of North America.

Recently, this comment from zimbu on the Mexico Lindo listing site sparked quite a debate between critic and fan:

I used to eat at Mexico Lindo 2-3 times per month. The decor was ok and they had some filipino girls in the beginning doing the service, so it was acceptable. The food was never good, but just ok. Lots of stuff was totally wrong and bore very little resemblance to real Mexican food. The chips were seriously off and the salsa was a joke. Sometimes I wonder if the owner and chef ever really had eaten Mexican food in their entire lives?! But I could bear the chicken burrito, and so I went back... Their brunch menu was always strange. Sorta like they really did not want to be open for business, but they did it anyways. The selections were few and lots of "sorry, we do not have that item today" issues. Then I had a series of visits where the food was really slow, like more than 30-40 minutes to reach my table, and the service staff (locals) was frustratingly bad, and, and, and...Finally I just said "never again" and stopped going.

The debate has thus ensued. If Mexico Lindo is not the epitome of Mexican eats in Shanghai, what is? Who's close? Is anyone? Is this a battle between those who prefer the Cali-style taste of Tex-Mex and the real deal? Tell me what you think about the state of Mexican and Tex-Mex in Shanghai.