La Mezcaleria is your warm, Mexican home away from home, settled in the heart of East Vancouver’s Commercial Drive neighbourhood. La Mezcaleria opened in 2013 and serves the spicy, sweet and sultry flavours of Mexico’s favourite food and drink.
The intimate and cozy interior is warmly lit, and decorated with dark wood and seafoam-turquoise tiles. The ambiance invites diners to cozy up to the lively central bar for a quick snack and drink, or seek out the banquet seating for an extended chat over a three-course meal and expertly crafted beverages. Suitable for a one-on-one date or friendly gatherings, the simple menu offers dishes for both meat and plant-based diets.
Start out with the barbequed tamarind squid tossed in a sweet soy, cilantro and chile de árbol dressing with garlic peanuts. Another option is to share the made-to-order guacamole, classically crafted with tender tomatoes, sharp cilantro and crisp jalapeño pico de gallo, and served with house-made chips.
For a delicious entrée with a variety of flavours, order the gourmet tacos. With eight meat and four vegetarian options to choose from, you can mix and match four different veggie tacos for CAD 7 or add an extra CAD 2.50 for meat tacos. You will not be disappointed with any choice. The tinga de pollo’s sweet and aromatic flavour and the rich asada taco’s tender flank beef will definitely satiate the omnivore’s craving for chicken and beef. Vegetarians can sink their teeth into the satisfying tinga de hongos stuffed with chipotle mushrooms. With a deceptive meaty texture and subtle warmth from the chipotle, this taco is perfect for anyone who prefers a gentle flavour. The frijoles charros con queso tacos feature smoky, refried cowboy beans topped with Mexican cheese. The cheese creates a cool and creamy ending to the intricate flavours of the lightly seasoned beans.
Everything pairs flawlessly with fresh lime margaritas, which are served with the classic salted rim and a tequila or mezcal kick. They are well worth the splurge. Top the evening off with the dessert special. On our visit it was guava cheesecake, which was unique and phenomenal in every way. Drizzled with a guava reduction and caramel sauce, the dessert offered an unexpectedly bright, tangy flavour. The filling, light and with the perfect amount of sweetness, satisfies that soul-soothing cheesecake craving.
