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El Luchador wrestles up authentic Mexican cuisine
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El Luchador Tacos & Tequila specializes in Mexican street fare. The name “El Luchador” will likely appeal to Mexicans.
Mexican wrestling (lucha libre) is the country’s favorite spectator sport and practically everyone grows up with it. The sport is a part of everyday life: you see the luchadors (wrestlers) on TV, in the newspapers, as graffiti on walls.
“The fights are incredibly exciting, the spectators become the coaches; they scream, cry, pray, celebrate... It is about more than the actual fight, it’s about the whole atmosphere. People forget their social positions and professions; they are there because they’re passionate about it and they enjoy the folklore that surrounds it,” said Estefania Casas, manager of El Luchador.
“Our restaurant concept is simple: take the most popular Mexican sport since 1920, which is wresting by masked warriors, and add the most famous Mexican street food, then welcome to El Luchador Shanghai, a funky trip to Mexico and the street culture in a fun vibrant restaurant/bar,” she added.
The team aims to blow people away with the simplicity and make them enjoy Mexican cuisine and culture as Mexicans do. They wanted to stay away from cliches in many Mexican venues in Shanghai featuring sombreros, cactus, chilies and cowboys.
“This is how most people see Mexico, but that is more Tex-Mex than Mexican,” Casas said.
At the corner of Yongkang and Xiangyang roads, it is a chilled, vibrant two-floor venue with white and blue lucha libre masks painted on the walls by a street artist. You are treated to real Mexican food portions and flavors, and to 100 percent agave Tequila without the salt and lime.
Chef Eduardo believes using the best and freshest ingredients are the key to creating amazing food that people come back for.
The ultimate sophistication is the simplicity, according to Casas. A taco is the best example. It’s not easy to make yet it’s so simple to eat. The work behind a real authentic taco is phenomenal, sauces that are reduced for days; tortillas are handmade in house; meats are slow cooked for hours.
“It might take one only minutes to enjoy them, but the love that goes into them is incredible,” Casas said.
El Luchador’s tacos are most famous among the Mexican community and in Shanghai in general. The chorizo taco (30 yuan, US$4.7 each) is the specialty here. The pork chorizo marinated in red adobo with mozzarella cheese and pico de gallo is packed with flavor. The birria taco (lamb taco) (35 yuan each) is highly recommended. It takes three to four hours of slow cooking with wine and beer mixed with other spices to make the meet tender. The taco sauce contains eight ingredients and is also cooked slowly.
Churros (45 yuan) is a popular dessert similar in flavor to a donut, but made into a long stick served with caramel and chocolate sauce for dipping.
Mexican food goes down well, but even better with a margarita. At El Luchador different tequila labels are used to create their premium shaken margaritas. For example, Don Julio Blanco tequila is used as the base for Mil Mascaras margarita (75 yuan) and another premium label Patron Silver for Grand Luchador (90 yuan). Eduardo’s Signature (80 yuan) is a frozen mint margarita made of Don Julio Blanco, Grand Marnier, fresh mint and lemon juice.
“The best way to enjoy Mexican food is with good friends. The flavors in Mexican food and the addition of quality margaritas create a great vibe to make long lasting memories,” Casas said.
El Luchador
Tel: 6422-8653
Address: 85 Yongkang Rd
Average check: 150 yuan
Opening hours: 11am-midnight
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