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magnum
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Los Cabos California Mexican Grill
1 Sukhumvit Soi 14 (behind Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit)
Asok BTS, Exit 4
Tel: 02 653 3900
http://www.loscabosbangkok.com
Mexican is a cuisine that has found little favor amongst Asian palates, for a lot of reasons. And yes, I've tried and re-tried all of them in BKK... ALL of 'em.
In all honesty, none rise to a standard that really does justice to good Mexican cuisine, making way too many compromises, and leaving admirers of the cuisine wanting, with a lingering "get you through the night until you can get home for the reeeeal stuff" restlessness.
Los Cabos Grill is mounting a serious assault on that standard. Other's opinions here will be appreciated... and pul-leaze!... no Mexican food amateurs!
Located about 50 metres off of Sukhumvit Road on Soi 14, conveniently situated just below Asoke BTS Station, Los Cabos Grill is attempting to capture a still vacant niche above the many Mexican food pretenders out there.
The villa it occupies is nicely renovated, featuring maximum dining terraces staggered at different elevations at the ground-level patio and 1st floor (surrounded by lush greenery), and at elevation on the 2nd floor terrace (amongst the tree canopies). With tasteful accent landscape lighting at night, a superb al fresco dining venue, especially in the November-March months.
The indoors is darkened a bit during the daytime by heavy window dressings and large shade trees outdoors which obscure the natural sunlight. The interior design theme is casual and traditional, with a rustic atmosphere... overhead fans drubbing from high ceilings, natural hardwood floors, and tile inlaid table tops.
The bar is located outdoors on the 1st level, beneath the upper terrace, protected from sun and inclimate weather. A good place for people watching, with a pleasant view over the grounds.
The menu covers all of the expected mainline Mexican standards, plus a few creative cross-over offerings to tempt the locals' curiosity. The menu's attitude leans decidedly toward California-Mex, rather than Tex-Mex (a compromise I, a committed Tex-Mex purist, no longer find offensive given the dearth of good Mexican ANYTHING out here).
With a large table, we sampled a number of selections, all of which were just great, and met our expectations of "better Mexican food." The portions were generous and there were no surprises.
Ingredients were all quality... real sour cream, cheese, Haas avocados. Three salsas were served, one of which I think was made with grilled peppers - delicioso!
Price points range from moderate to moderate+... nothing I would call expensive.
The place soft-opened a few weeks ago, and is still shaking out a few of the operational kinks and final construction details. But the proprietor is a veteran restauranteur with several noteworthy successes to his credit here... I am sure it will all settle just fine.
Needless to say, a confident thumbs up on this one... probably will do more than merely get you through the night. I don't take too great a risk calling Los Cabos Grill a best in class contender, and my bet is that we will be reading about it in more authoritative forums.
Comments?
( edited in 2010-04-02... the BKK Post's review... nice marks, with which I agree:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/leisure/restaurant/35090/latin-american-idol )
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:34 am on Dec. 22, 2009
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thailife
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I clasify Mexican food into 2 catagories in the U.S. and other places ex-Mexico. 1) authentic, the type you get off the mobile trucks in L.A. or other means and 2) the chain restraunts and other 'watered down' types.
Intersting that my wife has never warmed up to Mex food here in the U.S. She just does not like torillas (flour). The one thing she will eat is salso.... the typical salsa... tomatoes, cliantro, garlic, lime juice.... but then those are typical flavors she is used too.
I grw up in a hipanic neighborhood and nothing beats homemade tortillas and the use of true ingrdiants in a meal. Sour cream and avacodos wer enot that prevelant in these meals, they tended to be very basic with an emphaises on starch and chicken, beef or prok. Sometimes we would get decent goat too.
Where I live now the best mexican restraunt dsoes not even have a website. It is a hole in the wall run and owned by mexican immigrants..... Anything off the menu blows away every other restraunt in the area.... the clientel forms a line out the door.... it is everyone from the business man in a suit to the illegal....... a taco is a small tortilla.... maybe 4 inches across.... and the meat on it. that's it. if you want some salsa, add it. the meat is so flavorfull there is not need for anything else... just fold it and eat it.
maybe it's just that I prefer what would be considered basic food, much in the same way we eat in thailand. a few ingrediants and you have it.
by the way, happy holidays to all on the site. may the new year be more prosperous than 2009, which for many of use sucked.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 1:30 pm on Dec. 22, 2009
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DaffyDuck
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Great reviews, and commentary.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:41 pm on Dec. 22, 2009
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ringthebells
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makes me gonna go there tonite!!
thanks for sharing.
rtb
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:53 am on Dec. 23, 2009
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UK Shaga
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I walk past the the road this restaurant is located on quite a few times a week and 2 nights ago I almost went in.
I have done some time in Mexico, SoCal and Texas so I have had my fare share of different attempts at Mexican food for a UK guy. The strangest thing is the best Mexican food I ever had outside of Mexico was in St Paul's Minnesota, go figure
After your review I will give it a go and I am looking forward to it.
The Thai full timer I have has tried Mex food a few times with me and she has left less than impressed, fingers crossed this time.
Thanks.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:57 am on Dec. 23, 2009
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sai tai
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Finishing my meal as I post. Ordered A combo - chicken taco, cheese enchilada, and beef tamale, with rice and beans.
The rice was disapointing- didn't seem much different than Thai fried rice in texture and taste.
I didn't get a cheese enchilada - it was chicken. I did not complain as the waitresses were getting enough grief from the next table over mistake food.
Now for the good -
The beans were excellent - spicey. Same goes for the beef tamale.
I eat regularly at a Mexican-American owned and operated restaurant outside of St. Paul MN and the food here is surprisingly similar. The beans are better. St. Paul has a large Mexican immigrant population - the Cinco de Mayo festival each year is not to be missed.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:09 am on Dec. 23, 2009
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UK Shaga
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St Paul's, see a Brit does know a bit about Mexican food then.
Interesting to know the reason why that area has such good Mex food.
Thanks for that nugget of knowledge.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 8:20 am on Dec. 23, 2009
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ThaidUp
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The hot sauce at Los Cabos is fantastic. Homemade by the owner the Thai's love it. It should be available for sale to take home.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 9:01 am on Dec. 23, 2009
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thaiaficionado
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Well, I used to live in St. Paul, near Rice St. & Wheelock Parkway, also lived in California for many years, so I'll have to check this place out next week. Hope it's as good as La Casita.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:38 pm on Dec. 23, 2009
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