Tomatillo Mexican Food and Bar – Celebrating Mexican flavours at Esplanade

A new taqueria has opened along the scenic Marina Bay waterfront at Esplanade in Singapore. Helmed by renowned chefs, and experts in Latin American cuisine – Daniel and Tamara Chavez, Tomatillo Mexican Food and Bar is a lively space with tropical vibes and bright colours. To suit your mood, the space is divided into an ceviche bar, an outdoor patio, a pet-friendly alfresco area and a massive indoor space. The decor conveys the multi-faceted culture of Mexico and the wall covered with the tomatillos is hard to miss.

The no-frills menu consists of all the Mexican vegetarian options in Singapore that you are used to – nachos, burritos, tacos, quesadillas and last but not the least, pizzas!

Jalapeno Poppers are my absolute favourite breaded nuggets in Mexican cuisine. This version was crispy and cheesy but was not too stringy in case if you prefer that feel to be present in your jalapeno poppers. A single plate is served with 3 pieces.

If you are in the mood to share, Nachos and Salsa Roja is a very good choice. The tortilla chips are thin and crispy and quite different from the usual ones that I have tasted. The tomato-onion salsa, corn, thinly-sliced pickled jalapenos, and sour cream work extremely well together. If you enjoy the hit of spice, the salsa roja is the best part of this dish and packs quite a punch. Highly recommended.

It is rare to find a Mexican vegetarian pizza in Singapore. At Tomatillo, the pizza base looked like two tortilla sheets pressed together and baked to have a crispy texture. The four cheeses used in the pizza are oaxaca, mozarella, parmesan and monterey. Oaxaca cheese is the classic quesillo with a stringy and buttery texture and traditionally from Mexico. The cheeses paired well together and the fresh coriander, avocado salad, corn and garlic mayo on the top made this a winner for me! The pizza can be shared by 2 pax comfortably due to the rich texture of the cheeses. Highly recommended.

At Tomatillo, the burritos are made with soft flour, Mexican rice, beans, cheese, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo, pickles, onions and fries. The portion size is big and the filling has a good spice mix. It is served with a side of shatteringly crisp potato fries.

Bringing some zing to the fiesta is Pastel de Limon, a lemon pie dessert. The combination of citrus with the cream cheese and the freshness of the lemon zest work like a match made in heaven. The candied pecan nuts add the right touch for the crunch in this dish. The simplicity in this dessert is what made it beautiful, definitely a must-try.

The service at Tomatillo Mexican food and bar has scope for improvement since the staff were unsure to answer about dietary requirements. But I am sure this will be smoothed out since the owners already own other restaurants like Canchita (read my previous blog post here), and Tinto which are known for excellent service.

Overall if you are looking to catch the sunset with a chilled vibe, yearn for Mexican food at Esplanade that is moderately light on the wallet with no compromise on quality, then Tomatillo Mexican food and bar is worth visiting.