Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2008

Photos courtesy of La Fiesta

Fans of hearty Tex-Mex food—and you know who you are—will want to hurry on over to La Fiesta in Nakameguro. Like its sister branch in Roppongi, this cantina serves up lip-smacking burritos, enchiladas and chimichangas to a grateful crowd of Japanese and foreign diners.

Situated on the main Nakameguro drag, La Fiesta’s basement location does little to discourage walk-ins; the place is pretty much always bustling. Inside, the open layout features close-set tables and décor that’s heavy on the cacti, with a floor-to-ceiling window that lets in a cheery amount of lunchtime light. The atmosphere recreates the boisterousness of the original restaurant, though during a pair of recent visits, couples seemed to make up a good part of the crowd.

Of course, it helps that Mexican beers and tequila flow freely, and that the prices are relatively low. Negra Modelo, Tecate, Dos Equis, Sol and Corona all cost ¥700, while margaritas chime in at ¥780 (original) or ¥880 (frozen); pitchers go for around ¥3,500. The drinks list also features sangria (¥500) and a half-dozen varieties of pina coladas (¥1,180). For teetotalers, fresh milkshakes are just ¥600.

Photos courtesy of La Fiesta

All the usual Tex-Mex suspects appear on the food menu, including nachos (¥880-¥1,080), quesadillas (¥660-¥880), tacos (both hard and soft, ¥800-¥1,180), chili con carne (¥730) and fajitas (¥1,760-¥2,280). A nice surprise was queso fundido (¥790), a rare-in-Tokyo dish consisting of melted cheese with chorizo (a cauliflower and broccoli option is also available). Big eaters will appreciate the combination meals, which come with rice, salad, refried beans and chili. We’re partial to the beef chimichanga (¥1,080 à la carte; ¥1,880 as part of a combo), with its stringy meat and copious amounts of cheese. A close second would be the Fiesta Combo, which includes a burrito and enchilada and all the fixings.

On a recent visit, we started with jalapenos rellenos, five deep-fried peppers stuffed with cheese. Spicy, unsubtle, supremely satisfying, this starter was also a fantastic value at ¥780. A straightforward cheese quesadilla (¥660) and chicken burrito (¥930) followed—if we closed our eyes, we could have imagined ourselves at any number of off-price cantinas stretching from Boston to LA. La Fiesta also offers a lineup of housemade salsas for ¥300, though chips have to be ordered separately (¥300).

But this restaurant isn’t just for dilettantes who, like us, are satisfied with sloppy Tex-Mex fare dripping in cheese and grease. The “Favoritos” menu includes such authentic Mexican meals as mole poblano (¥1,980) and beef a la tampiquena (¥2,480), while appetizers like camarones al ajillo (garlic grilled shrimp, ¥1,230) are also on offer. So, whether you’re looking for the American take on Mexican food or real South of the Border cooking, La Fiesta has got the meal for you.