I am in Mumbai searching for some new food experiences, and in my search I come across a trending authentic Mexican restaurant called Sanchos, at Khar. I check out their menu online, and am rather excited to find both all my favourites on the menu. Chocolate Mole is there, so is fish Veracruz and of course Chili. The interiors have a woody comfortable feel of any Mexican restaurant one would find in Mexico.

I order the food and make myself comfortable. The obvious place to start is with the fully loaded Fiesta Nachos (small, Rs 270), paired with the quintessential Mexican drink, Classic Margarita (Rs 695). Nachos are a popular Tex Mex dish from northern Mexico. The salsa is bright, the guacamole creamy, the refried beans cooked just right. Chilli Con Carne Nachos (small, Rs 390) is another version where refried beans are replaced by tenderloin chili. I prefer the original one though.

                  Fiesta Nachos                                  Chilli Con Carne Nachos

Chilli Con Carne (small, Rs 390) is a traditional Mexican dish that was adopted by the cowboy community, In Spanish, the word "chili" refers to a “chili pepper”, and carne is Spanish for “meat” and this dish, for the uninitiated is a thick strew of kidney beans, green chilies, and ground tenderloin. It is delicious and I can easily make a meal out of it.           

                                 Chilli Con Carne

Next on the table is another favourite of mine - the most famous Veracruz dish, Snapper Veracruz style (here they have used Basa). Fish Veracruz (Rs 580) is a baked whole fish covered in a tomato based sauce flavored with mostly European ingredients such as olives, garlic, capers and more. It originated as a poor fishermen’s dish, a way to stretch seafood. Despite the use of Basa, the dish retains its original flavor. 

                                    Fish Veracruz

A good cocktail to enjoy this dish with is the refreshing and intoxicating Cucumber Chili Margarita (Rs 600).

          Cucumber Chilli Margarita                              Classic Margarita

Chicken in Chocolate Mole Poblano Sauce (Rs 1040) is called Mexico’s national dish. The classic mole poblano is a dark red or brown sauce served over meat. The dish has become a culinary symbol of Mexico’s mixed indigenous and European heritage, both for the types of ingredients it contains as well as the legends surrounding its origin.

                                  Chicken Mole

As per Wikipedia, a common legend of its creation takes place at the Convent of Santa Rosa in Puebla early in the colonial period. Upon hearing that the archbishop was going to visit, the convent nuns went into a panic because they were poor and had almost nothing to prepare. The nuns prayed and brought together the little bits of what they did have, including chili peppers, spices, day-old bread, nuts, and a little chocolate. They killed an old turkey, cooked it and put the sauce on top; the archbishop loved it. When the nun was asked the name of the dish, she replied, "I made a mole." Mole was the ancient word for mix; now this word mostly refers to the dish, and rarely is used to signify other kinds of mixes in Spanish.

The dish this restaurant serves needs a better balance. Both the amount of chocolate used and cinnamon need to be reduced, and some amount of heat needs to be pronounced.

I end with another masterpiece, the Tres Leches Home style (Rs 250). A tres leches cake ("three milks bread"), is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. Tres Leches is a very light cake, with many air bubbles. This distinct texture is why it does not have a soggy consistency, despite being soaked in a mixture of three types of milk. This is easily one of the best desserts I have had in a long time.

                                       Tres Leches

Very rarely do I go through a food experience where just about everything turns out wow. Full credit goes to chef Kunal Pal and his team for delivering such a perfect meal. Highly recommended for a visit.

The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

Ratings (Out of 5)                                         

Food: 4.0 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs.2000 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: Yes

Address: 604, Pinnacle House, P D Hinduja Junction & 15th Road, Khar, Mumbai. Tel: 022 67094455