Mezcal - The Best Taco In Glasgow?
400 years ago Spanish conquerors taught Mexican Natives distilling techniques after they ran out of their supply of liquor from home and needed something to take the edge off of being in someone else's country. The result is what we know today, as Mezcal.
The name comes from the Nahuatl (or Aztec) word “mexcalli” meaning an oven-cooked agave. While all tequilas are a type of mezcal, not all mezcals are a type of tequila. Tequila is produced from only blue agave, whereas mezcal can be made from more than thirty different types of agave and is distilled in clay containers that give it its smoky flavour.
Both this wonderful drink and its namesake Glasgow restaurant can be described as boozy, flavourful and interesting.
Mezcal on Hope street in Glasgow, opened in 2019, is a city centre favourite and boasts a status as ‘Glasgow’s best Mexican restaurant’. While there is stiff competition in the city for that coveted title, Mezcal is definitely up there.
I had walked past it many times and always wanted to go in - that paired with the excellent word of mouth reviews made me elated to finally get to visit. If you go in the daytime you still feel a nighttime vibe. Nighttime suits this place best as its neon signs and colourful interior give you a party atmosphere - something that they lean into every Friday and Saturday with live DJs playing disco, house and techno music all night long.
Right, let’s get serious. The food.
We’d originally planned a visit based on their lunch menu but were told on arrival that that’s only valid during the week, however if we'd have gone with the lunch menu we wouldn’t have had what may be, the best taco in Glasgow.
For the table, Pico Mezcal & Tortilla Chips (VG) (pineapple, red onion, coriander, habanero chilli, lime, totopos). A delicious and fruity salsa that kicked off things nicely.
I had the Chorizo & Minced Beef Burrito (chorizo, mince, rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, guacamole) ‘Lucha Libre’ style. Lucha Libre gets your burrito baked in a chipotle cheese sauce and served with salad & pico. This very well balanced and seasoned burrito is on the right side of gluttonous. You get what you pay for here. Some places skimp on fillings but here your burrito is stuffed, and by the end, so are you.
Birria Lamb Taco (ancho, guajillo, oregano, cumin, garlic-marinated lamb) - I tell you, I had to stop after one bite to talk about how good this taco was. Online, Mezcal says that ‘Every dish is made to order using a combination of fresh locally sourced produce and authentic ingredients imported from Mexico.’ I can only assume that they imported from Mexico some ancient power that was infused into the very flour of this taco and made it heavenly.
If you’re on the fence about anything to do with this small but bright gem of a place, please try a taco.