Mi Tierra The Mexican Cuisine
17 Yongjia Lu,
Luwan
near Maoming Lu
永嘉路17号
近茂名路
5465-5837
www.mitierrarestaurant.com.cn
tierramexicana@gmail.com
Open Tuesday to Saturday: Dinner: 5 pm - 10.30 pm, Sunday brunch 11 am -3:30pm, dinner: 5 pm - 10.30 pm
Price Y200-Y299 per couple
Accepts International Credit Cards
- City Weekend
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This upscale restaurant occupies an entire three-story building in the French Concession and serves up authentic Mexican cuisine. They've got huge entrees for the table to share and some of the best beef coyotas in town.
- Contributor
Description -
This establishment is located at the center of French Concession in a unique villa constructed in the year 1920. Mi Tierra combines traditional Mexican flavors with an elegant design and an agreeable ambience, that altogether provide an unforgettable experience for its patrons. Mi Tierra, is the only 100% Mexican restaurant in Shanghai, with Mexican owner, chef and staff. The restaurant was founded at the beginning of last year by Mexicans that wanted to bring to China the real flavor from Mexico. Nowadays they have become famous for they All-you-can-eat taco nights on Thursdays and their classical Sunday. In just one year Mi Tierra has achieved outstanding landmarks like becoming the official restaurant of the Mexican Pavilion at World Expo Shanghai 2010, hosting the Mexican Miss Universe 2010 Jimena Navarrete, winning the contest for best taco in Shanghai and Best Latin American Restaurant of 2011. Mi Tierra is proud to share not only the authentic Mexican cuisine with the whole world, but also the culture, the hospitality and the passion of Mexico.
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
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cityweekend
Most Recent Reviews
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Last week we went to mi tierra for a event , and I have to say it was one of the worst events I have been in this town. It was expensive , the food was too little , the drinks were CHEAP and tasted terrible , not online this but they put us on the second floor and it was 40 degrees inside! we where melting!
horrible horrible experience! never again in mi tierra!!
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I was fortunate enough to venture out in the subzero Shanghai winter last Thursday night and brave the cold for Mi Tierra's famed Taco Night. In a word, amazing. The ambiance is really well put together, I felt like I was in Villa somewhere in old Mexico, complete with courtyard dining. The tacos, which when going there on a Thursday for 100 RMB are only limited by your appetite are worth it. There was a beef, chicken, two pork and one vegetarian option all which we devoured with much gusto. My favorite Taco was the beef with a generous portion of some orange looking salsa that was refreshingly spicy and insanely delicious. Also in attendance is a salsa bar with three types of salsa of varying intensity but each were fresh and consistent with ones I've had in Mexico and in San Francisco's Mission district. I half expected a few mariachis to come out and serenade tables in between bites of taco goodness. Possibly because I look like a semi obscure American movie star or perhaps because of his professionalism and pride he took in his food the manager Oscar came to our table to check in with us. We talked tacos and about he generously offered us some lamb chops on the house so that we could see for ourselves how the other food stacked up on the menu. I'm not the biggest lamb fan but this was done well. Generally lamb meet has the same effect on me as nails screeching across a chalkboard but they did something right here. This was lamb with out any of that extra hairy game flavors that sometimes over powers the meat. The chop was succulent as it was served with healthy layer of mint sauce and some hi-tech looking julienne of potatoes. I was stuffed and the horchata margaritas were a nice touch to end the meal with. I will say the restaurant was freezing though, they had some heat lamps up but that did take away from the feeling of being transported away to a tropic locale. With that said, make reservations as we didn't but were lucky to have a table open up when we arrived. I went with my cousin but I good easily see about returning with enough friends on a Thursday night to make them re-evaluate the cost ratio of only charging 100 RMB for all you can eat tacos. Once again, this is another reason why I'm fat and oh so happy.
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Frozen margaritas, good food, nice atmosphere, nice old villa. I'll return for more.
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The margaritas alone are enough to get me in the door and keep me there. They're offering up a whole bevy of specials (2-for-1 margaritas for the month of June, 99 RMB all-you-can-eat tacos Thursdays, free tequila shots for dinner patrons throughout the night). And from what the restaurant appears to be trying to do going forward, I'm expecting even better things to come from them. Keep those tacos coming and I'll be back.
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To: Rene Shanghai We are apologize for if you did have such unhappy experience. But guessing it must be for a while you havn't been to Mi Tierra. BECAUSE NOW we never charge for salsa, we even put the free salsa staion on our every Thursday Taco night. For the Enchiladas we don’t use microwave in order the tortilla to get soft we use the steamer and for some reason we don’t know why the chicken get chewy even we served it into small piece. We’ll find out what's wrong on the preparation, and about our fajita, we serve it def in sizzling METAL PLATE to make sure that fajitas is hot enough until you finish your meal. About the reheating you’ve requested, we apologize if one of our staff gives you a wrong information, he may either be our bartender or runner, because as this year started we don’t have enough staffs on the floor, its only the waitresses, rest manager, and the bar manager who supports us on floor. We never re-heat the fajita on microwave. Actually maybe you are confused the restaurants part with our frozen products, only our frozen products when they are dlivered to our customer's home, mostly can be done conveniently by microwave. ALso about our Tortillas cost 25 rmb is for 12 pcs. I think it is fair enough for the price and quality compare to others. Hope you dine with us again and have a great time.
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Ordered the Enchiladas thinking that nothing can go wrong with such a simple dish. Chicken was chewy, for sure microwaved... ordered some "salsa" and they tried to charge them... What a rip-off; at Cantina Agave you can just help yourself with the salsas .... My date's fajitas were oily and stone cold; remained untouched . Staff seemed untrained and when we asked for re-heating the fajitas just replied that he will microwave them again... .For microwaved food I rather stay home. Seems to be an amateurish operation that won't be around town long with the kind of rent they must be paying and the place always half empty. Their deals are just not inviting; even the taco night. Taco night could be a gold pot if they were less stingy with the salsas; also what a joke that it starts and ends that early, who is going to go there at that time , not even the Chinese eat that early (if they liked mi tierra frozen foods)... Also another rip off is their site trying to sell the tortillas for CNY 25 when in TAOBAO you can get the same thing for CNY 7...
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Not sure why this place is getting all the buzz. I went there tonight and they were all out of seafood. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and while the Mexican flavors were good, the chicken itself was bland and stringy. No free chips and salsa. The atmosphere is so so - florescent lights and white walls don't really make for the warm, cozy environment that I think of when eating Mexican. I can think of better ways of spending 200 kuai in Shanghai.
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The fact that some people give this place 4 or 5 stars is simply absurd. I went in on a Thursday afternoon and was pretty much the only person there. I ordered 3 things: Chips and Guacamole, the Chilaquiles and a jamaica juice. I got a generpous portion of chips with guacamole which was bland and watered down ( for 68 RMB, I think it's NOT worth it). The jamaica juice was also bland ( I honestly prefer El Mexicanos juice for 8 RMB then that nasty water Mi Tierra gave me for 25 RMB). Then the Chilaquiles were just a disappointment. SO SALTY that I had to order another drink, which by the way, I had been at the table for over half an hour with nothing to drink and was never offered water, or asked if I wanted more juice or something else to drink (come on Mi Tierra, this is BASIC for any restaurant, especially with your prices!). Small portions, over priced and basically just not worth it. Service is terrible and the only good thing about the place is that it's nicely decorated and spacious. Honestly, I couldn't believe how many friends told me the place was terrible until I went there and experienced it for myself. Sorry guys, but you need to make major improvements.
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I have had the pleasure of experiencing this restaurant and food on a number of occasions. The food is creative, bursting with flavor, and beautiful to look at. The corn chowder is truly exceptional! The Chef makes a delicious Sunday brunch also, which is very relaxing and has extremely talented mariachi's playing live music. I also buy the frozen products to enjoy at home when I need a quick fix. I love the Calabasitas and the tamales. I always have their fresh tortillas on hand. Taco night on Thursday has a great value.
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I've been to Mi Tierra 4 Thursdays in a row now for their phenomenal Taco Night special and planning to make it 5. For 99rmb, it is definitely one of the best deals in town and the tacos are incredible. I'm a huge fan of the fish and carnitas tacos and while I've had all 6 of their Taco Night tacos, haven't ventured into other parts of the menu. But if their tacos are anything to go by, I'd say the menu is loaded with winners. The corn tortillas are soft and perfectly compliment whichever filling you've chosen.
They don't advertise the happy hour which goes until 7:30 and while I wish it would last longer, we can usually do enough damage by then with several rounds of their margaritas. Which, by the way are excellent in their own right.
The setting is gorgeous and the main dining room is a central courtyard they've topped with a glass ceiling. They also opened their new terrace recently which is a nice place to grab a quiet drink with good views of the French Concession but might not be the most happening spot on a Thursday night.
Service still has a slight ways to go but par for the course when it comes to Shanghai. Their manager, Robert, does a great job of engaging with guests and making sure everything is up to our expectations.
Mi Tierra, a slightly lengthier happy hour please and see you tomorrow for visit #5!
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Hey cunads, give this a gander: http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/shanghai-the-dish-new/its-a-group-thing/
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We booked a group brunch for 10 at 1130am days in advance. Our table was set-up under the only part of the indoor terrace with the sun shining - we sweated it out a few minutes before asking to set up in the shade.
Probably 13 showed and our order was entered at 1219. The first 2 ppl got their food at 1230 (1 ordered appetizers as main, the other an entree) No more food until 1245, and the last person got theirs at 1257. The rest of the restaurant was empty except for one couple. We were told that the reason is that there was only one chef working. Not that anyone happened to be sick today (that would've been a better excuse), just that there was only one chef in the kitchen.
When we asked to speak with a manager, or course, there was none on duty. When we asked to speak to a marketing manager, they did not come down from the 3rd floor office. When we asked for someone to call the manager on the phone so we could speak to him, there was no call made. When a girl asked for ketchup, the server talked back to her (he later apologized.)
The food. Mediocre. What Mexican restaurant serves French Fries instead of rice? The shrimp burrito had two shrimps in it and all rice. The egg dishes were lackluster. This was not a good value - the rushed chef obviously started skimping on his/her work.
I will give them credit for trying to make up for it by serving a jug of free juice and 3 orders of churros after our meal. Unfortunately, with 2/3 of the diners being hospitality school graduates, I think it was too little too late.
I can image 13 of us never going there again...
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Is an honor to see mexican people invest in such a risky wide huge market, with that food and and ambition, for sure will be the best brand in the city. Mi Tierra will reach what they want! Just dont forget to have alwyas extra extra spicy sauce for all hot killing salsas lovers like me!!
CHEERS!!
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Mi Tierra at EXPO!!!!! Yummmmmmy! Bursting with flavor. Fun, playful environment with beautiful quality of light. Excellent service, great margaritas, and a great relaxing environment, exactly what you need to rest those aching feet after a few hours on the exhibition circuit. The Mexican pavilion is quite well done. Its actually a hidden treasure! It's emphasis is on salt production, art and experiencing Mexico, including an original self portrait painting of Frida Kahlo (1945). They have a rotating exhibit there so each time you return will be something new to experience!
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A meal I would like to give back to them. Went for the first time Thursday and tried their taco menu, chips and guacamole, 2 margaritas (lychee and tamarind), and quesadillas. Flavors of the food in general were bland and unexciting.
The carnitas in my taco were hard, stale and verging on rancid. They re-fried the pork - I'm guessing this based on the awful consistency.
Their version of the quesadilla is a dish that never should've been on the menu. It's like a deep fried thick skinned dumpling stuffed with refried beans and mystery meat.
Didn't get around to trying any of their more upscale items on the menu, because sorry, if your tacos can't beat one thrown over the border wrapped in tin-foil at 4am in the morning I'm not going to bother with your mains.
Drinks were passable, service was pitiful - we had an empty dining room and 6 staff standing around looking at us while we tried to eat the food.
Would give only one star, but need to give another for the restaurant ambiance, it is quite nice. Too bad the food isn't up to par. 444 RMB for two.
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My only criticism is that the restaurant bills itself as a taco bar and there were no tacos on the lunch menu. I came for tacos. That being said, the carnitas burrito I had was quite good. As was the green salsa, which is crucial for carnitas enjoyment. A combination of citrus, fresh green pepper and avocado flavors is what makes green salsa special and Mi Tierra's had these qualities. It makes me absolutely crazy when the green salsa is not good.
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Just wondering,How long does a soft opening last?
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Seems a little premature to be nominated for City Weekend when it is still "soft opening" as I write this. We had a group dinner last week, many are Mexican food lovers.
Consensus is the Margaritas are not great, seems watered down. Quesadillas turned out to be closer to Empanadas, fried pastry with filling instead of what we expected which are folded tortilla with stuffing inside.
Service was average from the rest of the servers. But we had a great server whom we knew from Maya's who brought us another pitcher of Margarita to replace the original one we ordered as we felt it was diluted. But the others were untrained and were hanging around looking at us eat. But to be fair, this is expected since this place just opened and the staff are not seasoned.
We also ordered the Mixed Fajita, which did not come sizzling hot. Some of us avoided the Mixed Fajita altogether as it looked greasy, maybe because it was not served at the right temperature.
On the plus side, we enjoyed the Taco sets, you have the option to have a Healthy option, where instead of wrapping the filling with tortilla, they are wrapped in lettuce. Nice touch. The Mole Chicken Taco was delicious. Bottom-line, we still like Maya's food much more. Maya's has great service, high quality food and it is nice that there is the 5-7pm Happy Hour which makes it nice on the wallet for those who like Sangria and Margarita (Buy 1 Margarita, get 1 Free).
The building is beautiful, we sat right underneath the skylight. It must be really nice when the sunlight is pouring in, and folks can just hang out and enjoy the warmth. But on the evening we went, it rained and it felt really cold - as it the heater was off. All of us left our jackets on while we ate.
We plan to come back to Mi Tierra when it opens officially, hopefully by then the kinks are all worked out and we have another high quality Mexican option in the French Concession area.
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Simply not worth it. The menu has interesting appetizers and then a pretty poor selection of main courses. The bulk of the main courses are enchiladas (with different color sauces) and fajitas. We had empanadas and "coyotas" to start. Both were good. Then tamales (good) and fajitas (mediocre). Two appetizers, two mains, two Coronas and no dessert = 550RMB. And 30 RMB for a small bottle of water -- the imported beer is almost the same price. Mi Tierra is not as good as (also expensive) Maya and better than Cantina Agave, but not better enough to justify the price. The setting is great as several reviews mention.
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I've been to Mi Tierra several times and I think it's nice. The service is warm and friendly; and it's a beautiful space which has a relaxed feel.
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i think the place is really big. very high ceiling.with exotic paintings in the interior. Also, when you finish dinner, each lady will get one rose. however, i think the food there is over priced. we went there with friends, total 10 people, and the bill we get is RMB2,975...there is no any dishes which impress me...only the drink and dessert do---the margarita with strawberry and fruits flavor, also the strawberry icecream which i can remember well...
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The best place ... ever.
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Oh my goodness, where do I even start?! This restaurant is simply remarkable! The taste of the foods just explode in your mouth like an atomic bomb of decadent rich flavors all seeping into your taste buds. Man oh man, so good!!
This restaurant is like home away from home...a little piece of Mexico in a vastly asian continent. The atmosphere is so grandeur and relaxing giving off a nice and peaceful ambience...Mexican style. If you've never visited Mexico and just miss fine Mexican dining, then this is the place to go...you won't be disappointed.
Now to the food...don't even get me started on the nachos. Ooooooohh! One word: heaven! I LOVE my cheese and nacho chips and this restaurant does a spectacular job satiating my desire for fattening yet ridiculously delicious dish of nachos with cheese. Then there's the yummy quasadillas...the chilli relleno...the enchilada...and of course the famous burrito. You simply just can't get enough once trying out these dishes. It just leaves you craving for more. They give a hefty portion too. A good bang for your buck if you will.
Definitely come on out and give this restaurant a try. The prices are just right and the quality is outstanding!
Mi-Tierra! Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba!
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I have been in Shanghai long enough to know what's good and what isn't, this place is a sham, everyone I have spoken to says its rubbish. I have been to Cantina, Maya, Mexico Lindo, and the Adobo and I would have to say that Mi Tierra has to raise its standards to compete in this race! The only thing I found acceptable were the Margaritas and the churros...I come from a city where the tacos are slung directly to you from the grill, the ones I got were cold, upon mentioning this to our server he immediately took them away and brought them back luke warm a mere 25 minutes later..ouch..this place needs to raise its standards and get in the game!
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give me a break! another failed attempt at Mexican in Shanghai. too bad.
i was there on friday night for a friend's going away dinner. when i arrived, only a few of the group had arrived so we started with chips and guacamole. guac was decent but a little bland (don't be afraid of lime!) and the chips were real corn tortilla chips so it started off promising. but the first let down came almost straight away when the water laid down the salsa after the guac and chips. first of all, i've never seen such a stingy serving of salsa in my life. it was about the equivalent of 1/8 medium chopped tomato. then i tasted it. boo. it was nothing more than bland local tomatoes chopped with some onion and cilantro with a tiny squeeze of lemon. ok, this could get bad, i thought...
we started ordering and each of us ordered appetizers and mains. half of us didn't receive our appetizers and they seemed to come out one by one. most of us ordered the 3 taco combo, but the waiter forgot to write table position numbers so when the tacos came out nobody knew who got what and we all ended up getting the wrong order of tacos, but just eating them anyways because we were starving. my beef coyotas never came so i ate my tacos (or actually, someone else's) anyways. i asked several times throughout the meal for my appetizer, but it wasn't until the 3rd time and getting rid of my smile that they actually came. the "ice water" was lukewarm, our second order of chips came 30 minutes late, and people who came later and ordered later were getting their dishes before the early ones.
now to the food. i didn't have the pan de elote so i can't make any comments on that, but as far as the tacos, beef coyotas, volcanitos and salsa are concerned; if anyone's friend comments that the food is "just like mom used to make it" then i feel sorry for your friend as his/her mother was not a very good cook. my neighbors, best friends, classmates and even college flatmates are all Mexican and i had the pleasure of growing up eating lots of authentic Mexican food all the time. i know this is China so we're supposed to be more understanding, but Mi Tierra's food was not that good. and considering what you pay, the value is awful. my beef coyotas tasted like a frozen, overcooked, dry puff pastry with cheap ground beef, refried beans and just enough sour cream and avocado to see, but not taste. and to pay RMB65 for that?!?!?! absolute garbage. the tacos had about a small spoonful of meat for each 6" corn tortilla. again, RMB65 for that?!?!?! give me a break. the only saving grace was the churros which were warm, sugary and cinnamony delicious. when are we going to get real Mexican food for real value in Shanghai? sadly, not from from Mi Tierra i presume... Shanghai - stop lowering your standards! demand more!
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I don't know what happend between this eric with mi tierra. Anyway was pushed by friends to go there last Friday night, it totally changed my opinion of Mexican food!! Every dish we orded was so good, especially the mole sauce, they also have a full menu of different type of tacos, however the food come not so fast , we still had a great time there with the Mexican singer. I think it is a good thing for the Shanghai dining scene, because the real Mexican food is in town now...
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Hi Geofferson, Well......This sounds logical, helpful and pure. Exactly what readers are expecting from Foodreviews from CW you think? I have never heard such a nonsense. But it is probably the only way to keep Mi Tierra alive....Bless you.
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For the record, eric_sh, frani doesn't work for Mi Tierra. She voluntarily uploaded the listing just to be nice. Mi Tierra asked me afterwards for control of the listing so after contacting her I transferred it over and she copy/pasted her contributor's description in as a comment.
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Fake Frani; great to copy part of your review from the Contributor description; " I wonder what that's going to be....", or should I conclude it's your own ? :) cheers/good luck. Price/quality is a mess in your restaurant....:)
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In our neighborhood, the French Concession, we kept passing this grand edifice rising near our favorite Sake bar 'Izumi'. I kept saying, "I wonder what that's going to be". Well today I finally found out! Mi Tierra, a Mexican Restaurant and Taco Bar recently opened its doors. Currently in its 'soft opening', the house was completely packed! The service is impeccable, the food artistic and delicious, the drinks ingenious, the design sublime, and executive Chef Gabriela extraordinary!!! The Architecture, the colors, the courtyard with a water wall and greenhouse glass roof, the lighting, all create the perfect composition for a fine evening out. Mi Tierra has arrived!!!! For starters, the exterior is just gorgeous, it glows during the day or night, and almost feels like 'knocking on heavens doors'. The interior is inviting and so welcoming! The staff are all accommodating, and extremely attentive. There is a coat check, a very nice feature. The bar is located in the front and is a hub of bustling activity. The seating is comfortable and spacious. (There is VIP seating on the second floor.) The round table has an artistic Mayan calendar built into the center. The lights make a sun/starburst pattern on the walls, creating a dynamic movement to the space. The tables are also candlelit, making for a romantic and relaxing environment. We ordered guacamole, which is quite delicious. Accompanying the chips is a triple dipping dish of 3 different salsas, a red, a green and a pico de gallo, my favorite was the green ;-) The menu is very diverse with some very elegant dishes, however we were intrigued by the 'taco bar' menu. Pick 3 soft tacos from maybe 20 flavorful combination's. The fajitas also packed a winning combination. Executive Chef Gabriela is one of a kind!!! She is full of life and personality. She loves to meet and greet her guests, and is so very friendly. We will be coming back and bringing friends for more!!! Congratulations, Compliments to the Chef!!!!
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As a Mexican in Shanghai, probably the thing I miss the most from my country is the food. I guess you would agree with me that Mexican food is one of the most known cuisines in the world. The combination of flavors and ingredients is just wonderful, no wonder Mexican restaurants can be found anywhere in the world. For me it is very funny when I ask American people what food do they miss the most from home, because many of them answer Mexican food; one of them once told me “Don’t ever mess with Pork carnitas”, with a deep Texan accent.
Anyway, if I gave this nostalgic speech is probably because even my nationalism got much more intense after the delicious meal I had at Mi Tierra. Seriously, the food is like a piece of heaven, and the whole environment is just as wonderful as what is on your plate. It is not only about offering authentic Mexican food, but to do it trendy and creatively. All that combined with superb service and the fact that is Shanghai’s only Mexican-Owned, Mexican-Managed and Mexican-Chef restaurant.
The building of Mi Tierra is a heritage architecture house whose patio happens to be just like a cozy Mexican hacienda. When you see it from the outside, unless you are familiar with the Aztec Calendar, maybe you don’t recognize it is Mexican. Of course, once you come in you can notice it with the lively colors and the warm hospitality. And if you did not pay attention the Aztec Calendar at the entrance, meiwenti, you will be able to see it in any of the tables. This “sun-shaped” design is highly meaningful and even mystical; very accurate for a restaurant whose name in English means “my land, or my Earth”.
Since the very first moment you seat at the table you realize this is not only genuine Mexican, but also modern and sophisticated. That is because while the food arrives, there are Chicharrones and Churritos so that you can dip them in a relatively-spicy sauce. Then, their selection of appetizers is just amazing. I had the Volcancitos, which are zucchini “volcanoes” filled with lava of authentic Mexican Cheese (I still wonder how they get it); and the Beef Coyotas, which for sure were among the highlights of all. I loved the generous portions of avocado topping the beef and the hand-made tortilla.
Given that now they are in their soft opening, there are just a couple of main courses and the taco bar is not open yet. Still, we tried the parrillada and it was also an excellent choice, especially for meat lovers like me. One of my friends had flautas (taquitos dorados) for main course and I tried one from her, it was also the way they have to be, with the cream, the lettuce and pico de gallo. Simply delicious! I was so full, but I still went for two or tree spoons on the corn cake for dessert.
Probably my only critic to Mi Tierra is their lack of Sopa de Tortilla. I am totally sure that Chef Gabriela can make a wonderful version of this soup, still I don’t understand why they exclude it from the menu. Other than that, there are many reasons to strongly recommend you to go. Try to visit it before the end of February so that you can know it during the soft opening, and then after March so that you can see it at its best. Mi Tierra is the kind of place where you go when you want to indulge yourself.
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French Concession gets a taste of Mexico....
New Eats | Keeping It Real
Mexican cuisine was practically nonexistent in Shanghai three years ago, but today it’s become a real battle of the titans. Mi Tierra recently arrived on the dining scene promising to deliver real traditional, homestyle dishes, so we brought along a Mexican friend and put them to the test. The restaurant passed with flying colors–this is as authentic as it gets in Shanghai.
Standing three stories tall in the heart of the former French Concession, Mi Tierra brings Aztec suns to mind with its warm lighting, open courtyard and earthy dishes. Savory beef coyotas (¥65), beef and chorizo sandwiched between thick corn tortillas, got our meal started right. Topped with sour cream, avocado and white cheddar and served on top of a scoop of refried beans, this trio of miniature bites had us salivating early. Unfortunately, the flautas (¥65), deep fried corn tortillas, flopped–they missed the boat both on flavor and consistency.
Our main course, an impressive portion of poblano rellenos (¥165), made us real believers. The dish of poblano chile peppers is packed full of Mi Tierra’s special homemade cheese and fried on top of a bed of Mexican rice and smoky salsa. It's heavy enough for two, but make sure you save room for dessert: the pan de elote (¥55) helped us overcome our negative stereotypes about cornbread with a moistness that stunned our table into silence. In our Mexican dining partner's words, it’s "just like mom used to make it". Wanting to savor every last bite, we fought off the waiter who threatened to take our plate away one forkful too early.
With the majority of the restaurant gabbing away in Spanish and the Mexican Consul’s arrival halfway through our meal, it seems the city agrees that Mi Tierra is the spot for an authentic taste of Mexico in Shanghai.
Jamie Barys