Jaguarita’s: Underrated Mexican eatery in Buona Vista with huge meat platters, tacos & amazing cocktails

Looking for some hearty Mexican food to unwind after a long day of work? Jaguarita’s is just the spot to visit. This Mexican-inspired restaurant is conveniently located in The Metropolis right next to Buona Vista MRT Station, making their dishes easily accessible.

Jaguarita’s dons vibrant decorations, making it easily distinguishable when walking through The Metropolis. You’ll spot it easily when you look out for its glowing yellow sign displaying its icon and name.

The interior of Jaguarita’s is every bit as charming as its exterior, being furnished with patterned tables, wall murals and colourful ornaments, making it even more welcoming to diners.

What I tried at Jaguarita’s

What good is a Mexican restaurant without tacos? Jaguarita’s offers 5 different kinds of tacos, which we tried. Pork lovers can go for the Carnitas Taco (S$7), which contains meat from the cheek, ears and shoulder, and is finished with green salsa, onions and a wedge of lime.

The pork was tender and meaty, with the green salsa and onions giving it lots of extra zest and flavour. The ratio of filling to the flour tortilla was commendable too, with each bite being well supplemented with meat and carbs.

Though I’m not a huge fan of fish, I quite enjoyed the Pescadillas Taco (S$7), containing a piece of beer battered fried fish, lime crema and purple cabbage slaw. Visually, the taco was super hefty, with the fried fish having a crispy exterior.

The fish was incredibly tender and soft. My knife slid through it like butter, revealing the glistening white flesh beneath. The lime crema and purple cabbage slaw added a pop of creaminess and zest to the fish, making it even more delectable. However, I recommend diners to eat this quick before the crispy exterior turns soft.

You can’t go wrong with a classic Pollo Taco (S$6), and Jaguarita’s wows with its version, containing spiced chicken thigh, red salsa and onions.

The generous amount of chicken covered the surface of the tortilla, and I loved how tender it was. The salsa and onions were the perfect addition, giving the whole taco a refreshing taste.

Personally, my favourite kind of taco is Birria (S$7), made with pulled beef and onions. Jaguarita’s take on the dish was fantastic, with the meatiness of the pulled beef being complemented by the crunchy onions. I would have preferred for the tortilla to be crunchier, though.

The Birria Taco also comes with a bowl of beef broth, which gave the taco an extra umami boost. I loved how the beef broth further elevated the savoury flavours of the taco, and honestly, I’d love for every taco to come with a bowl of beef broth too!

My favourite taco of the night was undeniably Jaguarita’s Queso Birria Taco (S$8), which is essentially the same as the previous Birria Taco, but with the inclusion of melted cheese.

The melted cheese was such a wonderful inclusion to the taco — after all, everything is better with cheese, right? The cheese, gave the taco a slightly sharper profile, which I loved.

If you’re thinking of visiting with a group of friends, be sure to try Jaguarita’s Grilled Platter (S$58), consisting of chicken thigh, pork ribs, agave prawns, grilled peppers, red cabbage and tomato salsa.

The chicken thigh was the dish that caught my eye the most, with its large size and golden brown sheen. It had been pre-sliced and contained no bones or cartilage, making it super easy for us to grab slice after slice.

Jaguarita’s chicken thigh was one of the most tender versions I’ve ever tried. It was so soft and delectable, with a nice amount of tomatoes and onions on top to spruce it up. On its own, it was a little milder in taste, but when paired with the assortment of sides, I fell in love.

The pork ribs weren’t as tender as the chicken thigh, unfortunately, with the meat clinging on to the bone. However, I still couldn’t get enough of it, as it was well-seasoned and packed full of flavour without the need of any condiments to supplement it.

Definitely don’t miss out on the agave prawns, if seafood is your thing. I adored the smokey aroma of the prawns, and I liked how they had been pre-cut, making it easier to scoop out the flesh.

The tomato salsa was a delight, with its light and refreshing taste. It effectively enhanced the savoury flavours of each of the proteins, all while maintaining its addictive tangy nature.

The grilled peppers packed a punch — I was impressed at how bright and strong the flavours were. They certainly did a great job in livening up the entire platter.

Finally, the red cabbage was crunchy with a slightly sour taste. Like the previous 2 sides, its tanginess was the perfect complement to the milder-tasting savoury proteins.

We also got some cocktails to go with our dishes. Jaguarita’s has its cocktails on tap, with a variety of fruity and delicious drinks available for order.

The classic Margarita (S$18), made with tequilas and lime, was surprisingly strong but not too overpowering, and balanced sweet, salty, sour and bitter flavours nicely. My favourite was the Grapefruit Paloma (S$18), containing grapefruit juice, tequila, lime juice and sparkling grapefruit — it was sweet, fruity and absolutely refreshing!

Final thoughts

Jaguarita’s is a place that I would return to in the future, with their great food, welcoming ambience and friendly staff. My dining experience was incredibly pleasant, and their accessible location makes it a convenient spot to visit.

Now that I’ve tried their tacos and Grilled Platter, I’d love to try their other dishes, such as their burrito bowls, next!

Expected damage: S$12 – S$50 per pax

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