Pulqueria is proof that heading to Chinatown is worth the hassle, traffic and so much more. Located on Doyers Street, next to its sister speakeasy Apotheke, this one of a kind location boasts delicious Mexican cuisine in a darkly lit atmosphere that bodes well with its surroundings in downtown.
With its presence literally being underground, Pulqueria stands out as a cool and relaxing experience with its ambiance, decor and so much more. To get to Pulqueria, you legitimately go underground on Doyers Street and are welcomed to a very Aztec- type of feel upon arrival. Drawn upon its inspiration of Aztec culture, Pulqueria shines throughout with its beautiful turquoise mosaics, lush colors and gorgeous bar and restaurant setting that really enhance the overall mood.
This is a fun spot in many ways, in that on top of it being a great spot to bring a big group of people to celebrate an occasion, or just a romantic date for two, it is also a way to dance the night away as they have some amazing DJ’s that jam the night away on Thursdays through Saturdays. Nothing wrong in my opinion with a little dancing to go along with your taco and margarita.
The dinner menu itself screams Mexican cuisine at its best, as we were able to try out some of their top notch dishes and were thoroughly impressed by how they all turned out. For starters, their Guacamole Clasico is a great example of how to make this sort of dish and make it pop with its surrounding flavors (lime, jalapeno, cilantro).
I am never one to turn down a good taco, and Pulqueria does not disappoint in this category. Their taco options range from the best of surf, turf and vegetables, with their Carne Asada & Camarones being the stars of the show. The former came with Pickled Hominy, Red Onion and Crema Fresca, which enhanced the flavor of the perfectly cooked meat and made for one awesome taco. I have always been a big fan of shrimp with anything, so the Camarones were a huge hit for me as the flavor was bursting with the Mango, Tomatilla Crema and Tomato, which made for a bright and lovely experience.
Side dishes can sometimes be viewed as secondary or not as good, however one particular side dish that Pulqueria gave us was actually our favorite of the night. Shocker! The rice & beans were great of course, but we absolutely lived for the Chipotle Roasted Baby Carrots, as they were oozing with heat and flavor in each savory bite. Such a great choice for an accompaniment in any of the dishes you will get, trust me.
The traditional drinks also excel at Pulqueria, as their line of Negronis, Margaritas and Sangrias really shine with its execution and balance of flavors in each drink. Any of them I would recommend trying as they go perfectly with the food itself, so be prepared to enjoy at least one or two the next time you are in town.
Overall, Pulqueria provided us with a fabulous experience and we hope you experience the same upon your next trip to Chinatown. For more information, check out their official site.