Written by: Hurmat Majid
Posted on: January 06, 2023 | 
| 中文
Mexican Tacos with beef tomatoes
Many have tried to bring Mexican flavors to Karachi and failed, so we were rightly apprehensive when we decided to visit Adobo. The restaurant calls itself a Mexican grill, and while they have had a branch at the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) for close to two years, their Sindhi Muslim Cooperative Housing Society (SMCHS) branch is fairly new.
Walking in we were pleasantly surprised at the size of the establishment and its open floorplan. The large dining area was buzzing with customers, that too on a weekday. Once seated upstairs, we proceeded to take about a million photos of the décor, since it was just the right mix of Mexican with a modern and a minimalistic touch. The metal diner chairs looked uncomfortable, but surprisingly were not.
The dining place (Picture taken from Adobe's Facebook page)
A server came up to us with the menu, and in detail explained to us how to choose our food from their step-by-step menu. We were then told that the restaurant is a self-service establishment, much like our beloved Subway, and that we should come downstairs to order once we decide what we want. After taking our picks, we went downstairs and saw our food being made in front of us. We then paid and took our trays loaded with food back upstairs.
For starters, seeing an actual burrito here in Karachi made me want to cry happy years, as the cross-section of the burrito was larger than my fist and the soft-shell tacos were actually made in soft taco shells and not chapatis. The quesadilla was also freshly grilled and was oozing cheese. We decided to try all three meat fillings, and had the Ground Beef Burrito, Beef Steak Taco and Chicken Quesadilla. We also got a side of plain fries, and to wash our food down we had a Lime Margarita and an Iced Tea.
Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla with a side of salsa and sour cream
We dove right into the burrito, and it tasted better than it looked, for it was awesome to look at. Each of the individual vegetables made a perfect combination with the meat and the sauces. It was on the hotter side, but not as spicy as we thought it would be when we chose the highest spice level for the sauce. The tortilla was fresh and lightly toasted to the point where it was warm, but not clashing with the cold fillings. The ground beef was well seasoned, and the quantities were such that half a burrito was plenty for one person.
Steak Burrito
The Guacamole at Adobo needs its own moment, because it was one of the finest I have had in Pakistan. All of the flavours shone through, and it was the right balance between creamy and tangy. There’s no way to achieve that perfect balance, except by making it fresh in-house every day.
Next, we dove into the Quesadilla and in hindsight, we should have had that first because it was the warmest dish. However, even after sitting on our plate for 15 minutes, it was still quite good. The cheese-to-meat ratio was on point, and the chicken was adequately juicy. This would be a good option for picky eaters, as it did not have any veggies or any highly flavored sauces. This was our least favorite dish, but that’s only because all of the other dishes were so good.
Next up, we tried the beef steak tacos, which were succulent and juicy and the queso really made the dish come alive. The steak bits were juicy and well-seasoned, and married really well with the salsa and the other veggies. The tacos were reasonably sized too, and three tacos per serving is a good enough serving size for one person, or for two people to share if they are also having half a burrito each.
Burrito bowl
The fries were quite nice and not the freezer kind, and one could tell because of the texture. That said, they were certainly not the best fries we have had in the city, nor were they the worst.
Coming to drinks, we loved the Lime Margarita more than the Iced Tea. To us, the iced tea was too sweet and did not cut through the food well, but the lime margarita was just right as it was equal parts tangy and also had a cool aftertaste, which helped us enjoy each bite of our food as if it was our first by cleansing our palette. That said, the iced tea on its own would be a great summer drink for one to have.
Meat and toppings
The total damage to the pocket was around Rs4000, and the prices were totally justified by the quality and quantity of the food we had. We would definitely be visiting Adobo again and trying more of the food on the menu, especially their burrito bowls.
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