El Burro Taqueria — Cape Town, South Africa

Exposed face-brick wall painted an eye-catching shade of turquoise blue with restaurant's name on the wall, creamy walls with potted plants, colouful high chairs, wood and yellow leather sofas and tables
(Image credit: elburro.co.za)

Eleven years ago, on a visit to Mexico, Sascha Berolsky fell in love with Mexican cuisine. On his return to his native South Africa, he convinced three other partners that the time was ripe to open a Mexican restaurant. El Burro opened in 2010 and immediately found an appreciative local audience. Four outlets, including a Mexican food truck and retail shop, later, Berolsky and his partners have opened a taqueria in an early 20th-century Victorian-style pile in Tamboerskloof, an artsy Cape Town neighbourhood. An exposed face-brick wall painted an eye-catching shade of turquoise blue, creamy walls and colourful stools set the mood for the imaginative tacos dreamed up by the four partners and head chef Paul Van’T Hoff, an alumnus of the original El Burro. The house special is, of course, tacos – the corn tortillas are made daily by hand – but the menu has been broadened to appeal to local tastes and, so, includes ceviche served with mini tostados, chicharrons, quesadillas, paletas and churros. Mountain views of Lions Head and Signal Hill are the perfect accompaniment to taco layered with cumin and paprika scented roast cauliflower, lime cream, red cabbage slaw and a singeing peanut and arbol chilli salsa.

A view of the restaurant's counter with the menu displayed above in multiple artistic fonts and colours. White tables with condiments setup and colourful stools. Yellow leather and wood sofas with tables

(Image credit: elburro.co.za)

Exposed face-brick wall painted an eye-catching shade of turquoise blue with restaurant's name on the wall, creamy walls with potted plants, coloutful high chairs, wood and yellow leather sofas and tables

(Image credit: elburro.co.za)

Colourful seating area with wall potted plants and hanging plants. Yellow leather and wood sofas with tables , with a view of the restaurant's entrance on the right.

(Image credit: elburro.co.za)

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Shop 1
12-16 Kloof Nek Road
Tamboerskloof

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.