If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate Day of the Dead 2022, Jalisco, in bustling Brixton village, is a true taste of Mexico.
The cosy restaurant offers diners a vibrant and colourful experience, from lovingly painted decor and a flamboyant cocktail menu to friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere.
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Brightly painted pink wooden stairs lead you to the upstairs seating area, while gold-labelled reused tequila bottles serve as water jugs.
We kicked off with a classic margarita - the restaurant’s bestseller - to whet our appetites.
The drink, with a perfect salt rim and freshly squeezed lime juice, is beautifully mixed, and neither too salty or too strong.
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A second round, later in the evening, of the Jamaican sorrel, or hibiscus, version was a sweeter and equally delicious option with an amazing Ribena-purple colour.
It’s inspired by the popularity of the herb in Brixton’s local Caribbean cuisine, but chef-owner Wilson tells us the drink is also beloved in his native Venezuela for its refreshing taste.
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And the clientele, young couples and groups of friends, were making the most of the menu - which also offers mojitos, pina coladas, aperol spritzes, espresso martinis and caipirinhas.


On to starters and the menu left us spoilt for choice.
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Opting for the classics, we shared a portion of nachos and a dish of cheesy refried black beans - or refritos - served with fried corn tortillas, or totopos.
The nachos were a generous serving for £8, topped with beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, coriander and onion - with optional chorizo or carne mechada.


Next time I go, I’ll definitely be trying the ceviche de camarones - cold lime and orange marinated king prawns with fresh salsa, avocado and plantain crisps.
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A wide variety of main dishes is also on offer, with classic taco, burrito, quesadilla and enchilada dishes, as well as BBQ ribs, tortas - a South American burger - and fresh salads topped with tilapia, Colombian cheese and chimichurri.
We shared two mains - a cheesy pork quesadilla in a soft tortilla casing that left sauce running down our arms (no complaints there) and a taco selection of pork, beef and chicken.


You can choose your own heat level, Nandos style, with the gamut ranging from ‘Dead: say no more’ to ‘F*** OFF: now that’s hot’.
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Knowing our limits, we opted for the moderate ‘Spicy: little habanero’ choice - just hot enough to avoid being branded wimps.
For children, an affordable cheesy quesadilla, fries and a juice comes to just £6, while staff can accommodate dietary requirements including dairy free, gluten free and vegan options.


Sadly we had no room left to try the churros con chocolate, the sole dessert option - needed frankly on any menu - but it’s safe to say I’ll be back for more.
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Jalisco offers brunch, happy hour, event catering and hosts parties upstairs - in fact the only slight negative is the lack of a bathroom means guests have to use the Brixton Village public toilets. But after enough margaritas you won’t hold it against them - or even remember.
Run by husband and wife team Wilson and Carolina Sanchez, I ate there on Tuesday, November 2 - the final day of the iconic Day of the Dead festival. But visit the eatery later this week and you’ll be treated to live music, freshly poured cocktails and a party to remember.
We drank: Two classic margaritas and two margaritas de Flor de Jamaica [£7.85 per drink]
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We ate: One nachos [£8], one refritos [£5.50] and one totopos [£3]. One quesadilla with cerdo (pulled pork) [£9.25] and one portion of tacos [three for £9.75] with pollo tinga (chipotle chicken), cerdo and carne mechada (slow cooked beef sauce [+£1.50]).
Jalisco Brixton is open from 12-5pm on Mondays, 12-10pm Tues-Sat, and 12-9pm on Sundays. Jalisco Loughborough Junction will open 12-9pm on Mon, 12-10pm Tues-Fri, 11am to 10pm on Saturdays and 11am to 9pm on Sundays. There’s also a pop-up courtyard bar with free live entertainment this Thursday and Friday evenings to mark ‘Day of the Dead’. For more information, visit Jalisco’s website or Instagram page.