Hi everyone, im moving to Switzerland, Zurich this year and i would like to know how much mexican food is accepted overthere, i would like to invest but im searching for the best option, what do you think about mexican restaurants? i will appreciate your feedback, thanks.

Mexican food simply sux in Europe. There is good places but nothing like Mexico or Cali (where I am living now ).

Chipotle (as far as you can call it Mexican) is now penetrating the Europe market and I bet they will make another fortune... .
Remember if you wanne open a restaurant in CH cost our out of this world ( a waiter is paid 20chf for example).

If I were to open one in CH it be a typical tacuira (or whatever they are called) and forget about an actual restaurant.

Thanks Anthony for your advice, Chipotle is an american restaurant specialized in burritos, i think mc donald´s owned it so unfortunately they dont make real mexican food.
What do you mean with tacuira (is it some Colombian dish?)

I'm amazed that there aren't more "cheap" and "quick" food options here other than kebabs and fast food. I would think someone serving Mexican in a similar style would do well. But maybe it's just not that popular with people here?

Dan

Well chipotle is what we westerners see as Mexican food so you will have to adapt a little to that.

I butchered the spelling; Taqueria: the tacos come quick, have plenty of spicy adjuncts like raw onion and pic de gallo, typically offer fast-delivered tacos with meats like tongue, and sometimes have additional favorites like stringy goat stew. The hallmark of "authentic" taquerias is cheap, quick, flavorful, and a nice wide smattering of meats on the tacos, tostadas and tortas.

Cali is full of them and everytime I go to one there is at least 20 people in front of me (line moves very speedy though)

In general, the Swiss don't particularly enjoyed highly spiced food so it will always be a gamble. But in the main cities as you suggest, it could work.

In Basel, there is a good Mexican restaurant near to the centre of town which serves pretty good Mexican food, turned down to 3 on the spice scale to suit local tastes, and it always seems to be doing good business

There is a really good mexican shop near the main train station in Zurich, called "El Maiz" http://www.elmaiz.ch/. They sell all the usual products (proper beans, etc.) and cookery equipment (tortilla and lime press, etc.). They also have slightly more "exotic" products, such as wrestling masks.

It's Swiss prices, but they aren't too bad.

...and around the corner from El Mais is El Luchador, a cafe where the food (and beer) is the closest thing to authentic Mexican fare I've found. (Made me cry.)

El Mais is good for many ingredients and frozen tamales. When we asked the owners of El Mais where to find authentic Mexican food in Zürich they told us to go to Interlaken and visit Restaurant El Azteca. This was before El Luchador opened up around the corner. El Luchador is also the best we've found in Zürich.

You have to see the difference. I have enjoyed Mexican restaurants in Atlanta/Georgia and in various places in Texas, plus one on my two hours visit to Matomoros (my LatinAmerica Experience ) . As explained elsewhere on this forum, Zürich has some Mexican restaurants which are really good, but hardly authentic. Just as elsewhere in Europe, you may be a bit frustrated by the restaurants if looking for the authentic and genuine thing. However if you are ready to downgrade your expectations to nice places with a well done cooking and a nice ambiance you will be satisfied

Mexican food is indeed not just accepted but admired / adored. For example, the Löwen in Glattbrugg is a Mexican restaurant with quite a good service, good cooking, nice ambiance+atmosphere, but they just as other Mexican restaurants here even have Mexican wines on the menu.

Kebab is NOT fast food but slow food. Good Arab and Turkish restaurants are fairly slow. And not cheap. But Arabs and Turks have over the years jumped the train and developed fast food variants which sell quite well.

Again, basically, Mexican food IS very popular with people here. Otherwise, Tres Amigos and the others would not be as successful as they are.

Fast/Cheap ? Possibly an oxymoron. There is a nice Turkish place accross from Post Wollishofen. Cheap it is, not least as the furniture is of the cheap kind and the Interieur reminds you of your own kitchen. Meals are prepared upon order immediately but it takes time. You get invited to sit down, start drinking wine and reading a newspaper or magazine in German or Turkish or Italian. You chose spices up to YOUR liking, more or less.

Well I find kebabs are one of the few things I can go eat, on my own, and in a reasonable time at lunch here. They are quite tasty.

Thanks for the tip on the Turkish place in Wollishofen. I hope to try it sometime.

Dan

And by "cheap" I just meant 15-20chf for lunch including a drink. For example, I would pay 8-12chf for a good simple burrito. But you won't find that here. Instead, you have burrito, rice, salad, etc, for 25-35chf at a sit down restaurant. Fine for dinner maybe but not for lunch. At least not for me anyway.

Dan

I believe he's going for "taqueria"

Do tell!!! I've been dying for good Mexican since I left California

Forget "El Luchador", the food (except the empanadas) is definitely missing some kick IMO.

First off, if you are coming from Mexico, prepare for Mexican food to be 5 notches down from what you are used to in terms of authenticity, spicyness and price. 3 notches down if coming from the US. That being said, these are the best places I've found in and around Zurich:

http://www.tresamigos.ch/

http://www.el-mosquito.ch/

Both are chains with multiple locations in Switzerland.
If you want real Mexican food, shop at El Maiz behind the Zurich main station where they sell authentic ingredients and cook it yourself. They even have ready made frozen Tamales to-go. http://www.elmaiz.ch/

Most Migros and Coop also sell Old El-Paso brand tortillas, taco shells, salsa, and packets of fajita spice etc.

Yes, forget about it, don't even give them a chance as LiBs opinion is worth more than any positive review on this restaurant.

Also forget about the Opera as it is missing some rock'n'roll IMO.

Forget about holidays in Italy as it is missing some norway IMO.

Well, if you want to go there and waste your money, then be my guest...I certainly expect more from a Mexican restaurant.

(...and you had similar reviews about the place on a different thread )

Yes, you expect it to be an American Mexican restaurant.

No I don't. I would however expect some authenticity from a restaurant with a Mexican chef.