Strings of papel picado, the colorful Mexican party bunting, hang from the ceiling of Sabor de Mexico Taqueria & Cantina, connecting the turquoise and yellow walls to create a festive feel in the former Fave Kitchens space.
During more than a decade of working in the restaurant industry, including most recently as a manager for Fave Kitchens, Raymundo Martinez dreamed of opening his own place. On January 14th, he achieved that vision when Sabor de Mexico welcomed customers with its vibrant décor and flavors to match. Though the sign on the outside still marks the space as Mo’s Pizza (the restaurant that preceded Fave Kitchens), customers can bypass the front counter to the bright, spacious seating area, where Sabor serves sit-down lunch and dinner, plus breakfast on the weekend.
Drinks arrives in beautiful painted ceramic cups and sunshine streams in through the big windows facing SE 27th Street. The small menu features a few iterations of tacos, quesadillas, and burritos with the choice of fillings – steak, pork, chicken, or a vegetable mix of sautéed peppers and onions – which work well for a quick lunch. The large-format section shows off Sabor de Mexico’s more original options, with Mexico City-style alambres (steak, peppers, onions, and cheese) and a pizzadilla, both of which serve two or three people and offer added appeal for a family-style dinner.
“I just want to bring something fun and new to the island,” says Martinez. He grew up loving Mercer Island, first coming to visit family friends as a child. “[To] share part of my culture with mariachi nights and much more to come!”
Sabor De Mexico Taqueria & Cantina is located at 2630 77th Ave SE, #112, and is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm. Stay tuned to their Instagram, SaborDeMexico__ for updates and promotions.
