Hencho en Mexico

4816 rue Wellington, Verdun

Mexican

“Best Mexican food in Verdun,” so I’d been hearing. Well where else is there Mexican food in Verdun? I asked myself and a whole lot of internet forum boards and other websites and the answer was no where. But that didn’t mean Hencho en Mexico wasn’t going to be good. And I’m a sucker for mole – a nutty, spicy dark chocolate sauce. I’m also a sucker for good margaritas, which I’d read about on all those forums.

Verdict? The lime margarita was VERY sweet. It came in a martini glass the rim of which was lined with agave nectar (the same plant as the tequila in the margarita) and dipped in Tajin spice blend (chili pepper, dehydrated lime and salt). If you like drinking sugar with a little lime, this is your drink. If you like drinking a margarita for dessert, this is your drink. If you’re looking for something refreshing, this is maybe not your drink. Or just ask for it to be less sweet. It sure makes the waiting for the meal a lot more relaxed. You maybe want to stop at just one, though, mostly for pre-diabetic reasons not alcohol content reasons, so sip slowly.

Best: The generous amount of ridiculously tender chicken inside the enchiladas mole. I’m a diehard mole lover. Roasted chilies, a rich blend of warm, nutty spices and dark chocolate all slow-cooked to thick perfection. Sadly, the sauce here was the biggest disappointment of the evening. It was thin, watery, and dull. It was also lukewarm. But the enchiladas were wonderful. There was absolutely nothing inside the 3 (maybe even homemade) flour tortillas besides chicken. So for under $10 (if I remember correctly), it’s a protein dense bargain.

This is far from a complete review, however, because if you can’t handle cheese or sour cream like me, then your menu options become a little more limited, and they become even more limited when you don’t eat pork and beef. But from the looks of the plates around me, the pork-based sandwiches (tortas) are the way to go. And I love cactus and bean or tortilla soup, so give those a whirl and think of me.

The salsa outshone the mole sauce by a mile. While sipping that margarita (or waiting for your meal margarita-less) you get a complimentary basket of nachos and a ramekin of homemade salsa. It’s a pretty thin red sauce – not too salty – and it magically didn’t taste like musty canned tomatoes or watery Mexican field tomatoes.

So it’s clear a lot of care is being put into the food here. But can I really expect the kitchen to put in more than a day’s work to make incredible mole? They’d basically have to start specializing in mole to make it worth it. So just come here and stick to pork-based things. Load up on cheese and sour cream and enjoy. I’ll enjoy vicariously through you and keep searching for amazing mole.

Hencho en Mexico

Where: 4816 rue Wellington, Verdun



How Much: $18-$25 for a main and a margarita including tax and tip (pice-y for Verdun, but there’s ambiance and live music – Spanish songs with a one-man band of live keyboard, pre-recorded keyboard accompaniment, and vocals)

514-439-3868