Ever since I traveled through Mexico City two years ago, I’ve been on the hunt for authentic Mexican cuisine on par with the delicious tacos, quesadillas and tamales that lined the streets. More so, as a vegan who seems to be fueled by soy and hot sauce, finding spicy, vegan, Mexican food in Berlin has proven to be an ever-elusive feat. Though my kitchen is always stocked with limes, cilantro, habaneros and the like, the end result of my cooking always fell short of expectations. I blamed the vegan substitutes (almond milk horchata just didn’t measure up), and gave up on my search. Enter Chaparro, the Kreuzberg restaurant that offers vegan Mexican food bursting with flavours and life like the city it comes from. Offering both meat and veggie options at totally affordable prices, Chaparro is definitely a new favourite. Click on see the delicious things they offer!
Raul Oliver and his wife both hail from Mexico City, and opened Chaparro 3 years ago in an effort to change the perception of Mexican food in Berlin. Stemming from their passion for culture and food, their first exploration brings about the concept of offering an entirely vegan menu for a weekend. I left my theory behind and stopped by to try some of the amazing vegan dishes they offer. To get a taste of their Chaparro Goes Vegan Weekend, I decided to try four tacos, each with different ingredients, a side of tortilla chips and guacamole, and refreshing hibiscus water. To top it off, they even have three kinds of homemade hot sauce: a salsa verde, a chipoltle and a habanero, which I drained an entire bottle of. Everything is made in house with fresh ingredients, and needless to say, I was overjoyed. My favourite was the Mole, which was salty, nutty and sweet with chunks of delicious soy protein. The Nopales (cactus leaves) came a close second, with their mixed veggie and seasoned tofu tacos not far behind. For the weekend, their three main meat fillings are getting substituted by seitan and soy, with vegan cheese and sour cream to top it all off. There will also be fresh lemon water with chia seeds, an amaranth dessert duly named “Alegria” (happiness), tamarindo margaritas and lots more.
Visit their Facebook page to learn more about their vegan principles, and don’t miss Chaparro’s Vegan Weekend on February 27th and 28th, 2015.
Photos: Chaparro Cocina Mexicana
Wienerstr. 14A
10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg
Telephone: +49 (0)30 303 687 30, Email: info@chaparro-berlin.de
Open: Mon – Thu 12-22h, Fr 12-23h, Sat 16-23h, Sun 13-21h