Mid-Range

Mid-Range covers Mexican restaurants where a meal costs about US$25 to US$50 a head before drinks. This is where most of the guide's sit-down cantinas, modern Mexican kitchens and group-friendly bar restaurants sit.

In Singapore, Lucha Loco pairs Baja fish tacos with a large mezcal collection on Duxton Hill, Mami's Tamales serves Puebla family tamales on Keong Saik Road and Margarita's has been serving since 1988. In Bali, Motel Mexicola in Seminyak and ORIGEN in Pererenan both press their own corn tortillas. Bangkok has Delia, Gaby Espinosa's Michelin-listed restaurant north of Chinatown, and Santiaga above Billy's Smokehouse. In Kuala Lumpur, Poblano KL serves mole negro in the 1919 Old Malaya building. In Hong Kong, El Taquero in Wan Chai carves al pastor from the trompo.

Drinks are the main variable: margarita jugs, mezcal flights and tequila lists can easily double the bill. Look out for happy hours, such as El Loco Hour at Lucha Loco, and book ahead for weekend evenings.