On a stretch of Little India mostly dedicated to semi-outdoor vegetable stalls and the occasional hippie hotel, chancing upon Chimichanga is quite a delight. Billing itself as “the first Mexican dive bar” in Singapore, the narrow space certainly looks the part, a 50-seater space with tables made from old pontoon planks, distressed walls and a decor theme inspired by the Sonora Desert.
Their menu offers a selection of your basic tacos and quesadillas (filling options are limited to carnitas, spicy chicken and shrimp with avocado), and other trashy-fun dive bar bites: jalapeno pops, fried potatoes and chipotle wings ($8-18). They also do basic, potent cocktails with Mexican twists ($12-15). There’s the Bloody Mary-inspired Chimichanga, with lemon and cilantro flourishes, the tequila-based Paloma (grapefruit and lime) and, most excitingly, margaritas with mezcal instead of tequila.
The bottled beers selection is surprisingly basic (San Miguel, Hoegaarden) for a place with such a specific concept (bring on the Dos Equis, or at least the Corona, soon!) but we won’t complain because they’re $10 a bottle. Oh, and did we mention happy hour lasts from 11am to 7pm, when house pours of stuff like tequila, rum and Scotch are just $6?
