Few foods provide the pure, soulful satisfaction of traditional Mexican cuisine—the fresh flavors of salsas made daily, the creamy, tender crunch of chicken and cheese taquitos, the mouth-watering sizzle emanating from a platter of marinated steak fajitas as it arrives at your suddenly excited table. These are the tastes and textures we all know so well, and some of us crave constantly. And this is the food you’ll find at El Segundo Sol.
Don’t be thrown by this charming cantina’s location directly on the Las Vegas Strip at the bustling Fashion Show mall. Surely no one expects the Mexican restaurant at the mall to be so delicious, even authentic, but looks can be deceiving. Tons of Las Vegas visitors take a shopping break to munch on street tacos, dip chips in zesty guacamole and sip cold Coronas on El Segundo Sol’s Strip-front patio, and rightfully so. But those who make a return trip inside this restaurant to experience the full menu reap deliciously grand rewards, including the gift of being in on one of the Las Vegas Strip’s tastiest secrets.
Here’s your first tip: Don’t be satisfied with the three (yes, three) salsas that arrive with your warm platter of tortilla chips. These pico de gallo, tomatillo and roasted chipotle sauces are bright, fresh and bold, to be sure, but ask for a couple more bonus salsas and ready your tastebuds to be stunned. The roasted habanero salsa packs a spicy wallop and a citrusy kick, and the simple serrano salsa of fried peppers, fried garlic and olive oil must be tasted to be believed. You’re going to need a killer cocktail to match these snacks, and the beautiful, pink Prickly Pear margarita fits the bill, a sweet and sour delight. If the temperature outside has you sweating, opt for the frozen version, and don’t be afraid to kickstart the party with a tequila flight.
Roasted salmon tacos
Share some other appetizers like piled-high nachos with added chicken or beef, ahi tuna ceviche made to order or sweet corn-and-cheese tamales. El Segundo’s Mexican pizzas redefine the word “crispy,” with a blissfully flaky flour tortilla covered in melted cheeses and your choice of toppings, from roasted poblanos to spicy chorizo. Lighten up with a tomato and watermelon salad doused in guajillo dressing or jumbo lump crab salad tostada with avocado and lime.
Fajitas, enchiladas, carne asada and chile rellenos will tempt as the main attraction, but this place is known for its taco platters. Tiny corn tortillas are made in-house and griddled to perfection, the foundation for the majority of these build-your-own plates, augmented with garlic-cilantro rice, black beans, pico de gallo and sour cream. Your choice of meaty centerpieces includes all-natural chicken breast, juicy carne asada, slow-braised beef and pork, lightly battered and fried mahi mahi or the newest taco option, roasted salmon with a mango-serrano salsa.
This is one of those meals that concludes with you wondering how you finished every bite, especially after all those chips and salsa. But you must save room for the creamy, dense and rich coconut flan, a true treasure. Maybe another margarita to wash it down? You deserve it, a reward for another great dining discovery.
Fashion Show, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 702.258.1211
