Nixta Mexican Grill & Bar

Nixta Mexican Grill & Bar is a Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar at 116 Amoy Street, in Singapore's central business district. It belongs to the Travis Masiero Restaurant Group, led by chef Travis Masiero. The group also runs Luke's Oyster Bar & Chop House, and Nixta opened just around the corner from it in January 2021.

The kitchen is built around nixtamalisation, the old Mexican way of cooking dried corn in an alkaline solution before grinding it. Nixta does this in-house with non-GMO corn from small farms in Mexico. The fresh masa becomes its corn tortillas, cooked in the traditional way on a comal, a flat griddle.

What to order

The main menu centres on heirloom corn masa, wood-fired meats and dishes for the table. Highlights include:

• Tlayudas: large, crisp tortillas with toppings. The Tlayuda de la Casa has roasted corn, epazote and queso fresco, and there is a blue crab version.
• Tostadas: tuna with chipotle and avocado, or coal-roasted sweet potato with salsa macha.
• Taco platter: pick a filling such as duck, barbacoa, Baja fish, al pastor, or butternut squash and kale. It comes with green rice and black beans.
• Nixta Signature Spit & Herb-Roasted Chicken: cooked on the wood-fired rotisserie and served with warm tortillas.
• Travis' Cadillac Fajitas: served with green rice, black beans and warm corn tortillas.
• Nixtahawk Chop: a 1.2 kg bone-in rib eye with a house chilli rub, for the table.

Starters for sharing include Guacamole Nixta, queso fundido and Bang Bang Potatoes. For dessert, there is tres leches cake or churros with cajeta, a Mexican caramel. A taco or sope of the month adds something new to try.

Drinks

The bar is a big part of the experience. The margarita list includes the Frida Kahlo, made with mezcal and hibiscus. Other cocktails include the Nixta Old Fashioned and a classic Paloma, and there is a long range of tequila and mezcal. If you do not drink alcohol, a short list of zero-proof cocktails includes one called Almost Like a Margarita.

The setting

Inside, the room is done in warm wood with a simple, modern look. There are padded bench seats, and tall chairs line a dark wooden bar. The open kitchen centres on a wood-fired rotisserie. There is also a molcajete bar, where salsas are ground by hand in volcanic stone bowls.

Good to know before you go

• Reservations: book online or by WhatsApp. Booking ahead is a good idea.
• Other menus: there are separate lunch and happy hour menus, and a Mexico City-style brunch on Sundays.
• Takeaway: order by text message or through GrabFood.

Nearby

Amoy Street sits in the Telok Ayer area, close to Club Street. For Korean food, try Hyang Yeon on Telok Ayer Street. Picanhas' on Club Street is a good steak option, and Maxi Coffee Bar is nearby for coffee. If you want to stay close by, look at The Clan Hotel Singapore.

You can also browse more burgers, Mexican and more or all the places to eat in Marina Bay and the CBD. Menus and bookings are on the official website.