From loaded tacos and cocktails to salsa nights and colourful cultural experiences, restaurant chain SOCIAL is turning up the heat with "Mela Mexicana", a month-long celebration of Mexico's vibrant street food and festive spirit across its outlets in India.
Organised in association with the Embassy of Mexico in India, the festival celebrates Mexican cuisine through a specially curated menu that reimagines traditional dishes with flavours familiar to Indian diners.
The menu, curated by Chef Shamsul Wahid and Chef Ashish Sharma, features small plates, tacos, quesadillas, empanadas, burritos, chimichangas, tortas and desserts. It blends authentic Mexican formats with the restaurant's signature culinary style.
“Mexican food and Indian food share a natural connection, both are generous, layered, spice-led and built around the joy of eating together... This festival is our way of turning that shared energy into a month-long experience that feels global in inspiration, local in spirit, and unmistakably SOCIAL," said Wahid, group executive chef, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
Among the starters are 'Guac 'n' roll chips' served with guacamole, 'Nacho Average Love Triangle' featuring pink, green and black nachos with salsa, 'Corn chivda chaat' combining corn flakes, pico de gallo, salsa macha and mexican nuts, and 'Gajar tinga tostada', which gives the classic Indian carrot preparation a savoury Mexican-inspired twist.
The festival menu also includes 'Chicken tikka tinga tostada', 'Chilli chipotle aloo' and 'Chilli chipotle chicken', marrying smoky chipotle flavours with all-time Indian favourites.
Cheese lovers will also find plenty to enjoy, with a wide selection of indulgent, cheese-centric dishes on offer.
Among the highlights are 'Queso fundido', 'Mushroom empanadas', 'Chicken tinga empanadas', 'Cheesy mushroom quesadilla', and 'Cheesy chicken quesadilla'. The taco selection features 'Baja-o-mushroom taco', 'Al pastor chicken taco', 'Taco 'Bout fish' and 'Mutton seekh taco'.
For larger meals, guests can choose from 'Dry noods aka fideos secos', 'Burrito and a bowl', 'Chipotle mushroom chimichanga', 'Barbacoa chicken chimichanga', 'Birria sando' and 'Chicken barbacoa torta'.
To finish on a sweet note, diners can indulge in 'Concha french toast', made with traditional Mexican sweet bread, or 'The impossible cake', a decadent layered dessert combining rich chocolate cake with creamy flan.
Beyond the food and beverages, the month-long festival features Mexican-inspired décor, themed music, salsa evenings, workshops, game nights and live performances across SOCIAL outlets.
"Mela Mexicana" is being held across all SOCIAL outlets in India until July 31.
