Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Mexican
Average price per person: 70€
Environment: 8.5/10
Food: 9.5/10
Service: 9.5/10
Other: Gluten-free options
Website: https://www.ticui.es/
Ticui is one of the new Mexican restaurants that belongs to the established Puntarena group. Already being part of the Michelin guide recommendations, Ticui has been a pleasant surprise in terms of the level of its cuisine and the great flavor of its Mexican dishes.
Location/Environment
Ticui is set up in a modern environment. The restaurant has an industrial gray color on the walls and is combined with a lot of plants and wood tones from the tables and chairs.
There is an open kitchen, although it is only visible through the front part of the restaurant.
The back part also includes the bar, which although doesn’t appear very impressive or dominant in the space, produces excellent quality cocktails.
There is also a terrace that is ideal for spring weather.
Ticui – Menu
The menu includes three sections, raw/cold dishes, dishes to share that are served with Ticui’s handmade tortillas, and its main dishes. All of them are inspired by traditional Mexican flavors and some of them include certain modern twists.
There is a solid list with mezcals and tequilas as well as house-made cocktails.
Service
The staff was really helpful and capable of providing directions and recommendations. There was a relaxed vibe while remaining professional and maintaining a high-quality service.
In general, there was a good pace between the dishes although there was a small delay during the first couple of appetizers.
Ticui – Food
Firstly we got a complimentary serving of corn chips with three dips. The dips varied in spiciness (no spice, mild and spicy) without any of those being of extreme spice level.
The first appetizer was a shrimp aguachile with cucumber, mint, and avocado. A very fresh and tasty start to the meal.
Next, a wagyu sirloin served with caviar and avocado cream. The juice from the sirloin was extremely tasty and the caviar saltiness and texture perfectly complimented the sirloin.
The softshell crab was perfectly cooked and was crispy and juicy inside. It was served with an acidic sauce with coriander and mint. We also got some warm handmade tortillas to accompany this and the next dishes.
A perfectly fried shrimp with a light batter topped with hot and sour cabbage. The cabbage had a great texture and the shrimp was cooked beautifully.
Also, we got the birria cooked wagyu tongue. The meat was very tender and the birria broth was very flavorful. A great option combined with the warm tortillas.
The first main dish was pescado a la talla, a classic Mexican fish dish. The fish is marinated with chilies, cooked on the grill, and served with a bean puree. Fantastic taste from the marinade and the grill, with the fish remaining juicy.
We also got cochinita pibil. While this was cooked very well and the meat was tender, it had a predominant taste of cinnamon which overpowered the rest of the ingredients.
The last main dish was a super tender pork belly with a delicious marinade, coriander, and onion. One of my favorite dishes, the pork was melting in your mouth.
For dessert, we got a traditional Mexican corn cake. This had a very rich and buttery taste and was served with a sweet ice cream.
Another dessert was a type of coconut cake with thick caramel, served with mascarpone and fruits. The texture of the cake was slightly dense, but overall it had an interesting taste.
Finally, a chocolate dessert that included chocolate in 4 different textures. Ice cream, crumbled chocolate cookies, and 2 thin “sheets” with different chocolate varieties. It is an excellent dessert for chocolate lovers.
Conclusion
Ticui has been a pleasant surprise for me. It has high-quality dishes, including delicious in-house made tortillas. The menu is not very extensive, which will allow you to enjoy most of the dishes if you choose to visit with a group of 4-5 people. Highly recommended.
Visit: May 2024