If your idea of great Mexican food is grabbing a bag of Doritos and a pack of Old El Paso Ready To Go Sauce then it’s time you explored one of Dubai’s best kept secrets 

A great value brunch which delivers tons of delicious, authentic and innovative Mexican food at Loca 2.0 in Souk Al Bahar. What’s great is that because the brunch is extended over five hours you can decided whether or not to indulge for the full five hours or dip in at lunchtime for a great value time or even just go when the live music starts at 2pm! 

The atmosphere

The interior is pretty much a replica of what you get in Loca 1.0, industrial chic, some brightly coloured walls and a large chalkboard advertising the day’s upcoming kick-offs. But sadly I think this spot has been somewhat overlooked by the people that should be here – people looking for a great value experience with their friends. Loca in Dubai Marine and Resorts is always pretty packed out but when we arrived bang on 12pm we were shown to a very empty restaurant with only a handful of people in the private area upstairs (which by the way is a great space for a large crowd, birthday parties and celebrations).

It was a shame because for the first hour and half the place lacked atmosphere and the lively brunch crowd to really get it going. However, by 3pm the place was a lot more lively – resembling more a live music Mexican venue. The entertainment, Jamie Wrecks, provided gorgeous acoustic guitar tunes creating a lovely atmosphere to the experience. 

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The food

Well it’s JUST Mexican and you have to be in the mood for Mexican because with five courses there is no shortage of food! The signature guacamole is crushed right in front of you, served with corn chips, we opted for spicy and it was lovely. Then there’s the Mexican Desayuno – or breakfast to us non Mexicans. This was a little difficult for the non Mexican lovers to be honest – eggs served three ways, alongside meat and fish offerings. However, I must say the Lamb With Scrambled Eggs or Huevos Machaca was delicious. Next come the tacos – pulled beef, chicken and kingfish – served small, soft, authentic and tasty wraps – one word of warning we thought the chicken was a bit like eating old shoes….but the beef was good. There’s a choice of five mains, which include the familiar fajitas and burrito options alongside pollo en mole, slow roasted ribs and an epic tostada salad. This was delicious and I couldn’t finish it. 

Who’s it best for?

The relaxed vibe and comfort food make it ideal for a catch-up with old pals, while the Burj views will impress visiting guests. Just remember: Mexican food and acoustic guitars can provide a really fun afternoon out which will appeal to lots of different people.

The location

It is pretty easy to find Loca in Souk Al Bahar as they have easy signage and pretty much everyone we asked on the way knew where it was which is great. It’s on the ground floor and the outside terrace has great views of the Burj Khalifa. The original branch of Loca, at Jumeirah’s Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, has been a popular hangout with seasoned Dubaians and tourists for over six years.

The verdict

Live la vida Loca that won’t kill your wallet and give this long brunch a whirl.