Tasting Mexico in Mussoorie

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. On our last trip from Mexico, we brought back chillies instead of clothes," laughs Ricardo Vargas. A steady supply of dry chillies is a must, among other Mexican spices and seasonings, for the Dehradun-based Vargas who is co-founder of México Lindo – a Mexican restaurant that opened in the Uttarakhand capital three months earlier.

Dehradun may retain the charms of a quiet town out of Ruskin Bond’s short stories, but its transformation into a state capital has come with several buzzy additions to the city’s retail and culinary scene. Neighbourhoods such as Rajpur Road are dotted with cafes and restaurants, offering everything from artisanal coffee to craft cocktails. It is however still somewhat surprising to find a place like México Lindo in the city, serving authentic delicacies cooked by a team of Mexican expats.

Located in Mussoorie Road, next to Pestle Weed College, México Lindo means “Beautiful Mexico" and gets its name from a popular song. The cosy glass-fronted restaurant seats 23-25 people, and is filled with decor elements from the North American country: Papel picado (decorative paper cutouts), Marias dolls, traditional embroidered cushions and curtains. Vargas manages guest relations while Satsuki Midori, his wife, helms the kitchen with Dámaris Medina.

Neither Vargas, who is a Spanish teacher by profession, nor Satsuki had a restaurant in mind when they moved to Dehradun in 2021 with their baby daughter. Both were familiar with India, having visited a few times over the last decade; Vargas recalls proposing to Satsuki in West Bengal in 2014. “A friend in Dehradun said there are opportunities to teach Spanish in india.