Maria Bonita is a tiny Mexican joint on Danziger Straße where you can eat some of the best Mexican food in Berlin. The perfect spot for a quick meal or some take out, this place has been delivering for years. Don't order the wrong thing though.
The first time I walked into Maria Bonita was pretty much by chance, I'd been drinking a couple of too many beers after work on a Friday and we stumbled into this tiny food joint with no expectations. But from the moment I put the first bite in my mouth I zoned out and everything else became unimportant. "I finally found it!" I thought, with a tear of habanero in my eye: A proper and genuine Mexican street food bistro.
“ The Puerco Especial is a huge, fat pork burrito and a serious show stopper
This was many years ago but Maria Bonita is still a solid tip on the otherwise not so sexy Danziger Strasse and you really have to know where to look in order to find it. It's really also more of a kitchen with chairs than a restaurant, the venue suits about 15 people so prepare for a cozy experience. Sitting at the kitchen counter you can get a first hand look on the preparation of your food.
“ For me the taco and burrito dishes stand out, especially the Tacos Alambre and the Puerco Especial
At Maria Bonita you can eat your way through a couple of varieties of the Mexican classics tacos, burritos and enchiladas, and recently they also added Mexican breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros. For me the taco and burrito dishes stand out, especially the Tacos Alambre and the Puerco Especial. The beef Alambre tacos are great, the taco tortillas used to be a notch better but this is still a very good dish. The Puerco Especial is a huge, fat pork burrito and a serious show stopper. This pork bomb counts to one of the very best burritos in Berlin and one of these babies will fill you up properly.
The tortillas and the meat are great, but don't forget to add plenty of the two sauces you are served on the side, one is a green, limy coriander sauce and the other a red, mild chili sauce. They also used to have a fantastic under-the-counter habanero hot sauce but they replaced it with a cheaper version, which is truly terrible. So stick to the salsas you get at the cashier.
“ You're in for a great meal and most importantly, still the most authentic, Mexican food in Berlin.
The limited size of the venue can make it hard to find a seat on a busy night, but due to the rather quick rotation of the guests there is really never a long wait. Otherwise you can also call in and order your food for take away. Nowadays you can also have Mexican breakfast at Maria Bonita, for example the classic dish Huevos Rancheros. And by the way, when you are at Maria Bonita, do not forget to have one of the delicious frozen Margaritas. Best possible start to a night.
Maria Bonita is still one of my favourite street food eateries in town, it has all the traits that appeal to me, the food is simple & straightforward, the venue small and the vibe fantastic, it's cheap and simple, the cooks great characters. It's not the best Mexican food you'll ever have and I've had disappointing dishes here. I also liked their old taco recipe better. But when they cook their a-game and you order one of the items listed below (order anything else at your own risk), you're in for a great meal and most importantly, still the most authentic, Mexican meal in Berlin.
