Mole Taqueria y Bar (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

Since it’s the holiday season, the 1.2-kilometer-long street in Tokyo’s Marunouchi area and the district from the Imperial Palace to the façade of Tokyo Station, is currently beautifully lit up with dazzling champagne-gold illuminations, allowing us to enjoy a romantic or family night stroll.

The area also has plenty of restaurants and bars if you’re hungry on your holiday walk or want to enjoy a pricey cocktail al fresco or up in some of the skyscraper lounges for a higher view.

During a recent visit to the area, I stopped by Mole, a tasty Mexican restaurant located on the seventh floor of Shin-Marunouchi Building, a stone’s throw from the façade of Tokyo Station.

Mole’s unique exterior reminded me of the entrance of Aztecan ruins, inviting me in to sample some authentic homemade Mexican dishes.

Inside, the modern interior with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and cactus plants provided a bright and open atmosphere. The views of the station’s Marunouchi side were a nice touch.

From the weekday menu, I ordered the weekly special tacos lunch set for 1,400 yen ($9), along with original blended “Five Elements” iced tea for an additional 200 yen.

When the lunch set arrived, I was surprised to see its large, colorful plate with three generously-sized tacos, a large portion of salad and French fries, along with a complimentary Mexican soup came as well. A big meal at a reasonable price!

Each charred corn tortilla had a different filling - mango, shrimp and avocado and spicy chorizo. It was a fun experience to sample the three tacos and compare the different ingredients and sauces.

The taco with mango pieces stood out. Against my expectation, the mango was not sweet, but instead had a subtle, sophisticated savory flavor. This taco was well balanced with other veggies and spices in its exquisite homemade sauce. The ground shrimp tacos came topped with avocado and onion, giving it a refreshing, juicy flavor. The spicy chorizo taco had a nice (but not very strong) kick with a full-bodied meaty flavor.

Staffers were cheerful and friendly enough to explain the ingredients of the tacos and helped me to enjoy the meal, so even a first-timer like me could feel at ease.

While sampling the three tacos, one after the other, the different flavors and textures reminded me as if I was enjoying a full-course French dinner. And the hot and sour Mexican soup served with the meal provided a tasty break from the heaping plate of tacos, which included a large portion of French fries and fresh salad.

The shelves in the restaurant, stacked with hundreds of wine bottles, reminded me that Mole’s offers cocktails and other adult beverages like margaritas, mojitos and sangria.

Mole is a great eatery to enjoy authentic Mexican food in an open, casual atmosphere with a beautiful view of Marunouchi district, and an ideal place to enjoy the holiday spirit with some tasty spirits!

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)

Mole Taqueria y Bar