Hard Rock spices things up with new ‘Taste of Mexico’ menu

Hard Rock Café franchise locations from all over the world are paying homage to classic Mexican cuisine and cocktails and Saipan is joining the fiesta!

Available for the month of May, the new Taste of Mexico menu that Hard Rock developed includes all-time favorite tacos, quesadillas, and vegetarian dishes, all of which incorporate traditional Mexican-inspired flavors.

“We make everything in house. All the spices we grind, the chilis are fresh. Everything is fresh made from our kitchen,” chef Kotwal Singh said.

“It’s simple, fast, and healthy,” he added.

One item on Hard Rock Cafe’s Taste of Mexico menu is the Yucatán Style Shrimp Ceviche, which Kotwal describes simply as kind of a Mexican kelaguen. It is a serving of diced steamed shrimp with lime, orange, avocado, and cucumber served with yellow corn chips, and offers a refreshing taste.

The Crispy Shrimp with Aji Amarillo Sauce, on the other hand, offers bold flavors as it features Panko breaded shrimp topped with queso fresco, spicy pecans, cilantro, green onions, and feta cheese drizzled with a zesty Aji Amarillo sauce

For vegetarians, Hard Rock offers Mexican Street Corn Fritters served with tomatillo salsa, lime crema fresca, cotija cheese, and habaneros.

Of course, if it’s Mexican, there has to be some tacos and quesadilla!

Hard Rock’s Fiesta Chicken Quesadillas is at least an inch thick with its shredded chipotle chicken served with grilled pineapple, cotija cheese, salsa queso fresco, mixed cheese, picante sauce, and a side of sour cream, guacamole, and picante sauce.

Their Mexican Street Tacos offer you a choice of carnitas, southwest chicken, or shrimp street-style tacos served in white corn or flour tortillas and topped with shredded lettuce, queso fresco, pico, cotija, picante sauce, and sour cream.

The new menu offerings will also be paired with the Mezcal Cocktail Tour, a selection of adult drinks made with Mezcal, an agave-based distillate made through an ancient process over 500 years old, from Mexico.

The feisty drink, Amigo, is a cocktail of Los Almantes Mezcal mixed with Luxardo Liqueur, Blueberry Real, fresh lime juice, and Orgeat syrup.

According to Hard Rock Café, their guests’ desire for bold flavors and unique dining options is the reason why they wanted to embrace ethnic and flavor-forward cuisine as part of the Taste of Mexico.

The addition of the new menu items reflects the brand’s commitment to satisfying their customer’s ever-evolving taste profiles and providing an authentic dining experience.

In addition to the new menu, Hard Rock Café Saipan will also be bringing back their happy hour!

Kotwal said these hours are from 10pm to 12am on Sundays to Thursdays and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

“All the special drinks are at a lower price and the appetizers are up to 50 percent off,” Kotwal said.

The Saipan branch will also be featuring a band every Friday and Saturday from 7:30pm to 11:30pm.

While Hard Rock’s menu may sometimes look pricey, all the new items for the Taste of Mexico are priced below $18. Locals can always ask for the 10 percent discount and the service charge will also be waived.

“We want to entice the locals. That’s the goal. We are love all, serve all…but tourists come and go,” Kotwal said, “We give the experience.”