Dining Out: Santo Tequila

SANTO TEQUILA OPENED IN November last year. Manager and co-owner Marao Escalera, who moved to Aberdeen from South Carolina, said that he felt confident about opening Santo Tequila thanks to Aberdeen’s growing Mexican and Hispanic population. His business partner owns other restaurants in South Dakota and North Dakota.

Santo Tequila features authentic Mexican food in a colorful, casual, lively environment. Though we focused on food during our visit, Santo Tequila has an extensive drink menu including cocktails, margaritas, craft beer, wine, and the 100% agave tequila they’re named after.

As always, Santo Tequila’s food was delicious, but their staff is what makes the dining experience unforgettable. All three of us were impressed with the speed of service, and they were friendly and helpful every step of the way.

Tableside guacamole

We started our meal with Santo Tequila’s tableside guacamole. Since it’s made right before your eyes, the guacamole is fresh and delicious. It is the perfect way to start off any meal, and it’s great to have alongside the chips and salsa that are served to every table.

Quesabirria

Quesabirria is a dish that’s packed with flavor every step of the way, from the consommésoaked tortillas to the consommé leftover for dipping. Santo Tequila’s quesabirria is made with short rib and is served with rice, beans, and of course, the consommé. The meat is tender and juicy, and the consommé does a great job of enhancing the flavor without being too overpowering. When John ordered this dish, they paired it with the chile relleno, which is a pepper stuffed with cheese and fried in a batter of eggs and flour. It’s a winning combination for sure!

Steak street tacos

Enchiladas Suizas

Santo Tequila’s Enchiladas Suizas – or Swiss Enchiladas – can be ordered several different ways. Each dish comes with two enchiladas and diners can choose chicken, ground beef, or cheese filling with red, verde, poblano, or queso sauce. There’s also an option to order different fillings and sauces. Like most other dishes, the Enchiladas Suizas are served with refried beans, rice, as well as pico de gallo and sour cream. Anna ordered the ground beef enchiladas with queso, and the portion size was big enough that she went home with leftovers. Thanks to the customization options, this dish is great for everyone.

Steak street tacos

It’s hard to go wrong with street tacos, but Santo Tequila kicks theirs up a notch. The steak street tacos are served with onion, cilantro, and avocado sauce, along with rice and beans. The three tacos are very filling, and the avocado sauce enhances the delicious and simplistic flavors of a regular street taco. The street tacos are also served with sauces in case patrons want to bring up the heat level. They also offer an option for a flight of street tacos, and diners can choose up to three proteins with this option…

• Santo Tequila is at 3401 Sixth Ave. SE in the former Buffalo Wings & Rings building. They are open from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit their website at santotequilasd.com.

Our Picks 

John Schwab: This is my fourth or fifth time dining at Santo Tequila, and my experience every time has been consistently fast and high quality. I find myself ordering the birria tacos and Chile relleno on the side. The atmosphere is bright and vibrant, and the speed of service blows me away every time I dine there. The handmade guacamole is also a step above the standard salsa that comes with your chips.

Annie Scott: This time I ordered the ground beef Enchiladas Suizas in Queso. The meat is always seasoned to perfection and full with flavor. You can pick from multiple sauces to top the enchiladas, but I always go for the queso. It’s very smooth and creamy and not overly salty for a cheese sauce, which I appreciate. Outstanding. I get it every time I come to Santo Tequila.

Anna Jahraus: I am always impressed when I get the chance to visit Santo Tequila. The first time I went there was shortly after they opened, and even with the large crowds their servers were fast and friendly. I love the quality of the food as well as the portion sizes. Santo Tequila is also just a nice environment to dine in. Every time I drive by their building, the parking lot is almost always full, and it’s for a good reason!