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Food prices are the highest they’ve ever been. Even a simple lunch in Singapore suffers from wildly high prices. Which is why I was surprised to see Mexican-inspired dishes, famous for their expensive price tag, only cost S$4.90 a piece at The Daily Fiesta in Bedok. And it’s Halal-certified as well.
But are they actually good? I went down to their second outlet to have a taste myself. I’d like to think I make pretty awesome tacos and quesadillas, so I think I’m qualified for the task ahead.
What to order at The Daily Fiesta
With the prices being so affordable, I decided to try a few of their staples. I ordered the Cajun Chicken Taco (S$4.90), Crispy Fish Taco (S$4.90), Chicken Quesadilla (S$13) and Beef Quesadilla (S$14). All of them include a side of salsa and guacamole.
Let’s start with the Cajun chicken taco (S$4.90). This one was quite a letdown compared to the other dishes. Firstly, the slaw. I found it too sweet, and it overpowered a lot of the other ingredients, namely the chicken. On top of that, they also added corn, which only made it sweeter. I would suggest replacing the slaw with regular iceberg lettuce for a more balanced flavour.
I also felt the quail egg on top was a little unnecessary, but that’s just me.
The Crispy Fish Taco (S$4.90) was much better. It had a beautifully crispy battered fish laid on top of their slaw. On top of that was a creamy sauce with a bit of spice, black ebiko and fried shallots. The flavours were a medley of sweet, salty and tart, all working in harmony. The black ebiko also added a nice popping texture when I bit into it. All in all, one of the better fish tacos I’ve had in recent memory.
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Now, let’s move on to the quesadillas.
The Chicken Quesadilla (S$13) was pretty solid. They seared a cheese crust within the tortilla, giving an intense grilled cheese flavour. The Cajun chicken flavour was more prominent here, but I felt it still lacked intensity. As a whole, though, it was still very yummy, especially when dipped in their salsa. I would recommend increasing the spices for the Cajun chicken or marinating it for longer. Also, while the salsa was tangy with a refreshing tomato flavour, the guacamole was a bit on the sour side. It could use a bit of salt to bring out the avocado flavour.
Now this is a quesadilla! The Beef Quesadilla (S$14) was everything I wanted it to be and more. It still had the same formula: a cheese crust inside the tortilla, stringy and soft cheese, and a protein. However, the meat? Ay dios mio, it was perfectly seasoned. It had smoky, slightly spicy and rich flavours when melted together with the cheese. The meat had a bite to it, not too soft, which was my original worry.
It had to have a high fat content as well, as there was so much grease at the bottom. This is a telltale sign of a good quesadilla. Even the tortilla seems darker than the chicken version. I suspect the grease really absorbed into the tortilla, making the beef flavour very prominent in every bite.
Who is The Daily Fiesta best for?
Honestly, anyone who likes a decent Mexican lunch. I struggle to find someone who doesn’t fit in this category. Even vegetarians have options, as they have a mushroom quesadilla and taco. On top of that, they also have a variety of pastas, sides like corn ribs and much more. If you’re looking for a delicious lunch, you can’t go wrong with The Daily Fiesta.
How to get to The Daily Fiesta
Luckily for all of us, their Bedok outlet is near Bedok Mall. There is also a bus stop a few metres away called After Heartbeat @ Bedok, with several buses leading there. Alternatively, you can take the MRT to Bedok. The Daily Fiesta is only an 8-minute walk from the MRT station.
Do we recommend The Daily Fiesta?
Good food and better prices. It’s going to be hard for me not to recommend this spot. The amount of options alone makes this place worth a visit. But if I had to point to one specific dish, it has to be their Beef Quesadilla (S$14). It really is a level above the rest, though I’m sure you will find your own favourites when you get there.
Do note that they sell out fast. I arrived an hour after opening, and their Beef Bolo Tacos were already sold out and I just managed to get their beef quesadilla, so clearly the beef is a fan favourite.
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