Taco Cantina
There is a great new Mexican restaurant on 7 Mile Beach, called Taco Cantina! But wait… it’s not a new restaurant…Taco Cantina is the very popular restaurant that recently relocated from the East End.
And Taco Cantina is as good as it’s ever been, maybe even better, if that’s even possible. A creation of Chef Ron, it has a lot to offer any foodie, is full of Mexican fun, and the Aussie in Ron would not have it any other way. Many years ago he moved to Cayman, and subsequently opened his first restaurant on East End, known as Tukka.
As this month’s Passenger Pick of the Month, we wanted to learn more about the story behind Taco Cantina, so recently we caught up with Ron Hargrave.
PP: Ron, tell us the story behind the journey of Taco Cantina!
RH: Taco Cantina was originally opened on Cinco De Mayo 2018 in the East End just down the road from Tukka. It was a great addition to the culinary variety of restaurants already established! Taco Cantina quickly became a big hit with 
the locals, residents and visitors. But sadly in 2020, when the pandemic hit, it forced us as owners to relocate this popular Mexican restaurant to the west side of Grand Cayman to Buckingham Square on Seven Mile Beach.
On Cinco de Mayo 2023 will celebrate 5 years since our opening and we are celebrating in style with our 3 Authentic Mexican Cancun Bartenders “Eliu, Ariel & Antonio” The 3 Amigos …mixing up Taco Cantina’s signature cenote margaritas and cocktails.
PP: Chef Ron, tell us about the inspiration behind Taco Cantina.
RH: I have always enjoyed Mexican food and I appreciated the fun factor and challenge of creating something new. And who doesn’t like tacos and tequila?
PP: We sure do! All three of your restaurants are family friendly and fun! The atmosphere at Taco Cantina is like a Mexican Fiesta every day!
RH: Fun certainly is a goal of ours. I want everyone who comes to Taco Cantina to have an awesome experience and enjoy great food with friendly service. When I hear that our guests have had a fun night out and had a great meal! I’ve done my job as a chef!
PP: Chef Ron, how did you find so many talented staff members to launch your Mexican dream?
RH: Staffing is always a challenge for a restaurant, but we’re so fortunate to have attracted such a talented staff. I really like their attentive nature to our guests.
PP: Who is your primary Chef?
RH: Our Head Chef is Rene De Haene who hails from Mexico City. He really understands the taste and palette of what folks are looking for when it comes to authentic Mexican food.
PP: He’s quite the talent! And now, how about all the big doings happening on Cinco de Mayo? Tell us all about it.
RH: Well, gather up your Amigos and plan for an exciting Fiesta at Taco Cantina! Cinco de Mayo will be Epic this year! Come dance away the night with us! A DJ will be spinning from 9 pm and our Mexican Head Chef has some special treats for the early birds. He’ll be cooking a selection of complimentary mini sopas, fried quesadillas, tostadas and tacos.
PP: Sounds fun and delicious! Can’t wait! Folks really seem to love your Mexican Street Corn, we hear you have two different kinds!
RH: We showcase our signature street corn two ways…Original is on the cobb, which is rolled with mayonnaise, Cotija cheese, Chipotle chili powder and dried broken chili served with lime in a cheese. We also serve the street corn as a dip with smokey paprika, which has become very popular.
PP: And then there are your tacos. Are your famous Lionfish tacos on the menu?
RH: They certainly are!
PP: As divers ourselves, we’re not only glad you’re serving them, but we really love the delicious way you prepare them.
RH: When you order lionfish you’re getting a tasty dish and you’re helping the environment. Good thing they taste delicious! These light, delicate filets taste amazing when they’re hot off the barbe. Mike K, Cayman’s regional manager for PADI International, described them as “the best he had ever tasted.”
PP: They are delicious and are our favorite! Tell us about your Taco Tuesdays and Thursdays.
RH: Every Tuesday and Thursday we have 2 for 1 tacos. For $7 CI you get 2 of our 8 different Standard tacos of your choice (not Lionfish), and then we have $7 Margaritas.
PP: Tell us about some of your other entrees.
RH: We have 22 different tacos on the menu! In addition to the 8 Standard tacos, we have 9 Premium tacos (including Lionfish) and 5 Vegan tacos. Then we have entrees of sizzling fajitas, burritos, carne asada and lobster, all are exceptionally delicious.
PP: Yum! We’re hungry now! Ron, tell us about the development and renovation of your facility.
RH: Thank goodness, we found an existing building and land on West Bay Road. Taco Cantina is relocated to Buckingham Square on Seven Mile Beach. We renovated the old Lauren’s Café location. It took many months of renovation but fortunately, there was a Margarita at the end of the tunnel. In our renovation we completely revamped the entire layout and gained a lot more space for our guests. And we were able to re-open in December, 2022 with a big Fiesta bang!
PP: We really like the atmosphere you have created here. Your tequila bar is spectacular.
RH: It really is. It was designed and built by John Bird at Martlet Design from reclaimed IPE Brazilian wood.
PP: Wow! We did a little research on brands of tequila and were amazed how many there are and how many different kinds of Margaritas you can order. How many kinds of tequilas do you have in your famous tequila bar?
RH: We have over 100 different brands of Tequilas and Mezcals. All are imported. The assortments of the blue agave plant beverage are show cased behind the Margarita bar, which is small but cozy. The vibe is definitely “south of the border”. Many 
folks love to be served their drinks or shots right from the bar.
PP: What would you say is your signature Margarita?
RH: It would have to be Taco Cantina Signature Cenote Tequila Margarita.
PP: Sounds delicious. I want to thank your Bar Master for creating a Signature Drink that fits my tastes perfectly, the Crazy Val! What was in it?
RH: “The Crazy Val” includes Baileys, Kahlua, Tequila and Espresso. Yummy…like a mudslide but with tequila not rum.”
PP: Ron, I could not help but notice all the beautiful mahogany locked boxes that dressed the bar area!
RH: Yes, we were able to obtain these beautiful hand carved boxes from John Bird. Our guests are able to rent these boxes and keep their own personal spirits and wine in them until they come to dine with us. Then they can unlock and open their box, and enjoy their private collection.
PP: And tell us about the beautiful Mural.
RH: Actually my wife Lana and I designed it with the intent to depict the El Jimadors journey to making Tequila, Day of the Dead and a 3D look at Mexico’s landscape. But our design really came to life when Christina Pineda, award winning multi-disciplinary Caymanian artist, writer, entrepreneur and founder of Art nest creative studio, applied her magic.
PP: It’s simply stunning. Many folks love signing your wall inside the restaurant, where did you get your inspiration for this?
RH: Traveling to Cuba I had lunch at a famous restaurant in Havana, La Bodequita Del Medio. Many famous folks Mohammad Ali, famous movie stars, actors had signed their wall. Our island guests can now sign our wall.
PP: Very cool. Our signatures now adorn your wall! Now, everyone enjoys a good dessert. What are your signature desserts?
RH: Yes, everyone loves our Fried Ice Cream and our Mexican Churros. Our Fried Ice Cream is crispy warm corn tortilla outer shell, Vanilla Ice Cream with chocolate sauce and Agave syrup. Our Churros are made of fried flour and egg dough sticks with vanilla essence breaded with sugar and cinnamon accompanied with dark chocolate sauce, caramel sauce vanilla ice cream with mint julienne.
Yum! Folks, You don’t want to miss the great food, fun and vibe at Taco Cantina. Open Tuesday – Sunday from 11 am -10 p.m.