--- title: "Monster Mex, Edinburgh · Rampant Scotland" description: "Introduction and Location Opening a new bar or restaurant these days is not an easy business. In order to compete for diners, you have to offer something entici" canonical: "https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/besteating/best_eating_dev_mex.htm" last-updated: "2026-11-11" date-basis: "git-content-change" --- # Monster Mex, Edinburgh · Rampant Scotland Great Places to Eat # Monster Mex, Edinburgh [Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20070814044648/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/besteating/best_eating_dev_mex.htm) Restored from the raw archived page capture: original scripts, advertisements and shared site navigation removed. Original wording, photographs and layout order preserved. > **Introduction and Location** Monster Mex Opening a new bar or restaurant these days is not an easy business. In order to compete for diners, you have to offer something enticing and very, very different. An eating/drinking concept is required. The idea behind Monster Mash is quite brilliant. This retro 1950s diner serving sausage and mash and other good old traditional British food opened in Edinburgh in the summer of 2003 and its immediate popularity with queues out the door led to a second Monster Mash in Glasgow. Monster Mash founder and Director Terry Soe then began to think of other unusual dining concepts for a fun night out with friends. And so Monster Mex was born offering another themed restaurant style and setting under the subtitle - How the West Was Won. The idea is again simple - Tex Mex, American Cowboy Food, hearty helpings, great value prices. Located in the heart of the city centre at 64 Thistle Street, behind George Street, it's ideal for the business, leisure and shopping market. With a theatre kitchen overlooking the intimate and very casual dining area, the plain wood tables can accommodate couples to party groups. The décor is simple and functional, saloon bar style, bottles of ketchup and mustard to hand, with Country and Western bluesy tunes on the soundtrack. **The Food** The first question your server may ask is "Drinks anyone?" and this is probably the most appropriate place to start. No long wait for a margarita cocktail to be mixed as they have this on tap with a small or large jug brought to your table within minutes. We also asked for a jug of water, which came in a cute tin billycan. All part of the cowboy theme. Monster Mex A sip of the margarita will hit the spot and get you in the mood for something to nibble. Start perhaps with some nachos, smothered in cheese and served with jalapenos, salsa, guacamole and sour cream to dip into. Portions are large so sharing is a good option. Otherwise, a classic American soup, Chicken and Sweetcorn chowder, - thick and creamy and a meal in itself, or choose Ribs, half rack of meaty pork ribs served with coleslaw. Knowing full well the huge portions served at Monster Mash, I was careful not to gorge too much before the main feature. I selected Enchilada, two soft flour tortillas with your choice of chicken, beef or vegetarian filling (which I selected) and served with rice and refried beans. I was right. It was a giant's portion, in a fabulous 1950s retro enamel pie dish. The tortillas were covered in a thick tomato and cheese sauce and had been oven baked. Not ever experienced Enchiladas cooked this way, I found the sauce far too heavy and it almost drowned the flavour and texture of the tortillas and vegetables like a soup. Otherwise a tasty and very filling dish. My partner opted for the Monster Chilli, "What all good Cowboys dream of" - minced beef cooked with tomato, beans and plenty of chilli and Tabasco which was served in a huge bowl, with rice on the bottom layer, complemented with sour cream and nacho chips. It looked enough for two people - but he got through it no bother. I was allowed to taste a forkful of the Chilli and the spicy flavour was lipsmackin' good. Elsewhere on this fun menu are traditional American Hot Dogs, with Monster Mex fries, Mex Burgers, - cheese, chilli and veggie - in a bun with fries and coleslaw. For something slightly lighter is the Cajun Chicken Sandwich or the BLAT - a triple-decker toasted sandwich with avocado, bacon, lettuce and tomato - both of which come with fries. You are expected to eat and eat here. To finish, you just have to indulge in a classic American dessert Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie, or Mississippi Mud (chocolate) pie all served with ice cream. A small party of young students were certainly celebrating the night we were there, all having a couple of tequila shots, downed in one, to end their meal. "Slam it down, Tex style" as it describes on the menu. Otherwise a good old Bourbon on the rocks perhaps. At lunchtime, the menu is smaller but you can expect Chowder, ribs, sandwiches, nachos and tortillas with small portions on offer. The service is extremely friendly and enthusiastic, under the watchful eye of bright and bubbly manager Naisha, who was formerly at Monster Mash and obviously loves the idea of 'theme' dining. With a fancy dress mock-Western theme to the place, the aim is create a party atmosphere every day. "People love Mexican food" comments Terry Soe, " Monster Mex offers terrific food and a lot of fun." **The Bill** Starters - Soup: £2.75. Nachos: £3.30. Ribs: £2.25 Mains - Enchilada: £8.95. Monster Chilli: £8.05. Mex Burger with fries: £6.10. Cajun Chicken Sandwich: £6.65. Dessert: around £3.10 Jug of Margerita - Small: £5.00. Large: £10.00. House wine: £12.50. Bottled Beers: £2.65. **Conclusion** When I first went to Monster Mash, I was gob smacked at the extremely clever - yet oh so simple - innovation to serve good old British grub in retro 50s surroundings. Huge portions, low prices. Here again with Monster Mex, it's quantity over quality but for such generous portions of cheesy nachos, chilli or burgers and fries, who's complaining. Smack in the city centre, business people and shoppers can enjoy a quick Mexican feast at lunchtime, while at night it's a fantastic lively atmosphere for a group of friends, or a romantic meal. It's Party night every night with iced margarita on tap and home-cooked Mexican grub. Opening hours - Monday to Friday noon-3pm. 5.30pm - 10pm and Saturday noon to 10pm, Sunday 5pm - 1pm. Best to book a table in advance - telephone 0131 225 7906. *Vivien Devlin* Return to the Index of [Great Places to Eat in Scotland](https://web.archive.org/web/20070814044648/http://www.rampantscotland.com:80/besteating/best_eating_index.htm). --- ## Source From Rampant Scotland, restored from the page as it stood on 14 August 2007. 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