If you’ve ever been to Dallas, there’s a good chance you’ve eaten at Mi Cocina. It’s my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant (next to XOCO and Frontera in Chicago). The food is excellent. I ebb and flow between splitting fajitas and hoarding the Rico Salad to myself. But if I’m being honest, it’s their margarita, specifically the Mambo Taxi, that makes this place my favorite. It’s a strong, not-too-sweet margarita wrapped in a sangria swirl. One will leave you dancing and hailing an Uber.
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I’ve got this ongoing mental list of recipes to recreate. Going out to eat always leaves me full. Mostly of food, sometimes ideas. A Mambo Taxi has been on the list for ages, but I’ve been too nervous to attempt it, to do it the great justice it deserves. The flavor. The swirl. Could it actually be done at home?
I combined the base of my single serving margarita on the rocks with the base of my sangria pops,added plenty of ice, crossed my fingers, and then added a bit more ice. A couple tries later and she came out dancing. I did too.
You can, in fact, Mambo Taxi at home without the taxi and all the mambo. Cha, cha, cha, cheers! ???
We’re headed back home to Texas for a couple days. I’m sure you can guess my first pit stop. Mi Cocina. Mambo Taxi in hand. Fajitas or Rico Salad?
Make the sangria by combining all the ingredients into a pourable measuring cup. Stir. Cover and place in freezer along with 2 glasses.
Meanwhile, combine all margarita ingredients together (except the ice) in a high powered blender. Blend for a quick second to incorporate the ingredients. Place blender in fridge (or freezer if you have the room). Wait 20-30 minutes before assembling the drinks. This will allow the mixtures to get nice and cold.
Just before serving, pull out the glasses and sangria from the freezer. Set aside.
Add 2 heaping cups of ice to the margarita blender. Blend on high speed until thoroughly combined. Time will vary per blender.
Fill 1/5 of the glass with sangria. In a rocking motion, pour the margarita mixture on top to achieve a swirled look. Top with a lime wedge and straw. Serve immediately.
Notes
There will be a bit of leftover sangria. To use it up, double the margarita portion of the recipe for 4 drinks. Or serve the remaining sangria with ice and additional fruit wedges. The remaining sangria can be stored for 1-2 days covered in the fridge.
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I live in DFW and Mi Cocina is a frequent stop for us. Best Margaritas in town. The rib eye fajitas are my favorite but sadly during Covid they took them off the menu. I hope they bring them back soon.
We have one here in Oklahoma too. We discovered it when we lived in Tuksa. However it is in Tulsa and we are in OKC now. We were planning a trip to Tulsa, just to get a Mambo. We are going to try it here at home. πππΉ
I live in Dallas and love love love mambo taxis and Mi Cocina, but have been making these during COVID quarantine and I have to say they are pretty spot on! The cab in the sangria is the surprising yet wonderful ingredient so that the sangria isnβt too sweet. Love them thanks!
Sangria – delicious; Margarita – delicious! The combination of the two must be even more awesome! I may host a cocktail party just because of your post! Thanks for the lovely idea!
Not only does that just look and sound absolutely delicious, but your photographs are so so stunning! Wow I can’t wait to try out this drink, I am a total sangria addict, so i’m look forward to this. π
Thank you, thank you. I live in Dallas & have many friends who have since left and they all say they miss the mambo taxi. I have passed this along to them. I can’t wait to try it.
Had a very hungover lunch there a few years back and remember the healing properties of their Mambo taxi’s. Happy memories and definitely one to try at home. Thanks!
You’re killing it with the cocktails lately! This sounds so simple, yet something I’ve never thought to combine before. Sounds perfect for next weekend’s lakeside cocktail hour.
The infographic is beyond. The colors in your photos are absolutely 100x yes. The combination of sangria and a margarita? DREAM BOAT. I’m gonna mambo taxi my way to chillaxville with one of these. Sunglasses emoji.
Ahhhh the famous sangria/margarita hybrid — you did it! Now, if only I could drink it….Have two for me please. Although that might knock you off your feet…
So this is basically my two favorite cocktails swirled into one! Sadly I’ve never been to Texas, but I think I need to make myself a batch of these and pretend.
Ha, I love Mi Cocina, we stop there every time we go to Dallas. Genius idea to recreate the infamous Mambo Taxi… and btw you’re illustration is the cutest!!
This sounds so intriguing! I’m not usually a red wine person, but I think in this combination with the sangria and margarita I could totally be on board. Sign me up for drinks and dancing and I’ll get the uber! π
This looks so refreshing and delicious! I know many people who wax poetic about Mi Cocina’s frozen mango margarita, so I’m curious about your version of the Mambo Taxi. I’m looking forward to trying this and serving it to my friends! xx Sydney
I live in DFW and Mi Cocina is a frequent stop for us. Best Margaritas in town. The rib eye fajitas are my favorite but sadly during Covid they took them off the menu. I hope they bring them back soon.
We have one here in Oklahoma too. We discovered it when we lived in Tuksa. However it is in Tulsa and we are in OKC now. We were planning a trip to Tulsa, just to get a Mambo. We are going to try it here at home. πππΉ
I live in Dallas and love love love mambo taxis and Mi Cocina, but have been making these during COVID quarantine and I have to say they are pretty spot on! The cab in the sangria is the surprising yet wonderful ingredient so that the sangria isnβt too sweet. Love them thanks!
https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2019/05/the-people-have-spoken-and-their-favorite-margarita-is-mi-cocinas-mambo-taxi/
I believe this recipe is close, but I was told by the restaurant it also has brandy.
Two of my favorite beverages in one gorgeous little glass… Perfect! Can’t wait to mix this up!
Sangria – delicious; Margarita – delicious! The combination of the two must be even more awesome! I may host a cocktail party just because of your post! Thanks for the lovely idea!
Not only does that just look and sound absolutely delicious, but your photographs are so so stunning! Wow I can’t wait to try out this drink, I am a total sangria addict, so i’m look forward to this. π
Thank you, thank you. I live in Dallas & have many friends who have since left and they all say they miss the mambo taxi. I have passed this along to them. I can’t wait to try it.
Oh, seeing this on Friday is such a lovely way to finish the week. I am going home to prepare this precious for me. Thank you so much for sharing!
Had a very hungover lunch there a few years back and remember the healing properties of their Mambo taxi’s. Happy memories and definitely one to try at home. Thanks!
You’re killing it with the cocktails lately! This sounds so simple, yet something I’ve never thought to combine before. Sounds perfect for next weekend’s lakeside cocktail hour.
The infographic is beyond. The colors in your photos are absolutely 100x yes. The combination of sangria and a margarita? DREAM BOAT. I’m gonna mambo taxi my way to chillaxville with one of these. Sunglasses emoji.
Ahhhh the famous sangria/margarita hybrid — you did it! Now, if only I could drink it….Have two for me please. Although that might knock you off your feet…
Okay that drawing at the end is just too cute! Love this.
So this is basically my two favorite cocktails swirled into one! Sadly I’ve never been to Texas, but I think I need to make myself a batch of these and pretend.
This drink sounds fabulous! I could totally go for a glass right about now!
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So. Fun. I’m not the greatest mixologist in the world, but this looks doable! Plus, frozen drinks are the only way to survive the Texas heat!
Ha, I love Mi Cocina, we stop there every time we go to Dallas. Genius idea to recreate the infamous Mambo Taxi… and btw you’re illustration is the cutest!!
This sounds so intriguing! I’m not usually a red wine person, but I think in this combination with the sangria and margarita I could totally be on board. Sign me up for drinks and dancing and I’ll get the uber! π
This looks so refreshing and delicious! I know many people who wax poetic about Mi Cocina’s frozen mango margarita, so I’m curious about your version of the Mambo Taxi. I’m looking forward to trying this and serving it to my friends!
xx Sydney
Fancy cocktails are so fun at home. Cha, cha, cha, indeed!