Agave

FOOD POISONING. I have just come home from food poisoning at Agave. Their guacamole and cream dip tasted odd but having eaten the quesadilla there a few times I didn’t question it. What angered me the most was the treatment of the staff. I threw up at the table and wanted to faint. The staff repeatedly kept asking my friend to take me outside to vomit. I could not move and fainting. Could not sit up. Not one member of staff approached or tried to help but the waiter did bring the bill. How considerate. My friend cleared the table (no staff helped) and tried to help me to the washroom but I passed out on the way and woke up on the floor. Another customer and my friend picked me up and asked if I needed an ambulance. Again the staff did nothing. They only care about their own inconvenience. And kept asking my friend to take me outside. I am truly shocked by their attitude, lack of concern and training. DO NOT EAT THERE especially during hot weather. Most of all I am disappointed as they used to be so friendly but as soon as something burdens them they just try to kick you out. Would rather go across the street to Coyote. Great food and better Sangrias.
My only drink was a guava margarita that tasted like I drinking sugar. I sincerely hope this helps and prevents others from experiencing this.

The seedier Lockhart Road gets, the more surprised I am to find places like Agave right in the thick of it all. Despite it’s wannabe Mexican flair, Agave is more of a place to knock back a few margaritas and tequila shots than it is a place for chocolate-​y mole and handmade tortillas. The food doesn’t win here, but it is one of the only places in Hong Kong that showcases excellent Spanish live music.
For anyone who has been to their sister location in Central (
), the Wanchai Agave feels remarkably different. Seedier than its LKF location, it is perched above ground with an open patio to people watch while sipping a drink.
When it comes to the food, my inner Mexican self is not terribly impressed with the greasy execution and inflated pricetag. Much of the food is either over salted or over cheesed. The menu is comprised of mainly quesadillas, nachos, ensaladas, enchiladas, antojito appetizers, burritos, tacos and fajitas. There are also some classic items like cochinita pibil ($ 158HKD), chilaquiles de res ($ 118HKD). And there’s even a few options for molcajetes (think Mexican bibimbap wtih stone bowls), which range from $ 150−220HKD.
My sad enchiladas rojas ($ 164HKD) was drowned in sauce and caked in ranchero cheese. There wasn’t much meat inside the tortillas, and even the accompanying rice and beans were skimpy portion wise. Even the tacos ($ 138 – 168 for 4) were teeny tiny, but loaded with salsa and fixins. At about $ 4 – 5 USD each, I was more disappointed at how bland my pork and chicken tacos were. Even the ground chorizo quesadilla ($ 128) was a blanket of wet cheese and grease.
The bar is prominent and loaded with various tequilas and mezcals. Shots anyone? (The answer is always «Si.») The selection is pretty impressive, with slightly more obscure brands like El Tesoro ($ 98HKD) and Correlejo ($ 98HKD). All shots range from $ 68−428HKD, which is no joke price wise. Drastically cheaper are their other spirits in the house, which get even cheaper during their happy hour.
One of their major highlights is Chris Polanco, their main squeeze for the live music. The man knows how to work a crowd and sings a hell of a rendition of all sorts of Mexican songs. It’s easy to sit at the bar, rock a drink of some kind and just let Chris do his thing on the guitar.

There are two Agave locations I know of– one in LKF and the one I’m at in Wan Chai.
I can’t say the food is bad. I’ve had lunch, dinner and appetizers here. But my business here is mainly happy hour Margaritas (2 for one) and the excellent chips and salsa. Actually, it’s not salsa, it’s pico de gallo, which I highly prefer (fresher taste).
The window seats are great. You always meet a friendly person, and if you’re alone, you can enjoy peeping at the classy neon bathed sex clubs across the street… and next door… and around the corner.
Ahhhhh. Wan Chai.

The food is good, atmosphere is not too rowdy for Wan Chai and they have a great happy hour. Food usually comes quickly but for some reason the salad seems to take the longest.