Hffousa Taco has been providing Beijing with Mexican fare for some time now and has opened a new branch in Shunyi in the Shine Hills shopping center. We were lucky enough to taste test some of the delights and service. As the Shunyi correspondent I have to make sure families get the best, away from downtown Beijing. Shine Hills is a favorite spot of mine, as my four year old can run around, there are loads of shops and no cars. Spring is a great time to head out to this shopping village.

Hffousa Taco could use some Latin music to make the restaurant more lively. I was intrigued by the “spaghetti with seasonal fruit” on the kids menu and my daughter wanted to try it. Luckily it was nothing like we expected, thinking we would get pasta mixed with fruit!

My daughter got a kid’s tray with a bowl of spaghetti, potato smiles, fresh fruit, and some sauce. Kids’ menus can be hit or miss but, for only RMB 38, it’s a great find. I ordered the shrimp tacos and they are light and had a Latin kick to it. I liked the interior of the restaurant, with the open kitchen where kids can peek in for a look behind the scenes. They provide high chairs at the restaurant, so it makes for a nice shopping pit stop for the family.

We followed our Shine Hills experience by stopping by the Roundabout Community Center store in the South part of the shopping center. We are lovers of reusing and “treasure hunting”, as me and my daughter like to call thrift shopping. Roundabout Community Center has started a weekly bazaar every Thursday to showcase different vendors with jewelry, food, clothing and other items. I like to spring clean and donate to Roundabout as they have a pick up service, and it feels good to know that our things get a new home. At our last spring cleaning session, my four year old helped and donated two big bags filled with her toys to the Roundabout store. Let’s hope we don’t have to buy anything back on our next “treasure hunt”.

Pauline van Hasselt has been working for beijingkids since October 2016. Born in Wassenaar, The Netherlands, she moved with her husband and her 3 year-old daughter to Beijing in June of last year. Prior she lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paraguay, Texas, and London, studying and working as a chef. Pauline enjoys biking around Beijing, finding markets and new restaurants, reading crime and fantasy books in bed, and most importantly, turning her house into a home for her family.

Photos: Pauline van Hasselt