As mentioned in various places on this blog, Will and I love Mexican food, and Wahaca is by far our favourite Mexican restaurant. Created by a past MasterChef winner, Thomasina Miers, this was always going to be a winner!
Currently Wahaca only exists in London, but as Will lives in London I get the chance to go quite regularly. We’ve now visited about half of the locations, most recently going to the new Islington location, conveniently just down the road from Will, it’s as if they knew 🙂
Encompassing a Mexican street food vibe, you are not able to book a table, however I don’t see this as an issue. Even though it does get very busy, the staff are always more than happy to help you set up camp at the bar, with some nachos and salsa/guacamole and one of their famous tequila cocktails, until a table becomes free. In most of the locations there are also a few table football tables to play a few games on to work up an appetite!
All of the restaurants have an exciting and colourful interior that transports you to Mexico. You can get a taste of what you are to expect by visiting the website, which is set up in the same style, accompanied by the kind of music you are likely to hear as you deliberate between the hundreds of dishes on the menu: http://www.wahaca.co.uk
Another great thing is that if the bar is located away from the main eating area, such as with the tropical downstairs bar in the Soho location, then you are given a buzzer to alert you when you table is ready, which works really well.
There is nothing on the menu I haven’t liked when I’ve tried it, but my favourites have to be the Pork pibil tacos, Chipotle chicken quesadillas and the sweet potato side with caramelised mojo de ajo, so good!
There are always a couple of street food specials on, which we seem to always have, and they never fail to please! A recent one is pictured below – spinach, spelt, feta and sweet potato salad, garnished with a light dressing and pumpkin seeds, delicious!
In terms of pudding, the salted caramel ice-cream is to die for, infused with shavings of Valrhona chocolate this is by far one of the best ice-creams I have tasted anyway, ever!
Check out all that’s on offer here: http://www.wahaca.co.uk/html/ASSETS/Downloads/Wahaca_menu.pdf
One location that is a must is the South Bank Experiment, which is a relatively new temporary restaurant designed specifically for trialling new dish ideas and recipes, of which are successful are introduced to the main menus across the locations. And by experimental, I mean dishes like ‘Chapulines fundido’, commonly known as grasshoppers! You may cringe at the thought, but fried with shallots, garlic and smoky chipotle chillies, they’re pretty appetising 😛
The service is always good and friendly; it’s the perfect place for both a quick working lunch as well as a longer more relaxed dinner with family, friends, or your partner. I highly recommend it!
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24/7 noms 