Expat Community > England

pallega
Joined 2004
Posts: 537

Mexican Food in London: The Holy Grail for US Expatriates

17 years ago

Ask a Londoner where you can find a great Indian curry and youll hear an overwhelming response of opinions and restaurant selections. Ask about Mexican food and youll get blank stares. Ask the same question to an American expatriate from California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas and youre in for a discussion about the Holy Grail of food in London: Mexican food.

When it comes to Mexican food in London, many misperceptions exist. Uncle Bens (yes, the rice people) advertise a Medium Chilliproduct targeted to the tastes and expectations of the English market, but its a long way from traditional Mexican products sold in the US Southern Border States. A favorite flyer on my doorstep notes the contents of their Tex Mex Platterthat would be unrecognizable in Texas or Mexico; it offers 10 onion rings, 4 pieces of chicken dippers, 4 pieces of chicken nuggets, a portion of potato wedges, 4 pieces of garlic bread, BBQ and Sweet and Sour dip - all for 7.95.

What expatriates from US Southern Border States miss most is authentic Mexican food. Unlike Americans whose palate for Mexican food has been ruined by American Mexican-style fast-food outlets, these expatriates grew up on fresh tortillas, pico de gallo, fresh guacamole and spicy salsas that make Vindaloo seem bland. Unfortunately, the selection of authentic Mexican restaurants in London is slim.

The search for the perfectMexican restaurant begins shortly after arrival in London. The care package of hot sauce and tortillas never lasts as long as one thinks and the hunt is now on. Although the grocery carries refried beans, jalapenos (pronounce the J in England, not with an H as in the States) and flour tortillas (in the Asian section), the hot sauces and corn tortillas (already cooked and crispy) will not quite satisfy. The Cool Chile Companymaintains a list of links for closer to authentic ingredients and locations across the UK for those looking to cook at home, but its the restaurants that promise the most immediate solution to this craving.

For those with discerning tastes, the few restaurants put up for consideration in their quest for good and authentic tasting Mexican food include Taqueria, Café Pacifico, Texas Embassy Cantina, Mestizo and Green & Red. This isnt an in-depth review of every Mexican restaurant in London; just an overview of those that are the most discussed Mexican restaurants in the US expatriate community. Hopefully, this will help others in their search and, possibly, prompt other restaurants to make themselves known to this community of hungry Mexican food lovers.

Taqueria gets thumbs up from Londons Time Out magazine. It's very good and located in Notting Hill. It's a small place, but the food is wonderful and worth the tight quarters. The tacos, with small tortillas and fresh fillings, remind me of the ones I picked up on the streets in Baja Norte when I was younger. You can buy ingredients to take home with you (yellow corn tortillas, beans, soups, salsa, and chili). They also sell their products online and at the ever popular Borough Market in Southwark under the banner of The Cool Chile Company.

Cafe Pacifico is a personal favorite located in Covent Garden. It has fresh chips and great salsa. It's very close to an authentic Southern California Mexican-style restaurant in the opinion of this former Californian. Its always very busy and full of American voices.

Texas Embassy Cantina also has great fresh chips and salsas. It's closer to real Tex-Mex in London than you will get elsewhere. It's a bit pricey due to its tourist location not far from Trafalger Square. The country music and Spanish language tapes in the toilets can seem a bit over the top; but, the food and service brings American tourists and Mexican food admirers from all over London.

Mestizo is an excellent little gem in NW1. Antojitos and Taco choices are amazing and can make a nice starter or an entire meal. The main menu is a reflection of authentic Mexican foods that go beyond the burritos and enchiladas found on other menus. Theres high praise for their Margarita menu and my experience found fantastic food and good service. The ingredients are all sourced from Mexico, through Spain, as well as The Cool Chile Company. You can buy white corn tortillas here along with their other ingredients.

Green & Red is located in Shoreditch and was the Evening Standards 2006 Bar of the Year. With weekend dancing and a focus upon amazingly excellent tequilas (better than just Jose Cuervo, even if he is a good friend of mine) and good food, this place comes highly recommended from the Embassy of Mexico to the United Kingdom. More of a bar than a restaurant, but with such high commendations and good food it has to be on your list to visit.

Looking to the future, the 2005 winner of Masterchef Goes Large, Thomasina Miers, is opening her first restaurant in August 2007, in Covent Garden. Wahaca will serve Mexican market food. After running her own bar and restaurant in Mexico City, its expected that shell start with more approachable dishes to the English palate with ceviche, quesadillas and panucho (a white-corn tortilla filled with refried beans, shredded marinated pork and topped with a pickled red onion). Another Mexican restaurant with such a famous chef behind it will find a large number American expatriates and Mexican food addicts seeking out this new entry to the London area.

Finding an excellent array of Mexican restaurants in London can be a daunting task for the uninitiated. With so few choices in London and the challenge of finding fresh hot sauces and corn tortillas, the true Mexican food aficionado will continue to seek and compare restaurants on offer for the authentic Mexican eating experience. London may be far from Austin, San Diego, Phoenix, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico City or Guadalajara but that will not deter those with Mexican food cravings to seek and find the perfect Mexican food restaurant in London. For all those other London restaurants that think theyve got real authentic Mexican food that cant be beat, please send an e-mail for reservations with this Mexican food fanatic at [email protected].

Locations:

Taqueria 139-143 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W11 2RS, T: 020 7229 4734, Notting Hill Gate Tube, http://www.coolchile.co.uk/

Café Pacifico, 5 Langley Street, Covent Garden, T: 020 7379 7728, Covent Garden Tube, http://www.cafepacifico-laperla.com/...

Texas Embassy Cantina, 1 Cockspur Street, SW1Y 5DL, T: 020 7925 0077, Charing Cross Tube/Rail, http://www.texasembassy.com/

Mestizo, 103 Hampstead Road, NW1 3EL, T: 020 7387 4064, Warren Street tube/Euston tube/rail, http://www.mestizomx.com/main.html

Green & Red, 51 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA, T: 020 7749 9670, Shoreditch Tube, http://www.greenred.co.uk/

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Mexican Food in London: The Holy Grail for US Expatriates

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