All I can say is this is a very unique restaurant and experience. We were introduced to this restaurant through a partner of ours, as we were on a business trip in 2018. At first we were shocked to think our partner was taking our customers to this place, but to our surprise it is a legitimate restaurant with great decor and a bit of a loud atmosphere. Could be the folks we were with, but it made for a fun evening. The service was decent as it seemed they left us to our own, and the food was pretty good. If you are ever in the SoHo district of London, check it out. read more

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A hidden gem in SoHo. The outside of this restaurant may lead you into thinking you're walking into a different store, but once you head downstairs you're in a moody, dimly lit restaurant. The service was super fast once we sat down. We started with some margaritas and chips with guacamole. The chips were a bit hard (not stale) and overall I wasn't impressed with the starter. On the other hand, we loved the Al pastor tacos and shrimp tacos. They were flavorful and left us wanting more! We ended our meal with a dessert which was a bit too chocolatey. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Gad dinner there tonight. Reservations required. We offered Mango ceviche, prawn and coconut ceviche (coconut milk, not coconut strings), quesadillas, guacamole and chips, and pork al pastor. Food was great except for the al pastor. It tasted like grilled pork ribs. The guava cheesecake was ok. It was just cheesecake with guava jelly on top. It was sweet. The service was good and the staff were friendly. Huge negative: the music was so loud that you couldn't talk to one another. It was nice music, vibrant and fun but too darn loud! read more

Had a great visit, and since we live in San Diego, California, we have very high Mexican standards!! Food, service, and ambience all great! Receptionist and servers all very friendly, no attitude. Would definitely return. read more

3 West Coast Americans, all who have had authentic Mexican food... We decided to give this a shot, despite our own reservations. First, the waiter told my friend there was no queso fundido, despite it being featured on the chalk board above the kitchen. He was instant... When I asked him if he was sure, he acted really insulted and said no, there was not and he didn't have a problem with "people like us," then called us "gringos." When my friend responded in Spanish, he then said he didn't speak Spanish. Well, kiddo, here's a tip: gringo is a male, 2 of us are female... But more pointedly, "gringo/a" is a slur. We ordered and it was some of the most bland food I've ever had. Nothing Mexican about it and it's janky Spanish food, at best. I got the flank steak fajitas, which looked nice and tasted almost like nothing. Somehow the meat was both pink in the center and tough/overcooked on the outside, so you couldn't even bite through it. It took forever to get the bill, because our waiter went to flirt with the singer... My other friend thought maybe they had misread the band's name, so hoping to make the waiter feel better, I explained this as we were leaving. Again, he got really defensive and even I saw "queso fundido" on the board. It's also on the menu. Like... Literally, go ask someone or look at the board or your own full menu, instead of calling us rude names and acting insulted. I will only recommend this place to people I dislike. read more

La Bodega Negra - Queso fundido, which the waiter insisted was not something they do or did have... - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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La Bodega Negra is quite the experience, but I suppose that's what everyone is saying because you initially think you're being escorted into a peep show. No, I was not LOOKING for that, the guy just told me to follow him if I wanted the restaurant. Gosh. Anyway, the ambiance is really cool and there are tons of fun decorations all over the place. I was really impressed with their regular margarita, but not a huge fan of the hibiscus one. Stick with the classic! The food was quite good. Surprisingly enough, I was quite impressed with the chips. The chips you say! Why, I do indeed. Those chips were quite fine. The grilled octopus and the soft shell crab tacos were winning dishes! Well done with the sauce paired with the octopus, twas delish. The quesadilla completely filled us up, but it was yummy. And the potatoes with mole were interesting. I'm always keen to try a new mole. read more

A friend was visiting me in London, so I booked a table at La Bodega Negra because I had heard good things. However, I was really disappointed with my overall experience. The aesthetic of the place is really great. I love the speakeasy vibe and the decor in the basement made for a perfectly trendy atmosphere. This is about all La Bodega Negra had to offer. The service was fine. We were seated promptly and our waitress took our order within a few minutes of us being seated. We ordered a starter and entrees, but they all came out at the same time, almost immediately after placing our order. Our experience was so rushed. We were given the bill twenty minutes after we were seated and the waitress started wiping down our table and setting it for the next party while we were still seated. The restaurant wasn't crowded at all, so while I appreciate efficient service, I felt really rushed and like we weren't able to have a relaxing meal. The food was good, although really expensive. I enjoyed the pork belly tacos. The tacos are bite sized and served in pairs and the guacamole was served with literally four chips. Everything was tapas sized, but with full size entree prices. Overall, I think La Bodega Negra has potential to be a great place for dinner. However, they rush you through your meal and the prices are a little excessive, so I'll be passing by this place in the future. read more

La Bodega Negra you cheeky bastard Such a cool, quirky location with a side of sass. I'm referring to the underground venue behind the cafe area - the bit with the peep show entrance that leaves guests intrigued and surprised when they're eventually escorted down to the "mezcal dungeon" filled with Mexican decor and dia de los muertos vibes. Live music and private dining are offered by this establishment in addition to their normal operations. We went on a weeknight and made reservations ahead (well decided) to assure a spot. We also happened to be sitting next to Brooklyn Beckham, so I assume this location is pretty on trend at the moment. For starters, we ordered guacamole and the quesadilla. Interesting takes on both but still good. The quesadilla is basically a Mexican inspired flatbread pizza, just a heads up. For our mains, we ordered the soft shell crab and duck tacos. Both were delicious but oh my lord the soft shell crabs were amazing! Soft shell crabs are hard to find in London so what. a. treat. Most importantly - if you're a mezcal enthusiast - come here for sure. They have every major brand with a full bar. read more

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Really expensive for what it is and not worth it. The service was good. The music selection was all over the place. I love the speakeasy vibe of the place, but the food was just average. We got the guacamole, queso fundido, the scallop/tuna/salmon ceviche, and all of the tacos except the mushroom ones to share. I liked the queso, but I was expecting a more liquid dish - this one you scoop out with your utensil. The guac was good and came with six fancy chips that we had to split with the queso - for some reason there were no chips with queso. The ceviche didn't taste great. The pork belly taco was very chewy. I get that pork belly can be fatty, but some places do a really nice job with it. This was not one of those places. The jam on the pork belly was very tasty. I liked the chicken taco the best, but it's nothing extraordinary. The beef one was good. My friend really liked the crab taco. I would come back only to get a drink at the bar. I had the smoky something on the cocktails menu. It had mezcal and pomegranate and was really very nice. After the drink I'd go to any number of places in the area that have incredible food and don't burn a hole in your pocket. read more

La Bodega Negra - Mezcal/pomegranate cocktail and guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

Fun and sexy venue, with very good food and super friendly staff. Cool atmosphere although a tad too dark, it was difficult to see what you were eating. We were celebrating a birthday and they brought us a tequila shot and sang happy birthday. Very cool vibe and staff. The food was tasty but it didn't make up for the tiny portion sizes and high prices. We were lucky they had 50% off on most of the menu, otherwise it would have been more expensive than most Mexican or tapas style places we've tried in London. read more

If you have a hankering for Mexican food, this place has a great selection served slightly classier than your local taqueria. However, I was told it also has a 'fast food' version upstairs that is just as delicious. The flavours are as bold as the colourful presentations, save for the guacamole which was mostly plain and could have used more lime or a dash of chilli. However, the stand out dishes were the soft shell crab tacos, served with a nice chipotle mayo and guac sauce, crunchy and delicious. The ceviche was also fresh and spicy, a beautiful dish. You must have the corn, roasted on the cob with cheese and a hint of mayo, absolutely divine. For the main, we shared the grilled steak, cooked as ordered, with the right amount of salt and flavour. Meat could have been slightly more tender and the rice was a decent accompaniment but lacked herbs or flavour I was hoping for to complement the dish. Overall, a quality meal. Also, if tequila and mezcal is your thing, you will find loads of it here, lots of cocktails or just Mexican beer. I had a refreshing passion fruit drink that made me feel like I was on a beach. As the other Yelpers have indicated, once you make it past the Adult Video signs, you will find this little hidden gem, waiting for a bite! read more

La Bodega Negra - Grilled steak and green rice - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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While traveling in London, we wanted to try an authentic Mexican restaurant. This restaurant was small and intimate. I will admit we are used to bigger portions. However, their menu is very limited and can be described as tapas. As for the chicken tacos I ordered, they only bring two. Everyone in my party ordered two orders of almost everything in the menu due to portions being small. It's a cute place if you're looking for small tapas and happy hour. The food was flavorful and spicy. Great experience. Another note to keep is that the restaurant is kinda hidden underground. It took a while to find. It's hidden inside a store, keep that in mind!! read more

La Bodega Negra - Chicken tacos -- only bring 2, ordered two orders - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

The entrance is just like a strip club entrance. Black door, you would never guess that it's a restaurant!! And still when they take your coat you are still wondering if you entered in the right place. The restaurant is downstairs! Quite dark but it needs to be so! Food is good, mexican, I would say nothing special but still ok. Music is very loud (maybe too much) read more

La Bodega Negra - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

My husband and I stopped by here Friday for a small bite to eat before seeing Book of Mormon. I got the fish tacos and he got one of the meat ones. Two tacos for about £5.50. I thought "not a bad price" until the tacos came. They were SO tiny!! Seriously tortillas no bigger then the palm of my hand. The fish was also so bland. Also my husband's Diet Coke was a whopping £3.50! We left feeling disappointed, and a bit poorer and hungrier than expected. Shame because our waitress was friendly. read more

Drinks with a mate instead of going across the road for burgers. We went on the eve on Election Night in the US. The two fellas at the front desk amused us for an hour talking about American politics and our experiences in London. A nice reception, some old man stumbled in asking where the peep show was located and they had to tell him it was actually a restaurant. Apparently, happens often. After a chat, we headed downstairs to the actual restaurant. The made room for us at the bar and we ordered just two cocktails. Ambiance was nice and for a tuesday it was bumpin' The music WAS too loud, even sitting on top of each other we had to shout. After one drink we had enough shouting and left. The drinks were great but definitely overpriced. Would come back for the food, could see it being a great date bar. read more

What a fantastic concept! Tricked my partner on the way in to "keep an open mind"... He got a shock when it was a fantastic mexican restaurant. Great food at good prices for the quality. The decor is PHENOMENAL and the staff are super friendly. Will be going back! read more

La Bodega Negra - Great ambience! - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

Look, its Mexican food in London. Set your expectations low. Assuming you HAVE to have Mexican while in the UK, this place with scratch the itch. Living all over Texas and California, I feel like I know what I'm talking about (and should probably consult with places like this) and can tell you the food here is fairly bland, expensive and not very exciting. The staff is great and the drinks are actually pretty good (also, do forget to spin the wheel for drinks for charity) and that's a BIG part of why you go to a Mexican food restaurant. But if youre looking for something authentic whose food will knock your socks off...this isnt the place. read more

The service was nice and the decor is fine. For the prices I expected an authentic experience but felt let down by both the cocktails and the food. The pisco slur was over sweet, small portion for £9 and tasted nothing like what I had in Lima. The sea bass ceviche was a small portion, quite bland with watery tiger's milk. The nachos was home made and crispy and guacamole was ok but tiny portion and not mashed up enough. read more

What a fantastic bar.... must go downstairs rather than cafe on ground floor. Although, need to keep this place a secret !! Great choice of tequilas, food is gorgeous and the staff are all attentive and knowledgable. Will be back.... read more

Fun place, lively crowd on a Friday night and pretty fun music. The bar is suuuper busy, but it's worth it for the ambience. I think it would make a great place for a birthday or similar celebration. read more

La Bodega Negra is a quirky (on the outside) and cosy/well decorated joint (on the inside). It follows the seemingly recent trend of speakeasies hidden behind fake frontage. This one is a Sex Shop in Soho. The restaurant is in the basement and VERY dimly lit. This usually is where my red flags start waving but there was no cause for alarm here. The food was actually very good. My friends and I dined on: Grilled Corn (who'd have thought cheese would work well on corn) Camarones - yummy, adequately spiced Mushroom Tacos, really wish I had some more as I write this review Tuna and Roasted Vegetable Tostaditas, wouldn't say no to another portion of these either Spit Roast Chicken (I didn't partake but was told it was yum) I washed mine down with The Hardful cocktail (making a mental note of that now). We finished with the Apple & Pear Tart with Cinnamon Ice Cream and our other friend had the Chocolate Fondant. Both get thumbs up. The food here is good. You won't write home to your Madre about it but you will be satisfied with your choices. Service was fine but note that bookings are a must and with only 2 hours to scoff your food (yes, they turn tables with rapid fire), we did feel a bit rushed through our food. read more

Ahh, if only we were rating pretension, this place would be a solid 5-star vote!! But alas, we are judging quality of offering, and this joint is a 3-4 star place at best. It's a solid option for drinks in SoHo, but not too many. They are aggressive about stating their two-hour maximum, but then when the place starts emptying out, they begin to "do you the favour" of allowing you to stick around and continue purchasing overpriced drinks and ridiculously expensive tacos. Drinks - cocktails are expensive, even for SoHo. Beers are fine. At the bar they're quick to serve, while the table service is slow and the waiters often get tunnel vision and ignore tables for long stretches of time. Food - the menu has enough diversity in the Mexican arena to keep me interested. That said, the tacos are crazy expensive - 2-bite soft tacos run 2.50-3.50 EACH. Absurd. An 8-pound quesadilla advertised as "huuuuuge" is both middling in quality and size. I recommend you eat elsewhere, come for drinks for an hour, and move on. It's too bad, though - the atmosphere has a uniqueness to it that could be fun and interesting for an entire night, but the way the place is run and the excessive price tag on middling, small food puts it to the bottom of the charts. read more

We arrived at this place to celebrate a friend's birthday. The interesting sex shop facade hides a great looking underground bar. At the entrance a very chic looking girl gave us a chilling posh attitude taking our reservation name. We ordered a bit of food that came in such a small portion enough to feed only the FTV looking girl at the entrance. We ordered two jugs of margarita (the only drink they serve in a jug) for everyone to share thinking: "mmm... how expansive can it be... right?" - "it's mostly ice anyway..." WRONG! Only later when the bill arrived we were shocked to find out that every jug of margarita costs 68£!!!!!!!! They never told us that in the first place and it's not written on the menu! obviously we argued and got our bill cut a bit but WTF!!!! and they told us also that the same thing happened yesterday as well! the worst thing any business can do especially in times like this is to under value our money. NOT GOING BACK THERE! read more

I came here for drinks recently and loved the place. There are two entrances - one side looks like a standard, respectable place and the other is a lot more risqué with its Soho sex shop vibes... I know which one I found more fun to go through! All the staff were really cheerful and friendly, the cocktails were really well made and considering it was busy, we didn't have to wait too long to be served. There was a great variety of music which made for a good atmosphere and the slapdash, makeshift-looking decor really worked here. Great place to go on a date. On a side note, I came here a few years ago and I remember liking the food, but thinking it's quite overpriced for what you're getting. I would So-ho - ;) - recommend this place, but definitely skip the restaurant and just go to the bar at Bodega Negra. read more

Nice ambiance but that's about it. Very bland food, guacamole tasted like mashed potatoes, quesadilla was like a burnt margherita, no chilli flakes of Tabasco upon request (also no salt and pepper). Food menu doesn't specify what is main course and what's it an appetizer, we only found out after asking. The restaurant was out of at least 3 meals on already very short menu. Overpriced drinks that took at least 10-15 minutes to arrive to the table. When paying there was a mandatory service charge of 10£. Disappointed. read more

I'm wavering between 4and 5 stars on this and honestly would give 4.5 if I could but I can't so I will go with 4 given it's a bit pricey. Bottom line - everything we had was delicious. Called day of to make a booking for that evening - was told they could seat us at 7:30pm but if we wanted to come a bit earlier the table would be available. Got there about 6:45 and had a drink the the bar first. NOTE: Dress code - they told me if anyone in the party was wearing a suit/tie they could be turned away. My boyfriend came from work and just took of his jacket and tie before we went in and that was fine. Drinks: Had the Pepito and the Jim and Amber (?) - both amazingly delicious. Bartender was extremely friendly and helpful as well. Dinner: Did the Mexican tasting menu - 8 courses for £50 a person. Once again, EVERYTHING was delicious: camarones, lamb tacos, grilled seabass, pork belly, guacomole, shrimp ceviche, green rice and two desserts (tiramisu and chocolate cake with mexican twists). Decor: Absolutely loved it - we were seated in the cardboard city area and while dimly lit I just thought it was magical. The only thing I can fault it on is the price as I'm from California and used to cheap Mexican food, but this easily compares with Taqueria and Lupita for my favorite Mexican in London. Can't wait to try their cafe option and go back here another time. read more

I love this place for a number of reasons. Firstly for the look of confusion when you take someone new there as they think you are taking them into a seedy sex shop. Secondly the margaritas are delicious and I don't even like tequila normally. And thirdly because the atmosphere and decor is just so cool, also the lighting is very flattering too. I've been here a number of times have never been disappointed. It's the kind of place that you can wind away a few hours chatting and drinking. They serve food too but unfortunately I haven't had the chance to test it yet. read more

Was invited by a friend, thought was going to the cafe upstairs but guess I was in for a fancier night at a basement sex shop. It seems like they are going for a trendy dungeon, the we tried so hard to look like we didnt, atmosphere. I would've liked it more if we didnt wait over 30 min for our table - even though we had a reservation. Nobody even bothered to check-in with us so we just had drinks and waited by the bar. Good start to the night. Tacos, ceviche, the pizza looking entree my friend ordered were all just OKAY, nothing stood out to me. But seriously, you are giving 5 people 4 pieces of chips ('tostada' sureeee) to go with the guac? No, your long plate does not justify this. The pork belly was also not worth the price and the wait. Is it suppose to be carne adovada or chicharron? It apparently tasted more similar to a Scandinavian Christmas meal. Our waiter, however, was super friendly and really accommodating. Probably the only plus for the night. Will not be returning! read more

Now I have tried the restaurant too, but the one on the street level so basically around the corner behind the sexy shop entrance for the bar. I sat at the bar and tried the soft shell crab burger and was amazing, I am still thinking about it! Also had some white wine which was okay. My friend had chicken quesadilla and they looked delicious (I am intolerant to lactose so couldn't try them). Pricewise quite cheap, but we just had a quick dinner. Definitely worth coming here more often. read more

Overall we loved this restaurant, the food was great and the ambience was fun and unique. Unfortunately the service was friendly but very poorly timed. All of our food; starters, tacos and a main all arrived within minutes of us ordering and all the dishes were crowded on the table at the same time. Kind of put a damper on the dark, comfy, romantic feel of the place. If you eat here, which I do recommend, order dishes at your own pace since the food comes fast and hot and as quickly as they can make and serve it. read more

The music in this restaurant is so loud and the lighting so dark that the whole experience detracted from the food. We came in a group of 4 and could not hear ourselves talk even with raised voices. And we couldn't see the menus and had to resort to lights from our phones. From then on, it just became a frustration and we couldn't wait to get out. Food-wise, I'm not sure I can be objective but I thought the flavours lacked punch and boldness that needs to accompany Mexican food. read more

FINALLY! I have found Guacamole in London!!!!!!!! When I heard La Esquina's sister restaurant this side of the pond was opening, I knew I had to check it out so my girlfriend and I made a visit last night. The outside is a bit deceiving so don't miss the door! Once inside, you are taken downstairs to a cute restaurant (similar to NY). The menu is tapas style with a wide selection. The grilled corn is, unfortunately, better in NY but it is still tasty here and I would recommend. The beef tacos were delicious but the star of the show was the Guacamole for me. I have been here almost 3 years and have missed this Mexican delicacy. Now at La Bodega Negra I'm reunited!!!! We didn't do the main courses but they looked good as well. The Chocolate Torte with Mole Ice-cream was also FANTASTIC! This is a restaurant to take a date and impress them, take a friend (or 3 for a birthday) or a nice dinner with a girlfriend. Just make sure you reserve and don't take the pretentious reservation line too seriously (La Esquina in NY is the same way)...once you get in the door...the food is worth the ego/attitude build up that comes with La Bodega Negra. read more

OUTSTANDING TACOS! I basically consider myself a taco connoisseur. Haven't eaten tacos deep in the heart of Mexico and in some of the best hole in the wall spots in California. I was shocked at how good the tacos were at a place in London. Go here. Open late. Good service. read more

Great service, good food and awesome cocktails! Yum! Try their version of espresso martini - best Ive ever had! read more

Cool spot in London. It reminds me of La Esquina in NYC. The food is small but filling. I particularly enjoy the cocktails. For starters we had the corn, the empanadas and the tostadas with guac. For the main course I had the chicken with a side of kale. My friend had the oxtail enchiladas but relayed the meat was a little tough. Still we went out of our way to visit so I'm going to give it 4 stars. read more

I was running late to meet my family at La Bodega Negra and spent some time aimlessly looking for the place, to the point where I had to ask someone in another shop... When I eventually realised where the entrance was, I knew I was going to like this place...you'll understand once you go, I promise! The vibe is very relaxed, chilled (dare I say cool?) speakeasy type of venue. My sister probably described it closest as 'a Mexican Dishoom'. If you've been to Dishoom you should understand, if not, you really should go to Dishoom! To eat, we ordered a selection of dishes; Halbert Ceviche Salad, braised beef tacos, pork belly, and Pollo al Sarten - not to mention two helpings of the guac and chips, because they were both amazing! Everything we ordered was delicious and authentically Mexican, at least according to my sister who has been there on her travels. The only let down was there was not a lot of Halbert in the salad, so towards the end of the dish, we were just eating leaves. Highlights - taking out the guac and chips of course - has to be the pork belly, which was served on a bed of pinto beans. The chicken was equally exquisite, served with a delicious hot sauce, that really gave the dish a kick. All in all, this was a great find and I will definitely be going again soon - if not just for the guac and chips! Did I mention they were amazing? read more

The food was good quality and the atmosphere too but what really really let La Bodega down was the service. We'd booked far in advance (2 months) and arrived 5 mins after our set time - which was meant to be held for 20 minutes - to be told that someone else had been seated in our seat. "No problem as we can squeeze you in somewhere else." Surely if a booking is made, it's reserved and we shouldn't need to be squeezed in?! We got over that but then were sat for 15 minutes without a single waiter asking if we'd like water/drinks/food but watched as all those around us received drink top ups, free shots, table cleaning and 2 visits for more drinks. By this time, id had enough and physically grabbed the nearest waiter and demanded he serve us a drink. After that, they tried winning us back but the damage had already been done in the first 20 minutes of terrible hosting. A shame as it was somewhere we'd been looking forward to going for a long time. read more

I found this place by searching quirky places to eat in London. When you first approach the appearance of a strip club makes you question if your at the correct place. You enter into a dark room that has an attractive women looking at you like you entered the wrong place. She asks for your coats an sends you down some dark stairs where your greeted by another attractive women who sits you at a table. The rest of the visit we were waited on by strictly men, which was odd. Food and drink were both overpriced for what you get. The tacos were as small as you palm. Fun experience nonetheless. read more

Tacos, tocos, tacos AND strawberry margaritas. Servers are friendly. Presentation appealing and margarita hit the spot after walking around the city. read more

Tasty, but very expensive. The cocktails are worth every penny. Blow the bank of you must because you could never have too many margaritas. The espresso martini is a thing of the gods. The pork belly is nice. Good flavour and crunchy. The tortilla chips are a bit oily and hard and too few for the price charged. Novel entrance to the place too. It's dressed up like a sex shop but you have to go down the stairs and then it opens up like a crypt and it's dark and intimate. Great for date night as its real dark read more