I've been to a few different Las Iguanas locations in different cities and I've never really understood the hype. Our server was nice enough and service was quite quick, especially given how busy it was. The chicken fajita stack was probably the best tasting food we got. The table side guac was nice but overpriced for the size. However there were a few cons; Very loud location so was a bit hard to have a decent conversation. They don't have great a-la-carte options. The tacos would be great if you didn't have to pick two of the same flavour and if there was an option to add an extra taco. The crispy fish tacos were really bland. The chicken wings weren't crispy at all. The portion size of the padron peppers is definitely smaller than it used to be. 4 peppers for £4.20 is crazy! Fine for a quick Mexican food fix but definitely not authentic cuisine. read more

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7pm dinner on a Thursday. Music was cranked SUPER loud. Made even worse with a server with a bad attitude (middle aged Latina woman). We tried to order a mojito, she just curtly said "we're out of mojitos", didn't offer a substitute or suggestion or anything. She seemed annoyed the whole time while we were ordering since we were a bit unsure and the music from DJ Douchenozzle was so loud it made it impossible to order without shouting. Food was decent. read more

Something for everyone here! Plus 2 for 1 drinks most of the time. Can't go wrong. Staff was friendly and the vibe was fun! read more

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I'm sorry to say that the low ratings are rather well-deserved; even for a touristy joint in the middle of London. The service is incredibly slow on a Sunday afternoon, they give you a menu full of cocktails- half of which they don't have- and the prices are pretty unjustified considering the modest portions and level of attitude you're likely to put up with. The food isn't bad, per sé, but being from California, I'm used to my Mexican food having a certain personality all its own, and this is pretty standard as far as quality goes. As mentioned before, unless you're in a group and sharing the food- and the bill- the portions for some of the dishes just don't cut it. And, I'm not sure if it was just my luck that day, but most of what I tried to order wasn't available. I basically had to ask the waitress what they DID have and go with that. The one upside is that if you're in a group, you probably won't notice the slow, scathing service and they do have some pretty authentic Mexican jams to add to the ambiance inside the restaurant. So, it might be worth a weekend splurge to come here, at least, once. read more

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Our first night in London we headed to South Bank for a night walk. Stumbled into this gem and was pleasantly surprised! The food was amazing, we had a spicy curry chicken plate, I can't remember the name. Service was exceptional and the atmosphere was perfect! It's the perfect location to take a nice walk after dinner. read more

Las Iguanas - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

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Ok, happy hour is 12-7...whaaaa?! Amazing, right?! Possible record for length of a happy hour. Options for everybody! They have an extensive vegetarian menu and also an extensive gluten-free menu in additional to the regular menu. I love, love, love that they don't use plastic straws! Let's save what's left of this planet. They have the cuisine categorized by Latin countries. How cool?! My friend enjoyed his beverage and food. I ordered 3 tapas; nachos with added jackfruit, crispy cauliflower tacos, and the Mexican radish salad. I thoroughly enjoyed the nachos and the flavoring of the jackfruit and the cauliflower tacos were so so yum. The radish salad was just too weird of a mix and I didn't see how they worked together or where the Mexican played in. My daiquiris were perfect; right amount of alcohol. Great music playing; overall great vibes. I would definitely hit this spot again when in London! read more

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Might be good for happy hour cocktails, but definitely not good for dinner after happy hour. Service is slow. It took a very long time for server to come about with a menu. Took even longer for her to return to actually take the order and... they had to come back 3 times.. because they were out of 2 entrees and 1 beer. It was unreal. Felt like I was picking from the leftovers. Should have been a sign to get up and go... and the food took very long to get out. think 45 minutes, to the point, we had to tell the server, that other tables were here later and they were served already. When the food arrived, omg.. I swear Taco Bell or frozen tacos would have tasted better. We barely nibbled on our and had enough... When we finally got our check.. we were charged 10% or 12% of service charge. I think I should have asked to see a manager and bring this to his/her attention, but I am simply too exhausted. Bottom line,,, maybe this is a good place for happy hour cocktail.. but defintely, don't stay for dinner. The bartending crew may be ok.. but the kitchen needs some improvement. read more

Las Iguanas - This Cuba Libre by the Thames , my sunsetter.. - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

This restaurant caters to various Latin speaking countries;m which I definitely loved and could appreciate. They got the ambiance and the looks but unfortunately the food is decent, if that. I was intrigued by the menu but the food did not live up to description. read more

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London's Southbank Centre is home to a slice of Latin American life, at Las Iguanas situated on Festival Terrace. They started small in a quiet Bristol street in 1991 and became something of a local institution, introducing boldly spiced Latin American food cooked from scratch and a heavyweight menu of premium cocktails. They added intoxicating Latin rhythms and the rich colour palette of the southern hemisphere to the cuisine, this is what it makes them so special! I decided to try Las Iguanas for a casual lunch with friends, after a long walk along the river Thames. As a starter I had some loaded nachos made of corn tortilla chips with melted cheese, topped with pico de gallo, jalapeños, roasted tomato salsa, sour cream & guacamole. I asked for vegan cheese as one of my friends is lactose intolerant and I have to say, I didn't really notice any major difference from "normal" cheddar. They were really yummy and crunchy and were served warm, which for me was a plus. I was a little bit disappointed by the guac serving, in my opinion it should have been a more generous size, since we ask the nachos as a sharing dish. My main dish was a burrito bowl made of beetroot tortilla stuffed with rice, refried beans, crunchy slaw & cheese with salad, sour cream, guacamole & roasted tomato salsa on the side. The picture on the menu was way more appealing than the real thing, so I didn't really know what to expect; luckily it turned out to be an amazing dish! Full of flavours, but still keeping it on the healthy side. That day I felt in the mood for dessert. So I decided to try their rich indulgent chocolate & coconut tart on a nutty base dusted with cocoa, served with a scoop of vegan coconut ice cream. I can't describe the pathos I experience while eating this cake... It made me feel on cloud nine, literally! I don't care if it wasn't homemade, this cake wins the jackpot, hands down, period. The coconut ice cream was delicious too, but nothing major compared to the choccyness of the tart. read more

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Slow service. Though I feel they were on their phones way too much, not paying attention to customers Food average. Not very hot.

Toss up between 3 & 4 stars. Mainly the lady at the front that made the experience uneasy to start. I'm visiting from the US and my local friends took me here because they knew I loved Mexican food, but hadn't tried it really before. Once we got past being seated and reseated by the very annoyed lady, it got better from there. The drinks: turned out be be 2 for 1, shocked us as we intended to divide two drinks, but ended up with 4! I know most wouldn't complain but we're not drinkers lol! The margarita was quite good, I added my own ice as that's how I'm accustomed to it. Long Island ice tea, different than in the US but still quite good. We ended up giving the other two drinks to some girls seated near us and they loved it. The food: wow. I really didn't know what to expect, Mexican food in London, I know you laugh, but really I just wasn't sure. And to my pleasant surprise it was flavorful, and delicious. We got the nachos, chicken quesadilla and chicken taco (soft). Very good flavor here. My friends were very happy and we finished it all off. I would return here for sure, and maybe the lady who sears people will be having a better day. read more

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Really awful service and rude attitude. The 'manager' in pink shirt almost knocked my wife over as we were sitting down so she could seat someone at the table next to us. We both said excuse me, and she completely ignored us and didn't even attempt to apologize or make an effort to see if my wife was ok. Absolutely uncalled for and unnecessary. It was clear to us they couldn't care less what people think of the service as there is always another sucker around the corner. We decided to take our hard-earned money to the place next door, where they were horrified and couldn't believe how we were treated. The place next door treated us with respect and appreciation. Don't bother this dump run by rude people who don't value your business. Would never recommend. read more

Surprisingly decent food for a chain! I got the surprisingly tasty quinoa ensalada. Black beans, sweet potato and charred corn with salsa served atop avo with a cranberry chili salsa. Topped with sweet potato crisps. The menu caters very well for veg and vegans and the happy hour offer is good as well (although I wish it extended to wine!) read more

Las Iguanas - The very good quinoa ensalada. - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

The starter (nachos) was okay, but our main meal didn't arrive and after multiple apologies from the waiter we decided not to wait for them to actually cook it. There are plenty of other options around the area so I wouldn't waste your money - go elsewhere. read more

I absolutely fell in love with this place. Whether you're sitting in the chic indoor seating area or enjoying the buzz outside on the patio, this place has a great atmosphere to it. The drink specials are phenomenal, and not just because they're super cheap with the happy hour specials - they're actually really, really delicious. I definitely recommend trying their 2 for one drink specials, and switching one of yours with one of your friends' 2 for for one drinks. It definitely is a little trick that let's you taste around. The food is fantastic, a little expensive, but for what you get both quality and quantity, it's definitely worth it for a night out with friends on the River Thames. read more

Las iguanas is one of those chains that I visit, like and then don't go again for ages, simply because there's so many other places to go to. However I was quite happy to get the chance to go again, as I mentioned it to my colleagues and they agreed (they know by now that my obsession with yelp is here to stay). Anyway, we went in, got seated and ordered our drinks. I do have to mention that one of my colleagues got a dirty (kinda mouldy) cup that we returned. The staff apologised about it and mentioned that it happens some times. It has not happened to me before but ok... Nevertheless, we ordered our food and it came shortly after. I had the chicken burrito from the lunch menu and the mushroom starter. The mushrooms were great but the chicken in the burrito was a bit dry. I did feel quite full afterwards and only paid about £9 for the food so it is quite good value for money, even if the quality has room for improvement. My colleagues who had the half chicken said its not as good as Nando's and the really spicy one was not as spicy as they thought but still good value for money in terms of portion sizes. Since I personally have had a good experience with the venue in the past I would like to think that the few mishaps of this visit were an exception and I would go back again, but in general I think wagamama is a better alternative. If you are in the area I would recommend their cocktail happy hour but there are some better places to go for food. read more

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I visited Las Iguanas with two friends to celebrate my birthday and had a disappointing experience. The kitchen had lost its gas supply so a limited menu was on offer - however I won't hold this against the restaurant as they did warn us beforehand and were still able to offer a good range of dishes. Unfortunately when we received our food (I had the vegetarian burrito), it was both dry and bland - a far cry from the wholesome, tasty comfort food we were looking for at Las Iguanas. In addition the service was poor - our drinks did not arrive for a long time, and when we asked the serving staff for our cocktails, we were told our order had been lost.. Overall not a great experience, and I'll probably choose an alternative chain next time I'm looking for Mexican / Brazilian comfort food. read more

Las Iguanas - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

Service is good. The servers are really on top of their stuff, unless they're new. The food is just terrible. The burritos, even though the menu indicates they have refried beans, do not have any. The menu also indicated it was spicy... It wasn't. And I was explained that "the mix is done in the morning and it may not hold the spices if served for dinner" (?) Rice in a burrito... Is expected. Not at Las Iguanas. I could not see more than two or three rice grains in the burrito ... The quesadilla ... Also advertised (in the menu) as spicy. Negative. There was barely any cheese too... Hence the "quesadilla" name to it. Fajitas were apparently ok, according to my partner. Beer selection was poor in variety, but the few they have were ok. Especially the ales. I would not go for a Corona, though. Would I recommend this place?... Possibly for drinks during happy hour only. Otherwise, no. read more

Las Iguanas - Dulce de leche .... Deffo! - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

Running around London. Found this place. Stopped off for some tapas and beer (Brahma). We especially like chicken wings with peri-peri sauce. Yummy. Can get hectic at happy hour, same with all other joints in area. read more

Las Iguanas - Featured beer on tap. I like it. Easy drinking - Latin American Near Me - London, XGL

So I've been meaning to come to this place for like forever and when I saw they had a deal going on and I was damn let me get some of that! I'd already made plans with a friend, so I won her her over with the promise of a Mexican feast and lots of guac! When we arrived the place, I was shocked by how big the place actually was! It massive once you go downstairs, and we got given a really nice table in the corner, plenty of space for a good convo and not to get squashed. The food was ridiculous! So good! We both got fajitas.. I was craving seafood, so I went for the prawns and she chose the chicken. Both were cooked to perfection. They were served with salsa, guac, jalapeñoes and sour cream. The salsa wasn't my favourite, but the rest were delicious. Drinks wise, I was feeling a cocktail, but my friend was sick so lead the way and ordered red wine, so I was tempted to join. I got a juicy Malbec, which was light and easy to drink. She opted for the Rioja, which was a bit more spicy. All in all, so impressed by this place. I can't wait to come back and check out more of the menu. read more

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I rarely write reviews but we received such appalling service I have to warn everyone else. My entree (a mom in a group of 5) was totally forgotten about, it took 25 mins to flag a waitress to take our order, my daughter ordered a cheeseburger for the burger to come with no cheese. When we showed the waitress she brought us a piece of cheese on a plate. Of course we had to send it back to be melted on. No one brought condiments or drink refills, and then the wrong desserts were brought. A total mess! read more

Service was fine but food was atrocious. Absolutely worst burrito I've ever had. It was dry and I do believe it was microwaved. All the sides: guacamole, salsa, and beans were watery. My girlfriends burrito bowl was cold. The meat was processed and nothing was authentic. read more

just left las iguanas this evening. shocking. I was with my friends, all the age of 16, for a birthday meal. when we paid for the bill, after waiting for a while for it, we asked the employee to take the service charge of as we were served by multiple and felt it was a bit too much. the employee then proceeded to slam the card reader on the table and say 'I don't work for free, the service charge is my wage, and I don't like serving people who don't pay it'. this embarrassed me and my friends and it was said quite loudly infront of the whole restaurant. he then stormed of for a while and then come back with the correct balance on the receipt not giving eye contact to us and kept on mumbling under his breath. this annoyed us all as it was very unfair. he served another customer saw we were leaving and came to us and got in my friends face and slammed his hands on the table and said ' would you like to work for free? no' and stormed off. we quickly left as we felt embarrassed and just wanted to get out as it was uncomfortable. read more

I met with a few friends for dinner tonight and we browsed the row of restaurants on Festival Row before settling on Las Iguanas. Firstly, I have to say that the kitchen and waitress were really good when we told them that one of our friends had to catch a train from Waterloo station in just over an hour and they made sure that our starters and main courses were served promptly Although the menu is Latin American, it's mainly dominated by Mexican and Brazilian dishes. Having said that, there were some interesting Brazilian curries on the menu which I've not seen before We had missed the value tapas deal and ordered a selection of starters to share - nachos, calamares (deep fried squid), gambas (prawns) and champinones (mushrooms in chilli and tomato sauce).While the nachos and calamares were quite generic, the gambas and champinones had some kick, which was nice Fro main course, the salmon moqueca was a creamy coconut curry, which was quite mild but flavoursome. My cordero - lamb rump - was a bit disappointing as I couldn't really taste the coriander and parsley rub nor the papaya in my salsa. My friend's spring chicken was nicely roasted but served with cold vegetables. The steak fajita was quite generic The banoffee pie was passable but not enough banana! I did enjoy a virgin apple mojito while my friends shared a nice south American merlot. I did enjoy my evening here but this may not be the most authentic Latin American food you'll find in London. A last bonus was that we spotted Juan Martin del Potro dining here. He's the current men's US Open tennis champion from Argentina read more

This is a great spot for a Birthday treat, even better if you signed up for their mailing list! I was taken here the other week and treated by my girlfriend for my Birthday. We were looking for a place close to Southbank that would eb a bit exotic. Las Iguanas fit that criteria perfectly. I am a fan of Mexican food, but never had the opportunity to sample Brazillian food so I was excited for this. There didn't seem to be any reservations but we left my phone number and they called within 15 minutes saying a table was held for us. We are led into the ever expanding interior that is so much larger than outside appearances. We start the evening with a cocktail jug (purple zombie or something similar sounding). We share Pato Taquito and Chicken Wings as starters which are small but increibly powerful in taste. This was followed by Camarao a la Criolla (Prawns in) for my girlfriend and I chose the Cordero (boneless lamb in sweet orange and tamarind glaze). This meal was incredible. Portion size was reasonable but not what would be considered enormous. But what they lacked in size was instead replaced by overall tastes and aromas. The conbinations of flavours on the lamb was amazing. I do not usually choose lamb, but they were cooked perfectly, soft, and very juicy. To top off the night, I remembered that I have been to Las Iguanas for lunch last year and joined their email newsletter. I had received an email for my Birthday wishing me a Happy Birthday and a free main meal! So with that significnat discount to the total meal we leave feeling like we have incredible value for money and a very pleasant experience. In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant on the Southbank is obviously very busy and this created a great lively mood for a Thursday evening. To conclude, we were treated to great cocktails, great starts, even better Brazilian main courses and a free main course for my Birthday! I enjoyed the meal so much, I have started my fitness campaign to join the GB Olympic squad so I get a free trip to Rio in 2016!! read more

I reeeeeeeeally wasn't expecting much from Las Iguanas, because every time I have walked past, it's drunken post-work clientele annoy the pants off of me. But if you can brave the crowds by the doors taking advantage of the 2-4-1 happy hour in the bar area, you'll find a pretty decent restaurant inside. We only had a half hour wait, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy margaritas and caipirinhas (2-4-1 of course) under the umbrellas outside by the South Bank. Service was good all night, considering how busy they were. The food is so much better than I thought! I was expecting grubby Mexican or half-assed Spanish food. Oh no! Featuring mostly Brazilian dishes, almost all of their options are HEALTHY and delicious. I had grilled chicken, which came with roasted sweet potato and squash pieces, roasted grape tomatoes, and a handful of rocket, plus a choice of sauce (tons of different types of salsa to choose from). I had the papaya mint salsa... MMMMMMMMMMMM. Warning: their guacamole has sour cream in it. Told you Larissa D! Anyway, if you happen to be in the area, say, to catch a gig at Heaven just over Waterloo Bridge, then give Las Iguanas a try. Es muy bueno. read more

I really really like this place - two for one cocktails every day 12-7pm will always win fondness in my mind (only on a small selection mind you) The small dishes selection is a great deal (5 for £22.50) - we had 10 dishes between 5 which was by far enough. The food is fresh and always tasty with a great mexican - style feel. One of our dishes came out late and without asking it was taken off our bill, very impressed. In general the service has always been good here (although the main desk aren't always the most smiley....) however it should be given they automatically add 12.5% service onto food bills - I'm not a fan of this, I always tip but like to decide my own amount please!! One downside, it feels a bit chain-y and is always rammed (probably because it is a chain! and is in one of the most touristy places in London) Top Tips; 1 - Long island iced tea (most alcholic cocktail on most menus!) 2 - The small dishes selection 3 - Shredded beef on your nachos read more

This place is simply mediocre to the extreme. Yes, I have been there a few times, but that's because I work round the corner and you can always get a table, even for a group. Please, if you're looking to eat, try somewhere else - there are so many better options, even amongst the unimaginative selection of chains on offer around the Festival Hall. There are some genuinely nice indepedent places within ten-minutes walk if you're happy to head a bit away from the river. Yes, they do 2 for 1 cocktails, but they definitely taste like 2-for-1s: watery, weak and made with cheap ingrediants. Even their 'signature' caipirinha is poor. The food menu is confused and dull. They can't quite decide whether they're going for comfort food stodge (burrito - not as good as other comfort-food-stodge places that are way cheaper, like Chipotle) or interesting world cuisine (but all these taste identical anyway). They're evidently very proud of their (pricey) fajitas, but I could make better myself: dry, bad-quality meat mixed with soggy over-seasoned onions and peppers. Plus, they give you the usual range of things to put in - salsa, guacamole, sour cream etc. - but all in bizarrely miniscule quantities. And the tortillas were cold by the time they got to us, and evidently weren't freshly made in the first place. The service was friendly enough, but not the speediest or most competent. It took about fifteen minutes to pay our bill. The place is nicely set out, and really makes the most of its sub-railway placement. The vibe and music are nice. But that's really not enough to sell a restaurant. read more

A cousin was visiting London and we decided to hit the Udderbelly festival and then dine at Las Iguanas. I booked us a table for 8:30 and we had to wait a good 10-15 minutes before we got a table. While waiting, we had to actually go ask 2 times and even though the table was ready we weren't called. Decent cocktails...they have quite a few options. Liked the ones with cahaca (of course!) and though El Presidente looked like it would be good one, it was strictly ok. Food was great. We had tapas for starters..loved the prawns and the calamari. Their ciabatta with the gambas reminded me of pao from back home. The mains were good as well. The Xinxim was a huge portion, while the sea bass and chicken were more one-person portions. Lovely aromas and delicious comforting food. We got nice window-side seats at the corner. Nice place. Service at the table was good. read more

2 for 1 cocktails during happy hour, 12p-7p EVERYDAY. No that doesn't mean yall order two different cocktails and pay for the more expensive one. That means you get two of whatever cocktail you order, at ONCE. NICE. Double fisting (and no that doesn't mean whatever you think it means, non-yankie-college attending peeps). I got a grilled chicken chimichanga the size of my head (also, try to ignore that blatant innuendo) which was deep fried and delicious. Authentic? Probably not. Filling and delicious...and cheap?? YES. Somebody please remove one of those pound signs from the price range, likenow. For some tasty tex-mex swing by Las Iguanas...it's on the way home from work so always an option to sip on two cocktails at once and stuff my face with Chevy's-esque chips and salsa and large quantities of cheese/meat/beans/rice. read more

I labeled Las Iguanas as another Giraffe before I tried it, deciding that the suited city boys drinking cocktails after work as I walked from Waterloo to Embankment weren't worth joining. Until, short of options, I went for dinner. The happy hour accounts for the aforementioned smartarses, but the restaurant has a wholly different feel to it. You are well looked after and the menu is varied, interesting and modest in price. There are plenty of options for carnivores, herbivores, and allergy sufferers, and with a much larger space than it first appears, you don't usually need to wait long to be seated. I've been three times now and enjoyed it every time. That said, I'd recommend the full meals over the tapas options, which are slightly lacking in comparison, both taste-wise and value-wise. Before I make up any more words, I'll leave you to see what you make of it. read more

I was drawn in by the decor and patio location, which is great for people watching. I had a cocktail and a coconut lime chicken dish. Both were unremarkable in flavour and presentation. What stood out most was that none of the servers seemed to enjoy working there. None of them smiled, made any kind of small talk, or checked how the food was after it was served. I hoped for more and left disappointed. I've had worse, but nothing here made me want to rush back. read more

A good latin/mexican/brazillian food outpost in a great location on the Southbank. In my experience, the food was ok to good, but I felt like I wasn't getting great value. We took advantage of a cocktail pitcher to go with dinner for 3 of us. By the time we'd poured the whole jug out we'd barely filled each glass 2/3 full. Woah there, easy on that ice! As for the food, not bad at all, but the portions were stingy. We got some loaded nachos to share and a quesadilla before our mains thinking they'd tide us over. They really didn't and we'd seen them off within 2mins. No joke. My burger seemed like it'd had grown up in a White Castle yet my friend's risotto was about right. The other entree ordered was again on the small side. It's a shame we had to stock up on popcorn afterwards at the IMAX! I've also been here after work on a Friday just for drinks and it has a good atmosphere, especially in the warmer months when you can stand outside. I'm afraid that's all i'll be returning for; not the restaurant. read more

Las Iguanas - how the mighty have fallen. When i first visited, I gave you 4 stars. After many more visits, I gave 5. But after my last 3 visits, you get downgraded to 3. Why? Because you keep changing what is good! Ever since I first started going to Las Iguanas, the hosts/hostess/greeters/whatever you wish to call them have always been crap. Rude, or non-English speaking, or just unavailable. They seem to have gotten worse of late. A few months back I wanted to meet up here for dinner with friends. We had a day and time in mind. So I tried to make reservations. There were 4 in our party. We were told we couldn't book for less than 5 people, but were told that they "keep 1/3 of the restaurant available for walk-ins". I called back and fibbed and said we had 5 as we really wanted to make sure we could have a nice night out. Upon arrival we were told they "needed the table back" in 1h45m. What?! After about an hour (with slow, but polite, service) we kept being reminded that we needed to hurry it along. In the end, we took our drinks and desserts and moved to some empty seats outside. We watched as "our" table remained empty for nearly 40 minutes. After that occasion, at the request of my bf's mum, we returned this weekend. Again, I wasn't allowed to book a table for 3. Again I was promised that "1/3 of the restaurant is kept free." We got there and were told by the VERY rude host that there was a table "right now" but we had to "give it back in 1h40m." We knew we wanted to have drinks and then dinner, so asked if there was something available later. "No - I have a table for you now, but we're fully booked the rest of the night." I pointed out to him that I was told I couldn't book for less than 5 people. "That's right," he said. "But you have no space for walk-ins *later*?" I asked. "No. You can have the table now, but we're fully booked." (So much for the "1/3 open" policy). We decided this was better than nothing and took the table. When he sat us he told us we now had to be finished in "1h30m". It was 30 minutes before we were served our drinks. Hopes were low. In the end, we weren't rushed away. We stayed for just over 2 hours. The restaurant was slow. MANY MANY tables, both small and large, were open when we left. So either we were flat out lied to by the host, or gobs of people cancelled their reservations. The other downfall is the drinks and tapas menus. They keep shrinking and/or the best items disappear or change description greatly. The introduction last year of the taco sharing platter is a great one, but other than that, Las Iguanas on the whole is going downhill. I still enjoy the food. And the waiters and waitresses, while slower than molasses in January, tend to be competent and kind. But the feel of the place isn't the laid back Latin of 3 years ago. It's changed for the worse. read more

Although I love going there because of the area, it is hard to say good things about Las Iguanas. starting with cocktails- I have tried almost everything on drink menu- and nothing really was that impressive- unless you don't care about taste and enjoy sugar and alcohol at any ratio, drinks are really hideous! Food wise, I like that this restaurant have options like vegetarian dishes, Gluten Free, special dishes of the week, etc. nevertheless, you still get cold dishes, easily find granules and stones in your meal, or at the slightest find the taste not up to expectations! Service in one word- RUBBISH- you need to beg for the waitress to look at you!! and after all what was mentioned above, you still have to wait every time between 30-45 minutes to get a chance to eat there! read more

I usually love Las Iguanas as a chain, but the reason I am not checking in here, in keeping with the theme of the restaurant my phone also had no service. Firstly our booking was mixed up and so they gave away our table. When I proved that we had a booking for 11 at 18.30 not 18.00 they found us a table for 10 and then we had one person standing for 20 mons until they found us another seat. We waited 45 mins for our cocktails which was probably because we were a large order and in the happy hour, but when they arrived they had mixed up the order. Our starters arrived before our drinks and the starters were good, but spicy and the tap water we ordered for the table didnt arrive until after our mains. We had to send three mains back, not inculding the veggy burger they assumed we had ordered, because they had mixed up the style of burger or over-cooked the steak to beyond edible. The staff didn't come to check on us until they finally delivered our water. All in all this is the worst Las Iguanas experience I have ever had. I won't be returning again, but as it is situated in a tourist trap I doubt that would matter. If you are a tourist and thinking of coming here, don't there are more interesting and better places nearby. read more

I travel to London frequently to visit family, and Las Iguanas on Royal Festival Hall is a must-go every time I visit. Right next to the London Eye and with a fantastic view of Big Ben and Parliament, the location itself is a must for anyone who's visiting the UK. As a small chain, each location of Las Iguanas has this fun, beachy, 60's inspired ambiance that makes eating there an experience. While the decor at the Spitalfield Market is my favorite, this location is cute as well. The restaurant boasts an extensive and delicious selection of margaritas (the coconut one is my personal favorite) as well as a menu that appeals to both meat-eaters and vegetarians. I eat meat; however, I always opt for the butternut squash enchiladas. Each dish is quite filling on its own; however, I would recommend splitting some appetizers with your dining guests (you can either select three starters for 15 pounds or five for 24 pounds). I must say that the menu has changed since I started eating at Las Iguanas. Their "Cha Cha Chorizo" was a fantastic starter, and has since been eliminated from the menu. Overall, an affordable, aesthetically-pleasing Mexican restaurant that will leave you satiated and satisfied. read more

Had dinner here on a summery Friday evening. Here's a list of my impressions, in timeline form. - Crow-ded! And nobody's eating. Hope there's seats outside and that the food is good. - Wow, I can barely wiggle to my table, it's so close to the neighbouring ones! - Ooooh! Lots of cocktails. And tortilla chips. Yummy homemade tortilla chips. More please! - Cute waiter. Spanish. (not latin american -their pronunciation differs-. I am very slightly amused) Very nice, and fairly efficient, if in slight headless chicken mode. - Hmm.. Enchiladas or Quesadillas... Enchilada it is! Not rolled at the ends, it makes for an impressive length on my plate. But surrounded as it is in refried beans, it looks like a wooden log floating in a pool of s*. Nonetheless very very good :) - Eating the enchilada I accumulate an onion-bhaji-worthy hill of onion pieces. (I don't like eating too much onion, the flavour's too strong) A tad much, perhaps? - Hill of rice under enchilada is very rich... in uncooked or overcooked rice grains. My teeth hurt and I need to return items from my mouth to the plate somewhat ungracefully. - We dined so late, that I'm still hungry. As a result, the desserts menu intrigues me. There is a chocolate pot that mentions kahlua and mocha custard... I drool, then order. It looks like a glass full of chocolate mousse, but it's much better than that. Me and the boyfriend have a spoon battle in the glass for the most chocolate. NOM! - Waiting for the bill and for paying the bill takes a while, and given the sun has disappeared over the embankment, the chilliness is a potent reminder of wanting to move. Overall: good food, great dessert, average speed service. Cocktails: £6, Enchilada £10, Fajitas £14 (not that much meat, and they hide the veg under it!) Desserts £5. (roughly) Highlight: Location, location, location. Benefiting from delicious sunset light, this place has excellent outdoor seating for chatty summery afternoons. I would never come back here unless it was to sit outside, soak up some sun, and watch the people walk by. read more

Came here with a friend while down in London the other week, looking to have a drink and a few things to snack on at the same time. The Nachos (Around £5) were a few chips scattered loosely across the wide white plate. They tasted dry and papery. Some were covered in a thick layer of cheese that had the texture of dried glue and didn't really taste of anything at all. In the middle of plate was a pot where watery canned tomato seeped together with cream and a vague green paste that would be difficult to call guacamole. The Calamari (also around $5) were equally disappointing. There were four or five small squid which just about covered a (thankfully) smaller plate but still seemed to be taunting our hunger with how few they were. They shared the nachos overwhelming impression of being turned in a microwave until they were warm and slightly soggy. The squid itself was overly chewy so that it stretched out and tasted much like an elastic band when you tried to bite into it. In keeping with their seaside origin they had been rolled around in what tasted like sand - small, grainy breadcrumbs that didn't add any crispness. Only by rolling them around until they were covered in the mayonnaise could you get them to taste of anything at all. Service was poor too. After a good ten minutes gazing around, at the start eventually I got up myself to collect some menus. There were plenty of staff running about but nobody made any effort to come to us. I then had to get up again to get somebody's attention to order, only to be told that if you sat outside you had to order at the bar. And then I got up a third time because no napkins were brought out with our two finger food dishes. read more

I've been there two days ago and received the worse service ever. When we sat down, no one came to serve us for like 30min. After we've been served, we had to wait more than 25min just to get our drinks on the table that were already done (just no one bother to bring ) so we had to ask for them. It wasn't even that busy. The food was great tho. Rather than that, waiting for nearly an hour to get something really exhausted us. Not comming back read more