As a Texan visiting the UK I've been sadly disappointed in the state of Tequila here. Whisky? You have it down. 20 kinds every where you go. Wahaca is an oasis of agave alcohol. Couple that with an gourmet Mexican "street food" and you got an evening to remember. I really liked the corn. The pork pabil was also good. But make sure have a margarita. read more

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I always like the idea of Wahaca more than the actual experience itself. We arrived one person short as she was running late, and were told they only seat 'whole parties'. I kiiind of get that, but there were loads of spare tables and we would have ordered drinks and nibble while we were waiting, so it was a little annoying. The menu selection is great and I enjoyed the food I had. I like it when all the dishes arrive 'as & when' but the gap between was far too long - 20 minutes between the first and the last. One person in our party had finished his 4 dishes before one of us had received any of hers. I like the concept, but it's not cheap enough for the execution to be so rusty. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

I went to Wahaca with my Dad and Sister during the summer. It was midweek, but still the place was fairly jam-packed. We left a number with the man and the desk and decided to go somewhere else, as I remembered there being a Fishworks in the area. I got us lost and shortly the man called us to say he had held us a table so we headed back to Wahaca. It is a large restaurant occupying the cavernous basement floor of a building between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. The restaurant is quite noisy with almost communal seating and chatty service, which normally is fine and would suit friends, but wasn't great for being with my Dad, who is a bit traditional. Also, there was a young couple next to us having an awkward first date so perhaps avoid in that situation. We were seen quickly and are food and drinks arrived promptly too. I had a beer and a mojito, both of which were well done. I've not had proper Mexican food so I don't know how Wahaca compares in that sense. The food here was tasty, though not particularly memorable. It wasn't bad place, just not a great experience, I imagine if I were to return with friends it would be better. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

We needed something that was open late. This place is busy! We ordered the chicken burrito, fish tacos, and a chicken salad. Everything was decent. The fish tacos were best. The salad could have been bigger with more chicken. read more

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First of all... For anyone who has had a taste of authentic Mexican, this is not authentic at all! BUT the place is delicious. I got the pork burrito with a side of nachos with cheese and guacamole and loved it. The pickled onions were amazing because they were a little spicy. The service was good, it was not hard to get the attention of the waiter when you needed them. They were playing Spanish and I love Spanish music so the atmosphere was great. My friend got the chipotle chicken burrito and she did not like it because it was too sweet which is something done very often in London. I do recommend going for the pork instead of the chicken because they don't make good chicken tinga. read more

Okay...I've found Mexican nirvana in London. Simple as that. Seriously though, the food here, while not 100% authentic, really is outta-this-world. I went on a Friday evening --arguably not the best time to go to any restaurant in London, much less a restaurant as happening as this --and can attest that if you're prepared to wait an hour and a half for a table, you will not leave without a smile on your face. Honestly, you're right in the heart of Covent Garden, so there's not exactly any shortage of places to go and have a pre-meal cocktail. Like I mentioned, the food is incredible (you MUST try the Pork Pibil Tacos) --the ingredients are clearly extremely fresh, and presentation is lovely. the best strategy is to go with a group and order from their menu marked "Order 2-3 per person" to make sure you get a good selection. And don't leave without trying one (or many) of the Margaritas. I believe they're around £6 each, and aren't the largest, but they are amazing. This is about as good as it gets for Mexican food this side of the Atlantic, in my experience. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

This texi mexi chain in London with tons of vegetarian options really hits the spot. Found this gem through other local yelpers and weren't disappointed. The food was generously sized and a decent price for being in the heart of central London. We ordered the Veggie Set Menu which came with a quesadilla, two types of soft shell tacos, Mexican corn, a taquito and a tostada. Unlike some restaurants I've been where they use the same 'veggie mix' for every item, this menu was curated to be diverse and delicious! The atmosphere is chill and happy with attentive table service which can be hard to find in London. A definite recommend and will be returning next time! read more

Wahaca - 5/6 dishes in the veggie set menu. - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

My friend loves wahaca so that's why I came along for her birthday. I find the experience okay. There were 10 of us and waiting for a table was painful. Can't book before hand so we had to wait and we had to wait for the majority to arrive to end up getting a table that stayed free for as long as we were there. It has a buzzing atmosphere and certain staff are always more enthusiastic than others but I could never get one's attention when I needed it. The tortillas were quite oily so we didn't even finish it. The staggered arrival of food based on when it was ready meant waiting for others so my tacos became soggy and not very nice. So when the food arrives, eat. Waiting is not that great. read more

Wahaca - Tortillas, tacos and tostadas. - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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At 20:00 on a Wednesday, this place was BUSY. Great, that means good food! My group of 2 had no problem waiting: we ordered drinks from the bar in the front and chilled patiently. Other groups who came before us got seated, while those that came after us queued up. We waited for 40 minutes and watched another group of 2, who came in after us, complain twice and get seated before us as a result. Business lost. Pass. read more

I was at this restaurant earlier this summer while visiting London. I went with my friends around dinner time and the place was full, so we were put on the waiting list. In around 15 minutes time we were able to find a table. The review won't be complete without a verdict on the food. I'd say it is 7.5/10 material. I had the chicken taco and my friends had some other dishes which I don't remember at the moment, but they seemed to have enjoyed it very much. The price is very reasonable and the portions were moderate. I'd say I left with a content stomach. The staff were friendly and prompt. The interior of the restaurant is nice and clean with ample but subtle lighting. I also got a small packet of chili seeds from the restaurant as a gift which was a nice gesture. read more

Wahaca - Menu - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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My cousin, a London local, brought me to Wahaca when I was on a visit. Despite the long wait with no seating in the bar area I was quite happy. I had a decently priced cocktail and chips and guac while waiting. Our meal was severed tapas style - we ordered a half dozen dishes that were all excellent. For English food supposedly being horrible, this English twist on Mexican was refreshing and filling. Finally, I love that the matchbooks are filled with seeds to grow your own peppers! read more

I came here with a friend and we split the Chili Quesadillas, I ordered the Cactus Tacos and Chicken Tostadas, and my friend ordered Pork Tacos and one of the other quesadillas. All of the food which I ordered had a unique and complex flavor. I have never had Cactus before, and I am now hesitant to order it again because it may not be as well prepared as my experience at Wahaca. My friend was also pleased as he spent several minutes contemplating the elaborate flavors as something as simple as pork tacos. The portions are small, but the point is obviously to order a few menu items to try various items. The atmosphere was upbeat and young for the most part. The staff was great as well; they were extremely helpful, energetic, and polite. We had to remind ourselves a few times that we were having Mexican in London. read more

My first night in London, the bestie and I decided to head over to this little hot spot. We quickly placed our names on the list, grabbed a cerveza and planted our feet. The two of us had loads to catch up on so we had no problem standing around, sipping, chatting and waiting. Yes, it does get very crowded in the confined waiting area. Our name was finally at the top of the list. We were escorted back to a tiny table for two in front of the kitchen. I think we really lucked out by scoring this table, as our server had to pass by us with his every visit to the kitchen. We never had to wait long for glasses to be refilled or plates to be cleared. The food was pretty tasty. It didn't blow my socks off, but apparently it's a little tricky to find well prepared Mexican fare in UK. So, when you have a hankerin' for some spicy small plates head over to Wahaca for your fix. read more

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Based on Mexican food I've had in the UK... this is awesome! Everytime my friend and I (yup, we're Americans...) hear about a Mexican restaurant or find one, we make it a point to try it. I have to say that for a very long time Viva Mexico in Edinburgh has been my favourite Mexican restaurant... it now has a rival! The sign out front said, "Best Mexican food in London." My friend Lauren said, "I've seen that sign before, we'll be the judges of that." I did not have any kind of expectations for this restaurant, but when we walked in, the atmosphere was nice and I could smell lime! The staff were quick to get us seated and to come over and greet us. We told our waiter that we had not been to Wahaca before and he explained everything on the menu for us and even gave us some recommendations. We were a bit torn, there were fantastic items on the street food menu, but there were also some fantastic items on the mains part... We spotted fish tacos, but were hesitant as every place I have had them outside of San Diego has not been good... in fact some have been downright disgusting. So we came up with a plan, we ordered the fish tacos (it comes with 2 tacos, a side of beans on top of their green rice and spicy coleslaw) to share and ordered three street food items. Here is a play by play: Black Bean Tostadas - loved it! It was light and it was like a mini taco salad to me. If you have some of your fresh guacamole left from your chips and guac, spoon some of that on top... delicious! Chicken Taquitos - They were ok, but I've had better taquitos... of various fillings. I think the problem was the chicken itself. It said it was marinated, but I don't think the chicken had much flavor... actually sometimes it taste like bacon. Potato and Chorizo Quesadilla - perhaps my favourite item we ordered! I think in my head I was expecting the potato to be slices or pieces, but I think they were smashed... which gave the texture of refried beans, which I highly enjoyed. The Chorizo was smoky, but really good with the melted cheese. Fish Tacos - I don't think anyone will ever top the fish tacos I've had in San Diego, but Wahaca gave them a run for the money. The fish was nice, I admit I usually prefer a battered fish, but the breaded fish was nice. The sauces were nice, although instead of the smoky salsa that was on top, that I thought was a bit to strong for the fish, I would've like a fresh pico de gallo to get the right acidity with the fish. The beans were nice, but I really liked the green rice, but I love cilantro so that is why that suited me. And the spicy coleslaw was nothing special, but I found it a great side to the potato and chorizo quesadilla! Beyond the food, the service was fantastic! Our waiter was so friendly and very helpful. He always knew when to check in on us without become annoying, but didn't ignore us after we got our food. The food came out in stages, which was helpful because we ended up with a lot of plates on the table. And the food came out so quickly, so if you are looking for a place to have a quick lunch... you'll be in and out quickly... if you beat the lunch crowds! And the prices... reasonable! Our total (we did not have alcoholic beverages) was £27.50 and we were stuffed! However, if I were by myself, based on quite a few of the items on the menu, I could easily have a filling lunch for under £10! The next time I'm in London, you'll find me there trying even more of their menu! read more

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Lovely mexican restaurant! We ordered so much food here, and everything was delicious. They serve delicious guacamole, but the portions are a bit small. The place is super colorful, and fits a lot of people. I had the chicken burrito, and it was really good. I honestly can't complain about a single item. read more

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You Are The Best) Seriously. We went there because at that moment i did the Interior Design of WAHACA in Dublin. and i took some pictures. was inspired a lot ) The place is awesome, love design. Staff was really polite. The food was delicious, definitely will come back. Thank you. read more

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Here's the thing. I like Wahaca. It's convenient, and friendly, and they always, always have a table for you. But the food is just... okay. And I've tried a lot of things from their menu. A LOT. But nothing has that little thing that makes it oh-so-special-please-bring-me-more. It's such a lovely place, too bad it's not a brilliant place as it definitely has all the potential for it. read more

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I want to clone Thomasina Miers and have her make me food everyday! I finally made it to Wahaca after about a year of waiting to get a table. Ok that is a mean joke on my part, but for whatever reasons it has taken me until now to make it there. I will be back and I can't wait for the branch on Wardour Street to open either as that shall help with the being able to get a table. Luckily on Sunday when I went we only had to wait just under 20 minutes. We had a wonderful meal of tacos, quesadillas, soup, salad and churros! The cocktails were mindblowing and very stimulating on the senses and they also served Modelo Especial which brings back happy memories for me of eating Mexican food in San Francisco. I was there with my beloved and my sibling and we had a very relaxed meal and I must say although there was a little wait there was absolutely no pushiness for us to leave our table or to hurry up. The spirit of Sunday was upon the place and I found the staff very helpful in terms of explaining the menu and I found everything we had really beautifully cooked. The Steak tacos were moreish as was the quesadilla, we had tostadas too and the mixture of textures as well as fresh flavours made the food addictive as they were served in tapas sized portions. I really liked the taco soup too as it was poured in front of you and all the other garnishes in the bowl seemed to become 'activated' when the soup touched it. I loved these little elements of theatre and the soup was very flavorsome and palate cleansing too. It was the perfect thing to have before another beer, some lime, mint and sparkling water and churros! They are indulgent but when shared between three the guilt goes away. I am pleased that they weren't drowned out by cinnamon and had a lovely crisp bite as well as a silky chocolate sauce. My only tip for having them again is to bring a straw as you won't want to waste a single drop of that lovely chocolatey goodness. After going once I can see why people will queue for hours and why it is worth queuing for hours. Still I am more than happy to see more branches of this place as once you go you want to go again and again! The prices are very pocket friendly and the small plates aren't so microscopic that you shall leave feeling hungry. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

I have mixed feelings about this restaurant from the two times that I've been there. What probably bumped it up from a 3 to a 4 star is that the environment is so fun and the restaurant has really great energy. The staff are all very knowledgable about the food and they are really great to interact with. The reason that will probably keep me from coming back again is that I think it is a bit of a rip off. The drinks are overpriced and filled to the brim with ice (although they were delicious). My parents split a bottle of wine and felt that something was off about it. They were out of salsa (pretty strange for a Mexican restaurant) and they brought us guacamole instead...it was delicious, but also annoying that it only came with about 10 chips. The tapas style are way too expensive for too little food. Overall everything was quite delicious but it just did not seem worth the price tag, so if you have money to throw around than I would recommend this place! read more

Wahaca - Hibiscus mojito. - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

If you live in London and want something close to Mexican food, you must try Wahaca. I was very surprised to actually enjoy the food and it was really close to real tacos, but there's room for improvement. Tacos!! Tacos!! Tacos!! with a nice cold beer!! read more

Outstanding mexican restaurant just opened in Covent Garden. Prior to visiting here all my previous experiences of mexican restaurants were cacti on the walls, guacamole/sour cream smothered nachos and unidentifiable meats in wraps "fresh" from the microwave. All eaten whilst being hassled by an over-enthusiastic woman wearing bullet straps screaming "tequilaaaaa"! WAHACA COULD NOT BE FARTHER FROM THAT. Funky. modern design, the walls of the restaurant are in bright vivid blocks of colour accentuated by light boxes. The restaurant is in a basement, but with the design plus the glass frontage of the place, it feels light & airy. The food is based on mexican "street food", which means there are as many ways of eating as there are flavours. You can have a healthy salad lunch, light snack or antojitos (little treats) with drinks. You can share small plates with friends, or have a (massive) taco all to yourself. All the food is fresh, tasty and a million miles away from anything I've eating in the UK before. All ingredients are sourced from local, organic producers. I recommend the Fish Pastor Taco, Chorizo Tortilla & Steak Burrito. There's an extensive beers & spirits list. No surprise margueritas & mojitos feature heavily - the hibiscus marguerita is recommended. The restaurant is run by Thomasina Miers, who was winner of the BBC TV competitiion "MasterChef" in 2005. Service is fast & efficient and its a lively, enjoyable place to spend an evening. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

I've been looking for good Mexican food in London for a while and Wahaca has delivered! Great food with nice flavours. fresh as it should be. service is fast and friendly. the pork pibil is excellent. the fish tacos were a bit disappointing but over all a great spot, so if you're looking for a bit of change, go for it!!! Think Wagamama or Bananaleaf but Mexican! read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

This place is a little bit like the TARDIS when you enter, as from the front it does not appear that such a tiny shop window can house such a large basement dining area. This restaurant chain is the Mexican equivalent of WAGAMAMAS and as such has its good and bad points. The place was comfortable and appeared to have a nice atmosphere, with the interior very neat and tidy. The staff were very friendly and helpful albeit not very attentive once the place started to get a little bit busy (it didn't help that our waiter finished his shift halfway through serving us!) and unusually very slow to come and collect the bill!! The food portions appeared small at first glance but when you started to tuck in it was apparent that there was plenty to eat and all at a reasonable price, especially for central London. The food (spicy roast pork)was excellent. Its been a while since I've had Mexican but I was not dissapointed. The only real issue with the place is the same issue as you get at Wagamamas; your food and the food of your fellow diners does not arrive at the same time. I cannot see how it would be too difficult for the Chefs to ensure that a tables food was prepared at the same time. My wifes food arrived over 5 minutes after mine, which appears an eon once you have started to tuck in. If you can see past this though its great for a plate of tasty wholesome grub! read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

We loved this place! The food was excellent although the tacos were better than the enchiladas (a bit bland) and quesadillas. I'd definitely recommend the chicken tinga taco and pork pibil taco (one of my favourite types of pork!). The margarita's were really nice as well and relatively inexpensive compared to other mexican places we've tried in London. at £5.50, the classic is the way to go. The chips were a must as the salsa they bring out is incredible. We loved the tomatillo verde sauce they had and wish we could've had more for our main courses. The pudding was DELICIOUS! We ordered the churros with chocolated which lead to finger licking by the end of it all as the chocolate was incredibly rich and tasty. mmmmm, definitely going back to Wahaca! by the way, Sunday afternoon at 3:30 was a brilliant time to go, the place was practically empty. read more

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killer halloumi tacos and guac. passed the cali vibe x thank you so much!!! spices were spot on

surprisingly good. ordering system is super weird though. meat was juicy & flavorful. obviously keep in mind this is a mexican chain based out of england but good for what it is read more

Wahaca - pibil nachos - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

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Great food and atmosphere, tables are a little crammed in. The service is good but seems overwhelmed by the volume of customers. So once you get served great but if it's busy make sure you have someone to chat to while you wait for them to get to you. The food is always good but the menu changes very slowly and even the specials only rotate on a monthly or more schedule. read more

Wahaca - Guacamole and chips - Mexican Near Me - London, XGL

Calling itself the most authentic and traditional Mexican street fare in London yet spelling Oaxaca "Wahaca"? Questionable. But if you are missing Mexican food like Jen not-so-secretly misses Brad, it'll do. The guac is decent, although the chips were about 10 minutes past their frying prime and tasted more like pita chips rather than corn. Don't expect any real street food like empanadas or tamales, this is far more of the taco/burrito/quesadilla especial con quinoa. (Wait, who the hell invited quinoa to the fiesta?) There was some incriminating broccoli involved too which I will refrain from commenting on. I'll keep it simple: They spelled Oaxaca "Wahaca," so what are you expecting? Basically, it's the best you're gonna get this side of the border. read more

Have I not reviewed this place? Really? I remember being taken here for lunch for the first time by work about 3 years ago and being wowed by the amazing food and fantastic service. Since then I have been back a few times and damn are these guys sucky! Dear Wahaca, Okay so you are popular but seriously, you are going to make me wait at the bar STANDING for 45 minutes while a table becomes free. And no I'm not allowed to wonder off and come back? Oh okay. Erm...I'll just wait here in the corner. Right, sorry was that you shouting my name...I couldn't hear you over the 60 people chatting loudly around me as I cradle my over priced cocktail. But have had 3 while I waited so you have just doubled my bill with drinks. Oh hold on there is a pregnant woman here but no seats so you grab her a chair and just she sits while all her friends stand around her and chat. Nice! So I get to my seat and your friendly waiter serves us and the meals come at completely different times, which is fine apart from the fact that I have finished mine and now my date has his. Oh I'm sorry you need the table...we'll leave. I won't be seeing you again soon, which is a shame as I really like your food and I heard you had Fish Tacos! Amazing! Your friend, Lizzie G So if you come here during the day it's totally worth it, Friday or Saturday night? Make other plans this place is awful. read more

I have made a decision. Wahaca wins for best London-Mexican food. London-Mexican food should not be confused my favorite Polish-Mexican or Tex-Mex. London-Mexican is the Mexican food you get in London but really wish it was actual Mexican. There portions are similar to what you'd see in Tijuana, or as they are called, Street size. Where they lose points is in the fact that they are served more Tapas style. While they do have larger portions, it's not the same. Favorito? Si, yo tengo preferar los Black Bean Quesidillas , cerveza Pacifico y finalemente el Guacamole. Man, I haven't spoken Spanish in a while. This place will get crowded. I suggest going on a Sunday afternoon. Also, order the Margarita Sorbet with an extra shot of tequila to mix in. Then mash it together like you did ice cream when you were a kid. This is the adult version and is A-MAZ-ING!!! read more

I have to say, I really liked Wahaca. I'm just sorry so many people didn't have such a nice time. Me and a friend arrived early. Early being five and we managed to get a table straight away and ordered lots and lots of food. Everything was good. I didn't have a bone to pick with anything. Churros, good. Tacos, good. Spicy slaw, really good. We didn't emerge outside until about 8.30. The food was brilliant, and the service was really good, and pretty attentive as well. Though it did take a while to get the bill and I did notice the huge queue of people standing by the bar (who could have been seated as there were a couple of tables free near us), which I thought was a bit crap for them. But then, maybe it's because they are really busy and not so good on the organisational front yet. But these are excuses I know. But I like that the 'matches' they give you are chili seeds that you can plant. I like that it's the type of food you can share that is good quality and the decor and ambiance was lively and bustling and I really did have a great time. I guess I just got lucky. read more

I've noticed a few odd debates popping up on Yelp of late which all seem to fall into the 'Britain is bad' category such as, 'Bad British Food' 'Bad British Diets' 'Bad British Service' 'Been to Britain? It's bad you know...' As a general rule I tend to disregard most of these sweeping statements as eccentric or xenophobic- come on, do you really think we spend all our days knocking back ale, pies, chips and sausages and swearing at each other? (We save that for the weekends). There is however, one British criticism that I would grant- it's very hard to find good Mexican food. Fajitas seem to be the limit of most bars imagination and without fail these ring of Old El Paso... With this in mind I was both suspicious and excited about Wahaca's prospects. Five of us thought it would be best to get a selection of Tacos, Tostadas, Quesadillas and side dishes to really make sure we gave the place every chance and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. While a few of the dishes (Chicken Tinga, Chipolte Chicken) tasted virtually identical and others lacked a little spice (Pork Pibil where's your kick?) the general consensus was overwhelmingly upbeat. Not only did it make a pleasant change to order Mexican food and be able to identify actually vegetables without a melted cheese barrier but everything tasted very fresh and homemade. Our bill for 5 came to £67 including plenty of drinks. Prices like this, in the middle of Covent Garden are virtually unheard of, especially not for food this tasty. Ok, it might not have been the most authentic experience but it's definitely the best Mexican I've had in London and so for this I rate Wahaca four stars! read more

Wahaca = the most popular and tightarsed restaurant in London. A few Yelpers arrive for dinner at 5.30, the place is empty, we are told we cannot sit till all our party is present. Hmm fine. After waiting a while, we asked to get a table of 3 that we could add a chair to, this was impossible for them to accomodate. So we waited for 40 minutes, while the restaurant got busier and busier and they pointedly ignored us. Then when our final Yelper arrived, we were told, yeah it's going to be a further wait. here's a pager. So screw you Wahaca and your ridiculous attitude. read more

First of all, speaking as a San Diegan, this is NOT what I would call Mexican food. If you're looking for sloppy burritos and carne asada, this ain't it. What it DOES offer, however, is a fresh and fun place for a tasty meal. I had my second Wahaca experience tonight and was once again impressed. I love restaurants that encourage sharing. And I'm all for a healthy salad involving pumpkin seeds and quinoa! Yes! Our waitress was delightful and made the slow service towards the end of the night bearable. I'd go ahead and believe the hype if I were you. read more

Yes this is England, but this was the worst Mexican I've ever had. First lets start with the food. We got the Chips and Guacamole. I can't tell you how bad the Guacamole was. It was brown (which Guacamole tends to do unless you know how to make proper). It tasted like....nothing. There was some flavor to it, but it was dull and it certainly not Guacamole. It also was CRAZY tiny amount and they provided about 3 times the amount of chips to eat with said dip. Biggest disappointment of the night. We also ordered the black bean side (Frigoles). Again the taste was really off. Almost like soap was a main ingredient. I dipped the chips in it because I had to eat something, but I stopped because eww. As for our mains. My wife got the Sweet Potato Taquitos. It was OK but not very Mexican, and super saucy. I got the Steak Tacos with Grilled Cheese and Salsa. For my tacos, there was no salsa. The grilled cheese (which I didn't realize when I ordered said grilled) is like that little bit of a grilled cheese sandwich where a little of it lands on the pan and dries itself out to a tasteless crispy bit. You don't throw it away cause it's cheese and eat it, but it's not good. That's fine for a sandwich but you don't top a taco with it. The beef and seasoning was OK. The tacos were also really small and too simple. I am one that believes authentic Mexican tacos should be just a corn soft tortilla (x2) with a good marinated meat, and very few simple toppings (usually including a few onions, fresh coriander, avocado slice, and a lime slice). This really had none of those, just a single tiny tortilla, a little bit of meat, and only 1-3 tiny diced onions. Way too minimal by Mexican standards, and way too small by any standards. As for some that say this is Mexican Street Food, there's nothing that speaks street food to me. The main Mexican Street Food item is corn on the cob, grilled, with a bit of Mayo and Queso Fresco and Spices, or delicious marinated meat grilled. Tacos, Tostados, and Taquitos aren't really street food (Maybe Quesadillas). Lastly was the service which was just as bad. We got there on a Saturday night. The line was decent. We stood there and finally the hostess came by and asked that the two groups in front of us, ourselves, and a group behind us were all 2 person groups. We could see behind us there were 3 tables of 2 people empty. We could also see several other table beyond of 2 people that were empty. Maybe she didn't see them, but she just stood there looking out. Finally randomly she takes one couple and seats them. There's another 2 person table in the area still empty, but she comes back and just stands there while the rest of us wait. The other couples are commenting how other 2 person tables just sit and wait. She finally takes a couple in the quieter area toward the front to sit them. We can all see how there are 2 extra 2 person table sitting there with no one at them. She must see she can sit us all now right? Nope, she comes back and just stands there. We wait several more minutes and she finally sit us. We sit in a busy loud portion and there's yet again another 2 person table. We know the people behind us are 2 people and they get sat there about 10 minutes later! It's been open for forever, but nothing. I get if you don't know a table is open, but when you sit one customer next to it, and not the next customer that's intentional or just lazy and we saw that happen a couple times. After sitting down we knew what we wanted right away, but it tools about 15+ minutes until anyone showed up (after I gave a stink eye across the place to a waiter). He took our order. 5 minutes later my main dish and the chips and guac showed. OK....wrong order. I didn't eat since it would be rude, and my wife's bean side dish showed up and finally our beers. The waitress said enjoy your meal, and my wife said well I don't have mine yet. She said well the kitchen is busy and her's will be out (ok, but bring the beer, chips, and guac first then). A bit later her Taquitos finally came and the rest...well we just should have turned around and left when we were waiting to get a table for 30 minutes that should have honestly only taken them 5 minutes to do. Never........again..... Also, Whaca...it's spelled Oaxaca. Us Americans get a hard time for simplifying other languages, but you really need to dumb down Oaxaca? read more

I mean it's good...but I've had better. This concept of posh Mexican food they're trying to pull off only works when people have a concept of Mexican food to start with. In a pinch, this place partially fill the void that was left in my heart and stomach after I left California. I wouldn't take an American here who knows and appreciates Mexican food, and I also wouldn't take a Brit here and tell them that this is Mexican food. That said, the Wahaca selection is a good filling meal for two and I get it every time I go. It will include a few different tacos, a few quesadillas, some taquitos and other random stuff for £10 each. The margs are pretty good too, as is the overall ambiance of the place. Oh but don't get the burritos. Someone decided to put cabbage in them (WTF?!). read more

My first impressions: they misspelled the name of their restaurant, but at least it's pretty. There's a sink in the entryway: clever. But they put cabbage in my burrito. Cabbage, Richard. Cabbage. What did I do to deserve this? My second impressions: The drinks better be liberal on the tequila for those prices. Where's my waitress? Third time around: Oooh. These quesadillas are delicious and reasonably priced. 8 quesadillas please. No. Keep that burrito away from me. I've probably been to Wahaca about ten times now. The food (both flavour and temperature) can be hit and miss. So can the service. The long waits have gotten better over time. But it is central and decent value, and sometimes that's enough. read more

I am always prepared to try a new restaurant and do on a regular basis. Strangely, I have never tried authentic Mexican food. When I was offered the opportunity to come to Wahaca for lunch, I was happy. I must ask the question, shouldn't Wahaca be spelt Oaxaca? Spelling aside, the restaurant aesthetically has everything right. It is contemporary in design, airy, spacious and pleasing to look at. Whilst I was there the queue to eat remained consistent, so they are clearly very popular. Service was prompt and the server gave tips on what was good. I shared a pibili pork taco, chipotle quesadilla and a steak burrito with my lady. I really enjoyed my meal and although I cannot attain to the authenticity of the food being traditionally Mexican, it was tasty. Be warned though the pibili pork tacos will repeat on you for hours... Pheeew! I'm pretty sure most of the meat dishes will give you unkissable breath. I was sat with seven friends and apart from me every one else had a complaint in regards to their meal. Nobody said the food was bad, only that they had eaten better Mexican food elsewhere. I will confess these better places were all in places abroad where an actual diaspora of Mexicans resided as a community. I like Wahaca and would recommend it. read more

Since when did it become acceptable to serve margaritas in a thimble? When I think "Mexican" the second thing I think is "Margaritas." Refreshing sour margaritas served in large bell-shaped glasses with salt on the rim and a whole pitcher of the faintly green citrus mixture on the table for when I need a refill. Don't expect that here. Maybe I've been a victim of "super-sized" American margaritas in Los Angeles... but one of Wahaca's margaritas - served in a thick aquamarine glass that could double as a votive candle holder - won't even last me through the guacamole. Seriously, it may only cost 5.50... but it's chock full of ice... and if it's busy, it takes half an hour to get one. At that rate, I'm going to need to order 3 at time. So why four stars? Well it's not for their "Summer Salad" - which sounds mouthwatering on paper, but is bland and pointless in person. And certainly not for the absurd queue. Or the raucous school cafeteria-level decibels (attention men do NOT bring a date here - especially not a first date - as has been my misfortune). Rather, it gets four stars for its quite-nice (and VERY affordable take) on "fresh mex." The guacamole is good, their tacos are lovely, and I especially love their quesadillas (lots going on filling-wise in the middle, they're not simply pasted together with an inch of cheese). Props for tasty pico de gallo and tomatillo salsas too! Moral of the story: go early, sip your tiny margarita slowly, and enjoy some of London's rare 'fresh mex' fare at extremely reasonable prices... and best not bring a date. read more

Whenever i go to New York to meet my best friend (she is an avid yelper if i may add), she always takes me to some new place to have a dish i have never had before. Next time when she comes over here, i have Wahaca ready for her. The food is good ... there is a lot more variety than at Chilangos (which i really like btw). One dish i would really recommend is the Nopalitos (mexican cactus). Also the hibiscus flower juice is worth trying. Be a bit careful though with the bottles of chilly sauce that they nonchalantly leave at the table. At 10 times the strength of Nandos extra hot, they are deadly at anything more than the most minute of quantities. The place is very popular and you might have to spend a couple of hours waiting in the evening (apparantly they don't take bookings on weekend evenings atleast). So go, give your name, watch a play and come back for dinner. read more