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

Get ready for a long queue! Every time I pass by it's packed with tons of people, so I figured I'd give it a shot....and I was not impressed. The setup is cool --- authentic design and embellishments, but the food was a bit "eh" disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but not "OMG you have to try it" good. I ordered the steak burrito with a side of sour cream and guacamole - the closest thing to a carne asada from San Diego. The steak lacked flavor and I had to pour on the salsa verde for some zang! I went with a large group, and one person didn't get their meal until we were halfway through our meal --- i HATE when that happens...but i guess it's pretty normal here in London? So what I did enjoy? The price and the fresh guacamole! Make sure you pick up "matches" before leaving --- you'll find a nice surprise inside! :) read more

Ok, so aside from spelling Oaxhaca as Wahaca, from outside, this place looks all rustic and cool, billing itself as a "Mexican Market Eating".. So, it looks cool, stylistically, the menu whilst somewhat less than conventional (I mean who in their right mind would put "cabbage" and mushrooms in a burrito?) but I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. We went at Lunch time, which had a waiting time of 45 mins.. Fortunately since there were only two of us, we were seated pretty much straight away. If you're in a group of three or more.. then make sure you arrive early, at peak times, or be prepared to wait. They don't take bookings :( So we ended up having some guacamole and salsa with nachos for a starter. Unfortunately, the Avo in the guacamole was anything but ripe.. after trying to break a large quarter sized chunk with our forks, we had to physically cut it with a knife into cubes, to be able eat it.. Not nice.. The salsa was ok, but nothing that special. The menu didn't have any empanadas, or tamales, real simple yummy snacks I'd enjoyed in Peru, on the streets, but nothing like that to be found here. I ordered a portion of tacos, and a Black Bean quesadilla, which were both a little disappointing.. The portion of tacos just seemed really small, and the Quesadilla whilst ok, was nothing "too"special. It was ok.. My friend ordered a fish, and hers seemed to be quite nice. She definitely picked the right sized dish. Would definitely think twice before ever going back there.. read more

Stopped in here for lunch when I was in London and it was very good. The tacos here were much better than I ever thought I would find in London. The place is underground, but has a very cool farm to table vibe going inside it and the staff here was very friendly. It is more of a mexican tapas style menu, so you order more than one thing, but it was worth checking out for lunch or even dinner. read more

I was surprised to learn that Wahaca was a Mexican restaurant and not a medievil war dance, until I realised that the English have done what the English are good at: turning foreign food into something people from the particular places don't recognise, even the pronunciations. That said, Wahaca, whilst it may not be wholly authentic, is a great place to go for a fun night out with friends. I like the atmosphere, which is light-hearted and makes you feel like you're eating street food, which is what they creators were attempting, judging by their tag-line. The dishes are really tasty and there is plenty of choice for everyone. As a vegetarian, I had about eight choices of small, sharing dishes, of which I must have tried seven. What I liked was the variety and the exciting way in which the food is served - when it's ready, you get it, no messing. The refried beans were to die for and the mini quesidillas were great, too. Add in a tasty cocktail and you've got a happy chappy. A what? I don't know. I was having fun and the memories have all come flooding back and I feel excited again and want to go back as soon as possible. read more

Let's get the facts straight... - I grew up in San Diego, 20 minutes away from the Mexican border. - I have spent an infinite number of meals eating Mexican food from various restaurants all over California. - On multiple occassions I have been invited to share meals with my Mexican friends and their families. Relying on those facts my first impression of Wahaca is... it's not Mexican food. It's too expensive to be Mexican food. It's too fusion-ish. Which is fine, just don't come expecting "authentic" Mexican food. And though my expectations weren't that high, they did okay and our food was pretty good. I like that they made their own sauces and everything is nice and warm when it comes to your table. I was sadly disappointed by the size of their street tacos though. Come on! They aren't even that small in Mexico! Admittingly, I would definitely come back because this is probably the closest I will get to anything resembling a "street taco." I feel so guilty. read more

We're never going back to Wahaca! Ever! On my last day in England, my fiance and I visited the Wahaca in Westfield Mall (I realize this review is not for that location, but it is an update to the my original review of the restaurant as a whole) we ate at Wahaca. Fifteen minutes into our meal, I got up to use the restroom...which is where my fiance and I spent the rest of the day because of the food poisoning we got. We couldn't even leave the mall because we were so sick and I had to board a plane for an 8+ hour journey back to the states being ill. Never again! I eat food that's fresh and well prepared and for both of us to be so sick (I could hardly stand up), is unacceptable. Goodbye, Wahaca! We loved our prior experiences with you but are too terrified to return. read more

Still trying to figure out why people pay a lot of money for mexican food! Yes, the quality of the food was great but Wahaca come on... I like to eat...A LOT, A LOT. And by a lot I mean both I love food and I like big, American-sized dishes. You can take the girl outta America but can't take America outta the girl..or whatever that saying is meant to be.. I want to go there and eat your yummy food but just can't make it a regular place to scarf. That being said, twas very yummy! read more

Wahaca is just one of many fantastic restaurants breaking the old stereotype that Britain lack diverse, interesting food choices. Yes, Wahaca's atmosphere is part of it's charm, with bright green and hot pink walls and chairs, fun music, and peppy service, however luckily, their food parallels their style. Running with a Mexican market food concept, Wahaca offers fresh, flavourful, ethically grown dishes. Expect the usual suspects like guac and chips, tacos, taquitos and burritos but not necessarily with the usual fillings. Chorizo, feta, mint, grilled British steak and unique sauces make their Street Food section ace. 4-5 of these little dishes can easily feed 2 people. Service is super fast and very friendly. Mojitos are made with tequila, and though they are not exactly cheap, they are delicious. read more

I'm from NYC so I can be kinda picky about Mexican good and lack thereof in Europe. But I'm pretty open to trying new restaurants and we decided to give the place a shot because of the long line out the door and good reviews from friends. The best part of Wahacca is the atmosphere. The wait staff is attentive, efficient, and friendly. The space is inviting and open and small dishes of sea salt (perfect with tortilla chips!) sit on each table. It's a mellow atmosphere and great for families and groups. There are large communal tables and lots of high chairs for those with infants. The food is pretty good. I had the chorizo and potato quesadilla, chicken burrito and pork burrito across two visits. The burritos are tasty and juicy. The chorizo and potato quesadillas were good, but the chorizo itself could have been punchier. My husband's mole enchilada was very tasty. The salsa with the tortilla chips were fresh and had a nice spice. The churros were smaller and thinner than usual but they were nice enough to split them between 2 plates (we were 2 couples). Chocolate sauce was divine. Agua fresca was lovely and refreshing. You could easily spend under £15, even £10 if you don't get drinks. Well-priced, good food, and friendly place. They also offer chili pepper seeds for you to plant at home - too cute! This place is a keeper - go for lunch if you can or an early/late dinner to avoid the crowds. read more

Coming from Los Angeles where there is plenty of delicious Mexican food I couldn't wait to try Mexican food in London at Wahaca. I was in general pleasantly surprised--mostly by the fact that Wahaca has Cactus Tacos on its menus--what a delicious treat! I loved the cactus tacos--the squash was so flavorful with the Cactus. I also loved the potato taquitos. Delicious and the perfect amount of spicy! I also loved the Jamaica Agua Fresca. Why it didn't get a full five stars: The guac was bland and needed much for salt, garlic, cilantro. It was also too expensive for how much you received. The "Mexican hot chocolate" wasn't Mexican at all. Mexican hot chocolate has cinnamon in it and the one from Wahaca had no cinnamon--it was like every other hot chocolate except overpriced without the cinnamon. read more

Boooooooo-urns for Wahaca. My review is based entirely on what I could observe in my 90 seconds inside the restaurant. The decor is fine and the food looked nice, but their policy of "You cannot put your name on the wait list until your entire party has arrived" is so crap. I understand the sentiment behind the rule, but to be so rigid and unyielding when the last member of a party is less than ten minutes away will result in their losing business. Some stupid jerk had to work late (me)and showed up 35 minutes behind schedule, and the Front Of House guy had refused to seat my fellow Yelpers until I had arrived, even refusing to list our party on the wait list. By that point, we didn't have time to wait the 15 minute wait for a table, so we hit the road and went to Wagamama's. It's their prerogative if they want to enforce crappy rules and lose business. I just wish I'd had a chance to judge them on their food rather than their administrative issues. read more

We finished our meal in a blissful daze and started checking the menu for what we were going to order next time. I'm from California where there's a great selection of "Mexican" food. There's much debate over what "authentic Mexican" is. I don't care what you call it, Wahaca is super yum! Tried the tamarind margarita and hibiscus margarita. Both were great. Chips and guac did not let me down, off to a good start. Went here on a Saturday and the place was packed, but the service was excellent and food served very fast. A pleasant surprise. We had the Wahaca Selection - a kind of sampler for two. Normally I wouldn't have ordered the mackerel tostadas but they came with the Selection and were quite good. My favorite was the pork pibil tacos and the huitlacoche quesadilla. The black beans were AMAZING. I was literally licking the bowl. Absolutely heavenly. Didn't care for the spinach tacos. Topped it off with churos and chocolate sauces. Came straight from the kitchen - crispy cinnamon sugary outsides, hot doughnut inside dipped in chocolate -can't get any better. I can't wait to go back! read more

It was heaving the first time I went to Wahaca - and with no bookings (queue at the door!) I was a bit skeptical. However we (girlfriend and I) left our names, went for a drink somewhere else, and came back later. Having had an excellent Mohito, we were seated pretty soon. I have to confess that I LOVE Mexican food, so I was always bound to be a fan of Wahaca - however I was surprised at how cleverly they've done a sort of tapas selection theme, which is very good value - we had a £20 selection which (I think) had 6 little plates, and then we ordered some refried beans (yum - the best I've ever had, I think - a testament that they've got the little things sorted!) and tortillas. It was the perfect amount, not too much, and we both agreed it was amazing. As Molly K. mentioned - this ISN'T A TYPICAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT. But it's not trying to be - it's playful, fun, exciting and most of all - tastes incredible. For a more traditional and equally reasonably-priced Mexican option, I'd recommend Cafe Pacifico, also near Covent Garden. I've given it 4 stars only because of the inexplicable 'no bookings' policy. But for food and service, it's definitely 5 stars :-) read more

Still really like the food and the friends don't seem to mind the wait as long as the bar isn't too crowded to reach the counter. Exceptional tacos is what I like to eat and this place seems to always bring me hot steak tacos :) Ok onto why it is still a favorite. The dessert! The Mango sorbet is pretty incredible and I will search around to show you the cool spoons that accompany it. Tasty and fresh! read more

As someone who has had real Mexican food cooked by Mexicans, this place is slightly disappointing. Don't get me wrong - it's alright food, it's just not proper Mexican. And herein lies the problem. Finding Mexican in London that actually is a good representation of Mexican food. I've tried several places and I have yet to find a true taqueria style Mexican restaurant. Can I get a wet burrito somewhere with refriend beans, chiles, Mexican rice and sour cream?! Alas, I have little faith that there will ever be a true Mexican restaurant in London. Part of the problem is finding the actual ingredients there, I realize. But all that being said, this is a decent place. The food is alright and the servers were efficient. Food also came out pretty quick (this was at lunch, mid-week). Definitely check it out if you're in the area! Just don't expect it to be authentic Mexican food. read more

The vibe here is a mix of after work business types and tourists. Open seating wraps around with an open kitchen. Service is attentive, friendly and prompt. The food was pretty good, but given the portion:price rate, I gave it three stars. You really need to spend more than you want to get your fill of dinner. Hibiscus Agua: refreshing to counter for those spicy sauces and peppers Guac and chips: good to share between two people, needed salt, was bland Pork taco: tender pork with spicy red cabbage and sauce, 3 small (two bites) Fish taco: average size, deep fried fish with side of rice and beans read more

Went for dinner and light drinks with a friend on a Thursday evening. When I arrived, there was a wait of about thirty minutes -- first lesson: try to avoid busy times. When we finally sat down, we ordered immediately, and the food came out relatively promptly. I ordered chicken chiquitos (pretty good) and wings (not that great) and finished feeling relatively full. I also had a glass of classic margarita, which was refreshing. Seemed like they served sangria too which I'd like to try next time. Service was generally good. Our waitress was polite and helpful, though given how busy things were, it was sometimes difficult to get her attention. Ambience is what you'd expect of any Wahaca chain -- pretty casual and chill. This chain was generally spacious, though once again, be warned that it can get quite busy. Overall good, but nothing to warrant more than three stars. read more

I feel like I should actually give this place two ratings, if it was based in California I'd probably only give it 3 stars because the portions are small so the prices are fairly high when you take this into account. However, in London where most Mexican restaurants are awfully tacky tex-mex places with embarrassing names and terrible food, this place easily scores 5 stars. The menu includes some of my favourite mexican dishes, in a spanish style tapas form. They have the usual tacos and burritos, coupled with quesadillas and tostadas. I'd recommend anything with the steak, also the seasonal dishes are always really good. They have pretty good margaritas and a good selections of beers, which is a plus given that you'll usually have at least a 5/10 minute wait. The tortilla chips and salsa/guacamole also serve as a good starter whilst you wait for your food. Definietly the best Mexican food in London. read more

I am a Mexican ignoramus. People from San Francisco have told me this so it must be true. However, even an ignoramus such as myself recognizes that Mexican food in London tends towards the bland and formulaic. I went to Wahaca with a colleague from San Francisco. As we all know people who choose to live in San Francisco are afflicted with several peculiar traits: apart from being amazingly flexible due to the amount of yoga they do, they also believe SF is the food center of the universe and that by dint of living in relatively close proximity to the Mexican border they are suddenly the world's greatest experts on Mexican culture. After warning said San Franciscan about the lack of decent Mexican in London, he recalled having a meal which was a tolerable approximation of "real Mexican" (i.e., San Franciscan Mexican) at Wahaca. We went mid-week and the place was pumping. My San Franciscan friend was a little put out as we had to wait for a table (apparently being from San Francisco is insufficient leverage to move you up the list). After my friend found the most obscure "genuine Mexican beer -- just like in SF" served behind the bar, we then spent twenty minutes drinking and posing in the midst of a crowd of people far cooler than us. And they weren't even from San Francisco. Finally we get seated. First surprise is that the restaurant is much larger than we initially thought as most of it is hidden around the corner. Cue slight panic as I realize there is no mobile reception. This means I have no way of avoiding conversation about frozen yoghurt and trams. The waiter then came by, and informed us that our food would be brought out "market style". This roughly translates as "we can't be assed running this restaurant properly and so we're just going to cook stuff when and if we feel like it; be grateful we are serving you at all." Fortunately Wahaca is consistent in their attitude to customers as our waiter made it clear that we were very lucky to have him as a waiter and could give him the 20% tip that was his birthright before we even ate if we wanted. We ordered a smattering of "genuine Mexican" items such as Devon crab taquitos, and were relieved to also find some "genuine Mexican salsa" made in Devon on our table. Devon is clearly a hotbed of Anglo-Mexicana. The food was fine although the fact we couldn't tell which of our dishes had the crab in it was worrisome. I was satisfied at the end of my meal and I believe I even saw my SF compadre fractionally raise his eyebrow in approval at one or two moments during the meal. Mexican food from Devon and English service. Does it get any better than that? Not in London it doesn't. read more

I love Wahaca. I usually prefer the branch near Tottenham Court Road. This branch however is a little more busy - particularly on weekends. As it is not possible to reserve spaces, it is advised to be early or expect to wait. You walk downstairs to enter the restaurant area. The food is amazing as all Wahaca is. I usually advise to share between the party in order to try as much as possible. Still, the fajitas are my favourite! I recently sent some friends who were in London on holiday here and they loved it. So, busy place, great food, nice service and top choice when looking for good food in London! Though if you are looking for a less busy place, go to the Tottenham Court Road branch. Nice, large bar area and way less busy! read more

Call this one of those really enthusiastic three star reviews, because though I like Wahaca a whole lot, it still falls in the A-OK range... and that's oddly part of the charm. Seven of us headed here after a particularly long work day. It was 10:30pm. We were tired, a bit dishevelled and all we wanted to do was eat ourselves into a food coma and try not to fall asleep in the Uber home... Wahaca was the perfect solution for the evening. They won't be winning any service awards any time soon (it oddly took 15 minutes and three staff members to get ONE beer) but they dished up decent Mexican food, at a decent price, at 10:30pm. You really can't fault that. We each had 3-4 of the smaller plates a piece and all left stuffed to the eyeballs. I tip the hat to the smokey cauliflower dish and the duck special in particular. Plus, they have good guac. All in all, they check off every requirement for tasty late night noms. read more

I'm originally from Mexico, so when I heard there was a place called Wahaca I could not stop laughing. There is not such thing, the right spelling is Oaxaca, and it's a province in Mexico that is known for the amazing food. So with a bit of scepticism I gave it a try. We where there on a Wednesday night and it was so full, we had to wait and hour to get our table. But it gave me a chance to scrutinize the food. I must say it's as proper Mexican as you can get in London. The have my favourite Mexican beer Pacifico, and the amazing Centenario tequila. Try and have one of each when you go. Tacos where really good, with fresh corn tortillas, and salsas where fresh and spicy. It was like being home! I highly recommend this place, just be aware you might have to wait in queue for a while. read more

If you understand Mexican food and want it, Wahaca is not your place. It's an upscale imitation of Mexican food, so it's perfectly fine if you're just looking for a nice place to hang and eat with friends. I've said this before about Asian restaurants that I've reviewed, and it's true for Wahaca: it's decent food, but it's a poor rendition of EXPENSIVE Mexican cuisine. Besides the food, the service was good despite the fact that the place was packed. The atmosphere of the place was also hip and lively, but it bears very little resemblance to anything Mexican. If you're in London and you're craving Mexican food, you might be better off with the brand new Chipotle. Yes, you heard me. Chipotle. Cuz friend, you ain't finding a heck of a lot of taco stands in London. read more

It seems that whenever we're travelling down to London for the day, or two, it will usually involve having a meal at Wahaca. It does get extremely busy at this location, but the food & drink is always good, and outweighs that negative. read more

I love Wahaca, we arrived at 9 and were told it was a 30 minute wait. After 10 minutes we were offered a table with another couple - only downside really as an Englishman I found this a tad awkward. Our waitress was lovely and attentive if a bit rushed off her feet and the open windows really allowed a lot of air to circulate through the restaurant on a mild summers evening. The food itself was very good, I can only imagine some of the margins they have on the products though. The broccoli dish was delicious of course but quite overpriced. My favourite dish of the evening was the Sweet Potato Taquitos (we decided to be a fat and ordered it again). Oh and the cocktails were glorious as well. I would recommend the Gin Sling (our waitresses favourite). We didn't go for dessert as we had already stuffed ourselves full so I can't comment on that but I plan to in the future.... Overall very good food, lovely service and a cool, relaxed atmosphere for a Saturday Summer evening on Southbank. I will definitely be returning. read more

Oh Sweet Mother of Pearl! This is the first time I had been to Wahaca and I admit I was very pleased with both service and food. Our waitress was (no joke) the best I have ever had in London. She was helpful, funny, quick with our orders, and probably the happiest server I have ever seen. This sort of service makes a person want to come back. The food was impressive as I had over the years given up on UK Mexican food. Although on the (extremely) small side portion wise, I should not expect the mammoth American sizes outside the US. And I am sure my waistline is thankful for that fact. The tortilla chips were glossy like a street vendors, the slow cooked pork burrito perfectly seasoned and the salted ice cream delicious. I will return. No doubt about it. read more

A contact took me here for lunch to do an interview. I'd heard good things (namely, that it was a Masterchef winner that had set the chain up) and am a huge fan of Mexican food. I arrived at 12.30, as we were both newbies, but had been warned that it gets really busy. This turned out to be true, but we went on a Weds lunchtime, and there were tables still available throughout lunch service. I had a Circus Burst to drink (a fizzy water concoction with mint and lime), which was beautiful and very refreshing. We shared a Wahaca Platter, whih came wth small plates of five of the best sellers: pork taco (a small circular tortilla with meat/salsa/salad on top), beef tostada (same size and concept, but the tortilla is lightly fried), mushroom tortilla (a larger tortilla filled with cheese/mushrooms, then griddled), chicken taquito (a small corn tortilla, filled with shredded meat or fresh vegetables, rolled into a narrow flute shape and lightly fried), a bean and cheese based variation of the taco above - as well as green rice and beans. Amazing! It was lovely and filling (definitely enough for two, though we ordered chips and salsa as well). Both the red and green salsa that comes ont he table when you sit down are delicious, and if you hot - and I mean HOT - sauce, try the XXX drizzle dip in a bottle as well. The best bit, we finished with coffee, I did my interview and we weren't rushed out. I don't think this would have been the case if they'd been crazy busy, but I felt relaxed enough to take my time. The bill came to £30 as well. That's got to be a bargain! I'm going back with friends for some tequila next week. And I loved the 'ola@wahaca.com' email. Little touches like that really impressed me. read more

I am such a big fan of Mexican food! whenever I'm in central London and want to go somewhere nice for dinner this is where I bring my friends. It's not a bad idea to check out the website before you go to get an idea of the kind of food they have and to get excited and make you drool! A rather large group of us came here for a birthday dinner last Valentines night and I had a great time. The food is so reasonable at £3.60 for a Quesadilla. Yummy! The staff are very friendly but were a little slow on that night as the place was packed!. I cant wait to go back again! read more

I can't get too excited about Wahaca, despite the lure of it sucking me in the doors for more than one or two dates over the years. Its main attraction is its status as one of the few places for Mexican food in London (that is located conveniently). Pros: + decent selection of modern Mexican classic dishes + fully stocked bar + *mostly* attentive and fun staff Cons: - overpriced and under-boozed cocktails. - unmemorable. Usually I'd spend a lot of time on a review, but Wahaca is what it is: grand if you are stuck for somewhere other than the usual Pizza Express back-up plan. Try out La Bodega Negra in Soho, Daddy Donkey in Farringdon, or Casa Morita in Brixton. read more

Let me start this review by saying that I lived and worked in Mexico for a year, Baja California to be exact, so unlike some other reviewers here I know what Mexican food tastes like. Not Mexican food in America (which I've eaten and can be delicious!) or Mexican food in other parts of London (which was generally revolting) but Mexican food cooked by Mexican people, in Mexico. Phew! Now that rant's over let me tell you that Wahaca is great. While we're lacking a few key ingredients in the UK, and there are a few strange fusion style dishes on the menu, to me it tasted genuinely like the Mexican food I knew and loved. The dishes were just the right, and genuinely authentic size, perfect for mix and matching, and they were light, bright, and fresh. The service is a little sketchy with dishes coming out as they're made which can make for an awkward dinner if you're with a lot of people, but one of the things that makes Wahaca fun is the spontaneity of it, and the bustling atmosphere. If you're looking for a burrito stuffed with cheese and refried beans then go somewhere else, Chipotle and Chilango have these areas sewn up, but if you're looking to escape to a food stand in a busy Mexican market for a second or two, then head to Wahaca and ignore the grumpy reviews! read more

Let me start with a few facts, mainly for North American tourists looking to try some authentic Mexican food in central London. First, you will have to appreciate that Mexico is about 5,000 miles away and there is not a sizable Mexican expat population in England or historical ties. Second, there are many types of "Mexican" food. What many Americans think of Mexican food is usually Tex-Mex food or some other variation that is popular (i.e. loaded with cheese to suit the American palette). Now for Wahaca: great atmosphere, decent and eclectic margarita menu and lots of choice for very tasty examples of authentic Mexican flavours. Wahaca is the best you'll get in central London. If you can stand the sometimes long line to get a seat, be sure to take your time with chips & guacamole to start, two or three small main dishes --- and an absolute must, chocolate and churros to finish. Did I mention decent margarita menu? Sprinkle a few of those in there and you're set. You may not be in central Mexico and paying in pesos, but it is as good as it gets paying in pounds in Covent Garden. ¡Qué disfrute! read more

It might be a spanish thing, but if I cant have a nice chat over my meal I cant enjoy it, no matter how good the food is... This was my overall experience in Wahaca: no reservations, waiting 45min for a table, standing on the stairs, standing later on by the bar... We finally got to seat for dinner and have some food. Too crowed, tables too close to each other and impossible to have a civilized conversation without shouting. Three stars because of the food...I liked it and will go back on a quiet midweek day/ afternoon time.... read more

I just love a Wahaca. Ever reliable. Ever Tasty. Ever exciting to try new things or pick something different on the menu. Simple, yummy street food style in bright and vibrant surroundings and uber speedy service making it a perfect stop for a quick lunch break. I'm sure I've not got more to add than other yelpers here, but a big thumbs up to the friendly staff. read more

Wahaca manages to achieve the almost impossible mission of success without decline. Each branch that opens has a slightly new take on the bright Mexican street food eatery selling healthy South American tapas and the best tequila in town, all at mega affordable prices. I have never had a bad meal or a bad margherita at Wahaca. These guys know what they're doing. Whether it's a crunchy chicken ceaser tostada, a crispy sweet potato & feta taquito or a delicious pork pibl taco, the mini dishes are a dream. Load up and enjoy! The bigger dishes are great too, whether you're into fish tacos, burritos or a salad where you can literally eat the bowl, it's all great! Make sure you start off with THE best guacamole and chips, and end with the decadent churros with chocolate sauce to complete your Wahaca experience. And don't forget the tequila! read more

I do love a Wahaca, but this is probably my least favourite of the ones I've been to. Surely no one goes to Wahaca expecting an authentic Mexican experience, but if you can just put that out of your head and go for a tasty meal, you should leave satisfied. We had a half dozen things between us, things we've had before mainly. I had a couple of problems - the corn wasn't as good as last time I had it, last summer. The actual quality of the ingredients was good and it was cooked well, but there wasn't enough flavouring on it. The steak tacos weren't all the same - one was missing its guacamole. And the sweet potato side was quite meagre, and again, not as flavourful as normal. The staff were friendly though, and service was quick and we left satisfied for under £30 for 2 people. For the location, that's not too shabby. read more

Great idea and quality food. You can't really complain about the food either. The atmosphere is good fun and they have a great selection of drinks as well. The queuing system could be better as could the service, but the price and food mitigates this to be honest. Definitely worth a visit. read more

I only popped in to join friends, but couldn't resist having a bite and a beer when I saw what was on offer. The street style Mexican food is delicious (I had a potato and chorizo quesadilla and some combination of refried beans and chorizo) and there's a fairly wide spread of choice on the menu. There's only four lagers on the menu, all Mexican and bottled (as far as I remember). The tequila-based cocktails are a welcome addition. While it was a Saturday afternoon, I've never seen a Wahaca without a substantial queue. They don't seem to take bookings, so be prepared to wait for your table. The free chili seeds are a nice touch. read more