Went to Wahaca couple weeks ago. Never actually been but it was on my list to visit, ever since it opened in Corn Exchange. Even though it is a "chain", I like Mexican food and the person who is behind it won Masterchef years ago and there most be a reason why she has several branches of Wahaca around the country (I think about 27) and they have been around for more than 10 years. We decided to order a few things each and basically share. The friendly, helpful waitress, suggested how many of the different types of items to get per person. We got mostly tacos and was suggested to get either 2 each (plus a side) or 3 each. We had: Chargrilled steak taco Battered cod taco Carnitas taco (which was one of the specials) Plantain taco Buttermilk chicken taco Black bean & three cheese quesadillas Overall they all tasted good. I am not that big a fan of plantain so it just tasted OK. Also, I thought I didn't like black beans (I like the ones you have in Chinese dishes - the fermented dried ones) but I really liked the quesadillas. Maybe it was the combination with the cheese. The tacos were good - my favourite was the buttermilk chicken ones. (I didn't specifically say anything about coriander so luckily it was just mostly on the top of the tacos - and not too much. Phew!). read more

See all

We popped into Wahaca for a quick bite at lunch on opening day and it ticked all the boxes we hoped it would, having visited their London venues a number of places. Situated in the upcoming revamped Corn Exchange building, you have a decent amount of seating in and outdoors (well a lot in the fake outdoors in the internal courtyard...) and it's bright, airy and generally doesn't feel too chainy. The food we had was all great - tasty crab and avocado tostadas, chicken tinga taco's and a really nice guac with nacho's. Having cooked a number of recipes (and the Tinga being a regular go-to meal) from Thomasina's cookery books, I still have to say mine taste better though ;-P Prices were fairly decent but the beer selection needs improving a lot. They just sell Mexican lager which isn't too shocking I can imagine but there's no other options in terms of beers and even Las Iguanas now sells Mexican IPA, Wheat Beers etc. Put it this way - I was wanting a beer but just decided to keep my money in my pocket and drink water. I'm sure I'll be back again regularly as it's the best restaurant Mexican in town (Pancho's will always be getting my casual burrito money though) - a welcome addition to the foodie scene. read more

See all

Great staff welcome on the soft launch night , and first thing you notice is the sheer size of it and what I can only describe as a festival atmosphere ! Greeted by our server for the evening we had a very clear explain action of the menu process and opted for the adventure set menu as we couldn't decide on some food so we let the best do there jobs and pick for us ! For £32.50 for two people with a dessert you are NOT left feeling 1) like your money has been wasted , or , 2) hungry ! When ever I'm in London which is seemingly increasing I tend to find myself at wahaca and as soon as I meet up with Paul B or Amanda H we have a blast at wahaca Tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole to begin and help you mull over menu choices ! Also you tend to find wahaca seem to upcycle a lot of stuff, so in the bathrooms your sinks are what I can only describe as big plant pots ! The food is delivered to table as it ready you don't get it all at once but as you normally get so much that's good ! Don't be afraid to ask a server to get rid of your plates to make room either. One big thing j would say is utilise the table sauces , the food is beautiful but a small drop or three can enhance it to that level ! Beer is good and being a Mexican restaurant you can have a wide range of tequilas ! I'll have to update this review when I return in the near future ! read more

See all

Having been spoilt by the Mexican treats the States has to offer, I am always very very suspect of 'Mexican' places back this side of the pond, and even more so for ones that focus on Burritos. However it pleases me to report that Wahaca has passed the Matty test and gets 4 stars. Now into the nitty gritty, a lot of people, basically anyone that has even eaten with me, makes fun of how plain and simple my food choices are. But that is what my taste buds crave, so who am I to rid them of simple joy at the expense of saving face and eating onions and peppers in my Burritos? Exactly - knew you'd agree! So when it comes to actually choosing Burrito fillings, mines as simple as 1,2,3,4; Meat, spicy rice, sour cream, cheese - wrap it up and place it and a plate with chips and gauc and I'm you're best mate for the next 2 minutes. Wahaca did the above well and more. I'm impressed, and I'll see you tomorrow.. read more

Wahaca - Mexican Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

After the usual deliberation, Kate W. and I decided to walk across to Wahaca and try out this latest addition to the newly revamped Corn Exchange. Despite disliking the general decor of the Corn Exchange (though hopefully this will change once everything is open and events start taking place in the central space) I couldn't resist the pull of this Mexican, especially after great experiences in one of the London branches. It was busy on arrival and we'd prepared ourselves mentally for a wait - we were told it would be around 25 minutes and our names taken. To my slight annoyance, you can't leave and then return, meaning we had to go upstairs to their own bar, buzzer in hand. Presumably due to everyone having to remain in the building, the bar was pretty rammed. We managed to get served but were standing for the majority of our wait. The passion fruit margarita was tasty, if a bit sweet, and I much preferred my longer gin based cocktail. While standing upstairs, we realised that 25 minutes had passed and then some. Kate W. managed to get the attention of front of house and she seated us about 5 minutes after making her aware, though we both suspect we were forgotten about. When at the table, we instantly started taking in the menu. There's plenty of choice here so the indecisive individuals out there may want to have a look beforehand! We decided to have a selection of the smaller street food plates to share, though you do have the option for bigger plates like burritos and salads if you so wish. We were again left waiting for a while at the table, so when the waitress did arrive we listed off everything, drinks and food at once. We shared a bottle of prosecco - at £28, a real treat, but neither of us were in the mood for wine or more cocktails - and had some tap water for the table. The food came quickly and consistently: pork tacos; chicken quesadilla; black beans & rice; pea & mint empanada; and black bean tostadas. Everything was served hot and fresh, with a little bit of time for resting between to main waves of food. A personal favourite was the black bean tostadas - the addition of corn and creamy beans meant they were more refreshing than anticipated - and the pork tacos, which were messy but worth it. There are two versions of hot sauce on the table, and I'd recommend the orange 'lively habanero' to add a little kick to your dishes. With a little bit of room left, we couldn't resist the churros. Served hot with dark dipping chocolate, these finished me off for the evening! I think it's fair to say we had an A-OK time - the food was good, with one or two stand out dishes, and the drinks went down very well. However, the service felt disjointed and the fact you have to stay within the upstairs bar area when waiting will put me off from returning on the weekend again. Perhaps see you there as a week night treat. read more

See all

I'm a big Masterchef fan and have been since it was first around with Loyd Grossman, and also since the first series of the new one. So I have been aware of Thomasina Miers and her chain for some time but never actually tried it. Until two days ago, that is. I went for someone's birthday. We were sat on a table near the front. There were 10 of us but i think you could get 15 round this big table. The waitress was really friendly and attentive from the off. Since it's the week before pay day, I ate a big dinner before I went out, so I only had some of the street food. I had some sweet potato side and the salmon sashimi tostado. It was really nice and actually, would be quite a nice amount for a pitstop whilst shopping. The salmon sashimi particularly was pleasing. I had a white peach margarita to drink. It was a really nice twist on a classic and would definitely go for that choice again. For desert, I went for the churros y chocolate. I love this desert, probably because I am a complete Spain-ophile. This was particularly good and they clearly used a good quality, high cocoa content chocolate for the dipping sauce. It was absolutely delicious and one of the best that I've had in this country. To accompany the churros, I had gin. How very Spanish, which I guess is apt when this is a Mexican place. There were too many food combinations for me to talk through what my friends had but suffice to say that there was hardly a crumb left at the end. I will definitely back and I will try the more substantial meals next time. I also highly recommend this to others, as it really does live up to the reputation. read more

Wahaca - Churros y chocolate - Mexican Near Me - Manchester, XGM

See all

I was really looking forward to coming here, especially after discovering this was owned by last years Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers. Also when I glanced at the menu last week I thought ''wow this is cheap'' Walking in at 9pm on a Friday night , without booking (you cannot book after 6pm) we were informed by front of house that there was a 30 minute wait. Our friend was going to be arriving at that time anyway so we agreed to wait in in the bar upstairs. The staircase is the the vocal point of this place, very natural and striking . Upstairs there was no beer on tap, but wine. For beer drinkers it is bottles for you like Corona etc. I opted for the Margarita slushie which was deceptively filling in its small glass. After 30 minutes our flasher had not flashed ...I ran downstairs to investigate. A further 10-15 minutes was the new timescale..After 15 minutes it still had not flashed, instead we were greeted by a waitress who led us to a table in the far corner... Hallelujah we were all starving by this point. The reason why the plates appeared cheap on my initial inspection was because these were tapas-like dishes. So quesadillas, burritos, tacos were under fiver as the portion was snack size. Our waitress was very upbeat and knowledgeable when she explained all of this, and enthusiastically recommended several dishes and stuck post it notes to our menu to showcase the specials. I decided on one of those ''specials'' , peppers with cheese and the main some trout with rice and beans, coming to a grand total of £16, not bad. While we waited some more, Guacamole and dips was suggested. The dip was the perfect consistency for me, not too smooth with good ol chunks of avacado..this intensified my hunger. My fish landed first, and I have to say considering I had paid £10.50 for this main, it looked no different to the tapas style dishes... the trout was overcooked slightly, it was a tad dry....and the rest was forgettable. The quesadillas tasted good, but I am not sure the price was justified,...towards the end there were a few plates missing.. Our waitress came to our rescue without any prompting and hunted the missing plate party down. In all honesty I wish mine had been left lost. A tiny bowl with a slop of peppers and cheese...mmm yummy, nothing special about this at all...same goes for the dessert,,, I decided to share a five quid salted caramel ice cream that was presented half melted in a bowl...hmm Overall, our waitress was fab, so much so we tipped her (despite there was a service charge too), The setting is nice, upstairs you can people watch seated in different restaurants, who are probably doing the same thing. Now the food, I thought the mains were no different to the tapas style , and nothing blew me away...Potentially I might come back for a beer and a taco ....my search for tasty Mexican food continues... read more

Wahaca - Trout....i nothing else to say - Mexican Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Great flavours at wahaca, I always go for the pulled pork burrito as it's sensational! The pulled pork is really juicy and has a great kick to it, comes served with a small salad and some tortilla chips. Great thing about here is the payment app, meaning splitting the bill is hassle free and you don't need to wait around for a card machine, makes for a super speedy lunch! The cocktails and mocktails are really good too, just the ones your expect from a Mexican. Really cool decor and super friendly staff, I'll be visiting again. read more

Wahaca - Pulled pork burrito and virgin mojito - Mexican Near Me - Manchester, XGM

I headed to Wahaca on a Sunday evening on Jess H's recommendation that we should try some more of the new restaurants in the corn exchange. Having looked online and realised you cant book for a party any smaller than 6 we just had to turn up and hope for the best! We arrived around half 6 and were given a buzzer to wait in the bar upstairs - something I am so against - why cant restaurants give you the opportunity to go elsewhere and come back!? So we were destined to spend the next 50 minutes in the packed bar where many others waited too! However that wasn't a massive issue as we wanted to start with a cocktail or two! I started with a corona and then went for a fruity mojito number which was good. I promoted a server at one point as we were waiting some time over the 50 minute estimate. Given the fact we were the first to be seated after we commented makes me think we were left out but all in good timing it was ok with me as we eventually bagged a couple of stools in the bar. Next was the decision on some sharer plates; we went for a mix of everything. The dishes arrive as soon as they are ready in the kitchen so we dug in first with our chicken enchiladas (which was my favourite part) with the lovely cheesiness alongside the chicken chipotle - yum. Next was some pork tacos which were divine - although slightly on the oily side they were still full of flavour just difficult to eat as they did slide apart. We got a little pot of rice and beans - which was a little smaller than I expected as a sharing platter. Nevertheless it was tasty. Next was the toastados which were smothered with black beans and some sauces - if I'm completely honest the flavour was a little bland. This was made up by the pea and mint empanadas which was the highlight for me - topped with spicy hot sauce it really gave the dish a kick which was cooled down with the pea centre. To go alongside our meal was a nice bottle of prosecco - a little on the expensive side at £28 a pop it was worth it and served in a great shaped bottle too... its the small things! read more

See all

Wahaca is a Mexican restaurant that sells "street food". I have to admit they had a very good guacamole, but I didn't expect the portions to be so small. I ordered a grilled chicken club quesadilla, it was really good there was lots of flavour. My friends ordered a baja taco the butter milk chicken- she says it was "average" there was nothing too exciting about it. My other friend had a baja taco the sustainable battered cod- she also says it was just "average" However what really was a let down was the staff was quite disjointed and unorganised. I'm not sure if this was just an off day, but the food took a long time, and there was mix up of orders. It's as if the communication lacked on the inside of the restaurant. Over all I say that wahaca was okay and I would come back again. read more

We were seated quickly on a weekday evening and got our drinks orders taken promptly. I tried the tamarind margarita which I thought was really good - the tamarind tempers the sweetness - and reasonably priced at £6.95. Bf got a negro modelo plus a lime/chilli concoction wish he initially liked then found a bit sickly. Food wise, the salmon sashimi tostada was excellent, great punchy flavour from the lime. Sweet potato side was nice. However I was disappointed with the huitlacoche empanadas which were described as truffely but didn't taste of truffle at all, which is a shame as it's my favourite ingredient. Bf not too impressed with his pork burrito and it didn't look that great either...I'd say head to Pancho's or LLLB if that's what you fancy. Overall this experience was similar to my Wahaca experiences in London - a mixed bag but not a bad meal. read more

I've visited Wahaca a few times, and didn't find it particularly impressive. For starters the service is slow and the prices are more than a little high. £5 for Nachos and dip!? I think not... At one time I found the pulled pork Burritos, but the quality of this dish has deteriorated. Now it's primarily chopped vegetables and peas, with hardly any pork... Bottom line: I don't think I'll be back. read more

With it being a Tuesday evening we were seated quickly and our drink order was taken straight away. We attempted to eat here a few weekends ago however and it was so busy we didn't fancy the 30-40 min wait, as it meant waiting in their own bar area with a little buzzing device to tell you when your table is ready. I get itchy feet and don't like waiting! The beer selection was limited (only Mexican, not surprisingly!) which didn't bother me but it put my friend off who then opted for water! The menu was thoroughly explained, and even though we'd both been to their London venues in the, its nice to know if there's anything different going on. we each ordered two items from the street food menu, British steak taco, huitlacoche empanadas salmon tostada and Pork pibil taco, and each ordered one item from the specials menu (prawn taco and lamb shoulder). Its safe to say it was plenty of food! I'd probably give everything 10/10 apart from the huitlacoche empanadas as they didn't taste of much, and the prawn taco special were anything but, I don't think they'd ever seen a prawn! Service was very good until towards the end of the evening when they got slightly busier and it was difficult to get the staffs attention. I'll definatly be back to sample larger dishes on the menu. read more

See all

I must say, that after visiting the Wahaca street van in London, I was more than pleased to hear about the one in Manchester opening in the trendy corn exchange... And right by the cinema @ the printworks! Win! However, for reasons out of my control it has taken months until I finally got to visit. A bit of confusion when entering about whether we just sat ourselves down, or waited for a member of staff was soon solved when a smiley waitress came over a quickly grabbed us a table (no uniform meant that we didn't even realise that the lovely lady was staff for a few minutes). The service throughout the meal was very efficient and our waitress was particularly lovely and helpful. We were pretty ravenous and could've eaten a horse, but as that wasn't on the menu we opted for steak soft tacos, chicken soft tacos, chorizo quesadillas, chicken burrito, chicken wings, salmon sashimi tostadas, and a side of sweet potato (because that wasn't already enough food for 2?!) The food comes out as it's made, and in our case that was really quickly. Before long, we had a table full of delicious food, and we're busy tucking into our choices. Everything was really good. Not out of this world, but with the tacos being a little over £4 for 3, and the bill coming to less than £35, I think the value is fantastic. I was very slightly disappointed in the burrito but that's only because the one I had in the London Wahaca was mind-blowing and this wasn't the same. It's certainly a great place to go with friends as well as they serve a massive variety of margaritas and mescal and tequila. We'll definitely be back, even if it's just for those sweet, sweet potatoes! read more

See all

When JQ mentioned earlier this year that Wahaca was scheduled to open this summer in Manchester, I was as excited as a five year old on Christmas eve. Finally when the opportune moment came, Wahaca became our unanimous destination for Saturday lunch, this past weekend. Having been to a few Wahacas in London town, expectations were riding high. Thankfully, it was one of those rare occasions when expectations and reality coincide! We had micheladas and a gin sling to drink and ordered quite a few dishes to eat, such as cactus (yes, cactus!) and corn taco, plantain taco, chicken tinga taco, sweet potato quesadilla and churros with choclate sauce amongst others. All of the food was terrific and so was the michelada. Service was also excellent on the day. All I can say is, don't be surprised if you find us there one more time, at least. As with everywhere else, I sincerely hope they maintain their levels of quality and service. read more

I was really very impressed with Wahaca. Mostly because I didn't think it'd be up to much. It wouldn't have been my first choice however when you're dining with one vegan and one rather fussy person, a chain often fits the bill. My friend and I got a sharing platter which was really good value and also delicious. This featured: - Pork pibil tacos - Winter veg tacos - Corn, black bean & guacamole tostadas - Chorizo & potato quesadilla - Sweet potato & feta taquitos - Spicy slaw Everything had delicious balanced flavours and the platter had just enough for two to feel happy and satisfied. The standout dishes for me were the sweet potato and feta taquitos and the corn, black bean and guacamole tostadas. The vegan options were not quite as great as I had assumed they would be; they didn't have a separate vegan menu and the options were explained in quite a confusing way. However my dining companion enjoyed her burrito so no complaints overall. We also shared guacamole and tortilla chips to start which while super tasty were a bit expensive at £4.50 for a small dish with no refills offered. Drinks wise I had a hibiscus margarita which was really tasty. Service was a bit patchy but no huge problems. We sat outside the restaurant but inside the Corn Exchange which is a nice place to dine in colder weather. I won't rush back but as chains go, it's a good'un! read more

All the new establishments in the Corn Exchange have been incredibly impressive, this being one of them. To start off, they offer a very interesting menu with a variety of options. Service here is to be commended as well! Incredibly personal and welcoming, each table has a unique server and they go through the menu while circling options to look out for with a sharpie. It's a different approach and feels very hands on (if ya like that sort of thing ;) ) Food did take a bit of time to arrive but it was still a newly opened restaurant when I visited and they were working at finding a rhythm. When it did arrive, the portions were quite small. At first I was a little disappointed but having tasted the stuff, become thoroughly satisfied. Price range was OK but could've been better for the amount of food we had. There are definitely recommendations for improvements but this place has promise. Things to try: pork pibil tacos, chicken tinga tacos, anything with cactus! read more

As an easy introduction to Mexican, you can't go wrong with Wahaca. Like every good chain, what you see on the menu, you get. As part of the revitalised Corn Exchange, it's a buzzy and busy branch of the chain and its broad menu of Mexican staples with a little chef's twist are great for exploring. At this branch, there's indoor and outdoor seating, as well as tables under the rotunda. Staff have always been very good and the food is high quality, fresh and served quickly, as good Mexican should be! There's also a takeaway option, which I haven't tried here, but like all good Mexican street food, be prepared to lick your fingers clean... read more

Went to Wahaca as part of a group of 17 recently, however they made it as fuss-free as possible; no silly deposits required, lovely table out of the way with several staff on hand to keep the drinks coming! I had no idea what a 'frejole' was but the waitress quickly came to my aid and my word, it was heaven (go for the one with added chorizo, because y'know, chorizo). I then got a shrimp salad with an edible bowl which was as massive as it was tasty! The pineapple dessert was amazing too - was a bit jealous of all the churros on the table though! Really lovely place with a fairly extensive menu - wouldn't hesitate to go back again! read more

Despite disliking the general decor of the Corn Exchange (though hopefully this will change once everything is open and events start taking place in the central space) I couldn't resist the pull of this Mexican, especially after great experiences in one of the London branches. read more

I had wahaca for the first time a good few years ago back when it was fairly new (I believe?) in London, and was a fan, so with my Mexican-food-addicted-pal in arm, we decided this was a fairly good bet. These guys don't quite meet your standard British mexican restaurant stereotypes, (where I think everyone seems to make mexican eateries look a little bit like brothels, I rant about it enough in other reviews of the same genre, sorry) but there's still a hint of it. But who cared when I can get a hibiscus Caipirinha to die for even in a chain? Not me! The food these guys do, fills you up to the brim, but also feels pretty healthy at the same time, which is just great, I love eating out, I'd like to do it often without getting too fat. And when I've filled myself up with tinga tacos, and anything with cactus in it, because it is just marvellous, there's of course the really unhealthy bit of churros with dipping sauce, which are really good. I know you'd think it would be hard to naff up churros, but you're lucky I wasn't signed up to yelps for the great Teesside park chiquitos rant of 2011. If you like mexican food, and a mojito or three, this is a pretty good place to fill up. read more

This Mexican tapas restaurant is located in the newly refurbished 'triangle'. The food is actually so tasty but the slow service lets it down. We was waiting around 20 minutes for 3 Ice creams... I would go back for the food but not the service read more

Been to most of the Wahacas in London so know how it all runs. The staff are pleasant and knowledgeable but the service is usually slower here. However the food is still yummy. read more

I've been too lax on the reviewing front recently, so it's good to get back into it! Want to Wahaca last Saturday as part of a table of 17. The staff were quick and attentive with drinks, so it was no time until we had cocktails and tequila flowing (shoutout to the liquorists for teaching me tequila isn't for shooting out of a plastic glass at 3am). The menu is pretty big but as I don't often eat Mexican (beyond making my own quesadillas) it was almost overwhelming in choice. The tapas style of ordering is great, as it did mean I could try a few dishes when I wasn't sure which I wanted most. (They were all delicious) The only thing that I wasn't impressed by was the arrival of the food. I understand that we were a large group, but there was still a long period between the first dishes coming to the table and the last, leaving some people staring wistfully at neighbouring plates. Overall I really enjoyed the experience, and I'd happily go again (and again) read more

I had a great experience in the Wahaca on Southbank in London a year ago, and it was a similar experience here at the Manchester one. It was just a quick lunch stop so we only bought three little dishes. The sweet potato & feta taquitos were DELICIOUS, but the steak tacos were very chewy, and the pork pibil tacos were a tad dry. Nevertheless, I know Wahaca have lovely food usually, so I won't let that deter me from returning! Lovely service from the waitresses, was left wanting for nothing. read more

Very delicious Mexican food in the new revamped corn exchange, well worth a try if that is your flavour. I had the super charged salad plus a chilli quesadilla which was lovely. Good service and busy place. read more

Wahaca - Top sauce - Mexican Near Me - Manchester, XGM

Tried here about a month ago for a friend's birthday and definitely wasn't blown away by food or the service. Granted one of the group was running late so we ordered drinks at the table while waiting! When the final memeber of our group arrived we waited around 30minutes for someone to take notice of us to order food, I had success with the third waitress who i managed to grab on passing!! I ordered the pork pibil tacos (delicious, tried and tested). The sweet potato and feta taquitos- which were really greasy and just tasted like grease, couldn't taste any of the filling. As a side I got the Frijoles with chorizo.... tasty but really needs to be served with a bit of tortilla or something because is more or less like a thick dip!! Overall, the restaurant setting here is lovely and theres a few quite nice dishes but nothing going on here to make me rush back! read more

Just had the marinated chicken, it was really lovely and the service was great however there was a song on repeat in the background that sounded like a hammer hitting a bell so it ruined the ambience.. Change the cd guys! read more

Great street food, quick and friendly service. will come back and try a more substantial meal as just had a few different street food options, which was great to try something new. place looks amazing. read more