Eating Mexican In London

Mexican food is one my favorite cuisines, I love the spicy sauce, the fresh and creamy guacamole and I could never get sick of tamale. Mexican cuisine is one of those foods that is representative of its culture. Spicy, warm, a bit chaotic and extremely delightful. It has over the years become a great medium of social networks for example which one of us have not had hours of conversation over bowls of nachos, college parties would probably never be the same without tequila or ladies night without Margaritas. So it is only fair that while writing about Mexican restaurants in London, I stress about the atmosphere of the place. In this post I am writing about 4 popular Mexican joints in the capital.

Chiquito: So it might not be what I call authentic Mexican, but it is descent food with a great atmosphere. Try the burritos, and the nachos. A warning the paellas are extremely bland, and fajitas are too crispy. So if your looking for spicy, authentic Mexican, you might be better off skipping this place. What this place lacks in food it makes up with a great chilled out atmosphere. It is the perfect place if you want to enjoy a pitcher of Margarita with friends and since the service here is so slow, you as the customer will never feel rushed. All most every time I have been here it takes forever to get a table, and then the server will usually take his or her own time to grace your table with the menus, and finally if your order is not misplaced you will receive a plate of mediocre standard food. So why come here? First of all, it is right in the middle of Leicester Square and if you are not in the mood for the west end clubbing scene or you have time to kill after a movie, this is a great place to hang out and it is loud enough that you and your friends don't have keep checking your noise level. So I would give it a thumbs up for hang out zone just do not expect the wait for your food to be worthy. When it comes to food it is seldom the case that the journey is what counts more than the end place, Chiquito is that journey.
http://www.chiquito.co.uk/

Wahaca: A stones throw away from the Italian restaurant dominated Covent garden market, is this canteen style Mexican restaurant. Hands down this place remains the most authentic from the four, here there is no concept of starters, main course etc. Food comes as it is prepared, hot and fresh. Great enchiladas and it is one those rare places that not only cares about just filling a burrito but also the quality of the filling. The steak in burrito was perfectly cooked and I was happy to see that the beans were inside the wrap and not beautiful place on top. Try the mexican hot chocolate for desert. The service here is quick so if you are hungry and looking for a cheap and great place to eat, come here. This is not the place for social conversation, it gets really busy and you can feel the glares of the customers waiting in line behind you. So thumbs up for the food but it is not a place to linger and indulge in stories with friends.
http://www.wahaca.co.uk/

Benitos Hat: This place is similar to Chipotle in the U.S. It is self service and you can pick from the options on the board. I once tried the Vegetarian burrito and within a few bites realized it was a mistake. Though during my second visit, I ordered the chicken salad and the restaurant was able to redeem itself a bit. Benitos hat is located on Goodge street which has a great selection of restaurants and I personally think, you would be settling for less by choosing to eat here.
56 Goodge Street, london

Cafe Pacifico: Finally the equilibrium between great food and great atmosphere. The restaurant is located close to the Covent Garden tube station. Though it does not look much from the outside, the moment you step in you know you have arrived at one of the most authentic mexican restaurants in London. The seating area is quite large but during the evening it gets packed. The portions are of descent size, I will not make any specific recommendations since, every time I have been here I have loved everything I have ordered. The service is fast but they are used to having guests stay for a lengthy period of time. You can eat, drink, reorder at your own pace. It is a great experience overall.
http://www.cafepacifico-laperla.com/cpl.htm

Busaba Eathai, 22 Store Street

O.K so this is not the usual warm and neighborly Thai restaurant. It's flat TV screen outside should have tipped you off. The interior is a collection of common tables in the middle of the room, with beautiful collections of Buddha statues around the restaurant. Busaba Eathai is an excellent place for noodles and stir-fry. Try the Fried Chicken, though it make not sound like much, the sauce is tangy and extremely delightful. Or you can always go for the quintessential Pad Thai. The food here makes up for the lack of warmth in the interiors. If your in the mood to skip the alcoholic drinks for the night, why not go for the mango lassi. Yes, I know in a city filled with wannabe Indian restaurants, why would you get Lassi at a Thai restaurant? I actually found the Restaurant's version of mango, yogurt and "rose water", to be refreshingly different.
Busaba Eathai is trendy, serves great food, but just do not expect to be chilling her for a long time. This is is not the best place to indulge in long conversations.

Cafe Eterno, 34 Neal Street, Covent Garden

A friend of mine introduced me to this place, she described it as a " cute cafe with healthy food". Since that day I have been a regular at Cafe Eterno. Starbucks, Cafe Nero and Costa has got nothing compared to this little cafe with a lot of character. Its a place that I recommend for a great cup of coffee, ( try the mocha, if your cutting back on the caffeine intake). This place serves fair trade certified coffee, juice and of course divine chocolate. It also has a board filled with options for sandwiches and salads. Though I do love the Tuna panini served here , I would still strongly recommend trying out the Hummus and Olives with fresh Pita bread. If there is two of you, why not split a portion of nachos served with melted sour cream.
Besides the amazing food and location, the cafe does have a mission and I don't just mean serving great food at affordable prices. The cafe is a Christian cafe and its theme is Christianity. The walls of cafe include paintings by local artists and Christian sayings as well. Its a family run business, and the people are warm, friendly and extremely dedicated to this place. Its a great place to catch up with friends, read a book or talk to one of the people working about the history of the building and organization. Cafe Eterno is the anti thesis to the image of majority of Covent Garden. Cafe Eterno is not just a "tourist trap", it is friendly, healthy and affordable.

Borough Market, Southbank

This place is what I would describe as the mecca for the foodies in London.
The Borough Market is the oldest food market in London and is located in close vicinity to the London Bridge. Open on Thursdays: 11 am to 5 pm, Fridays: 12 pm-6 pm and Saturdays: 9 am- 4 p.m. The market is the melting pot of all the essential ingredients required to make your life a feast.
Walk around before you begin purchasing, try out all the free samples, whatever your needs are, be it fresh produce or ostrich meat, I am pretty sure that the Market has the answer for you. For those who are looking for their daily dose of caffeine Monmouth Coffee Company has a stall here, there are also a number of wine sellers, and for health lovers there is stall just for Totally Fresh Organic juices.
Beyond the essential, bread, cheese and wine, the market also has stalls that specializes in various national specialties such as Turkish delights, French caramel creme or the Spanish food stall.
If any of you crave a good, healthy and chemical free burger head towards Northfield farm and try their burgers and sausages for approximately 4 pounds. Its fresh, juicy and just the way a burger should be.
Finally, like every great meal, your experience at the market can end with any variety of deserts. Pick handmade truffles, or fudge or head to the Cinnamon bakery for their acclaimed brownies.
The Borough Market is a gift to all the senses, thus making it an essential component to any London experience.

Jen Cafe, China Town

There are two distinguishing facts about Jen cafe, first it's all green exteriors and the sight of a woman making dumplings. When you enter you will find that the restaurant is small and guests are often expected to share tables with one another. The menu is limited, there is a greater of variety bubble tea, than there is of main dishes. This place is essentially known for "home-made" dumplings and one of the few places in central London where you can enjoy bubble tea in such variety. I did order a dish of roast duck and rice. Though I would not call this dish authentic, it was worth its value.
The main problem with Jen's Cafe is it's limited seating space. The service is so quick that it borders haste. My bill was handed to my hand and instead of counting my change I had to scoop it up and leave. So, if you want to enjoy a relaxing, cheap, mainstream Chinese food head a little further and step into Gerrard's corner or any one of the dozen Chinese eateries in China Town.
Though Jen's Cafe, is not what I will call the most pleasant eating experience, I would take away a glass of mango bubble tea, with a descent and cheap portion of dumplings.

Food For Thought, Neal Street, Covent Garden

There are only few cases where I can enjoy a good meal while having to share a table with complete strangers. This little vegetarian joint at the center of Covent Garden is one of those few cases. Food for Thought, has a one page menu filled with creative vegetarian dishes, that leaves a proud non-veg asking for more. It is a perfect place during the credit crunch, you can easily order a main dish and side salad for lower than 10 quids. I ordered the Moroccan Tagine, which was a stew with chickpeas, aubergines, carrots and all those great things, your mother keeps nagging you about. Sounds boring doesn't it, the dish was mixed well with spices that left a strong but not overwhelming taste behind. The stew was poured over a handful of complimentary unpolished rice ( you get more for additional charges). It was nice and hot, the perfect food temperature cannot be mastered at the franchises of similarly priced restaurants such as Pret a Manger, or Eat. It can only be found in independent restaurants such as this one. The food was wholesome, healthy and most importantly delicious.
Food for Thought has a laid back ambiance with an extremely efficient labor force. If you are planning to eat in, be prepared to queue up on the stairs. The line goes really fast and the bulletin boards always has something interesting to read.
Food For Thought is a must have for any vegetarian visiting the capital, and to those meat lovers give this place a shot. It is a great experiment for a great price.

In search for Coffee in London: Sacred Cafe, Carnaby Street

So, I have been in London for quite some time, and I am honestly tired of trying watery coffees, or cafes with limited options. To my greatest surprise a day of shopping around Carnaby Street led me to this cafe. Sacred Cafe claims to serve organic, fair trade roast coffee. It is good quality coffee and all the baristas have at least 1 year training. There is also broad selection for tea drinkers from the classic range to Ayurvedic teas, the cafe is a great place to rest those feet after a day of shopping or enjoy a healthy meal with friends.
The ambiance is relaxing, decorated with the quintessential statues of Buddha with dim but not so dim lights that you have to strain your eyes, the food and service stays true its name Sacred. This is must try spot for coffee drinkers or anyone wanting to escape the hub-bub of oxford street.

St. Johns Restaurant, 26 St John Street, London EC1

St Johns is a London treasure located close to the Smithfield meat market of London. The restaurant is a landmark for British food and radiates the not so often heard of British hospitality. Despite its extremely white walls and and sterile interior, it is the food here that will make any visitor feel right at home. The menu hosts a variety of unfamiliar sounding dishes, do not be afraid to ask any of the host to explain or suggest the dishes. I tried both the Braised Veal and The Widgeon and Beetroot. The meat was tender and in the case of the veal, I could actually feel the meat melt in my mouth. The dishes were a perfect balance between filling and the same time, not making me feel heavy or sleepy. This is probably why, St Johns is also a preferred lunch destination for many business executives.
For desert a must have is the Eccles Cake which is a combination of warm puff pastry and rich spices all in a small desert plate. For those who want to experience St Johns but are not in the mood for a sit down meal, the lower level of the restaurant is a bar and bakery.
St Johns is not one of those pretentious restaurants in London, it is well justified as a great place to meet, eat and people watch. So to those young travelers who many at times bypass great food to avoid the claustrophobic environments, St Johns is an answer to all your prayers. It is a blend of great, unique food with a humble and understanding service team.
http://www.stjohnrestaurant.co.uk/