Modern Mexican @ Wahaca

Address: 6 Chestnut Plaza, Westfield Stratford City

Website: www.wahaca.co.uk

A project by Masterchef and TV personality Thomasina Miers, Wahaca embodies a modern twist on traditional Mexican street food. Having spent time in Mexico, her love of Market foods and snacks inspired the start of a chain of (19) Wahaca restaurants all over London.

Wahaca aims to produce fun modern dishes made with fresh ingredients, catered toward a younger, modern London crowd. Armed with a fresh, modern and colorful design, as well as a menu that includes sharing dishes, samplers and individual plates, this is an eatery made for parties and gatherings! Whilst many of their dishes are fun and easily enjoyed by hand, this is definitely not the most traditional Mexican joint in town.

What We Ate:

 

Horchata 

• My favourite drink here! Sweet and cinnamon-y with a hint of nuttiness from the almond milk.
• Great to counteract and calm down the spiciness!

Frijoles & Tortilla Chips

• Twice cooked black beans with Lancashire Cheese crumbs & Crema
• Good earthy dip, but the cheese and cream didn’t really add much to the dish.
• Tortillas crispy. Standard.

Chicken and pork tacos 

• Both had a similar marinade.
• Both spicy and tomato-y.

Pork Pibil

• slow cooked in a special Yutacan marinade, pink pickled onions
• More tender than the Chicken Tinga tacos and paired well with pickles.

Chicken Tinga

• poached in a sweet onion, snokey chipotle & tomato sauce
• Nothing special, meh. Although tender and mixed in with the sauce, there was not much to offer other than the spice.

 

Smoky Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas 

• Shredded chicken with spiced tomato sauce
• Tasted ok, crispy on the outside with a spicy filling of chicken.
• Nothing special

 

 

 

Sweet potato & Feta Taquitos

• Roasted Sweet potato, feta & caramelised onions filled crispy corn tortilla shells. Topped with salsa & Chipotle Mayonnaise.
•  Best dish of the night!
• Crispy taco shells with soft and sweet, sweet potato inside. Cheese added saltiness and salad a mix of textures. YUM!

Verdict:

Service was very slow on a friday night peak hour. Server was not very alert as he was also training a new staff member. Food was good; Mexican street food with a touch of fusion and British influence. Dishes had a good amount of spice and the mix and match of small dishes makes for a good way to sample their many offerings. Overall, a great place for friends to hang out, though the servers can definitely be more alert.