Wahaca - Mexican Food Review

Posted on: 2015-08-11

Our rating:

It may have only been open for two weeks, but Wahaca on Queens Road in Bristol has already got the city's gastronauts' appetites fired up for masticating on the best Mexican street food in town.


 

The original Wahaca opened in London eight years ago and was the concept of 2005 MasterChef winner, Thomasina Miers. And what a thrilling, exciting concept it is - one that's proven so popular the brand is exponentially opening other restaurants around the country. It truly is a culinary success story for the celebrity chef.

Wahacca in Bristol

Surrounded by other restaurants on the Clifton Triangle in Bristol such as Bill's, Grillstock, CAU and Byron, Wahaca has landed itself a prime location, one that's fertile gastronomic hunting ground for Cliftonites and students partial to some tasty tucker and a beverage or three.

Wahaca is a large restaurant that opens up with a bar (complete with human-sized bird cages you can merrily swing in as you sip your Margatia, if you're so inclined) then expands into a large restaurant area at the back where you can watch the bandana-sporting chefs work their Mexican magic.

With Latino music pumping from the speakers and the delightfully friendly, helpful waitresses dashing around and emerging from the kitchens with plates of scrumptious food, it's vibrant, loud, exciting and a certain, dynamic kind of food-based theatre. Some of the walls are even covered with imaginative urban art by Scrawl and Street Sketchook pioneer, Will Barras, which adds even more to its cool, funky, street-wise aesthetic.

The extensive menu incorporates all the usual Mexican favourites such as tortillas, tacos, black beans, guacamole and chorizo, as well quesadillas, empanadas, tostadas and taquitos. Oh yes indeed, there's plenty to peruse on the menu here - so much, in fact, you'll need to return a few times to genuinely embrace all the dishes and flavours. And believe me, you'll want to return.

My brother and I had no hesitation in ordering the huge street food sampler of 2 salmon tostadas, 3 pork pibil tacos, 1 large chipotle chicken quesadilla, 2 pea & mint empanadas, frijoles with chorizo, broccoli with green goddess dressing, 2 grilled corn on the cob (£32.50).

Wahacca - Bristol Food Review

I'm no hard-core adventurer when it comes to potent, intense flavours but had no problem gorging on the incredible range of mini Mexican masterpieces in front of us. Powerful, spicy, punch-packing tastes danced flirtily with more subtle combinations and textures, although I left it to my brother to give his palate a full-on fiery blast of the habanero, chipotle and chilli sauce condiments.

Desserts were too tempting to resist - so we didn't, my brother opting for the truly sensational churros y chocolate (£3.95), deliciously doughy tendrils that were were crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, while the pots of chocolate and salted caramel sent him into a series of uncontrollable mouthgasms. My vanilla ice-cream with toasted pumpkin seeds, drizzled with caramel “cajeta” sauce (£4.25) was a bowl of vanilla pod-flecked, icy, creamy bliss.

Skilfully combining Mexican dishes for both novice and more adventurous palates, Wahaca is bang on the money when it comes to bringing Mexican street food to the enthusiastic Bristol multitudes who want some serious fire and flavour in their food.

5/5

Reviewed by Jamie Caddick for 365 Bristol - the leading events and entertainment website for Bristol

Wahacca Mexican Food Review in Bristol

Tags: Review, Restaurant, Mexican, Food, Clifton, Triangle.



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.