A gluten-free Mexican food oasis in London? It exists! Cue Mestizo – a warm, welcoming Mexican food haven just north of the hustle and bustle of Euston. Serving up authentic, wholesome dishes from across Mexico in a simple space boasting an extremely impressive tequila bar, this is not your average taco joint. With complete menus for gluten-free, nut-free, lactose intolerant and vegan guests, we honestly haven’t had so much choice AND such delicious Mexican home cooking on this side of the Atlantic…
When you sit down, homemade corn chips and salsa welcome you at your table… but caution! Save room because the food is SO worth the wait. The friendly staff talked us through the gluten-free menu, which was (to our surprise) nearly identical to the regular menu and with absolutely no risk of cross-contamination. To start, we couldn’t help but dip our chips in their house guacamole and NO regrets – hands down the most luscious guac we’ve tasted in London! Next we were recommended the Pescadillas (corn tortillas wrapped around spicy, flaked fish, fried to perfection and paired with a chipotle mayo dip with a kick), and the Panucho (a corn tortilla topped with velvety, refried beans, shredded cochinita and a pop of marinated red onion). There are two per order for each, and yes, you will want more!
We thought it couldn’t get better… but it did. For our main we tried the house speciality – Molcajete Mestizo – beef and chicken simmering in a volcanic stone bowl with Mexican cheese and chorizo, topped with grilled spring onions, cilantro and avocado. Served with corn tortillas, this dish is a unique, rustic play on DIY fajitas and it is highly recommended! While it was difficult to wait for the stew to cool, luckily we were distracted by the Mole Verde, or pork sautéed in a traditional green sauce made with chile, tomatillo, lettuce, epazote, and pumpkin seeds. The sauce is the long-lost Mexican cousin of a green Italian gazpacho, refreshing with depth and perfect on a bite of red rice.
This review would not be complete without expanding on the tequila bar. With over 200 tequilas to sample in margaritas, Mexican classics or straight up in a tasting flight, Mestizo is a tequila lover’s dream come true. We loved their Paloma!
Mestizo’s mission is simple: to bring the best food that Mexico has to offer to London. We can without doubt say that they have succeeded and we will be back very soon!