Food for thought: London’s Latin-American food craze

Latin-American cuisine has taken London by storm, with restaurants offering everything from burning hot burritos to sensational ceviche. Get in on the action with one of these top eateries.

Ceviche

Soho
Peruvian restaurants are all the rage in London, and it’s partly down to Ceviche Soho. When they opened their doors back in 2012, only seasoned backpackers would have been familiar with ceviche – a Peruvian raw fish dish cured in citrus juice. These days, the Ceviche Group has six restaurants in the capital and many more imitators besides.

The dishes served at the Soho branch are designed for sharing, and include some amazing-looking arrangements of fresh ingredients – you should check out the one served with pickled strawberries. The scallop ceviche in particular looks like a work of art.
For those who feel a little squeamish about raw fish, there’s also a great selection of grilled options.
cevichefamily.com

Breddos Tacos

Clerkenwell and Soho
Breddos had a modest start in life. Long before opening permanent homes in Clerkenwell and Soho, these guys were working out of a makeshift shack in Hackney, schooling themselves in the art of taco-making.

Out of that came loads of pop-ups, various residencies and a cook book, before they opened their first shop just north of the Barbican.

The menu, which takes inspiration from roadside taquerias in America and Mexico, keeps the focus firmly on their excellent tacos. These come with six different toppings, including sweet potato, steak, fish and pork – and they’re priced individually, so you can mix and match if that takes your fancy.

Top it all off with a carajillo (a boozy espresso) that will set you up for the rest of the day.
breddostacos.com

La Bodega Negra

Soho
The sign outside La Bodega Negra in Soho reads ‘sex shop’, but that’s just a cover for something much more wholesome going on inside.

When you go down the stairs, you find a nice bar, friendly staff and some great Mexican food. The grub’s presentation is fun and the atmosphere feels exclusive. Start with a baby corn quesadilla and move onto the slow roasted lamb barbacoa. Wash it all down with a house margarita.
labodeganegra.com

Wahaca

Southbank
Yes, it’s a chain with around 25 branches in the UK, many of which are in London – but it’s also responsible for some very good burritos.

Co-founded by Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers, Wahaca’s first restaurant opened in 2007 in London’s West End. The chain has really expanded since then, reaching as far north as Edinburgh and even entering our own homes with a cookery book.

Head on over to the Southbank branch, where you can enjoy your food while sitting inside some very stylish shipping containers, soaking up the atmosphere in this happening part of town.

And if you’re looking for something hearty, try one of their delicious burritos, served with black beans, green rice and salsa.
wahaca.co.uk

Preto

Shaftesbury Avenue
Dining at a churrascaria such as Preto is great fun. You help yourself to various salads from the buffet while Passadors – meat-wielding waiters to you and me – come around with skewers of delicious grilled delights, including lamb, pork, chicken and beef, shaving off a few morsels as they go. It’s a meat eater’s heaven – and if you’re feeling especially bold, give the chicken hearts a go.

When you order, you are also given a card that lets the Passadors know when you’ve had enough protein, otherwise they’ll keep coming until you submit.

The tableside carving is a great spectacle and the perfectly seasoned food is brimming with that tasty barbeque flavour.
preto.co.uk