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I haven't found any truly great Mexican in London, not for lack of trying either. Best meal I had was at Quinta, in Kensington, which is Salvadorean. However, that was partly a case of it being a small, intimate place that was authentic and had friendly service. We were also the only cover all evening (except a steady stream of Deliveroos). The food was good, but not fully fantastic, and also I didn't really rate their flagship dish (pupusas). I wouldn't really recommend El Pastor for a slap up, sit down meal if that's what you are after either. Food is really tasty, but it's expensive and portions aren't exactly generous. Service is also not great, place generally rammed, but worst of all, most of the seating is on tiny, tiny tables on high stools. It's awkward as hell. On reflection it's got to be among the worst seating arrangements in a restaurant I've ever been to. Food truck vibe without the food truck prices. Honestly, all the best Mexican food I've had in London has been from trucks or market stalls.
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May 19, 2022 14:46
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The_Doctor posted:Mexican is something we still do very poorly at. I’m not sure if the UK just can’t get the ingredients, or we just don’t try hard enough, but every time I’ve tried a place in London, it’s been bad. I’d accept either proper Mexican or tex-mex. Tbh we just make our own at Gin Towers. Some ingredients are indeed tricky (the one and only place in the UK that made Mexican-style cheese closed down some years ago for instance) but we could seriously do better. Hm and now I should make chimichangas.
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May 19, 2022 15:52
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Is Benito's a rebrand of Benito's Hat? Definitely most of the Benito Hat locations are gone but I think Benitos is in the same spot by Oxford Circus.
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May 19, 2022 16:58
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I had dinner at Four Seasons in Chinatown, and it was amazing. Beef brisket on crispy noodles, one of my favourite dishes ever.  
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May 19, 2022 19:21
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La Chingada in Surrey Quays and Homies on Donkeys in Walthamstow are both really good for authentic Mexican tacos. I would also love for there to be somewhere good for getting a fishbowl-sized frozen margarita with chimichangas but just going to have to accept that's just not London's lane.
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May 20, 2022 15:39
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The_Doctor posted:I had dinner at Four Seasons in Chinatown, and it was amazing. Beef brisket on crispy noodles, one of my favourite dishes ever. That sounds and looks delicious
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May 21, 2022 01:19
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I first had it in Poons on Leicester Street when I was about 3 years old, and they still served it up for years even when it disappeared from the menu. Then the Poons empire shuttered, and I never saw it again on other restaurant menus for years. HK Diner had it, then they closed. Now I’ve found it at Four Seasons on Wardour St, and it’s amazing. Big fatty bits of braised/stewed beef brisket in a thick delicious sauce. On the menu it comes in a noodle soup, but I ask for crispy noodle, and they do it no issue. It’s so good, and a real comfort food for me.
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May 21, 2022 06:24
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'Noodle Bar' on Cranbourn street will probably do it too. I have their stewed beef noodle soup all the time and the meat looks very similar. I am sure they'd also do crispy noodles. (I think it's literally call Noodle Bar, it's the place with orange writing on a black awning.) I will check out your place though as it looks incredible. I try to eat veggie most of the time but... stuff like this makes me crumble.
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May 21, 2022 09:41
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Just returning to Mexican briefly, I would agree that the El Pastor London Bridge branch is not ideal, would probably choose the Kings Cross one for a sit-down meal. Haven't tried their Soho branch. They used to also have an arch at Maltby Street that was great for a taco and a beer but hasn't reopened since lockdown. Ironically I think they used to sell their mexican cheese along with tortillas and other ingredients there. Santo Remedio is nice, their barbacoa lamb shank is delightful and they do a great marg. Quite expensive though. Mestizo near Euston I remember being fun, they do a Thursday beer and tacos dance night. I haven't found good tex-mex anwhere. Seems to be a real blindspot for some reason. Does anyone have any opinions on seafood boil restaurants. Pelican State, Claw & Hammer etc. I wouldn't mind a giant plate of seafood soon.
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May 23, 2022 11:52
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The_Doctor posted:I first had it in Poons on Leicester Street when I was about 3 years old, and they still served it up for years even when it disappeared from the menu. Then the Poons empire shuttered, and I never saw it again on other restaurant menus for years. Gonna try and get your dish as a pre-film meal tonight. Exciiiited
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May 25, 2022 16:59
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Squibsy posted:Gonna try and get your dish as a pre-film meal tonight. Exciiiited Excited for you! 
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May 25, 2022 17:44
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Is there anywhere good for a quick meal around the Emirates Stadium?
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Jun 3, 2022 16:27
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BizarroAzrael posted:Is there anywhere good for a quick meal around the Emirates Stadium? I know of two places, Oa Com Tam is a Vietnamese place that I had a great meal at one time. Xi'An Impression is a super specific regional Chinese cuisine that is quite unlike anything else I have had. My cousin loves that place and has taken me there a few times
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Jun 3, 2022 17:12
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The_Doctor posted:Excited for you! It was really good! The waiter was pretty mystified by my order but the kitchen got it just fine and made me something that looked exactly like yours. It was very satisfying
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Jun 3, 2022 17:15
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Squibsy posted:It was really good! The waiter was pretty mystified by my order but the kitchen got it just fine and made me something that looked exactly like yours. It was very satisfying Some of the wait staff know what you mean, and some don’t, but the kitchen absolutely gets it. Glad you liked it!
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Jun 3, 2022 18:13
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My in-laws are coming over from America and I need to find a restaurant for a meal to celebrate my MIL's retirement. Preferably family-style italian (but open to other cuisines) that's relatively affordable but still fancy enough in ambiance and service that it feels like a special occasion. Any ideas?
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Jul 5, 2022 10:50
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Zedel is French rather than Italian, but is a great environment, great food, and was good value last I went (pre-pandemic)
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Jul 5, 2022 11:24
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Zedel has gone up in price a little (their previously £20 Formule is now £27!) Ciao Bella on Lamb’s Conduit St is very good Italian (if you’re committed to that), and fairly reasonable, but might not have that upmarket wow factor that Zedel definitely has.
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Jul 5, 2022 11:36
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Any takes on Figo or Haugen at Stratford?
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Aug 20, 2022 11:22
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reality_groove posted:My in-laws are coming over from America and I need to find a restaurant for a meal to celebrate my MIL's retirement. Preferably family-style italian (but open to other cuisines) that's relatively affordable but still fancy enough in ambiance and service that it feels like a special occasion. We ended up going to Ffiona's in Kensington which does a pretty nice traditional British menu. Chicken kiev, fish and chips, sticky toffee pudding etc. I had a steak that was better than I was expecting. Place is cosy and the staff are friendly. Don't know if I'd go back too often but it was a fun atmosphere to take out-of-towners to.
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Aug 20, 2022 15:28
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I think Chilango Spittlefields is now a Tortilla, strict downgrade imo
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Aug 27, 2022 01:47
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Chipotle good if you can find one. I only know the two in the west end.
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Aug 27, 2022 12:23
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The_Doctor posted:Chipotle good if you can find one. I only know the two in the west end. Saw the one I used to go to by Oxford Circus is gone now. Think TCR is still going.
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Aug 27, 2022 15:03
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TCR and Cecil Court/St Martin’s Lane, and apparently there’s some in the city too.
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Aug 27, 2022 15:17
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I quite like DF Tacos  Then again I also like lots of other 'Mexican' places that get pilloried
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Aug 27, 2022 16:57
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My dude, head to North America and try Mexican/Tex-Mex food there. Then you’ll be disappointed over here forever.
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Aug 28, 2022 12:43
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I mean, I have. It was good but it doesn't seem that different.
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Aug 28, 2022 13:05
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Ok, I’ve found out about a couple of places in London that do birria tacos, so I’ll have to give them a go soon. One’s a stall in Camden Market called Meat Head Mexican, so hours can be funky. The other is on Edgware Road, and is called Birria Taco. They do a full menu, including birria ramen! That one is definitely getting a visit soon. 
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Aug 30, 2022 01:35
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Went to the new Flatiron by Waterloo last week, still great, and they give you brown butter ice cream on the way out. Don't know if that's permanent.
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Sep 3, 2022 12:23
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They’ve done free ice cream for as long as I can remember, but brown butter seems above and beyond!
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Sep 3, 2022 12:56
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Ooh, right by the office, lovely
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Sep 3, 2022 13:53
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Remember offices? I just ate lunch at Homeslice in The City, pretty good but it's a shame there's such limited choice for single slice. Suppose I could get the 20" wagyu and ask for what's left wrapped up.
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Sep 3, 2022 15:55
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tarbrush posted:Ooh, right by the office, lovely It's right near mine too. I dropped in back in... May I guess? Just before I started my summer off. Was great. I was sad when the Byron in the same premises closed as that place got me through the first lockdown, being the only consistently open joint around. But this is a more than worthy (and considerably pricier) replacement.
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Sep 4, 2022 00:21
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Well gently caress these people https://london.eater.com/23349045/sonora-taqueria-legal-threat-trademark-taqueria-restaurant-notting-hill
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Sep 13, 2022 18:19
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Kaiho posted:Well gently caress these people Lmao hopefully they've pissed an awful lot of money against the wall on legal fees only to be told "gently caress off whitey, you can't trademark Spanish."
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Sep 13, 2022 18:28
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Well they've got the Essex case in the bag already...
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Sep 13, 2022 19:27
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Pizza Union is really good for the cheap, quick side of things, and you don't even need to dismiss the possibility of sexual congress with people you take there.
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Sep 25, 2022 17:06
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+1 Pizza Union - it's quite good.
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Sep 27, 2022 23:55
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you can't bring up pizza in london without bringing up lost boys pizza in camden, i know of at least three people who eat there on a weekly basis, it's that good
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Sep 30, 2022 20:27
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Kaiho posted:Well they've got the Essex case in the bag already... I actually went to the Taco Ria place in Southend a couple of times. All things considered, it was decent. Better than most other attempts at Mexican food around here. Kinda retrospectively pisses me off if a lengthy legal battle with these wankers helped to kill the place off relatively quickly.
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Oct 5, 2022 04:14
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