Mexican Food In Britain

So you love Mexican food. You can’t get enough of those tacos, burritos and chimichangas. But, even the most ardent fan of Tex-Mex will tire of the same old thing after a while. So, when that moment comes, what do you need to order to change things up?

Fortunately, there are some excellent Mexican restaurants in Britain that serve authentic cuisine that doesn’t feel like just another Tex-Mex meal from a chain restaurant. In fact, these places offer the best Mexican restaurant food in Britain - and indeed, some of the best around the world. If you are looking for something new and exciting but still authentic you won’t find better than these gems. Read on to discover where to get it:

Tamales

If there is one dish everyone should try at least once it is tamales. This is a dish that dates back to the Aztecs, who cultivated corn as a staple food. Tamales are corn dough stuffed with meat, fish or cheese wrapped in a corn husk and steamed.

Tamales are a seasonal dish, so if you are reading this in winter, you might have to wait until early spring for them again.

They are versatile, with different fillings used for different meals. For example, tamales are often associated with the Day of the Dead, a Mexican festival. These are often sweet, made with pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon. They can also vary by region.

In Mexican cuisine, corn is a staple. That’s why tamales are so popular. A lot of people eat them on special occasions. Even at weddings, tamales are common.

Enchiladas

If you’re looking for the best Mexican restaurant food in Britain, enchiladas are a wonderful choice. Enchiladas are tortillas that have been filled with meat or vegetables, then covered with a chili sauce and cheese. Some enchiladas are baked, some are fried, and some have a combination of both.

Enchiladas are a great way to try some authentic Mexican spices like cumin, coriander, chili and black pepper.You can try the Grilled Chicken Enchilada which is filled with corn and wild rice, and comes with Mexican beans and tomatillo sauce. Alternatively, try a Smoked Salmon Enchiladas. These are filled with salmon, leeks and wild rice.

Pies

Pies, really? British and Mexican cuisines may seem like complete opposites, but the two actually have a lot more in common than you might think. One example of this is the fact that the Mexican empanada, a kind of pie, is remarkably similar to the British pasty. Try three varieties; the Beef & Potato, Chicken & Sweetcorn or the Vegetarian & Sweetcorn.

Tlayudas

Tlayudas are a type of Mexican bread made with a special kind of corn dough, which is baked and then topped with various ingredients. You can get them topped with beans, cheese, various meats, and vegetables. They are served as a main dish or as a side dish and are traditionally topped with a salsa made from a mix of tomatoes and chilli peppers. Try a Tostadas Barburrito, which are tlayudas topped with prawn, chipotle, and avocado.

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles are a classic Mexican breakfast dish, but they are also served as a main dish or side dish at many authentic Mexican restaurants in Britain. Chilaquiles consist of tortilla chips that have been fried and then covered in a sauce made from tomatoes, chilli peppers, and spices. They are topped with various ingredients such as eggs, cheese, beans, and vegetables. Try Chilaquiles Verdes, which are the vegetarian version of the dish, topped with green chilli tomatillo sauce, beans, cheese, and onion, or go for the meat version.

Steak & Chorizo With Nopales And Queso Fresco

As well as the Mexican dishes listed above, Steak and Chorizo With Nopales And Queso Fresco dish is a great example of authentic Mexican-style cooking. You can’t go wrong with a good steak. It’s a dish that works well in any cuisine, so it’s no surprise to see it on the menu at Mexican restaurants. Nopales are cactus paddles and are a common Mexican vegetable. Queso fresco is a kind of fresh cheese that is often eaten with nopales in Mexico. This dish is served with Mexican rice, beans, and tortillas. and it represents the Hot side of Mexican cuisine, as it comes from the Southern region.

Tacos

Tacos are a very popular Mexican dish in Britain and at most Mexican restaurants you can get a choice of different fillings, including prawn, chorizo and black bean. These are tacos dorados, which are folded tacos that are fried as opposed to the more common type that are served open and grilled. Dorado tacos are also often eaten with a sauce. They are often served with a tomato chilli sauce, which is a traditional Mexican accompaniment to tacos.

If you want to try a hotter dish go for tacos al pastor, the dish that is perhaps the most representative of authentic Mexican cuisine.

Chile Rellenos

You might not have come across this dish before, but it is a very famous Mexican one, particularly in the Southern part of the country. A chile relleno is a pepper that is stuffed with cheese and served with Mexican rice and beans. It is one of the most common dishes served in Mexican fusion restaurants in Britain.

They are often made with poblano peppers, which are very common in Mexican cooking and are named after the city of Puebla. The poblano peppers are stuffed with cheese and then deep-fried before being served with Mexican rice and sour cream. If you want to try a hot item, the chile rellenos are a VERY hot dish.

Molé Bowls

A molé bowl is a Mexican dish made with black beans, rice, avocado, pomegranate seeds, and a mix of spices. It is served in a bowl made out of a baked sweet potato and is a very healthy option.

You can get a vegetarian molé bowl with black beans, sweet potato, avocado, and pomegranate seeds, as well as a non-vegetarian version with chicken.

A vegetarian molé bowl is often gluten-free, so it is suitable for those who cannot eat gluten, but do check with the staff if you have an intolenance to it, just in case.

Conclusion

Mexican cuisine has a reputation for being spicy due to the way it uses chilies, but it also has many mild and vegetarian dishes. Mexican restaurants may specialize in tacos and burritos, but there are a wide variety of other Mexican dishes that you should try as well.

If you are in London or any other major city in Britain, you should be able to find at least one Mexican restaurant nearby. If you are in a smaller town, then it is even more important to try to find a Mexican restaurant when you get the chance.