Wahaca Stratford — Restaurant in London

Arrived early Wednesday evening with an non-booked party of 6. The enthusiastic manager/waiter welcomed us and said "Have Fun". The place was half empty and didn't fill up for the entire we were there.

It was nearly 20 minutes until someone asked if we we'd like to order drinks. We had to eventually catch the attention of the waiter in order to start the food order. We were advised that "all the food is cooked fresh and will be brought out as each dish is ready". Most of the food arrived in an accepted time frame, but the two dishes I ordered arrived over 20 minutes apart. As for "fresh", the first dish was some breaded cheese and Jalapeño balls, which were obviously mass produced and deep fried from frozen, with a dip, which obviously came from a pre-prepared batch. The next course was three tiny tortillas with some very oily pre-prepared beef brisket with a micro serving of onion and what I assumed as first were sliced pickles, turned out to actually be cucumber, that had been sat under the hot lamps so long, they'd cooked and gone semi-translucent. Neither dish, had any 'fresh' ingredients in them, they were simply assembled (eventually) from average quality pre-prepared items.

No one in our group raved about any of the food. "meh", "it's alright" and "bland" were the phrases used most.

The whole time we were there not getting attention, the Deliveroo system didn't stop spitting out tickets. Bag after bag went out the door. If this is the business model that creates them best income, then I bid them the best of luck, because no one in our group was remotely impressed with Wahaca and none will be recommending you, nor returning.

On a side note, Deliveroo customers don't need the bathrooms, so I guess there was no need to keep an eye on those either.

On the whole, Wahaca appears to be style over substance, with no redeeming features to with which to oil the wheels of the poor service.

Verdict? Try...

I had the pleasure of dining at Wahaca during lunchtime at Westfield Stratford, and it was an absolute delight. The ambiance was inviting, with a vibrant atmosphere that perfectly complemented the energy of the bustling mall surroundings.

We started our culinary journey with the veggie nachos, which were a symphony of flavors and textures. Each crispy chip was generously adorned with a colorful array of fresh vegetables, creamy guacamole, and tangy salsa, creating a harmonious blend that left our taste buds tingling with satisfaction.

Next up were the tacos, and they exceeded all expectations. Bursting with the goodness of carefully curated ingredients, each bite was a celebration of Mexican culinary craftsmanship. From the tender, flavorful fillings to the warm, soft tortillas, every element was executed with finesse, showcasing the culinary prowess of the chefs at Wahaca.

To complement our meal, we indulged in some refreshing passion fruit mojitos, which served as the perfect palate cleanser between bites. The balance of sweetness and tartness was impeccable, making it the ideal accompaniment to our flavorful dishes.

Overall, our experience at Wahaca was nothing short of exceptional. The attention to detail, the quality of the ingredients, and the warmth of the service made it a memorable dining experience. Whether you’re a devout foodie or simply looking for a delicious meal in a vibrant setting, Wahaca at Westfield Stratford is undoubtedly...

The venue looked fine, but it was a hot day with apparently no air conditioning or fans to cool the place down, so it felt uncomfortably hot and stuffy.

The service was awful. Most of our time in the restaurant was spent waiting — first to order, then to pay. It was late in the evening, so it wasn’t even busy. We all ordered at the same time, but everyone else’s food arrived within 10 to 15 minutes, while mine took around 35 minutes — not ideal. When we asked for the bill, the waiter said they'd grab it, but then walked off and didn’t return. After 15 minutes, we realised they probably weren’t coming back. Once we finally got their attention again and asked for the bill a second time, it took another 5 minutes to arrive. A 20-minute wait just to pay is a ridiculous waste of time.

As for the food quality, I won’t speak for the others, but mine (the smoky caramelised pork belly) was terrible. It was overcooked, with burnt, hard bits that actually dug into my gums. The dish consisted of three extremely small pieces of pork, a bland salad, and four comically tiny burrito wraps served separately. It was a shockingly small portion, especially considering it was meant to be a larger sharing plate — even a single mouse would’ve been left hungry after that insultingly minuscule meal.

Needless to say, I was — and still am — very disappointed with my experience. Maybe it was just a bad day, and I chose an unfortunate dish, but frankly,...