Boho Mexica

This place is possibly the worst restaurant I have ever been to in London. It is all about image but beneath that there is nothing on offer worth considering. The service was terrible, the waiters rude and slow, and the food was disgusting - really vile. I daresay I happen to know a lot about food and about cooking food from a number of countries in the world. When I complained and returned my dried pieces of cat food like pork chunks on uncooked tortillas, I was asked by the impertinent teenage waitress if I know anything about Mexican food! As if that was her get out clause. Anyway this place was hideous. Rude staff and inedible food. Really ALL of it was BAD - and the Guacamole tasted like detergent. Keep well away - they need to sharpen their act and read more about cooking Mexican food. A vile pretentious dump.
Comment on this reader review

0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 22, 2010

I would not call this place a restaurant. It is really just a bar that makes a poor attempt at serving some food. The portions are tiny and very expensive for what they are. The serving staff were more interested in chatting with each other than serving customers. We were given our bill before we had been served all our dishes and had to point this out to our waitress. We went home disappointed and hungry. I don't usually write reviews for restaurants on line, but felt compelled to do so in this instance as this quite honestly is one of the worst "restaurants" i have ever been to. Do not go there!!
Comment on this reader review

anna
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, May 05, 2010

I am from Texas and have sampled most of the Mexican (not Tex Mex!) establishments in London. Last night was the chance of Boho Mexica.

First off, what I think the reviewers here fail to realise is that this is Mexican street food that's served in small, Tapas like portions. You're meant to order and try several items. The small tacos are a southern Mexico staple.

We went on a Friday night, and the restaurant was buzzy and packed (as it should be in Shoreditch) In a way the place is a kind of bar/cum restaurant. The staff are very attentive and kind but, and its been said here already, the service was bizarre. My ceviche arrived twice, and we were approached on two other occasions with different people's food.

The food was pretty average. I was disappointed by the lack of fresh coriander, and real spices (like habanero) which should leap out at you. Surprising, as the owners are Mexican. If you're in the area and fancy a bit of Mexico then go for it. If it is genuine, Mexican food you're after then Boho pales in comparison to Wahaca, Mestizo, or even the overpriced Taqueria. Ooh, but at least at Taqueria you can buy the ingredients and make the food at home.
Comment on this reader review

David Tinney
5 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Friday, March 19, 2010

My brother's girlfriend is on a course in Old Street, and following recommendations from both Middle Class Pete and Robin Brunch, i booked a table at Boho Mexica for the three of us. Nobody is here when we arrive, which is worrying.

We select almost at random from across the menu. It will be a night of picking from plates and carving up sandwiches into imperfect triptyches, which, as always happens with brothers, will end with arguments about who gets the 'biggest third'.

The first dish to arrive is the plate of guacamole with tortillas. The former isn't quite fine enough, with large chunks of avocado taking up vast swathes of the bowl. We try to use the tortilla sides to break it up, but their lack of seration gives the dip an almost cornflake crunch topping.

We think they've bought us soup by mistake, but it is our black beans. You almost need scuba diving gear to rescue them from their deep tomato and garlic lagoon.

Thankfully this is a false start.

The 'Carne DF' or rump steak tacos are deliciously marinated, and dance around the mouth. The mushroom tortillas ('sopes') with lettuce and cream are tiny - like volauvents from snooty receptions - but packed with flavour.

Our 'pueco a la Jamaica' - a pork tenderloin in a hibiscus flower sauce - is the most interesting dish of the night. Soaked up by some perfectly executed mash it's like a floral sweet and sour stirfly, that's been whacked in a blender. Which is much better than i make it sound.

The highlights though are unexpected. 'La Pollera' or more simply 'a chicken sandwich' is gorgeous. The bird has apparently been marinaded overnight and is soaking in flavour. The fried plantains, chewy and chargrilled on the outside and sticky and sweet within, are the perfect accompaniment. We order an extra portion of both.

The first beer - a bohemia - is good, but taking on a Michelada, especially with a full bottle of Sol, is perhaps unwise. Of course, me and my brother both soldier through ours, despite not enjoying them, as neither of us wants to be the lesser man and give up.

The restaurant is quiet, which is a shame. Even half full, i imagine it would seem a much more fun place. I'll definitely be back.
Comment on this reader review

stevethelipless - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, March 02, 2010

I came here with a friend on a quiet Monday evening. The staff were attentive and friendly and the cocktails were ok (the house special, the Carlota, made with hibiscus flowers and chilli salt was actually very good) but the food was pretty disappointing. As my friend said - if food is to be microwaved, it shouldn't LOOK like it's been microwaved - the chicken mole sauce had a suspicious looking congealed crust . Also, the guacamole really isn't great - hard to believe it has been made by a Mexican. As other reviewers have commented, it's a stingy portion and it doesn't zing with lime, garlic, coriander and chilli as it's supposed to. Frankly I make better myself! The sea bass ceviche was tasty, but there wasn't a lot of it for over £5. We spent £35 each on food and drink and were still hungry when we left.

Oh, and the toilets were not the cleanest - always a worrying sign in an eating place.
Comment on this reader review

Helen M - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Terrible service - Our food came before our drinks and to top it off we didn't have plates so we were left to look at the tacos while we waited for something to eat them off of.

They then brought the plates, still no drinks.

My girlfriends drink came near the second course, mine followed another five minutes later. Brought us the wrong dishes TWICE! Overpriced small food - Food was good, but offensively small. Guacamole appetizer was less then a dozen chips and a dollop of guac served in a gravy boat WTF?!!!!

Shared six different kinds of tacos (18 in total) and we're still starving.

Final note - When the bill came it had several items on it that we didn't order or eat/drink. This took ages to rectify.

The waitress didn't even know how to work the credit card machine. A waste of fifty quid.

Would never go back.
Comment on this reader review

R Jackson
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 01, 2010

I am Mexican, and after living in London for 12 years in London, I am always trying out the new places.

I was very pleased with Boho Mexica, I went for the brunch menu and the chicken chilaquiles were delish! My other half had a few tapas style dishes and was very impressed by the flavour and quality of the food.

I see some people seem to think portions are too small, but you must remember that the ingredients come from Mexico, and are not just cheap ingredients (like in Benitos Hat) so, if you want an american-style filling burrito, go elsewhere!

I've been told that the tortas are fab! can't wait to go back!

The place itself it's lovely and chic with beers well priced.
Comment on this reader review

Paola
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 01, 2009

I've never been compelled to actually write a review until i visited this restaurant! I agree with the previous reviewer that after ordering quite a few plates and spending nearly 40 quid (only 1 alcoholic beverage), i was still a bit hungry. Being a Californian who has indulged in Mexican food in California as well as going to Mexico, perhaps my expectations were a bit high. The portions were laughably small! Sopes, though very good were nothing more than bite sized versions of the real things. They might as well have been chips with filling on top. Again, in California or Mexico, 1 sope would at least fit in your palm. I was quite surprised to find that my entire serving of 3 sopes could fit neatly in my hand. Getting over the shock of the shrunken portions of everything we ordered, the food was decent. There was nothing memorable to warrant me going back. I ordered a traditional Mexican juice, similar to lemonade and was very disappointed to find it had no taste! The ingredients cost as much as lemondade and at 1.95, non-refillable and in a tiny glass for it not to have much more flavor than water was truly unacceptable. I certainly will NOT be going back. Again, maybe my expectations were high. If you like Mexican food but don't mind take away, give Chilango's a try. there is a location in Angel and on Fleet Street.
Comment on this reader review

lovegoodfood
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Monday, November 02, 2009

Boho Mexica is an attractive restaurant in my favorite part of town. The music on the my first and last visit was also an eccentric and enjoyable choice, suitable for the area.

In my lunch party of three, only one of the six dishes (soup) ordered was enjoyed. They readily admit that the dishes are tapas portions, starting around 3.50 a piece, but we were surprised just how hungry we all still were when we left. The majority of the dishes were boring at best, and in poor taste in the worst case. While not open for lunch, nearby Green and Red is a far better choice for scratching your Mexican itch.
Comment on this reader review

Spacebob
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Friday, October 16, 2009

For the Anon review sent on Saturday, September 05, 2009:

I have lived in Mexico and I can tell you this is the best Mexican restaurant in London.

The guacamole and tortillas chips do not cost £4.50 but £3.95, well I have to say the prawn cocktail is amazing and its ashamed u did not try it!!!

And the tacos you had are priced £3.50 not £5....

With regards to the portions this restaurant serves well I do hope you know the meaning of *'Tapas' because this restaurant is a tapas restaurant....

For those out there that haven't tried this cosy friendly place, do try the fish tacos, the prawn cocktail, puerco a la jamaica, carnitas tacos and finish off with a wonderfull mouth watering copa nevada!
Comment on this reader review

Rafa
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, September 13, 2009