Unless you’ve been stranded on a desert island recently, you can’t have missed the hysteria surrounding the new Los Mochis Liverpool Street restaurant. Sister to the original site in Notting Hill, this flagship outpost has got Londoners in a frenzy, from the stunning panoramas and jungle interiors to their unique fusion dishes. But were the fabulous Los Mochis reviews that we've seen online match up with our visit? Keep reading to find out...
DesignMyNight Review Of Los Mochis London City
Perched on the 9th floor of Broadgate Circus, opposite the Elizabeth line station, Los Mochis' location couldn’t be better; not just in terms of transport - it’s also ideally placed for gorgeous viewing points of landmarks including St Paul’s. The sheer size (14,000sq ft, to be precise) means you’re guaranteed sweeping views of the city and beyond. As you walk inside, following the meandering curved windows mirrored by giant colourful murals, you’re first greeted by a huge Agaveria (possessing one of the largest collections of rare sips), then private dining spaces, crescent moon-shaped booths and a sushi bar; ending up at the 3,000sq ft open-air terrace. The latter being our spot for the evening, boasting a retractable ceiling, heaters, charming cactus-lined gardens and a grand dog centerpiece. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Mexico and the whole restaurant was very reminiscent of my travels there, from the rainforest-like canopy and cultural statues to trailing ceiling installations that, in my opinion, resembled cenotes.
For a real Japanese-Mexican gastronomic adventure, and to really appreciate the full experience, we’d advise going for the 11-course tasting feast (£95 per person) – we selected the vegan one as I’m a vegetarian (everything is nut, gluten and celery free too). We were told the Los Mochis menu would be perfect for sharing, serving dishes as soon as they’re ready. They also helpfully pointed out meals that should be consumed first, for example those best enjoyed warm. Before I even finished taking photos, ceramic pots of guacamole superfood and ajo-chipotle edamame hit our table. The silky green paste was dotted with seeds for a nice mix of textures, while the smoky pods were an elevated take on my fave snack.
The two best words in the English language? Margarita. Menu. I’m pleased to report that there was a whole list of options here, but we opted for the eponymous Los Mochis Tommy’s (£17), a classic for a reason; sweet and delicious with a spicy rim. My date’s boozy Mezcalita (£16) pushed our boundaries more, blending mezcal, Cointreau and lime for a real slap around the chops.
Next up, the El Jardin Tostaditos. A mini version of the famous main course, this mouthful benefitted from delicious heart of palm, baby corn, carrot and ginger-sesame truffle soy, encased in a crunchy shell. We then took a brief trip out of Mexico to try a Peruvian dish; beetroot tiradito and honestly, it was almost too pretty to eat. Think three thinly sliced different types, almost tartare-esque, balancing sweet yuzu agave with pickle flavours, topped with an edible flower and spring onions.
All of the dishes were outstanding, but if I had to pick one to eat for the rest of my life, it would be the truffle guacamole on rice, bringing together a smooth mix and indulgent shavings on a bouncy, crispy yet sticky bed of grains. It was also our host’s top choice. As you can imagine, by this point, there was a lot going on. We even forgot to drink. But when we were prompted, the Pepino-Jalapeño Margarita (£17) turned out to be delightful and somewhat savoury with coriander. A chilled drink that goes down nicely then smacks of fire at the end. The unique sips continued with the Chelada Verde (£12), featuring beer, yes, that’s San Miguel pilsner alongside lime, yuzu kosho and miso consommé. Ideal for beach days on Quintana Roo, that’s for sure.
We then devoured the divine, refreshing cucumber avocado maki (hoping that no one sees my horrendous chopstick skills) and the owner’s favourite falafelito, a tasty, quirky addition that I didn’t expect to see on the menu. The sauces shouldn’t be unappreciated either, particularly the creamy, peach-coloured truffle chilli goma, heady with sesame, that counteracted the drier aspects of the aforementioned chickpea bite.
Close contenders for my showstopping dishes of the night would be the melt-in-your-mouth Miso Nasu, skewers of aubergine drenched in a citrusy paste, or the bang bang cauliflower tacos. Just imagine charred florets, chunks of avocado and shreds of white cabbage, drizzled in chipotle mayo, Both were next-level good. Finally, I can now say I’ve tried tempura cactus for the first time, and you should too. We loved the crunchy ribbons of sweet potato, ume saikyo miso sauce and heat from the jalapeño.
We were dangerously full by this point and were still trying to process all of the delightful aspects of our evening but made sure we sampled dessert. And hands down, this was the best brownie I have ever tried, so impressive as it was vegan too. Our golf ball-sized coconut sorbet was a great contrast with the unbelievably gooey slice and although we couldn’t detect much miso, this was one mighty fine pud. Our charming sommelier concluded our evening by bringing us a gorgeous mezcal espresso martini (£17) and a speciality quaff from Kyoto, the Tamanohikari Kyo No Yuzu liqueur (£17). The latter was almost limoncello-like, not what I was expecting, blended with grapefruit for a sour hit. We continued chatting about the huge drinks offering, giving us great insight into wine, which is paired by style rather than country, making it easier to match. We'll have to try this out next time.
Los Mochis: Overall
Named after the owner’s beloved dog, Los Mochis is a remarkable addition to the London hospitality scene. We met a lot of the team that evening, and everyone was so passionate and knowledgeable about each ingredient. All in all, I really think the Los Mochis London menu offers great value for money when you take into consideration the world-class techniques, flavours, presentation and service. Even though we visited on a Monday, the space was buzzing with city workers, dates and family catch-ups, all to a soundtrack of Tulum-meets-Ibiza-style relaxed beats.
💰 Price: £286 for two, excluding service. 📍 Address: 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 2AT. 👌 Perfect for: Special after-work feasting on a rooftop. ⭐ Need to know: Make sure to follow the windows around to see London at a new angle. |
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