Santo Remedio: From Mexico to London

 

It’s no secret among my close friends and family that I am obsessed with Mexican food. As my rant in my review of Breddos indicates, I just can’t get enough of this wonderful cuisine. Consequently, I’m always on the lookout for the best Mexican restaurant. Up next is a spot that one of my favourite food bloggers recommended, Santo Remedio in London Bridge. Other restaurant reviewers have already claimed this place to be the best in London, so I knew I had to give it a go. Luckily, Victor was more than eager to join me too. 

The menu is a mix of the chef’s experiences in Mexico City, the Yucatan, and Oaxaca. It’s fun to see the range of flavours available to order. 

My first visit was on 23 July 2018, and I have since gone back on 7 September 2021 and 12 August 2022. Since first visiting in 2018, Santo Remedio has actually expanded by opening a “cafe” in Shoreditch. Stay tuned for my review of their new spot, but for now, let’s focus on the OG Santo Remedio in London Bridge. Vamos!

Botanas

Botanas are ‘snacks’, like a Mexican aperitif. We had the classic guacamole served with blue and white corn tortilla chips. I believe guacamole is a true test of Mexican cuisine because it is so simple, yet so difficult to get right. Santo Remedio’s version did not disappoint. You can even get yours topped with crickets. Seriously, give it a go!

Platos

During my first visit to Santo Remedio, I decided to order some larger dishes. We ordered the Hibiscus Flower Enchiladas. I usually do not order such a simple dish because enchiladas tend to be quite bland, but these were the BEST enchiladas I’ve ever had.  The earthy flavour of the morita chilis combined with the tart-sweet flavour of the hibiscus flowers.

I’m a sucker for octopus so of course we also ordered the Octopus Tikin Xik. Tikin Xik is Yucatec Mayan for ‘dry fish’. It’s a particular way of seasoning and preparing fish and a really great way of doing it! I also added some plantains because who doesn’t love plantains? 

Tacos & Sides

During our first visit in 2018, we ordered a quesadilla and some tacos as appetisers before the larger dishes above (they’ve since restructured the menu slightly). Like enchiladas, I usually don’t order quesadillas because they typically let me down. However, this was specifically recommended by a food blogger so I gave it try. But, AGAIN, this was the best quesadilla. That chihuahua cheese! It is the perfect melting cheese. 

The second dish was the Soft Shell Crab Tacos. The tempura crab was on point combined with the pickled vegetables. 

On visit number two, we went for the Baby Potato Flautas, served with avocado salsa and cheese. We got the plantains again too because I just don’t think this meal would be complete without them. 

Taco-wise, we again got the Soft Shell Crab Tacos, but we also got the Baja Style Fish Tacos. The latter is hands down the best tacos… the gently battered fish combined with the slaw and morito mayo and a squeeze of lime juice. So yum!

And as for visit number three, yes, you might guess that we got the Baja Style Fish Tacos again, as well as the plantains! However, we also mixed it up a bit by getting the Black Beans, a really rich side dish flavoured with avocado leaf and served with queso fresco cheese. 

I also encouraged Victor to try some meat tacos. He went for the Pork Belly Tacos, served with tomatillo salsa and chicharrón. He said they were really yummy, but his favourite is still the fish tacos (duh!). 

Postre

My eyes opened wide when I saw that churros were an option for dessert. I’ve only ever had churros from street vendors, so I was thrilled to be trying them at a restaurant. These churros are lightly seasoned with cinnamon sugar and served with glorious cajeta, a Mexican sweet milk caramel-like syrup. Incredibly delicious!

Santo Remedio is full of wonderful surprises. Everything is perfectly prepared and seasoned. This is truly the best Mexican food I’ve had in London, so don’t miss out. 

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Want more Mexican food in London? Check out my reviews of Breddos and Ella Canta.