There’s no shortage of Mexican restaurants and eateries in London. And there’s definitely no shortage of places in Dalston serving up tacos and burritos for the clamouring masses. But standing out from the pack is Corrochio’s, which boasts a hefty dose of authenticity and incredible food and drink.
Corrochio’s’ Chef Patron, and founder, Daniel Corrochio grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he learned local cooking techniques interning at Yucatan hotels. Following years of working in the UK’s bustling nightlife, he re-discovered his love for cooking and started a Taco Tuesday residency at Tottenham’s Bluecoat Arms. Daniel then joined forces with his partner (in business and life) Amy McQuarrie to openCorrochio’s in November 2021.
They’ve since gone from strength to strength, opening a host of connected eateries and bars that fuse the craft and passion found in great cocktails and cooking, with a focus on regional Mexican dishes and cocktails made from Mexican spirits.
So, let’s break it down. On the ground floor is the main restaurant – Corrochio’s itself. (They also refer to it as the Cocina.) Head downstairs beneath Dalston’s famous cinema sign, and you’ll find Corrochio’s Cantina – a bustling bar-meets-club that’s perfect for cocktails and street food-inspired bites. Opposite Corrochio’s Cantina you’ll soon find Cinco. This new opening will take over the original below-ground Corrochio’s dining room with a concentrated, ever-changing, experimental offering of five cocktails and five dishes.
Corrochio’s
Previous visitors to Corrochio’s may remember it occupying a below-ground site beneath the famous Dalston cinema sign. But they’ve since upgraded to an expansive ground-floor restaurant, with a charming terrace, right upstairs from their old dining room. The new site brings a slice of sunshine to Dalston, no matter the weather, both from the delightful ambience they’ve cultivated and the incredible food.
As well as transporting the restaurant upstairs, the fine folks at Corrochio’s have also given the menu an overhaul. Customer favourites like the gobernador tacos (prawn and octopus), the birria, and their tostadas are still there, but the new offerings are not to be ignored. In particular, a stand-out of the new menu is the tortas.
The gargantuan ‘Mexican sandwiches’ are served on ultra-soft slabs of telera bread with a base of avocados, tomatoes, and cheese. The bread quickly becomes deliciously sodden with the juices and melted cheese from the sandwich fillings. But you won’t care; the tortas are so delicious that you’ll be shovelling bites into your mouth with wild abandon.
As well as the tortas, Corrochio’s’ menu includes everything from tacos to flautas (filled, rolled, and deep-fried corn tortillas), queso fundido (a pot of cheese-y goo-ey goodness served with flour tortillas and your topping of choice), and more. It’s a menu that rewards those who don’t blindly order tacos and ignore the rest of the dishes. Although, you still should order the tacos… Obviously.
They also have a weekend brunch offering with chilaquiles, micheladas, café de olla, and much more. It’s the kind of brunch that will have you up and raring to go – either from a hefty dose of spice or a jolt of caffeine.
A recent meal at Corrochio’s highlighted something I’ve come to truly love and appreciate about Corrochio’s. Across multiple visits, in multiple sites and guises, Corrochio’s has never served me anything less than spectacular food. It is inarguably one of London’s best Mexican eateries. But more than that, it’s one of London’s best restaurants, full stop.
Corrochio’s Cantina
Just past Corrochio’s, and down the stairs, you’ll find Corrochio’s Cantina. It’s here where you’ll want to head for raucous taco-and-margarita-fuelled nights at their late-night Friday and Saturday.
With DJs taking to the decks, you can enjoy the tunes and the upbeat vibes with Mexican and South American-inspired cocktails, Mexican beers, and a selection of Mexican bar classics. That means tacos, margaritas (obviously), snacks, special shots (you MUST try the Pico Back which sees you chase mezcal with a shot of jalapeno brine), and more.
Cinco
The original Corrochio’s site is set to transform into a new cocktail bar, Cinco. This will feature a handpicked menu of “five exceptional quality cocktails paired with five authentic regional Mexican small plates”. We don’t know much more than that, but we can’t wait to try it out! It’s set to open in September this year – so keep your eyes and ears peeled!
All of the agave
Anchoring all three venues is a truly impressive drinks offering. They’ve got a selection of traditional drinks and contemporary twists on classics. Among others, there’s the historic Jalisco favourite Vampirito – which mixes up sangrita, tequila, citrus, and grapefruit juice – and one of the spiciest (if not the spiciest) margaritas in town. The Margarita a la Diabla adds a healthy dose of the house hot sauce into the mix for a scorching treat. And it’s been voted by Corrochios’ staff as the hottest in the world. That’s some SPICY stuff!
As well as their cocktails, Corrochio’s also stocks a selection of Mexican beers (particular favourite: Tecate!), as well as wines and non-alcoholic options. There’s also an extensive selection of spirits to sip on. Corrochio’s’ tequila and mezcal list could give any other tequila bar in London a run for its money.
But that’s not all! Guests can also try regional and lesser-known spirits such as sotol (similar to tequila but made with ‘desert spoon’ instead of agave) – and raicilla (a sweeter and fruitier alternative to mezcal). You can even try the only-recently-legalized (in 1992) bacanora – an appellation-protected agave spirit from the Mexican state of Sonora. How positively naughty!
Be sure you don’t miss out on the Corrochio’s happy hour (a classic marg for just £8 between 6-7PM!). Otherwise, as with the food, the drinks list rewards the adventurous, with plenty to discover that you won’t find elsewhere in London.
So, grab a seat. Grab a margarita or a beer and order as much food as you think you can stand. You’re in good hands at Corrochio’s.