Mexican Momentum

It's no secret that Mexican food is hitting the streets of the United Kingdom like, well, a Mexican wave; it's now rare to walk down a high street in a major town or city without passing a Mexican style eatery. It is also no coincidence that the increase in popularity of Mexican Cuisine has coincided with the collapse of some major Italian & American restaurant chains.

In the past few months we have witnessed the likes of Jamie's Italian, Strada & Carluccio's closing down branches all over the country, and it's not by chance that they are all Italian cuisine. The Italian food scene in the UK has become overcrowded, so much so that previously established chains (such as the ones mentioned above) are being pushed aside by newer, more authentic Italian chains e.g. Franco Manca, or replaced entirely by other ethnic cuisines.

The decline of previously popular chains is not unique to Italian cuisine however; several Burger joints are struggling with the public's appetite for authentic & alternative foods. Handmade Burger Co. have gone into administration and Byron Burger is well on it's way. Currently over 30% of the top 100 UK restaurant groups are failing to make a profit, in which mid-market Italian & Burger chains feature heavily. As Italian & American style restaurants continue to falter in the UK, one of the ethnic cuisines that is having enviable success is Mexican.

While Mexican fast-food has been popular in the UK for a while now, the recent success of Mexican cuisine has been its venture into casual dining. Not only are Taco & Burrito bars continuing to succeed but there is now an increasing demand for diverse Mexican fare. As with many new international foods arriving on our shores, they all require a period to establish themselves before branching out and incorporating more daring & unknown ingredients.

In 2017, London Chef Ollie Templeton predicted the coming changes to Mexican Cuisine in the city; 'Now that Mexican is well and truly established in the capital, the logical next step will be the appearance of lesser-known ingredients and regional delicacies on menus.'

The introduction of regional Mexican foods to restaurants in the UK demonstrates a yearning for authentic and diverse food, perhaps an area where the Italian & American chains have failed to deliver. The likes of Wahaca, Las Iguanas, El Guaca & Lupita are growing rapidly and are tapping into the more adventurous appetite present in the UK food market.

A decade or two ago many Brits would've been hesitant to sample a cactus salad (Ensalada de Nopales), stuffed Poblano chilies (Poblanos Rellenos) or the searingly hot Pequin Chili Salsa. This demand for unique and alternative Mexican dishes has undoubtedly been helped by the expanding Vegan/Vegetarian community but also the preference for quality over quantity.

Casual dining in the UK is transforming into an industry focused on delivering high-quality food rather than the huge portions synonymous with American & American-influenced Italian cuisine. This transformation suits Mexican gastronomy down to the ground; its diversity in ingredients & flavour, and the fact it is fairly healthy, conforms to this current food trend.

Not only are new mains arriving from Mesoamerica such as: Empanadas, Barbacoa, Carnitas, and Tostadas, but also a variety of snack foods that are becoming a hit within the inner cities. For those that don't have time to have a sit-down meal there is now a huge range of bites & starters including: Chicharrones (Mexican Pork Scratchings), Cassava Fries, Sweet Plantain and Elotes (Mexican Corn on the Cob) which are being consumed habitually by the cosmopolitan Brit.

The Co-Founder of Wahaca, Thomasina Miers, believes that the future is bright for Mexican food in the United Kingdom; 'Our love affair with all things Mexican is only just beginning. The food is fresh and vibrant, full of flavour and character, and relatively healthy. I can’t see us getting bored any time soon. There is so much more to the cuisine still left to explore.'

Mexican cuisine is filling the gap left by the declining Italian & American food chains; from Burrito Bars to authentic Mexican restaurants, it matches and exceeds other ethnic cuisines in price, quality, accessibility & diversity. The new open and inclusive appetite in the United Kingdom, along with the decline of the established chains, has left a chasm in the casual dining industry; one which Mexican regional cuisine is more than ready to exploit.