Ever since visiting Oaxaca last year, we’ve been on the hunt for somewhere in London that actually captures the feel and flavour of Mexico. Not just somewhere serving tacos and calling itself Mexican, but a place where the food, drinks and atmosphere genuinely take you back there.
Little Fires in Shoreditch comes pretty close.
We visited on a Thursday evening, starting upstairs in the dining room. It’s informal and relaxed, with people dropping in after work, small groups sharing plates and couples settling into the evening with cocktails. It was fairly quiet when we first arrived, but as the night went on, the room started to fill up with post-work get-togethers and date-night dinners.
The menu stands out for how much thought has gone into keeping the food and drink authentic without making the whole thing feel too serious. Little Fires describes itself as a Mexican kitchen, mezcal bar and hi-fi lounge, with a menu rooted in Oaxaca. It’s a region in southern Mexico that is widely renowned as the country’s top culinary destination. You can taste that, especially in the tacos. The masa has the same earthy, handmade quality we remembered from our travels, which is the kind of detail that makes all the difference.
Starters That Include Ceviche, Tostadas… and Crickets
We started by pushing ourselves slightly out of our comfort zone with the Chilli-lime chapulines. That’s Spanish for crickets, FYI. They sound much more dramatic than they are and, honestly, they were more like toasted nuts than anything scary. Crisp, salty and just like what you can pick up at street-side stalls in Oaxaca.
The Zicatela Shrimp Ceviche was one of my favourite starters. It was fresh, citrusy and refreshing, with market shrimp, coriander, red onion and avocado. It had that sharpness you want before a table full of tacos.
We also had the Bluefin Tostada, which I can never resist ordering when I see it on a menu. There’s something about tuna that always feels a bit luxurious, and this one came on a really crisp tostada base with guacamole, lime and sesame.
Then came the Molotes de Plátano, which were beautiful to look at and even better to pull apart. They’re essentially croquettes, made with ripe plantain and sweet cheese, so you get this golden, crisp outside and a soft, sweet, melted centre. Definitely not easy to eat elegantly, but trust us, it’s worth the mess.
Tacos That Offer a Real Taste of Mexico
The tacos are the real reason to go. Compared to some of the other taco spots we’ve visited in London, you can feel the difference in the quality and the way they’re put together.
The Quesobirria Tacos were delicious, served with slow-braised beef, melted cheese and a deep, rich broth for dipping. Yet again, a messy one, but in the best possible way. You will need napkins.
The Fish Tacos were a real standout though. The pieces of fried fish were generous, with lime and a rich cream keeping everything bright and fresh.
We also tried the Mushroom & Aubergine Tacos, partly because we wanted to try something veggie too. The smoked mushrooms gave them a really good depth and richness, so even without meat, they still felt substantial.
Obviously, we had to order a few salsas on the side as well. The Tres Salsas come with red, green and Scotch bonnet chilli, and the Scotch bonnet one wasn’t as terrifying as it sounds, although that might just be because we both like spice. It added a nice hit of heat without overpowering everything.
Smokey Mezcal Cocktails are a Standout Part of the Experience
Drinks are just as big a part of the experience here. Little Fires is built around mezcal, the smoky Mexican agave spirit that is often compared to tequila, but has a much deeper, richer flavour. If you haven’t had much mezcal before, this is a really good place to try it properly.
I had the Pixante, a spicy tequila cocktail. I asked for mezcal to be added, which took me straight back to the mezcalitas we had in Oaxaca. It had that smoky, slightly earthy flavour that makes the drink feel instantly more interesting.
I also tried the Night Shift, their take on an Espresso Martini. It’s made with chilli cacao-washed tequila, mezcal, espresso and coffee liqueur. It was rich, smoky and almost chocolatey, with the kind of depth that makes it feel like a dessert in cocktail form.
They also do mezcal tastings, which is a nice touch if you want to understand it a bit more rather than just drinking it in cocktails. There are all sorts of different styles behind the bar, from more accessible bottles to smaller, more traditional pours, so you can get a proper taste of Mexico without leaving London. If you’re new to mezcal, it’s worth asking the team to talk you through a few different styles, as the range goes far beyond the standard smoky serve most people expect.
Don’t Leave Without Heading Downstairs for Music and More Cocktails
Home to The Listening Lounge, the basement has a completely different mood to upstairs. It’s darker, cosier and much more suited to late-night plans, with Mexican-inspired artwork, low lighting, comfy sofas, a private booth tucked away at the back and another bar, so you don’t have to keep running upstairs for drinks.
Little Fires has recently launched a proper weekly programme down there too, with Thursday night vinyl-led DJ sessions from 8pm. The music changes week to week, playing everything from funk, soul and disco to Afrobeat, Latin and deeper electronic sounds. On the night we visited, there was a really cool Afrobeat artist playing, and we ended up staying for a couple more hours, ordering another cocktail and sinking into the sofas. It felt like we’d been let into a secret underground gig.
For anyone missing Mexico, or just looking for decent tacos in East London, Little Fires is absolutely worth booking. Our recommendation is to come, settle in with a cocktail, order more tacos than you think you need, then head downstairs to round out the experience.
Book here.