If you’re searching for the best Mexican the city has to offer, Zapote in Shoreditch is a must. Opened by Chef Yahir González, the restaurant blends authentic Mexican ingredients with modern techniques, serving flawlessly executed small plates.
The interior strikes a balance between industrial-chic and relaxed. Concrete floors and a vast space are softened by wooden banquettes, hanging greenery, potted cacti, and warm accents. Tortillas are made in-house daily from native Mexican corn, and some ingredients are sourced directly from González’s family farm in Mexico.
The cocktail list leans towards tequila and mezcal based drinks, and every one we tried was excellent. Two that we found especially impressive were the Zapote 70, made with tequila, mezcal, orgeat and lemon, and the El Corazon, featuring jalapeno infused tequila, Laphroaigh whisky, yellow bell pepper and pineapple.
The predominantly small-production, France and Spain-focused natural wine list is another highlight, with thoughtful selections intended to pair effortlessly with the modern Mexican cuisine.
Some of the standout dishes to us were the roasted corn (a refined version of classic street food), the chargrilled scallop (served in its shell with Clamato) and the grilled octopus. For us the crème de la crème was tuna tostada, featuring delicate yellowfin tuna with spicy crab on a crisp tostada.
We love Shoreditch, but many of our recent experiences at its more well-known restaurants have made us feel the Shoreditch dining scene has peaked. Zapote is reinventing Shoreditch dining and is solidly in our top 10 favorite London restaurants right now — not to be missed.
Zapote, 70 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QX
Note: Zapote provided support for the reporting of this story.