Wahaca, Cardiff

The buzz of lively chatter paired with the clink of cocktails glasses, a sleek yet quirky decor spiked with a spicy aroma; the atmosphere in Cardiff’s newest eatery is the exciting and energetic venue that the city centre so desperately needed. 

Walking into Wahaca on a cold and blustery November’s eve, expectations were high for Master Chef contestant, Thomasina Miers, first Wahaca restaurant to open outside of London. The former L K Bennet store has well and truly been transformed into a modern, stylish and unique dining space. With an eruption of colour from wall to wall, and stand out features such as the never ending ceiling lamps, Wahaca provides not just a chic, but an engaging setting to enjoy a cocktail or two. 

Sitting down at a table on the ground floor, things were admittedly a little tight. Next door’s conversations was easily followable, however this added to the lively and sociable atmosphere of the place, perhaps not a great choice for an intimate date. Mirroring the decor, the Mexican inspired menu is just as animated and colourful. It’s pretty big, so if you’re indecisive prepare for a long hard think. Split into sections, the main options are either tapas style street food or big plates featuring South American classics. The large amount of choice can at first seem a little daunting, but the street food dishes provide the option to try a couple of things that have caught the eye. 

Service was quick, which matched the fast-paced feel of the restaurant, with some diners in and out for a quick bite to eat and others grazing on a plethora of plates whilst stretching out long conversations. Starting with the obligatory cocktail, the Wahaca mule (consisting of ginger beer, tequila and lime) was very fitting and perfectly balanced. To compliment the cocktails a few nibbles are always needed to please any rumbling stomachs and the frijoles and tortilla chips fit the bill perfectly. A smooth, rich and creamy black bean dip topped with  tangy cheese was the perfect match to the crunchy nachos. When it came to choosing the main course it had to be a selection of the street food dishes, as the scents and sounds spilling from the open kitchen were too tempting to settle for one option. 

The sweet potato and feta taquitos were definitely the stand out dish, with the warm sweet potato contrasting the crispy taquito and the salty tang of the feta, coming together to form a delicious exploration of flavours. The black bean and cheese quesadillas were also noteworthy, with the Wahaca smokey chipotle sauce added a spicy warmth to the comforting cheesy dish. Unfortunately the steak and cheese tacos were slightly disappointing, the meat was rich with heat and flavour, yet the tacos were limp and soggy. The duck taco special could of also done with being slightly warmer, as they arrived in a tepid state. 

However, these were only slight downfalls, and the dessert definitely brought the meal back up to the high standards expected. The soft yet crunchy churros, dusted with sugar and cinnamon, didn’t stand a chance when paired with a cup of decadent warm chocolate sauce. A perfectly indulgent pudding, if only there could of been more. Luckily the salted caramel ice-cream was ordered to compliment the churros, certainly a match made in heaven. The ice-cream was smooth and creamy, with a dark chocolate crunch pleasantly interrupting the sweet caramel flavour running throughout. Although the ice-cream was a little pricey at £4.25 for three small scoops. 

In all, Wahaca was a delight. The perfect restaurant for anyone with an adventurous palette and not too heavy on the purse strings either.