Santo Remedio in Hackney

We’ve all been to that grubby Mexican place that serves virtually inedible tacos or burritos with green mush and unidentifiable meat. The newly opened Santo Remedio in East London is the exact opposite of this stereotype and demonstrates that it is indeed locally sourced and rare ingredients that create the authentic Mexican cuisine we should recognise.

The restaurant space itself is divided into two parts: while the downstairs area is devoted to dining exclusively, the upstairs functions as a bar where smaller dishes are served and one can enjoy a small range of speciality cocktails to shorten the wait. While the some of the cocktails are may be a little too experimental for traditional tastes, the margaritas were excellent and were a tribute to the freshness the restaurant is trying to achieve.

Though the menu is relatively small, Santo Remedio caters to every taste; vegetarians as well as carnivores will find plenty options. There is a selection of appetising traditional starters and nibbles, notably the guacamole, which is recommended. Both presentation and flavour are excellent and one can really taste the effort that has gone into making it. This dish is accompanied by blue corn chips, which somehow manage to improve it still further.

Santo Remedio in general have devoted themselves to finding and sourcing such rare ingredients to keep them from dying out. They’ve joined the Slow Food movement and everything they serve is made in-house, from scratch, with meats are sourced locally. This was especially evident in the rich Pork Carnitas Tacos. And even amid their commitment to slow food, the service is fast and friendly. Wait times are barely existent and the staff takes extra care to accommodate special needs.

The rest of Santo Remedio’s menu is divided into “street food” and “mains”. The street food options are comprised of traditional fare such as tacos or quesadillas that have been given a twist with special ingredients such as pink pickled onion or artisanal Gringa Dairy Chihuahua cheese. While the combination doesn’t always quite work on its own and sometimes lacks kick, the effort is still impressive. The absolute highlight is the Baby Potato Flautas, a rolled taco filled with crushed baby potatoes, jalapeño, coriander and lime juice, and topped with avocado salsa.

Overall, Santo Remedio is highly recommendable for any lover of Mexican cuisine or anyone looking for a more authentic taste experience.

Luisa Kapp
Photos: Paul Gambin

★★★★★

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To book a table at Santo Remedio 22 Rivington Street London EC2A 3DY visit here.