An Ode to WAHACA – A Multi-Coloured Mexican Foodie Haven

I’ve been to a production at the Old Vic Theatre recently – to see The Brightening Air (which I thoroughly recommend!)  Only showing until June 14^th so I urge you – hurry and get tickets!

My fellow theatre go-er and I fancied a quick bite before the show, so we settled on Wahaca which I have to say was an excellent choice. It is a vibrant Mexican haven – and just a hop, skip, and a spicy salsa step away from the Old Vic.

So, here’s the lowdown — in full technicolour, of course!

🌈 Bright & Bold Interiors

Walk in and WOW! It’s a colourful, playful interior that brightens your mood the moment you walk in. Think reclaimed wood, funky neon lighting, exotic plants, vibrant jewel tone paint colours and fun, fun, fun!

We arrived early and were lucky to have the place (and wait staff!) to ourselves. By the time we were leaving, it was packed and looking very lively indeed!

🌍 Eating with Heart: Wahaca’s Green Ethos

Here’s the kicker: this restaurant is not just colourful theatre — Wahaca is a genuine ecohero, and they’ve got the credentials to back it up:

• Carbon-neutral since 2016 — first major UK chain to nail it, and they offset their footprint via projects like Mexican cookstoves and Oaxaca wind farms
• Farming with soul — freerange meats, grassfed beef, regenerativefarmed produce (cutting beef emissions by ~60% and overall emissions by ~11%)
• Waste not, want not — binfractions via Recorra with ~80% recycling rates, composting, converting food scraps into biogas, and used cooking oil turned into biofuel
• Packaging with purpose — biodegradable bagasse boxes, zeroplastic trays, and plantbased takeaway containers
• Foodprint transparency — every dish is labelled low/medium/high in carbon emissions on their menu, helping diners make planetkind choices
• Award-winning climate champion — crowned the “greenest restaurant chain in Britain” by Which?, scoring top marks in resources, sourcing, waste, transparency, and targets

🌮 What to Expect on the Plate

Expect a menu that’s more than 50% plant-based, dotted with sizzling vegetarian tacos, vibrant tostadas, and quesodrizzled rounds of joy.  But if you fancy a bit of carnitas, fear not, it’s all pasture-fed, regenerative, and thoughtfully sourced.

Got dietary needs? They’ve got you – clearly marked menus and helpful staff make it easy to navigate for gluten-free, vegan, or allergy-conscious eaters.

It’s delicious, it’s conscientious, it’s fast – perfect for the soul as well as pre-theatre dining, a group gather or just mid-week cheer.

Bravo to Wahaca! And Salud to you!