Zapote

In Shoreditch, Zapote brings contemporary Mexican cooking to East, weaving British seasonal produce with the primal pull of open fire. Head chef Yahir Gonzalez steers a kitchen where flames kiss heritage corn and smoke lends depth, all within an ornate yet rustic room that hums with energy. It is both polished and playful, a place where technique meets tradition and the grill takes centre stage.

The menu charts a bright, textural journey. Crisp totopos and guacamole make way for yellowfin tuna and spicy crab tostada, while red prawn ceviche with pistachio, fermented lemon and kumquat brings zesty intrigue. Tacos arrive with swagger: duck leg with chipotle, tamarind and pineapple, or lamb barbacoa with spiced chickpeas, each bite balancing sweetness, heat and a lick of smoke.

Larger plates lean into the live fire’s drama, from coal roasted venison loin with mole negro, plantain and kale to chargrilled monkfish with squid tamal and tomatillo. Vegetables are given star treatment too, think coal roasted sweet potato with chipotle mayo or roasted corn dusted in recado negro. To finish, comforts and decadence share the spotlight, from rice pudding with dulce de leche ice cream to a dark chocolate and coffee mezcal ganache paired with raspberry sorbet. Book a table, follow the flames, and let Shoreditch turn up the heat.