Not too long ago, London’s taco scene was basically non-existent. The closest you could get was a bag of Doritos and a vivid imagination.
Times have changed.
Now we have a cornucopia of genuinely great taco joints to pick from, which is what makes a place like Lucia’s all the more special – because it manages to stand out from a crowd that’s brimming with talent, money and flavour, and do it without any fancy gimmicks or big financial backing. Just great cooking, a buzzing atmosphere, and a real sense of fun…
The space itself is right outside Hackney Wick station, in the graffiti-soaked micro-neighbourhood running alongside the canal that’s also home to CRATE Brewery, Barge East, and All My Friends. Step inside and the energy is palpable, from the giddy hum of chatter to the tantalising sizzle of the grill. It’s a tiny space, with just ten seats gathered along the slender bar that’s wedged between you and the open kitchen, and another ten outside. That means that it is, more or less, perpetually full and each one of those seats is, more or less, perpetually occupied. But fear not, the barstool does not wed for life, and if you grab a drink and wait in the courtyard, you’ll soon be inhaling tacos.
Speaking of, the menu is a reassuringly succinct affair with a dozen or so options in total, and they appear to have nailed each one. Each taco comes in a pair, and you can get the likes of meaty monkfish which come topped with a zesty flourish of orange & habanero, or conchita pork with a smoky & earthy pibil marinate. If you fancy though, you can build your own tacos, with a plateful of condiments and an entire scorched seabass, some melt-in-your-mouth steak, slices of lamb rump, or whole batons of bone marrow.
In terms of dessert, there’s just one option – chilli chocolate truffles rolled fresh, right in front of you, and made with 64% manjera chocolate from South Africa that’s been given a fiery kick from the chilli. And they’re just plain delicious…
…no imagination required.
NOTE: Lucia’s is open now, Weds-Sun. There are no bookings. If you want to, you can check out the fairly empty official Lucia’s website.
Lucia’s | 43 Whitepost Lane, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN
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