Pinche Pinche Chapel Allerton review: A relaxed Mexican eatery which lets the authentic street food sing

It specialises in Mexican street food and I tried the nachos during lockdown; they were delicious and I was keen to find out what else was on offer here.

There are currently just four tables in the restaurant and the decor is colourful but unfussy, with Mexican-inspired art and printed cushions. It was empty when I visited with a friend for an early dinner and we were warmly greeted by staff who brought us a jug of water, a nice touch on a hot day.

The menu includes Mexican tapas, burritos and a children’s menu, with lots of veggie, vegan and gluten-free options. The drinks menu is small but there’s still something for everyone; I had the refreshing Fritz orangeade, while my friend went for a mojito.

We were advised to choose two to three tapas dishes each, so we ordered the nachos to share, followed by the crunchy chicken wings and fish tacos for my friend, and the mojo mushroom quesadillas and a side of Mexican rice, plantain and salsa verde for myself.

The nachos were, again, a knockout - the perfect balance of Pinche Pinche’s rich homemade nacho cheese, with fresh sour cream, heat from the Pico de Gallo (Mexican salsa) and bursts of coriander and spring onion.

My mushroom quesadillas were packed with cheese and the tortillas had kept their bite. Once cooled they became a little chewy, but dipping them into the delicious pot of salsa verde saved them. My £3.95 side was enough to feed a crowd; the aromatic rice was the perfect accompaniment to the sweet, sticky plantain.

My friend loved the fish tacos, the grilled sea bass fell apart and came with fennel slaw, potato skins and Chipotle aioli. Her crunchy chicken wings drizzled with Chipotle salsa were also a hit and the portion sizes were extremely generous.

The dishes were served on bamboo plates with a fresh garnish, either salad or salsa, which balanced the richness of some of the food. It was brilliant value for money - our total bill came to under £35.

If you’re after a relaxed restaurant with no gimmicks, where the authentic food speaks for itself, then Pinche Pinche is well worth a visit.

Factfile:

Address: 116 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton LS7 4NY

Telephone: 0113 268 1110

Opening hours: Tues-Sat, 4.30-9pm

Website: www.pinchepinche.com

Scores:

Food: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Service: 6/10