The background

When two iconic cuisines are combined, housed in a beautiful London location and spearheaded by award-winning entrepreneur Markus Thesleff, Los Mochis is the result. The Notting Hill restaurant and bar is the epitome of gastronomic fusion, combining Mexican and Japanese cuisine in a casual fine dining atmosphere.

The space

Los Mochis is situated on a typically pretty Notting Hill street, tucked away just off the main road. We arrive on a warm evening and the full-length bi-fold windows are pulled back, creating an alfresco dining atmosphere that enables the buzz of happy, hungry customers to spill out onto the street.

Stepping inside the restaurant, we are greeted with an industrial-chic aesthetic of exposed brick walls and wooden tables. The décor, however, is the true talking point. The walls and ceilings drip with an abundance of lush green ivy, while Mexican-themed murals adorn the walls. We are seated in an intimate, atmospherically lit room and begin with a drink – it’s the perfect setting for a Monday-evening date.

The menu

Chef Leo, alongside Markus Thesleff, has designed a menu that pays homage to both Mexican and Japanese cuisine. Throughout the nine-course tasting menu, tantalisingly reminiscent of tapas, we enjoy the cultural fusion at play as tacos meet maki rolls and salsa meets sesame.

The menu kicks off with guacamole and crunchy tortilla chips preparing our appetites for the upcoming feast. This comprises sea bass ceviche smothered in shiso-truffle soy and yuzu tobiko; crispy California tostaditos; pato on crispy rice (arguably the star dish); beetroot tiradito; and cucumber avocado maki. Each plate boasts evidence of Japanese and Mexican culinary techniques while the textures and flavours effortlessly merge to form a punchy, moreish kick.

It wouldn’t be a Mexican fusion restaurant without tacos. With over 15 different varieties featured on the à la carte menu, we are treated to the ‘trailer park’ chicken and the yakiniku taco. The former employs predominantly Mexican flavours: spicy fried chicken, fresh guacamole, jalapeño BBQ sauce, blended with hints of Japan via fiery habanero gochujang and sesame parsnip crisps – while the latter leans more towards the east with a mix of sesame-soy steak, chilli-ginger honey, coriander and mint cress.

Rounding off the meal is a warm, velvety matcha and white-chocolate blondie. Topped with creamy coconut sorbet, it’s a perfect ending to the stomach-stretching spread.

The bill

The tasting menu is £85pp, excluding drinks.

The verdict

A vibrant yet intimate restaurant, there is no doubt that Los Mochis is a firm favourite among London diners. The tasting menu is guaranteed to create a superlative dining experience, ensuring you enjoy a range of Japanese and Mexican dishes. So, pick a partner and head west to discover what all the fuss is about.

2-4 Farmer Street, London W8 7SN; losmochis.co.uk