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<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says
Thu Jul 26 2012
It can’t be easy for a café to stand out in Camden Market: there are scores of food stalls invading the West Yard at weekends.
Café Chula, however, draws in the punters with its little covered terrace and big window looking out on to the canal. The room has been repainted to give it a Mexican beach feel: faded blue, green and terracotta painted walls and 1950s diner bar stools.
The menu focuses on classic Mexican snacks – quesadillas, tacos, nachos and tortas (sandwiches with Mexican fillings). Fish tacos were excellent: crispy beer battered tilapia goujons came snuggled in soft corn shells, drizzled with a very spicy chipotle-lime mayo. But our hearts sank when we tasted the chicken quesadillas: while moist and bursting with a cheesy chicken filling, they lacked flavour. The steak tacos were better, comprising chargrilled meat cubes drizzled with an intriguing tomatillo salsa. The salsa tasted of garlic, lime and coriander, the tomatillo adding a grainy texture. Watery hot chocolate and overly crisp churros were a disappointing end to the meal – especially since decent versions of this dessert are available at neighbouring market stalls.
It’s worth seeking out Café Chula for its cocktails; margarita flavours include sour tamarind, and jalapeño and cucumber. If you opt for the grapefruit and habanero chilli margarita, however, you’d be well advised to supplement your order with a side of nachos and a generous blob of zingy guacamole to dampen its fiery punch.
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