In what must be one of the wettest Julys ever, when we headed to Durham a couple of weekends ago, I knew there was only one place that was going to bring sunshine in my life and that was Barrio Comida.
Located next to the River Wear, with a stunning view of Durham Cathedral, Barrio Comida is a hidden gem tucked away in the heart of the city, that captures the essence of authentic Mexican cuisine.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with the décor exuding a rustic charm, vibrant colours and traditional elements that transport you to Mexico City, which was ideal on a dull and rainy day, and the large windows offer a beautiful amount of natural light as well as offering a gorgeous view of the river and the cathedral.
Now onto the food, which was undoubtedly fabulous, Barrio Comida offers a Mexican street food experience- think Mexican ‘picky bits’, although the official term is Mexican Antojitos or ‘little cravings’.
The menu boasts all of the traditional Mexican dishes you’d expect to see, tacos, burritos and quesadillas, each prepared with incredible detail and the finest ingredients. Barrio Comida suggest ordering three small dishes or a burrito per person to form a meal, and as it was our first time visiting, we took their advice.
We started with some botnanas (snacks), to share between the two of us, Chicharron, which are puffed pork rinds and totopos, corn chips. I’d seen Chicharron on my Tiktok for you page a lot, so when I had scanned the menu the night before I knew I wanted to try these, and they did not disappoint. The seasoning was the perfect mix of spicy and salty, and the light, puffed texture of the pork rinds was perfectly crisp. And I couldn’t complain about the portion size, there was more than enough for the two of us.
The totopos were equally as tasty. I’m a big fan of tortilla chips, even going as far as to say that they’re my favourite type of crisp, and these surpassed my expectations. My only complaint would be that they didn’t come with a dip as standard and these had to be ordered at an extra cost. Nonetheless, we polished off the lot!
Now I’m a self-confessed taco lover and I’d been desperate to try Barrio Comida on the recommendation of friends because of how good the tacos here are, so as you can imagine my expectations were high. The taco selection was a feast for the senses, offering something to suit everybody’s tastes. I went for carnitas (slow-cooked pork), birria (braised beef with consome) and camaron (Baja-style fried prawns).
The tacos come on heirloom corn tortillas with all the trimmings, and the perfectly cooked meats and array of toppings compliment one another harmoniously. I was expecting the birria taco to be my favourite given the hype I’d built up in my head, but surprisingly it was the camaron tacos that stole the show. The perfectly fried prawns were tender and had the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours that left me craving more.
I have to give a special mention to the drinks menu. Offering traditional Mexican favourites like tequila and mezcal for the more adventurous of diners- to perfectly delightful, handcrafted cocktails and beers, there’s something to satisfy everyone’s tastebuds. As it was Saturday and they had a happy hour, we treated ourselves to a Tijuana Vice, half mango daiquiri, half pina colada. It complimented the food perfectly and delivered that taste of summer I was craving.
I had heard that Barrio Comida can be extremely busy, so we had booked a table in advance, however, it was very quiet and we were the only people in the restaurant at the time. However, that wasn’t a negative for us. Service was quick, the staff were friendly and helpful, and we managed to bag a seat near the window.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable Mexican dining experience in Durham, then Barrio Comida is an absolute must. Delectable dishes, top-notch service and an inviting ambience make it a destination not to be missed.
It was refreshing to leave a meal feeling full and satisfied without feeling like we were going to explode, and we’ll be returning to indulge in more mouthwatering tacos, Mexican snacks, and cocktails.
The Details:
34 Church Street
Durham
DH1 3DG
Ratings:
Service: 8
Surroundings: 9
Food Quality: 9
Value for money: 7
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