I tried Darlington's newest Mexican restaurant Casa del Alma

Whether it's nachos, burritos, or tacos, Mexican food is always brimming with fresh, tasty, and vibrant flavours and often packs a punch - so what’s not to like?

After visiting earlier this month ahead of the opening, I visited Casa del Alma, which took over from the former Posh Street Food, to have a taste for myself and see if the jam-packed menu lived up to expectations. 

The venue has truly been transformed - with customers being greeted by eye-popping colours, bright sombreros, and cactus silhouettes as they step into their own little pocket of Mexico right off Skinnergate. 

How Casa del Alma looks inside (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The menu also boasts a massive variety - with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and other specialty dishes up for grabs alongside a range of snacks and sides. 

It might have only been open a few days when I first visited on August 16, but it looked like the kitchen was well into the swing of things, with the friendly staff quick to take our order. 

I decided to go for the burrito aptly titled Casa del Alma, which translates to House of Soul and is filled with a mix of chicken, beef, and pork. 

It’s also packed full of shredded cabbage, fresh chillies, aroso rice, guacamole, salsa fresca and coriander and is all tied up in a soft handmade tortilla wrap. 

We were a big fan of the dips (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

I was apprehensive at first that the dish didn’t come with chips or another type of side - but after arriving I ate my own words after seeing the burrito joined by a trio of delicious dips. 

The burrito was packed full of flavour, with a generous amount of meat balanced with the fresh vegetables and sauces. 

The dips alone were enough to get excited about, with the spiced salsa adding a little kick to the dish and the citrus-inspired sour cream cooling things down. 

Also, a welcome addition was the guacamole - with the three dips combined allowing for a delicious explosion in the mouth. 

The venue is filled with eye-popping decor (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The burrito came to a total of £14.95, so at the pricier end of the spectrum. But I would argue it was a reasonable price considering the jam-packed tortilla, fresh flavours, and the overall service, with warm and attentive staff adding to the experience. 

Chef Matei Baran, the mastermind behind the operation and a MasterChef quarter-finalist, also came over to check in on our food. 

I was lucky to attend with my amigos (I’m really sticking with the theme here) Nick and Daniel, who also couldn’t resist the Casa del Alma burritos. 

Daniel - who was quick to criticise after watching me and Nick cut our tortillas in half - was thrilled: “The warm tortilla was packed with flavourful meat, rice and more. 

“The flavour combinations Mexican cuisine is famed for were bursting in my mouth on the streets of Darlington.”

However, he did say the dish could have been improved with a side - saying fries or a few tortilla chips would have added to the plate and provided a different texture, which I agree with. 

I didn't even get a chance to try the amazing varieties of tequila on offer - but could have spent an extra ten minutes browsing all the offerings and might have to pop back to give one or two a go...

For those wanting to visit, the venue could be once again changed within five months, as part of Chef Baran’s concept to keep bringing new culinary offerings to Darlington. 

I think this is a fantastic idea - and means Darlington gets to see a wide variety of cuisine that has not yet graced the town, or that needs a stronger presence. 

So will I be back to Casa del Alma? Ciertamente.