The Mexican group has confirmed its new Test Kitchen restaurant will open in Shoreditch on 27 November with the aim of developing different ideas and recipes.
Similar to the recently launched Wagamama Noodle Lab, the site will see diners give immediate feedback on dishes using a digital tablet.
Several restaurant groups including Jamie’s Italian and Brasserie Blanc have been trialling instant feedback this year using the Yumpingo menu development app
Miers, who co-founded Wahaca with Mark Selby in 2007 two years after winning MasterChef, says the site will help the group ‘push the boundaries’ of Mexican food.
“Wahaca has always been at the forefront of innovation, bringing new Mexican dishes to the UK, and after ten years we’re hugely excited to have this new Test Kitchen to help us continue to push the boundaries and find new ways to explore the incredible variety of vibrant flavours and ingredients from Mexico’s extraordinary range of cuisines,” says Miers.
New dishes on trial will include blackened cauliflower tacos with cashew nut mole; Market Boards for sharing; and whole roast sea bream with al ajilo butter and kohlrabi slaw.
Selby told BigHospitality’s sister site MCA earlier this year that Wahaca was considering experimenting with more higher end menu items at the test kitchen after the success of its collaborations with top Mexican chefs.
The company is no stranger to turning to the public for feedback, in 2015 Wahaca asked customers on social media to offer their opinions on a ‘beta version’ of its summer menu using #BetaEater.
PizzaExpress has also used its Richmond site as a ‘Living Lab’ to trial ideas such as noise-reducing ceiling domes and open pizza kitchens.