Azul Frida - Barcelona Vegan-friendly Restaurant Review 2025

• Cuisine: Mexican
• Neighborhood: Poblenou and Raval
• Price: €€ 
• Vegan Status: Vegan-friendly
• My Favorite Dish: The Conchinita Pibil Burrito

Mexican food has become ubiquitous pretty much everywhere on the globe, yet it can still be difficult to find places that do it well. As an ancient cuisine that covers a wide-range of dishes with an intricate network of seasoning and spices, Mexican food can be challenging to execute, but Azul Frida succeeds with a harmony of flavors and flare.

As someone who grew up surrounded by delicious Mexican food around every corner, I consider my palate to be up-to-snuff in this culinary realm. From nachos to tacos to tortas to burritos, I can confirm that this gem of a restaurant will have you in heaven with each bite of their veganized Mexican classics.

What to Order at Azul Frida

Even though they serve meat, the menu offers plenty of vegan options. The burritos are usually my go-to, which I consider to be one of the best in Europe that I've tasted thus far. The place is heavy on simple, yet tasty hand-held authentic Mexican classics. The quality of the ingredients and the well-executed plates give a feeling that everything is made in-house. Although the vibe of the place is modern and hip, Azul Frida maintains a blend of upscale craft and homemade comfort in their food.

Appetizers

Starters and lighter bites include guacamole, vegan nachos, and a salad, which can be made vegan. A staple on most Mexican menus and now found all over the globe, the vegan nachos at Azul Frida don't disappoint. They come fully-loaded. Homemade tortilla chips topped with pico de gallo, guacamole, beans, and vegan cheeses. These little beauties are served with vegan sour cream and homemade vegan jalapeño and chipotle mayonnaises.

The guacamole is top notch, with a tangy zest that showcases the authentic Mexican flare that Azul Frida displays. The tortilla chips seemed homemade-and again, this is an accent that any serious Mexican eatery should have.

The ensalada texcoco is their take on a classic cactus salad. The nopales salad is mixed with pico de gallo and lime, and served on a bed of refried beans and crispy fried tortilla strips. This fresh and vibrant salad is garnished with guacamole. Just be sure to ask for the vegan option when ordering it.

Main Courses

The conchinita pibil burrito with added vegan cheese is my favorite, and it's a definite winner for anyone craving a serious vegan burrito. Each burrito is properly stuffed with textured soy that has been marinated in orange juice, achiote, and cinnamon, which is a detail that comes through in every bite. While not on the light side, they aren't so enormous that you feel overstuffed after eating.

The quesadillas are also fantastic. They are always super cheesy and full of ground vegan "beef". For something more bready, the tortas are hefty in both size and flavor and will have you feeling full and satisfied after finishing this massive sandwich.

Dips come in the traditional varieties; salsas. The green salsa is very mild, and the red salsa is spicy but nothing crazy hot. In fact, for me it could pack more a punch. On my recent visit to the Ravel location, there was a third hot sauce option which was more like an Asian chili crisp. Very oily and very spicy. I'm not sure if this is now also offered in Poblenou.

Desserts

Sorry, nothing to see here. More on that later.

What to Drink

One area where this restaurant really shines is their cocktail menu.

The Azul Frida de la casa is sinfully delicious, and this drink alone will have gastro-freaks coming back again and again. Doused with agave syrup, fresh grapefruit juice, lime, and all blended with a base of a fantastic Oaxacan mezcal. But the real star here is the Margarita Kahlo that comes with tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, and orange liquor. What the menu doesn't say is that it's topped with a cinnamon stick and rimmed with Tajin. My friend, upon trying the first sip, said, "It's like Christmas in a cup.". This marg is super special and tangy, cinnamony, slightly spicy, and downright delicious.

Stellar beer brands Modelo, Corona, and Alhambra are on offer for those who prefer to wash back their bites with a tasty cervez. They also have classic cocktails, lemonades, wine, coffee, and more.

The Downside of Azul Frida

As exceptional as Azul Frida is, there are a few places it could improve. Including the salsas. For me the spice lacked the kind of kick that I prefer. I get it, not all Mexican sauces are spicy. The flavor is spot on, but I would like to feel the heat from the peppers a bit more.

Another area where they are slightly lacking is with their sides. Considering Mexican cuisine consists of such a vast tapestry of veggies, it would be nice to have the option for a side of rice, beans, cactus, or chilis served in a variety of ways.

But where they are really falling short for vegans, is the absence of any vegan desserts on their menu. For me this could easily be solved by offering Mexican churros, which are usually naturally vegan, or veganized versions of Mexicans cookies or cakes.

Location, Location, Location: Poblenou or Ravel?

Azul Friday has two locations. Both serve exceptional vegan Mexican cuisine, but the restaurant in Poblenou has, by far, a better atmosphere. The Ravel location is tiny and can get incredibly loud. So, if you can hop on the metro, I suggest you opt for Poblenou.

Final Thoughts

Azul Frida hits the palate hard with their delicious hand-held classics like tacos, burritos, tortas and quesadillas, along with cocktails that are second to none.

They have certainly succeeded in offering authentic Mexican comfort food. Yet still, there is room for improvement on the vegan side of the menu, and some sweet treats and a few more veggie-oriented sides would definitely kick this place up a level for all vegan Mexican food lovers.

Putting aside the few drawbacks, Azul Frida is a knockout with their craft cocktails and zesty culinary classics, and they are definitely worth a visit for any vegan looking for Mexican bites in Barcelona.