Gourmaze; The Taco Trade

When planning a day out in London, the options can feel endless so finding something that combines exploring and eating always feels like a win to me! That’s exactly why we returned to Gourmaze, this time tackling their Taco Trade adventure through Shoreditch for a treasure hunt packed with riddles, code-cracking and, most importantly, tacos!

Once at our starting location at a pub near Liverpool Street, we were introduced to Señor Sombra. He would be in charge for the afternoon to fed us riddles, cryptic instructions, and coded clues to guide us through the streets of Shoreditch as we attempted to uncover El Jaguar’s secret cartel operations and track down tacos.

All clues are delivered via Whatsapp and while all of the team can have visibility of the clues on their own devices if you wish, the team leader is the only one who can respond. The puzzles were clever without being impossible. We definitely had to reread a few clues and look a little closer at our surroundings, but that’s part of the fun. Every correct answer unlocked the next hidden stop, pulling us deeper into the story and further across East London. At each stage you have the option to 'Decode Directions' for some help if you're lost or hit 'I just want food' to skip directly to the delicious treats! Incorrect answers, asking for help or simply skipping to the food stop will add time to your final score if you are competitive!

Over the course of roughly three hours, we tracked down two handpicked taco spots and one Argentinian street snack location — you food at each is included in the price (drinks can be purchased at the stops). I won’t spoil where they are (half the fun is discovering them), but each stop felt distinct, different and thoughtfully chosen.

As with our previous Gourmaze experience, the staff at each venue were fully in on the game — and delivering the correct phrase to secure your food felt both slightly dramatic and deeply satisfying. There’s a tiny moment of “I hope we’re right” every time you step inside. Whilst you enjoy your food, the timer pauses so you don't have to rush your tacos to protect your time on the leader board.

The food we enjoyed was all flavour-packed, and beautifully messy in the best possible way - take wet wipes! We were pleasantly full from our dishes and loved every discovery we made on the day. Vegetarian and vegan options are available at every stop, which makes it an easy group activity regardless of dietary needs. Between dishes, we discovered hidden areas of Shoreditch’s streets, soaking up the energy of the area as the story unfolded and bookmarking places to come back to.

The route finishes near Old Street, making it ideal for continuing your evening or locating transport if needed.

The whole Gourmaze genuinely feels like a cross between an escape room and a street food crawl. You’re not just walking from restaurant to restaurant — you’re following a fun narrative storyline. With around 2.5 miles of walking across around three hours, it’s enough to feel like you’ve explored without being exhausting — and the built-in food breaks keep energy levels high.

Gourmaze remains a perfect alternative London day out. If you love tacos, solving riddles, and the satisfaction of cracking codes as a team, this is one London adventure worth signing up for.

Cost: £44.99 per person & 2-6 people per team.

Time: It's estimated to take roughly 2-3 hours depending on your breaks & puzzle solving skills! Prebooking essential! Remember to factor in paying for some additional drinks in your budget  - you won't want to miss them!

Nearest Tube Station: Liverpool Street (start)/Old Street (end)

Website: Gourmaze

Date: June 2025