Key Points
- Location and Atmosphere: Wild Thing Colombian Coffee is located in West Ealing, west London, with an interior that features hanging plants, paintings, coffee bags, and music of cumbia.
- Halal Innovations: They serve Colombian traditional empanadas, arepas, and breakfast and dinner plates and are proud of the halal menu they offer in their restaurant.
- Cultural Connections: As explained by the director, Mauricio Silva, the traditional method of animal sacrifice in Colombia is similar to the halal process in that they show reverence for nature.
- Ethical and Sustainable Coffee: The cafe is known for its commitment to ethical and sustainable coffee sourcing right from the producers in Colombia, and their signature Wild Campesino coffee costs £3.40.
- Diverse Community Approach: Director Mauricio Silva explains that the cafe seeks to bring diverse communities together through sharing of food, culture, and conversation.
uk/local/ealing/west-ealing/">West Ealing (West London Times) — September 16, 2026 — Nestled towards the end of a bustling shopping street in West Ealing, west London, and positioned opposite a branch of Chaiiwala, stands Wild Thing Colombian Coffee. As reported by special correspondent Samir Jeraj of Hyphen, the cafe, bar, and restaurant has meticulously curated an atmosphere that transports patrons thousands of miles away from the British capital, featuring hanging plants, vibrant paintings, coffee sacks, and traditional cumbia music playing softly in the background.
What Makes Wild Thing Colombian Coffee a Unique London Establishment?
Beyond its immersive aesthetic, the business reflects the quintessential multicultural identity of London through its distinct culinary offerings. As detailed by Samir Jeraj of Hyphen, the venue provides a robust halal menu, most notably featuring its signature empanadas. Empanadas, which trace their roots back to 7th-century Spain and are found across southern Europe and north Africa, are traditionally baked or fried pastry turnovers filled with cheese or meat. In Latin America, however, they have found their strongest cultural association. The Colombian variation typically utilises a cornmeal dough that, when deep-fried, achieves a crisp exterior.
Wild Thing Colombian Coffee serves arepas, larger breakfast and dinner plates, and empanadas with fillings including cheese, chicken, beef, and kidney beans. Clear markings on the menu indicate halal items, such as chicken and beef arepas and empanadas. As noted by Samir Jeraj of Hyphen, ordering three beef empanadas costs £10.50, and they are served alongside aji picante—an assertive salsa consisting of tomato, onion, chilli, coriander, and lime.
Why Did the Cafe Introduce a Halal Menu?
Addressing the inclusion of halal options, Mauricio Silva, director of Wild Thing Colombian Coffee, stated to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen that
“London is a multicultural community, we didn’t want the Muslim community to miss our product.”
Beyond serving a diverse customer base, Mauricio Silva highlighted a deeper cultural alignment, explaining to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen that
“We originally cooked all our food based on Colombian traditions. One of our traditions is that we do the sacrifice of the cow in a similar way to how you do in the halal tradition.”
These time-honoured practices involve treating the animal with respect and expressing gratitude to Mother Earth.
Mauricio Silva expressed immense pride to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen in establishing Wild Thing Colombian Coffee as the first venue in London to offer traditional empanadas tailored for halal diners, viewing it as an essential step in fostering a welcoming environment for all communities. While the Muslim population within Colombia itself remains minor—accounting for less than 0.1% of the country’s 54 million residents—Islam has maintained a historical presence across Latin America for centuries, beginning with enslaved people from the African continent and later bolstered by a Lebanese diaspora that includes prominent figures such as the Colombian singer Shakira.
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How Does the Cafe Source Its Coffee and Promote Sustainability?
In addition to its food, Wild Thing Colombian Coffee places a strong emphasis on serving Colombia’s national drink. Mauricio Silva outlined to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen his collaborative efforts with coffee producers in Colombia to champion environmentally sustainable business practices and introduce their harvests to an international market.
As explained by Mauricio Silva to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen,
“We want everyone from every different culture to know that the coffee has gone a long way before it comes to the first sip. The hands involved from the moment of the plantation to the growth to the benefit of the coffee.”
Highlighting a personal recommendation, Samir Jeraj of Hyphen noted that the Wild Campesino coffee costs £3.40 and draws inspiration from rural farming traditions in Colombia, being served very strong while flavoured with cinnamon and sweetened with sugarcane. Concluding on the overarching ethos of the establishment, Mauricio Silva stated to Samir Jeraj of Hyphen,
“We are trying to be a little more multicultural and invite everybody.”
Background of the Particular Development
The integration of diverse cultural cuisines within major metropolitan hubs like London has accelerated significantly over recent decades, reflecting demographic shifts and evolving consumer demands. While traditional diaspora dining has historically catered primarily to specific ethnic or national communities, contemporary food entrepreneurship increasingly focuses on cross-cultural synthesis.
The adaptation of Latin American staples—such as Colombian empanadas—to meet dietary requirements like halal is part of a broader culinary movement in the United Kingdom. This movement bridges cultural gaps by accommodating religious dietary laws without compromising traditional recipes, thereby reflecting the cosmopolitan character of urban food scenes.
