West Ham supporters tuning in to the club’s latest digital series might suddenly feel a pang of hunger— and it’s not just for Premier League points.
West Ham midfield dynamo Edson Alvarez has whisked captain Jarrod Bowen a couple of streets from London Stadium to sample the fiery flavours of Lucias, Hackney Wick’s tiny temple to Mexican cooking, in the newest episode of Lyca Mobile’s “Hotspots.”
A taste of Mexico steps off the District line
The assignment sounded simple: find authentic tacos on the doorstep of E20. Yet Alvarez, fondly hailed as ‘El Machin’ (the machine) back home, wasn’t settling for tourist-friendly tortillas.
Lucias—an open-fire, hole-in-the-wall cantina—came recommended for smoky mezcal and tortillas that flop in your hand like a well-worn match programme. One whiff of the charred corn and Bowen knew he wasn’t in Stratford anymore.
Bowen gets schooled in the taco arts
Head chef Jomard Kurdi rolled out Lucias’ greatest hits: carnitas dripping with citrus, earthy barbacoa and a salsa that could register on VAR.
Alvarez peppered the tasting session with stories of bustling Mexico City taquerias and, ever the team-player, offered Bowen a quick clinic on folding a taco without structural collapse.
The verdict? A unanimous thumbs-up. “Footballers can be fussy,” Kurdi joked off-camera, “but these two tackled everything I threw at them.”
Cinco de Mayo release, community focus
Timed for the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, episode two spotlights the capital’s Latino heartbeat while reinforcing the club’s pledge to local culture.
It’s the very purpose of the ‘hotspots’ concept—stitching football, food and community into one tidy tassel of East London pride.
Viewers can stream the encounter across West Ham’s social channels, and perhaps discover their own post-match refuelling station in the process.
More than a meal: partnership on a plate
Lyca Mobile and West Ham United have been dialled into each other for more than a decade, baking community projects from Barking to Bow.
This campaign goes beyond an entertaining webisode; it hands small businesses a global megaphone and reminds fans that the club’s reach stretches further than the penalty area.
Hungry for more?
Catch the full episode of Hotspots on West Ham’s digital platforms now, and learn more about the long-running partnership at the club’s official site.
