Lucho Martínez
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Luis "Lucho" Martínez |
| Headquarters | Mexico City , Mexico |
| Products | Modern Mexican cuisine with Japanese elements |
| Website | em |
Em is a fine dining establishment located in Colonia Roma, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico, that specializes in modern Mexican cuisine infused with Japanese elements. The restaurant presents daily à la carte selections alongside an eight- to nine-course tasting menu. Originally launched in 2018 by chef Luis "Lucho" Martínez under the name Emilia in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, the venue underwent a rebranding and relocation to Colonia Roma as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry. In 2024, Em was awarded one Michelin star in the first edition of the Michelin Guide for Mexico.
Description
Operating exclusively during dinner service, Em accommodates 52 guests and requires advance booking.[1][2] The restaurant offers both à la carte dishes and a chef-curated eight- to nine-course omakase tasting menu.[2][3] The à la carte options are refreshed weekly, whereas daily specials change every quarter.[1] Guests opting for the tasting menu are seated at the central bar, while those ordering à la carte are placed at surrounding tables.[2]
The culinary approach combines Mexican ingredients with Japanese cooking methods,[3] continuously evolving through seasonal produce to sustain innovation, as explained by Martínez.[4]
Noteworthy dishes include baby corn accompanied by caviar and from Ocosingo, Chiapas; an enoki mushroom dashi risotto; caramelized onion and chili garlic paired with shimeji mushrooms; sea bass served with parsley stem cream and white garlic sauce; lemon balm ice cream; and dark chocolate filled with sea salt and caramel, topped with konbu ice cream.[2] Additional signature plates feature mole with beef tongue, spicy chicken preparations, wagyu beef, and Petrossian caviar.[5]
History
Chef Luis "Lucho" Martínez, who previously gained experience at Quintonil, Máximo Bistrot, and Mia Domenicca, owns Em. His vision was to craft a unique Mexican dining concept distinct from establishments such as Pujol or Quintonil. In 2018, he inaugurated Emilia on Río Pánuco Street in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, naming it after his daughter. Collaborating with associate Ebo Kobayashi and Japanese designer Kanako Ishida, they developed an interior design featuring materials like copper, quarry stone, and marble. Following challenges posed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food industry, the restaurant was renamed Em and moved to Tonalá Street in Colonia Roma, taking over the former Máximo Bistrot location. Above this venue, Martínez also opened 686 Bar.
Reception
In the rankings by Time Out, Em placed fifteenth among Mexico City's twenty-three leading restaurants. Critic Regina Barberena awarded it five stars, emphasizing its global culinary character highlighted by inventive techniques and a variety of flavors. Guillaume Guevara described Em’s offerings as "high-end" yet more accessible compared to Pujol. Food journalist Marco Beteta endorsed the restaurant’s omakase experience. Juan Carlos Gamboa from Caras commended Martínez’s refined yet straightforward dishes. An author from El Universal praised the intense flavor profiles and overall dining pleasure.
When the Michelin Guide launched in Mexico in 2024, Em was distinguished with one Michelin star for delivering "high-quality cooking, worth a stop." The guide remarked that both à la carte and tasting menus present sophisticated and bold tastes distinctly. Em was one of seven Mexico City establishments awarded Michelin stars honored by Martí Batres, head of the city government, who presented chefs with an onyx statuette inspired by the pre-Hispanic sculpture The Young Woman of Amajac. This accolade acknowledges indigenous women’s influence on gastronomy while promoting tourism within Mexico City.
See also
- List of Japanese restaurants
- List of Mexican restaurants
- List of Michelin-starred restaurants in Mexico
- List of restaurants in Mexico
External links
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