The best tacos in London

Despite starting out in a relatively remote part of London and working within a cramped space with only a few seats at the counter, Homies on Donkeys rose to the top of the taco heap thanks to the chef Smokey's creative blending of authentic ingredients. They've since moved to a bigger, brighter venue in Leytonstone, serving lunch and dinner in a space adorned with graffiti, pumping out a banging hip hop soundtrack as they go about their business.

Tacos Padre, located in Borough Market, is a Mexican eatery and taqueria that draws inspiration from chef Nicholas Fitzgerald's extensive travels across Mexico. The establishment strives to deliver authentic tastes to London, with a straightforward menu that includes an assortment of tacos, snacks, small plates, and sharable platters. Anticipate an array of mouth-watering flavours such as roasted sweet potato, guacamole, and carne asada.

Breddos Tacos began as a pop-up establishment before settling into its first permanent location. The trendy taqueria is influenced by the founders' journeys across Mexico and the United States, and utilises top-notch British ingredients to create an array of Mexican favourites, including tacos and burritos. You can enjoy your meal to the backdrop of a vinyl soundtrack, complemented by an impressive selection of beer, tequila, cocktails, and mezcal.

For an authentic Mexican dining experience with a lively ambiance, Mestizo is the go-to destination for many a Londoner. The fine selection of Mexican cuisine on offer here includes tacos with a wide range of fillings, with different beef, lamb, chicken, pork and veggie options all available. If you're having a hard time choosing or you're very particular about your tacos, you can order the DIY taco tray, which comes with four fillings and an array of salsas, guacamole and other condiments.

Serving food in a vibrant, authentic atmosphere, complete with live mariachi music on select days, Mezcalito is the place to go to get your fill of tacos, thanks to their Bottomless Taco Tuesday offer. For a fixed price, you get two hours to stuff as many of these delicious bites into your mouth as you can, choosing between five different fillings – chicken, beef, pork, prawn or mushroom. For added indulgence, there's a 2-for-1 offer on frozen margaritas all night as well.

Decimo, the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias, is a highly sought-after destination for sophisticated Mexican fare that incorporates Spanish influences. There aren't many different tacos to choose from at this luxurious restaurant ten floors above King's Cross, but the premium takes are sure to satisfy even the most demanding of patrons. They're part of the late-night and Saturday brunch menus as well.

DF Tacos is the go-to destination for Londoners seeking contemporary and chic Mexican cuisine, with multiple restaurants situated throughout the city. The menu boasts more than just tacos, featuring an extensive selection of fillings to choose from, as well as options such as burritos with your choice of meat or mushrooms, rice or salad bowls, and shareable plates like nachos. Dine in style and unwind in the trendy ambiance, sipping on a frosty margarita or beer.

Café Pacifico offers a broad menu of classic Mexican dishes in a traditional cantina setting. Their taco menu features fillings like grilled pork, sea bass, duck, and chorizo, among others. They also offer vegan, gluten-free, and children's menus. The restaurant has a concise wine list, but customers can also choose from classic cocktails, margaritas, and cocktail pitchers with tequila or rum. Café Pacifico is a great destination for families and larger groups and has a strong focus on Mexican cuisine and culture.

Yucca is an authentic and award-winning Tex-Mex restaurant in Fulham that offers a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere with traditional flavours. The menu includes classic starters, street food bites, main courses, and plant-based options. The drinks list offers a variety of signature cocktails, Mexican beers, and wines from different regions. The restaurant has an outdoor terrace for al fresco dining and is decorated with murals and authentic touches. 

La Chingada is a vibrant and relaxed Mexican eatery that prides itself on using only the freshest local and organic ingredients to create its delicious food. Many are raving that they serve the best tacos in London. Their menu features a selection of classic Mexican dishes, including cheesy quesadillas, hearty burritos, and an array of authentic tacos. Don't forget to sample their imported soft drinks from Mexico to complete your dining experience.

El Pastor is comprised of several London-based taquerias that specialise in serving up delectable bites on fresh, house-made tortillas. This relaxed establishment even welcomes dogs, creating a laid-back atmosphere for all. The menu boasts an abundance of classic taco fillings, such as mushroom, chicken, and al pastor. The bar offers a selection of wine, cocktails, and mezcal to perfectly complement your meal.

Santo Remedio boasts two locations in London: a restaurant in London Bridge and a café in Shoreditch. They're known for serving some of the best Mexican food in the city. The menus at both locations are carefully crafted to showcase the richness and diversity of Mexican cuisine, and the colourful surroundings are adorned with Mexican art and crafts. Customers can order different tacos, or go for dishes such as lamb shank and sea bass and create their own tacos at the table.

If you're looking for vegan Mexican street food, look no further than Club Mexicana. With its vibrant atmosphere and simple menu, you'll find everything you need to satisfy your cravings. Like the other menu items, the tacos here are fully plant-based, using alternatives to meat such as jackfruit and “chick'n” to conjure up authentic flavours. If you're feeling thirsty, the restaurants offer a range of natural wines, cocktails, and beers, including the refreshing lagerita – a cold beer with a frozen margarita on top.

Offering authentic Mexican street food, this lively spot specialises in tacos, available with an assortment of meat, veg, and fish fillings, including options such as pork, lamb, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes. Other delectable snacks include melty quesadillas and crunchy tortilla chips with fresh guacamole, and refreshing margaritas to wash it all down. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially on Taco Tuesdays.

Caldera is an independent restaurant and bar in Hackney that offers a unique take on Mexican cuisine by infusing it with global influences, while also challenging stereotypes with innovative twists and signature dishes. There are different tacos to choose from, for example grilled king prawns with guacamole and gochujang, rib-eye steak with padron pepper and chargrilled tomato salsa. The bar can also mix you up a proper margarita.

Taca, a popular pop-up that had been moving around for several years, found a permanent home in a Deptford Market Yard arch. The easy-going establishment serves up authentic Mexican tacos and burritos, with a Californian twist that is inspired by the founder's travels along the Pacific Coast. Customers can choose from a variety of tacos such as chicken pibil or baja fish. On weekends, Taca also offers breakfast burritos and tacos for brunch. A second location also launched in 2023.

Located on Bermondsey Street, Nine Lives is an underground cocktail bar situated in a Victorian basement that focuses on sustainability. The bar features tiki-style furnishings and tropical potted plants, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The food truck parked out front is run by El Tigre, a Guadalajaran chef who makes sustainable, seasonal seafood tacos with the sun-kissed flavours of 1970s' SoCal. Vegan and veggie options are also available.

Victory Mansion in Stoke Newington boasts a polished wood interior with a touch of vintage glamour, paying homage to London's literary inspirations from the past century. This intimate neighbourhood bar and restaurant features skilled bartenders who can concoct unique cocktails, and a kitchen that serves takos - a creative fusion of Asian and Mexican cuisine. On Saturdays, brunch is served with an option for bottomless takos and spritz.

The Temper steakhouses are known for their prime cuts of meat, butchered in-house, but they can also throw together a delicious taco or two. As you might expect, meat is at the forefront on the taco menu as well, with filling options such as cheeseburger, drunken pig, and smoked goat. Additional Mexican flavours can be found throughout the menu, as well as on the cocktail list.

Although modest in size, Sonora Taquería never fails to catch the eye due to the prominent line that often forms outside its doors. Transitioning from a market stall, this recently established permanent location has quickly gained recognition for its authentic northern Mexican cuisine, for example the spicy beef barbacoa. The joint itself is simple, just a few seats and a counter – the perfect taco pit stop.

With its chain of outposts across the city, Wahaca is a reliable standby for when you need a quick taco fix. That's not to say you'll get short-changed on quality or taste, however. There's a range of authentic Mexican fare to choose from, including a varied assortment of tacos. This restaurant group was also the first in the UK to become carbon neutral, and remains dedicated to sustainability just as much as delivering delicious cuisine.

The Taquerías are trendy, industrial-style eateries that specialise in tacos, as well as other small plates like tostadas and quesadillas. With an abundance of fresh fillings to choose from, ranging from crispy potato to soft shell crab and smoked chicken, there's something to satisfy all palates. These chic restaurants also serve Mexican cocktails, soft drinks, and beers to perfectly complement the meal.

Located discreetly behind what appears to be a sex shop, La Bodega Negra is a beloved Mexican eatery in London. This laid-back spot offers a variety of street food dishes from Mexico in a relaxed ambiance. They also offer a weekly bottomless brunch and welcome private events. The menu features a selection of popular street eats with a refined twist, including mushroom tacos with pecorino and chipotle black bean, fish tacos with avo salsa, pico de gallo and jalapeno crema, and prawn tacos with pineapple pico de gallo and Amarillo mayo.

Whilst it looks like a bog standard pub from outside, inside The Gunmakers in Farringdon you'll find a vibrant and contemporary spot specialising in cocktails and Mexican food. Tempting tacos are served here with a variety of fillings as well as tostadas and other sharing plates. There's a lively vibe and an interior that blends the old and the new.

The 1910 restaurants are vibrant Mexican joints offering a range of taco fillings to choose from, including tuna tartare, pulled pork, and slow-cooked birria beer. Most of the food on the menu is gluten-free, and there's a whole range of margaritas, Mexican wines and other fine drinks to choose from – the group boasts one of the largest agave spirit collections in the area. Don't be surprised to come upon a live mariachi band here, either.

Mexican Seoul emerged during lockdown as a travelling pop-up venture, offering a salacious blend of Korean and Mexican street food – think inventive tacos and award-winning wings. Now they've established their inaugural taco bar next to Victoria Park. Here, guests can enjoy the popular fusion cuisine alongside signature cocktails and other refreshing beverages, in a bustling, dynamic setting with weekend DJ sets and outdoor seating.