10 of the best places in town to satisfy your taco cravings

Mexican food has recently become incredibly popular in London, with tacos having more than their fair share of the buzz. And for good reason.

Luckily for us, more and more taquerias are popping up all over the city, offering these crunchy and delicious street snacks. From hole-in-the-wall eateries in Surrey Quays to fusion places that offer unlimited tacos – yes, really – here’s my list of the ten best tacos in London:

Homies On Donkeys, Walthamstow

Starting this list of the best tacos in London is Homies On Donkeys, a tiny taqueria in Wood Street Market in Walthamstow. Here you’ll find jazzy graffiti on the walls, hip-hop blaring from the speakers, and damn good tacos, if I do say so myself.

The friendly chef and owner, “Smokey,” is a culinary genius who whips up a range of delicious dishes. The dishes served up here are full of flavor and color. For example, there’s shredded pork in a spicy chipotle sauce, juicy king prawns in a chili, garlic, and tomato sauce, and a vegan soy option.

There’s an ever-changing specials menu, a whole host of sides to go with your tacos, and tortilla chips with guacamole and beer. There are also gluten-free options, and the prices are incredibly reasonable. So there’s no reason not to go to E17.

You’ll find Homies On Donkeys in Unit 38 Wood Street Indoor Market, 98 Wood Street, London, E17 3HX. The closest train stations are Walthamstow Central and Wood Street.

Taqueíra, Westbourne Grove, and Exmouth Market

Taqueíra, which made it onto this list of the best tacos in London, opened in 2005 and has been perfecting its tantalizing taco recipes ever since. Their specialty, of course, is the tacos, which are filled with traditional and modern fillings like free-range chicken, sustainably caught fish, locally sourced pork, and organic shrimp.

If you’re thirsty, you can also indulge in a hand-shaken margarita. There are also 100% blue agave tequilas, mezcals, micheladas and a wide selection of vinos. There’s also a wide selection of vegetarian dishes – including plantain tacos with fried green chilies and eggplant halloumi tacos – as well as quesadillas, tostadas, and the usual nibbles. They’ve also just opened a branch in Exmouth Market.

Taqueíra at 141-145 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2RS, and 8-10 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QA. The nearest train stations are Notting Hill Gate and Farringdon.

Ziggy Green, Regent Street

Sometimes you come across a place in London with so many great things to do you don’t know where to start. Ziggy Green is one of those places. For one thing, it’s a Tulum-style taqueria and cocktail bar that brings a tropical Mexican vibe to Mayfair.

For another, it’s housed in a landmarked former movie theater on Heddon Street, where the cover of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust was filmed, and – perhaps most importantly – it offers excellent dinner and a watermelon margarita fountain.

Not only do you get two tasty cocktails, but you also get to eat three delicious tacos, including barbecue coconut shrimp, citrus pork carnitas, spicy jackfruit, and harissa tofu. Sounds pretty good to me.

Ziggy Green is at 1 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BD. The closest train station is Piccadilly Circus.

Caldera, London Fields

Independently run Caldera on excellent Mare Street in Hackney serves traditional Mexican cuisine with an international twist. The name derives from the Spanish word for “cauldron,” and it’s easy to see why the focus is on lesser-known Mexican ingredients.

Many delicious dishes are on the menu, but the tacos are worth trying. For example, melt-in-your-mouth Baja cod with chipotle aioli and “cochinita pibil” – a braised pork dish originally from Yucatán – with crispy pork belly and pickled red onions. There’s no shortage of vegetables: a great taco with romanesco broccoli, sliced eggplant, and a spicy guajillo sauce.

While at the restaurant, keep your eyes peeled for the skeleton mural on the wall. It was designed by the famous street artist “Skeleton Cardboard” and is inspired by the famous “Day of the Dead” celebration in Mexico.

You can find Caldera at 143 Mare Street, London, E8 3FW. The nearest train station is London Fields.

Club Mexicana, Carnaby Street

Inspired by the vibrant street food tavernas of Mexico City and L.A., the creators of Club Mexicana have been whipping up delicious tacos since they opened as a supper club in 2014. Since then, their vegan tacos have made a splash in our beloved capital city – so much so that they opened their first restaurant last May.

It’s easy to see why. The menu features five tacos with nachos, burritos, beans, and more. My favorites are the Al Pastor – a delicious combination of vegetable shawarma on a skewer, red onions, salsa verde, and charred pineapple – and the Baja Tofish – a delicious mix of tofu, avocado, lettuce, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo.

Plus, there’s a slew of beers, cold cocktails, wine, and tequila to wash it down. Trust us; you’ll feel like you’re in Mexico in no time…

You’ll find Club Mexicana at Kingly Court, Kingly Street, Carnaby, London, W1B 5PW, and Seven Dials Market, 35 Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9LD. The nearest train stations are Oxford Circus and Covent Garden.

Nine Lives, London Bridge

A beautiful underground oasis of plants, Nine Lives is one of London Bridge’s best-kept secrets and one of the prettiest bars in London. Not only does it serve top-notch cocktails, but it also serves excellent tacos – arguably some of the best tacos in London.

The legendary chef “El Tigre” comes directly from Guadalajara, Mexico. So you know the food here will be both authentic and damn tasty. The fish tacos are made with seasonal ingredients. You’ll get a beer-battered “catch of the day” with chipotle mayo and sauerkraut if you opt for the signature Baja taco.

Also on the menu are the Camarones – a taco with king prawns, avocado, pineapple salsa, and garlic ginger – and a vegetarian queso option. Yum, yum.

Nine Lives is at 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL. The nearest train station is London Bridge.

D.F. Tacos, Various Locations

DF Tacos is the Nando’s of Mexican restaurants, and I mean that as a compliment. There’s quick service and drinks galore, and you don’t have to wait for the bill after you’ve eaten (you do have to pay first, though).

Here you can stuff your face with chorizo nachos, pulled pork, cauli cheese, and buttermilk chicken tacos, and sip on some damn good (does that stand for D.F.?) frozen margaritas.

There’s also a great gluten-free and vegan menu and all the Mexican cervezas you can wash your tacos down with. Then, when you have some Dirty Churros – which are churros with cinnamon sugar, coconut brittle, dulce de leche, and chocolate coating – you really don’t want to be anywhere else in town.

You’ll find D.F. Tacos at several locations in London.

La Chingada, Surrey Quays

Just a stone’s throw from Surrey Quays station is this colorful eatery serving some of London’s best tacos. That’s no joke. All the ingredients used here are 100% organic, and the meat and vegetables are delivered daily straight from a local market.

The street food-inspired tacos are not only incredibly affordable, but they’re also a blast to eat. The Al Pastor is a true classic – with thick, marinated pork, sticky pineapple, diced onions, and spicy cilantro – and the chorizo tacos, coated in spicy, rich oil, aren’t bad either. If you choose to dine in, your meal will be accompanied by authentic Mexican pop songs. La Chingada also serves a full range of non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks from Mexico.

You’ll find La Chingada at 12 Rotherhithe New Road, London, SE16 2AA. The nearest train station is Surrey Quays.

Victory Mansion, Stoke Newington

This Asian-Mexican fusion joint is a unique but essential spot for tacos – or TA-KO, as they call them – in the capital. The tacos here have a definite Asian twist, like char siu jackfruit with shiitake mushrooms, mango, pickled red onion, or blackened river trout with smoked eggplant nahm price and lime labneh.

The best thing about Victory Mansion is the Bottomless Brunch, where you get unlimited Sprite for two hours and as many tacos as you want. Yes, you read that correctly – unlimited tacos! The flavors are definitely “brunch-esque”: smoked Viking salmon, apple radish salad, and roasted broccoli with salted egg relish and scallions are on the menu.

Prices are £40 for two people, and the brunch runs from 12pm to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. If so, you should make your way to Stoke Newington…

Victory Mansion is at 18 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 7PL. The nearest station is Rectory Road.

El Pastor, London Bridge, Soho, and Kings Cross St Pancras.

El Pastor, a small group of taquerias that bring a slice of Mexico to London Town, is rounding out this list of the best tacos in London. Named after the mighty “Al Pastor” – the famous street food joint in Mexico City – this lively spot is one of the best places in town to get tacos and quesadillas, tostadas, tequila, and mezcal. We told you this place was lively…

The tacos are made with non-GMO corn that comes straight from Mexico. Each tortilla is made fresh every morning at the Tortilleria in Bermondsey. So you can really go right with the menu. Still, the taco with anchovy ajo and avocado, salsa verde fresca, and caramelized onions is a particular favorite.

If you’re a vegetarian, you can also try the taco with confit mushrooms, crispy Oaxaca-style cheese, pumpkin seeds, and chile de arbol. My mouth is watering just thinking about it…

You can find El Pastor at various locations in London.