The best taco restaurants in the UK
With more and more taquerías popping up across the country, we thought it was high time we brought together our pick of the best taco restaurants in the UK. From market spots serving carnitas and birria, to neighbourhood restaurants offering battered avocado and cauliflower tacos, the choice is vast and growing.
Every venue here has been tried and tested, and well deserves their place! But let us know on Twitter if we’ve missed your favourite.
Taco Queen
Peckham, London
The battered avocado might just capture your heart or perhaps it will be the kimchi mulita (crispy filled tortillas). Taco Queen started life as a pop-up at Rye Wax (a community venue and record shop in Peckham), but has been at its 191 Rye Lane location for 4 years now. The popular venue has a menu that will have you coming back for more: from the fried chicken taco (pictured), to the vegan cauliflower. Many will mourn favourite tacos that have been and gone, but when the menu changes, there is always something new and exciting to love. Their margaritas and palomas are to-die-for – not too sweet; and the nachos need an honorary mention because if you know, you know. The menu is unlikely to set you back more than £25 per head and the service is the friendliest around – Taco Queen reigns supreme.
El Pastor
Borough, Soho and Kings Cross, London
These three lively Mexican taquerias in London are great fun to visit. The team make their own tortillas in-house using heritage Mexican corn, for super fresh results. Our favourite location has to be the original site nestled in the heart of Borough Market. The twinkly lights and rustic decor are great for a last-minute dinner or for a pit-stop while market shopping. If you’re heading with a larger crowd, try the Soho or Kings Cross branches, as you can book ahead. Don’t leave without trying their sensational soft-shell crab tacos, or perhaps share some cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) between a group of friends.
View this post on Instagram
Madre
Liverpool and Manchester
Boasting an exciting menu including birria (slow-cooked chilli-spiked beef shin), octopus tacos, and no less than 5 homemade salsas (the macha tatamana is el méjor!) Madre is the North West’s answer to a taquería and locals are in for a treat. The original venue in Liverpool is spacious and relaxed, and service is cheerful with great attention to detail (they even offer a finger bowl for cleaning hands of grilled corn and wings). Come for the perfectly balanced margaritas, stay for the pork al pastor and you will certainly leave satisfied. Madre opened a second venue in Manchester in 2020, at the buzzing Escape to Freight Island food hall which is always worth a visit.
La Chingada
Surrey Quays, London
Expect traditionally diddy tacos and to hear Spanish being spoken at this venue in South London which has just opened a second location. The pork asada and suadero tacos are must-tries (that salsa verde is bang on), and the chicken tinga tostada brings some welcome crunch. Vegetarians might not have quite so much to choose from and fillings might not be as saucy as other outlets, but when it comes to the slow-cooked meat, La Chingada are the experts. Please note: there are no toilets at the Lower Road site.
Topolabamba
Glasgow and Edinburgh
Sometimes restaurants guarantee more than just great food and Topolabamba is one of those places that always buzzes with energy, making it a great visit with friends. Note: the servers bring everyone at the table a Mexican sombrero to wear during their meal – the fun part is watching those who hate wearing props squirm throughout. The restaurant’s street food dishes are made for sharing, from tacos to taquitos, or you can opt for one of their larger dishes, such as chipotle honey ribs or stuffed chimichangas. Wash it all down with a margarita of your choosing or browse their impressively well-stocked tequila bar, featuring everything from tequila blanco to tequila anejo (aged tequila). The Scottish service is ever-friendly and their knowledge of tequila is there to be quizzed on, so don’t be shy.
View this post on Instagram
Tacos Padre
Borough, London
The bill may set you back a little more than some other taquerías, but Tacos Padre do what they do very well indeed. If you find yourself craving a taco on-the-go at Borough Market, the food on offer here will definitely satisfy. The guacamole, with its punchy salsa macha is worth trying, and as for tacos, don’t miss the beef suadero or lamb barbacoa options. Everything can be washed down with a craft beer or frozen margarita, should you be so inclined. Be warned that the taco menu is very limited in the evenings, so head there at lunchtime if you’re looking to enjoy tacos in all their glory.
Santo Remedio
London Bridge, London
Santo Remedio’s authentic and delicious food, created by Mexican-born owners Edson and Natalie, can do no wrong. Each and every dish on their menu is as exciting as the next. We’d recommend sharing several antojitos Mexicanos (general name for street food) to start with but a dedicated mention is much-needed for their signature bone-in short rib, which falls onto the fork. The restaurant is a stone’s throw from The Shard and makes a great pit-stop after a day of strolling round London’s iconic Borough Market.
View this post on Instagram