Best tacos in London: 17 places to get your Mexican fix

Mexican food is truly the gift that keeps on giving. With so many types of dishes – burritos, fajitas, nachos, tacos – it can be hard to narrow down to the style of plate you’re after. And even once you’ve settled on one, there are still plenty of questions remaining. Will you go traditional? Add extra toppings? Meat-free? The possibilities are endless.

When it comes to tacos, it’s no less easy to decide on what form you want your taco to take and, most importantly, what will be inside it (or, if you’re anything like us, what will start inside it but then fall out all over your plate...). For us, the best tacos are small soft tortillas that can be gobbled up in just a few bites, and topped with something delicious that balances flavours and textures perfectly. With so much taco diversity out there, and the ability to customise your fillings and flavours, there really is something for everyone when it comes to these little Mexican delights.

Choosing the best tacos in London (or anywhere) is a difficult feat, and your decision might ultimately come down to personal taste. However, we’ve rounded up a whole host of options that should hit the spot, whether you're a purist looking for traditional style tacos, or something with a more modern twist and plenty of trimmings.

Take a look at our London taco guide, where we’ve listed diners, high-end restaurants, and street-food style pop-ups, to help narrow down your search for the perfect tacos. Take a friend, your mum, or your work bestie (maybe just avoid tacos for a first date – they can get messy quite quickly).

Sonora Taqueria, Stoke Newington

What: After making waves at Netil Market and facing down a nonsense legal challenge from a fellow Mexican restaurant, Sonora Taqueria has moved into its first permanent bricks-and-morter restaurant in Stoke Newington. Judging from the queues out of the door and the huddled masses scoffing tacos in the alleyway next door, Sonora's golden touch is still alive and well. Jump into the queue early for carne asada tacos, chorizo quesadillas and more. 
Where: 208 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7HU
Book now: Sonora Taqueria

La Chingada, Bermondsey and Euston

What: One of London’s better known taco spots, La Chingada just delivers when it comes to punchy, authentic tacos. Loads of choice, great prices, a mix of corn and flour tortillas and cracking quesadillas too. And you can book! No wonder La Chingada has become so popular. The baja prawn taco is a must-order, and La Chingada does a good pozole soup too.
Where: 12 Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 2AA; 160 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BL
Book now: La Chingada Bermondsey; La Chingada Euston

Homies on Donkeys, Leytonstone

What: Sandra Bello and chef Erik ‘Smokey’ Bautista’s riotous taco shop is well worth the trip out to Leytonstone. Nineties hip hop rocks from the speakers as the pair sling out tacos carnitas, chicken barbacoa and roasted broccoli with refried beans. All the tacos are made fresh from masa, of course, and there are always a couple of excellent specials on the menu too.
Where: 686 Leytonstone High Road, E11 3AA
Book now: Homies on Donkeys

1910 Cantina, Parsons Green

What: Tacos and quesadillas at 1910 Cantina are all inspired by chef and co-owner Mauricio Rico’s family recipes, from the beef birria quesadilla right down to his cochinita pibil tacos. Married with co-owner Jose’s expertise in all things mezcal and tequila, it’s no wonder 1910 is always busy.
Where: 277 New Kings Road, SW6 4RD
Book now: 1910 Cantina

Fonda, Mayfair

What: Fonda isn't strictly a taco place, but there are a few tacos on the menu that are worth checking out if you love delicious things wrapped in fresh tortillas. The baja fish taco is right up there with the best in London for our money (albeit for a Mayfair price tag) and Fonda makes tortillas entirely from scratch, grinding its own corn to make dough before pressing and toasting on a big comal grill. The cocktail programme here is amazing too, with a number of signature smokey Palomas to try. 
Where: 12 Heddon Street, W1B 4BZ
Book now: Fonda

Mexa at Arcade Food Hall, Tottenham Court Road

What: Mexa at Arcade Food Hall brings a little slice of Mexico to Tottenham Court Road. Kick off with zesty guac and chips before moving through to the main event. Pick between beef, pork or veggie tacos, and add a cheese crust to any for an extra £1. Don’t miss a quesadilla while you’re there. The lamb birria are pretty special – made with braised shoulder and accompanied by a rich consommé for dipping.
Where: 03-105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DB
Book now: Arcade Food Hall

TA-KO, Stoke Newington

What: ‘Asian-inspired tacos’ - three words that ordinarily would fill us with dread, but TA-KO really delivers, using homemade tortillas as a foundation for smart Asian flavour pairings. In fact, we’d argue that the nahm jim chicken taco is one of the most delicious we’ve eaten in a while, and there are lots more great options to choose from. With an exceptional cocktail list to shout about too, TA-KO is right up there among our most underrated spots in the city.
Where: 18 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7PL
Book now: TA-KO

Guacamoles Peckham

What: Like most of the best taco spots in the city, Guacamoles is pretty unassuming from the outside - a stall within the labyrinth of Rye Lane Market - but within lies a paradise of authentic Mexican tacos. Homemade tortillas get a little bath of meat juice before filings are pressed into them and served alongside a rainbow of salsas. Guacamoles chef Manny was a techno DJ before upping sticks and moving to London, and still runs occasional tacos and techno nights that are not to be missed.
Where: Rye Lane Indoor Market, SE15 5BY
Book now: Guacamoles

Bad Manners, Hackney

What: The park outside St John Church in Hackney isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find some of London’s best tacos, and yet, here we are. The Bad Manners crew knock out morning breakfast burritos for bleary-eyed Hackney ravers in the mornings, transitioning to crisp, golden quesadillas, and tacos in housemade tortillas once the nearby clock strikes 12.
Where: St John at Hackney Churchyard, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD
Book now: Bad Manners

Taco Taco, Spitalfields

What: With a mantra of ‘anything can taco’ you know you’re in for a treat at Taco Taco, located just along the road from the Spitalfields Market. Putting their own twist on this Mexican classic, you can try out a number of unusual flavours that sound like they shouldn’t work but absolutely do - don’t miss the teriyaki salmon or maple syrup miso aubergine tacos. Unable to wait until lunch? They’ve got you covered with their breakfast tacos - the perfect way to start your weekend.
Where: 141 Commercial Street, E1 6BJ
Book now: Taco Taco

Taca Tacos, Deptford

What: The menu at Taca Tacos offers up a whole host of Mexican deliciousness. Soft shell tacos, quesatacos (grilled cheese tortillas), and mulita (a sandwich-style taco made with two tortillas) are all up for grabs to fulfil your taco cravings. We particularly recommend the beef birria filling for a cheesy beef dream, and don't forget to dip your tacos into the sauces provided. If you're still hungry after your tacos, you can order a nachos sharing plate, or some classic tortilla chips with dip.
Where: Deptford Market Yard, SE8 4BX
Book now: Taca Tacos

Tacos Padre, London Bridge

What: With an impressive CV behind him, Nick Fitzgerald - who heads up the kitchen here - used to work at Pujol in Mexico City, did a stint at The Mexican Restaurant at Annabel’s, and has experience at both Breddos and El Pastor. Combining this experience in both Mexico and London, Nick pays particular attention to using authentic ingredients and traditional techniques to get bold, flavour-packed fillings that appeal to meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Pick between meltingly-soft pork cochinita, rich beef short-rib suadero, smoky cauliflower al pastor and crowd-pleasing chicken asado - and if you're still hungry there are a few sides like corn and guacamole too, which are perfect for enjoying alongside a frozen Margarita or a cold beer. 
Where: Winchester Walk, SE1 9AG
Book now: Tacos Padre

El Pastór, London Bridge

What: With a whole section of its menu dedicated to some of the best tacos in London we couldn’t create a list of such Mexican magnitude without including El Pastor. In fact, this restaurant is named after its signature dish, tacos al pastor, so the team takes these delicious bites pretty seriously. The namesake, the taco al pastor, is made up of two soft tortillas, 24 hour marinated sweet, sticky pork shoulder, caramelised pineapple grilled alongside the pork, freshly made guacamole, punchy white onion and the citrusy hit of lime and coriander. Other offerings on the menu include fish tacos with caramelised onions and a refried beans veggie option with cheese and sweetcorn.
Where: 7A Stoney Street, SE1 9AA
Book now: El Pastor

La Bodega Negra, Soho

What: Dining at La Bodega Negra’s restaurant (as oppose to the adjoined café) is certainly an experience. Tucked away behind the façade of a sex shop, this might not be for everyone, but the dimly lit basement dining has a certain appeal that is hard to find elsewhere. If we had to choose, the soft shell tacos are our favourite, from a list of five choices. The sweet crab is coated in a contrasting savoury squid ink tempura and served up with smoky chipotle aioli and a classic pico de gallo to freshen things up at the end. Our suggestion would be to order a few and share between the table, accompanied by a margarita or two, of course.
Where: 9 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JF
Book now: La Bodega Negra

El Camion, Soho

What: This late night diner serves up tacos alongside plenty of delicious drinks for those looking to fuel themselves through to the early hours. Tacos are tasty and hit the spot if you’re looking for something decent before or after the theatre, or after a night of drinking in Soho. While the main ingredient differs, the toppings for all tacos at El Camion remain the same – a tried and tested combination of guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce and homemade salsa. The main elements vary from pork carnitas to chicken tinga. The Margaritas are good too, but you can always ask about the Pink Chihuahua bar downstairs.
Where: 25-27 Brewer Street, W1F 0RR
Book now: El Camion

Breddos Tacos, Clerkenwell

What: Using best-of-British produce and giving it a hit of Tex-Mex love somewhere along the way, our favourite Breddos tacos include the Baja fried fish with pickled red cabbage and flank steak topped with miso and macha salsa. As you might expect with a restaurant nearly entirely dedicated to this simple foodstuff, there are options. Pick between meat, veggie or sharing – where they bring salsa, pickles, limes, tortillas and your chosen toppings to the table and you build them yourself.
Where: 82 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DB
Book now: Breddos Tacos

Café Pacifico, Covent Garden

What: If its claim to the best Margarita in London can’t tempt you, then add to that some of the tastiest tacos and we think we’ve given you a pretty solid excuse to visit Café Pacifico. Having been a Covent Garden stalwart since the 80s, this is a well-oiled machine where the slightly scuffy, diner vibe adds to the ambiance. The duck taco is the first thing you should order - breast strips are rubbed with a mole mixture and topped with crispy skin bits then finished off with caramelised onion chipotle salsa, avocado, rocket, blackberry, goat’s cheese and balsamic glaze.
Where: 5 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA
Book now: Cafe Pacifico

Santo Remedio, London Bridge

What: Starting its life as a pop up and supper club, Santo Remedio’s first bricks and mortar restaurant in-between London Bridge and Bermondsey is inspired by traditional Mexican taquerias. Using both local produce and products sourced from Mexico, authenticity is key here. On the menu you can expect to find the likes of beer battered Baja fish tacos with a morita mayo and jalapeno and cucumber slaw, pork belly tacos with chicharron and tomato salsa and braised beef barbacoa tacos with pasilla and pickled radish.
Where: 152 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU
Book now: Santo Remedio

Fancy a different Mexican dish? Try one of our top Mexican restaurants in London or zoom on over to our round-up of the best cheap eats in London, which includes a few top taco spots as well a load more affordable restaurants and street food stalls.