Mexican restaurants in London: 18 of the best places to top up on everything from tequila to tacos

There was once a time when London was short on places to go for good Mexican food that was beyond just a plate of sparsely loaded nachos and a burrito. But times are changing in the capital, and now the best Mexican restaurants in London are spread throughout every borough. The last few years have seen an explosion of fantastic Mexican restaurants open their doors on London’s streets, ranging from the taco munching and Tequila-slinging palaces of fun that you frequent on a night out, to more restrained and upmarket offerings showing that Mexican cuisine isn’t all about being casual.

While it’s true that London may not be blessed with the breadth of Mexican restaurants that our Stateside cousins enjoy, the city can still holds its own when it comes to the likes of nachos, tacos and quesadillas. In fact, the last few years have seen an explosion of fantastic Mexican restaurants open their doors on London’s streets, ranging from the taco munching and Tequila-slinging palaces of fun that you frequent on a night out, to more restrained and upmarket offerings showing that Mexican cuisine isn’t all about being casual.

As much as we love the diversity of London’s restaurant scene, there are some days when only a mighty fine burrito or a spot-on Margarita are enough to make us smile from ear to ear. Sure, a few of London’s Mexican restaurants might be a little heavy on the gimmicks, but if the food is good and the atmosphere sings, even a wonky sombrero and cactus print wallpaper can appeal.

With that in mind, we’ve selected London’s best Mexican restaurants for your perusal: perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo in May, Dias De Los Muertos (AKA the Day of the Dead) in November or any other excuse you may need for a taco, tortilla and guacamole fix. Check out our pick of must-try Mexican restaurants below, and if any take your fancy, click on the restaurant’s names to go through to their individual pages where you can book a table.

KOL

What: Elevating Mexican cooking to new levels is KOL’s head chef Santiago Lastra. Dining here isn’t a plateful of cheap and cheerful tacos, it’s an experience to share with loved ones, a place where you'll want to savour every bite. Tables are clustered around the open kitchen where you watch the brigade of chefs work tirelessly to turn out plates of things like rich DIY langoustine tacos, kohlrabi ceviche and lamb toastads. While eating here isn’t a bargain, we think it’s well worth the spend for a special occasion, with high end interiors and friendly service matching the level of the cookery from the kitchen.
Where: 9 Seymour Street, W1H 7BA
Book now: KOL

1910 Cantina, Various Locations

What: Named after the year of the Mexican revolution, it’s no suprise that 1910 Cantina comes with a big personality. Bringing a much needed injection of Mexico to South West London, this Central American hotspot has built a reputation for itself for its authentic flavours and extensive mezcal knowledge.
Where: 277 New Kings Road, SW6 4RD
Book now: 1910 Cantina Parsons Green

Ixchel, Chelsea

What: Drawing inspiration from across Mexico, Ixchel offers all-day dining in the heart of Chelsea with menus of tacos and quesadillas to ceviche and homemade salsas. Named for the goddess of the moon, Ixchel’s interiors are appropriately eye-catching, offering understated elegance from its vibrant mural paintings to the woven macrame that adorns the walls. Not only that, but you’ll find a rather extensive collection of mezcals and tequilas at Ixhel's bar. Perfect to be enjoyed on their own or as part of the site’s bespoke margaritas.
Where: 33 Kings Road, SW3 4LX
Book now: Ixchel 

Tacos Padre

What: Found at the centre of Borough Market, this casual taco joint might be small in stature, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to flavour. While of course the tacos are at the centre of the menu – and with fillings like pork cochinita, cauliflower al pastor and chicken asado it’s hard not to try one of each – there are also standout sides. Our favourites were the cheese-laden sweetcorn and the homemade guacamole and corn chips. Any three tacos at lunchtime are £9.50, while there’s an evening menu for a slightly more refined affair.
Where: The Borough Market Kitchen, Winchester Walk, Jubilee Place, SE1 9AG
Book now: Tacos Padre

Del 74, Dalston

What: Low-key taqueria Del 74 is a cheap and cheerful spot on Kingsland High Street turning out tacos filled with the likes of slow-cooked lamb, and veg in a smoky chipotle sauce. We’re fans of the weekend brunch (think steak and eggs or huevos rancheros), while the Happy Hour (5-7pm) when you can get tacos for just £2 is also not to be missed.
Where: 129 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB
Book now: Del 74

DF Tacos, Shoreditch

What: Industrial-chic taco hub DF Tacos is plenty of fun. Not only can you enjoy a DIY taco sharing board when visiting in a group (three fillings of your choice and six tacos to share), but you can also knock back frozen Margaritas. The fun doesn’t stop at dessert either, when ice cream sandwiches such as the Strawberry Shorty are the order of the day.
Where: 21 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
Book now: DF Tacos Shoreditch, DF Tacos Tottenham Court Road

Café Pacifico, Covent Garden

What: Serving Londoners since the 1980s, Café Pacifico is something of a Tex-Mex institution, where everyone’s up for a good time. The restaurant is arguably best suited to nights out with mates, but there’s a children’s menu too if you’ve got the family in tow. As for the rest, you can feast on the likes of jalapeno poppers, nachos and stuffed burritos.
Where: 5 Langley Street, WC2H 9JA
Book now: Café Pacifico

Santo Remedio, London Bridge

What: Revived after the original Shoreditch site was closed due to rent increases, Santo Remedio 2.0 is a colourful two-floor space with an easy-going vibe. Our top picks from the menu include the chicken tacos that come with a kick courtesy of orange juice and pickled onions, while we challenge anyone to resist the churros, which can be liberally dipped in dulche de leche come dessert time.  
Where: 152 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU
Book now: Santo Remedio

Breddos Tacos, Clerkenwell

What: Breddos Tacos may have started out life on the street food scene, but now it’s a bonafide Mexican destination. As the name suggests, it’s all about tacos here, with fillings including confit pork belly and fried chicken. For such a succinct menu, there’s also a rather impressive number of veggie options – think a butternut squash burrito and more.   
Where: 82 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DB
Book now: Breddos Tacos

Casa Pastor, King’s Cross

What: One of four openings from The Hart Brothers in trendy Coal Drops Yard, this lively spot serves up ceviches, quesadillas and tacos too, while a clutch of salsas which vary in heat level are all made in-house. Casa Pastor's varied menu even features oysters topped with a mezcal dressing, while the expansive outdoor terrace is the place to be during the summer season.
Where: Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4AB
Book now: Casa Pastor

La Bodega Negra, Soho

What: Famous La Bodega Negra is worth checking out just for the thrill of walking through the faux sex shop frontage. Once you’ve entered the low-lit subterranean dining room, you can grab a Margarita from the bar, before tucking into tacos filled with the likes of soft-shell crab and pork belly. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for famous faces, too.
Where: 9 Old Compton Street, W1D 5JF
Book now: La Bodega Negra

Mestizo, Euston

What: Mestizo is among the smarter options on our list, and is unique in that it offers a blend of Spanish and Mexican cuisine (the restaurant is named after the mixed-race descendants of the conquistadores). The regular menu features all the classics as well as regional specialities, but we’re most impressed by the extensive vegan, nut-free, lactose-free and gluten-free menus.
Where: 103 Hampstead Road, NW1 3EL
Book now: Mestizo

Taqueria, Westbourne Park

What: Harking back to the bohemian Notting Hill of old, Taqueria is a fun and affordable spot for tacos and more. There are lively Latin tunes playing which help the atmosphere sing, while all tortillas are made on the premises and fillings use free-range meat. If you’ve saved room for dessert, we’d recommend the churros with cajeta (Mexican-style caramel sauce).  
Where: 139-143 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS
Book now: Taqueria

Wahaca, Southbank

What: The jewel in the crown of MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers’ Wahaca chain is its Southbank location, which started life as a pop up (it’s been permanent since 2014). While this won’t be the best Mexican you’ve ever tried, there’s a fun make-do-and-mend feel, plus the unusual tacos fillings (steak and cheese, prawn cocktail) are also worth your time.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Book now: Wahaca

El Camion, Soho

What: Inspired by the Mexican region of Baja California (not to be confused with the US state), El Camion’s menu is a roll call of classic Mexican fare, which it serves nightly until 2.30am – perfect for post night out munchies. You can also take your party from the restaurant to basement cocktail bar The Pink Chihuahua, which boasts over 300 kinds of Tequila.
Where: 25-27 Brewer Street, W1F 0RR
Book now: El Camion

Leicester Square Kitchen, Leicester Square

What: Leicester Square Kitchen serves a mix of Mexican and Peruvian dishes, which means you can choose between the likes of tiger prawn tacos or robata-grilled smoked paprika ribs with lime. Black brick walls and caramel leather chairs add to the sense of sophistication, while you might even spy a celeb from the terrace, which overlooks movie premiere hotspot Leicester Square.
Where: 31-36 Leicester Square, WC2H 7LH
Book now: Leicester Square Kitchen

Temper, Various Locations

What: Although each of the Temper sites in the capital (City, Covent Garden, Soho) offer slightly different menus, all of them do a good line in tacos. Granted, this won’t be the most authentic Mexican-inspired food you’ve ever tried, but when it comes to the likes of tacos filled with cheeseburgers or Korean jackfruit, we find it hard to rustle up any complaints.
Where: 2 Angel Court, 30 Throgmorton Street, EC2R 7HJ; 5 Mercer Walk, Mercers Yard, WC2H 9FA;  25 Broadwick Street, W1F 0DF
Book now: Temper City, Temper Shoreditch, Temper Covent Garden, Temper Soho

Tonteria, Belgravia

What: Everybody knows that no one throws a fiesta quite like Mexicans, so it should be no surprise that Tonteria restaurant and nightclub is bags of fun. Choose your pick from the simple menu of four taco varieties, before watching fire-eaters perform and grabbing drinks from the Tequila Train, which delivers shots straight to your table.
Where: 7-12 Sloane Square, SW1W 8EG
Book now: Tonteria

If your search is a little more specific, check out our pick of the best tacos in London.