Trejo's Tacos

Danny Trejo is best known as a long-standing Hollywood star, with a career that spans from Spy Kids to Con Air - one more recognisable than the other depending on which generation you hail from. Nowadays, it’s his tacos that are gaining him a brand new merry band of followers.

Notting Hill is where Trejo has chosen to dip his first toe into international waters. This West London neighbourhood is notoriously not the cheapest place to eat in the capital, and Trejo's Tacos does seem to fit the bill there; at six or seven pound a pop these aren't the cheapest tacos you'll find in London. That said they're no more expensive than similar sites in the area. 

Thankfully, the overall atmosphere of the place quickly gets you into taco mode. Packed with locals who are there just as much for the spicy margaritas as they are the corn tortillas, there’s an infectious buzz rippling through the venue, and it’s easy for a quick bite to become a late night session.

Overall we'd say the Trejo's Tacos is decent, though perhaps not worth the cost. We’d recommend testing out the carnitas with pulled pork and pineapple (a classic for a reason), and the steak asada with verde slaw, with both bringing a proper hit of flavour. The housemade tortilla chips are also particularly moreish, and can come with as many as seven dips to keep your palate on it’s toes - these range from spicy chipotle to pineapple salsa, although our hearts will always lie with the zesty guac.

The dessert menu is kept short and sweet with just flan, ice cream or churros up for grabs, and naturally we opt for the latter. Piping hot and crispy texture, these hit the mark when paired with the fiery Mexican chocolate.

There’s no denying Trejo's Tacos makes a great spot for mid week catch ups with friends, or a low key date night with the other half - it just won't be making it onto our cheap eats list any time soon.

Film and television star Danny Trejo brings his taco brand, Trejo’s Tacos, to London for the first time, with a large two-storey restaurant in Notting Hill. Trejo’s Tacos London has settled on a 3,000sq ft site on Portobello Road, that boasts around 70 covers inside as well as a 30-seater al fresco terrace. The basement also promises a speakeasy mezcal bar, which will serve cocktails whilst DJs spin music late into the night.

Trejo has become a cult figure in Hollywood thanks to a long career that has included appearances in iconic movies like Desperado, Heat and Machete, as well as appearances on TV shows like Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy. Alongside his acting career, Trejo has always had a passion for food. After teaming up with film producer Ash Shah, the pair opened their first taqueria in Los Angeles in 2016, and now boast seven locations in the US. Trejo’s Tacos London will be his first outside of his home country.

As well as serving classic Mexican tacos, there’s also a focus on healthier taco fillings, as well as options for those with dietaries. Trejo’s Tacos London will feature alternatives for gluten-free, celiac, vega, paleo, pescatarian and vegan diets, for example. Trejo’s signature dishes include s slow-roasted pork carnitas taco with pineapple and fermented hot sauce, steak asada taco with pepita pesto, and Baja-style beer-battered fish.

Speaking about the new opening, Trejo said: ‘When we launched Trejo's Tacos in LA, our aim was to serve a better version of Mexican food that won't clog your arteries. In Mexican cooking, recipes are handed down through generations, and that's what inspired this whole concept: generations of my family's recipes. We've taken out the stuff that isn't healthy, without losing the great taste and flavour.

‘I'm so ready to bring Trejo's Tacos to London. I love the creativity that the city inspires, and I can't think of a better place to launch internationally than with our friends in London. I'm excited that we found the perfect time and team to bring Trejo's to its second home.’