Mexican restaurants in London: 15 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, Marylebone

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
Booking for a special occassion? Discover KOL's private dining room
Book now: KOL

1910 Cantina, Parsons Green and Balham

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; 3 Ramsden Road, SW12 8QX
Book now: 1910 Cantina Parsons Green; 1910 Cantina Balham

Sonora Taqueria, Stoke Newington

What: No matter where in London you live, we guarantee you won’t be unhappy having made the journey to Stoke Newington to feast on Sonora’s magnificent harina tacos. The tiny little shop on Stoke Newington High Street is just big enough for a busy taco production line and a couple of counter seats, but that somewhat adds to the charm (not to mention the very accessible pricing). The menu is stuffed with wall-to-wall bangers, but we never leave without at least one of the slow cooked ox tongue and cheek ‘Cabezas’, as well as an icy cup of horchata.
Where: 208 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7HU
Book now: Sonora Taqueria

Fonda, Mayfair

What: Santiago Lastra’s follow up to mega-hit debut restaurant KOL takes a slightly more approachable path, though that said, the menu contains both a black truffle quesadilla and a lobster al pastor. Still, if you’re in the market for something a little more elevated than your average taqueria, Fonda is the perfect place, and Lastra shows that he’s just as adept at making a fish taco (perhaps the best in London for our money) as he is crafting boundary-defying Mexi-British tasting menus.
Where: 12 Heddon Street, W1B 4BZ
Booking for a special occassion? Discover Fonda's private dining rooms
Book now: Fonda

Corrochio’s, Dalston

What: If you’re on the hunt for good Mexican food, Dalston is home to a number of excellent spots, and right at the heart of them is Corrochio’s. Once limited to a chaotic, fun, underground cantina, now Corrochio’s also inhabits a breezy space at ground level, where Guadalajara native Daniel Corrochio turns out big, bold taco plates and shareable platters of pork pastor, beef brisket and more.
Where: 76 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XB
Book now: Corrochio’s

Cavita, Marylebone

What: Adriana Cavita’s eponymous restaurant has been a big part of the movement to trailblaze a new path for modern Mexican cooking in the capital. Cavita’s menus have just the right amount of ingenuity, whilst still being based in authentic Mexican techniques and flavours - see for example her crab infladita, where she piles crab meat, pasilla chilli and coffee mayo into a puffed corn tortilla. The restaurant also looks the part too, in fact, we’d venture it’s one of the most wholesomely beautiful in London.
Where: 60 Wigmore Street, W1U 2RZ
Book now: Cavita

Hacha, Bermondsey and Dalston

What: Hacha founder Deano Moncrieffe built this beloved mini-group on the back of the borderline iconic Mirror Margarita - a cocktail so good it spawned its own business, and you can buy it bottled in supermarkets and on Amazon. It’s still worth visiting either Hacha site, though, as the cocktail and mezcal lists are right up there among the best in the city, and the accompanying tacos are excellent. We particularly love the spacious, Mexi-chic Bermondsey site with its towering cacti planters.
Where: 157 Tower Bridge Road, Bermondsey, SE1 3LW; 378 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8 4AA
Book now: Hacha Bermondsey; Hacha Dalston

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, Borough Market

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: Winchester Walk, Jubilee Place, SE1 9AG
Book now: Tacos Padre

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, Shoreditch and Marylebone

What: After the success of the original Shoreditch site, Santo Remedio is now a colourful trio of restaurants, mixing easy going, accessible Mexican fare with beautiful bright interiors. 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; 55 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HP; 13-14 Thayer Street, W1U 3JR
Book now: Santo Remedio London Bridge; Santo Remedio Shoreditch; Santo Remedio Marylebone

El Pastor, Various locations

What: El Pastor has become a mini-empire within the Harts Group stable to rival the ever-popular Barrafina. We love El Pastor's lively, fun vibe, and the menu is packed with great stuff, from ceviches to quesadillas, tacos, and larger sharers with fresh corn tortillas. A clutch of salsas which vary in heat level are all made in-house too. We especially like the King's Cross location where the heated terrace makes a great hangout all year round, but frankly, El Pastor is fast becoming one of our go-to, reliable spots in London. 
Where: Various locations
Book now: El Pastor King's Cross

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

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

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