Best tacos in London: 16 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, courtesy of London's top Mexican restaurants. 

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).

Little Fires Mezcal Bar, Shoreditch

What: This sleek audiophile sanctuary on Hackney Road pairs a custom sound system with an exceptional agave selection. While the rare Mezcal and vinyl collections are a massive draw, the food menu holds its own with some of the best tacos in east London (and we don’t say that lightly given the competition). The menu focuses on flavours from Oaxaca in the Mexican south, with handmade corn tacos piled with bluefin tuna, adobado chicken, and fried fish. Don’t miss the ultra-messy, delicious quesobirria tacos, which come with their own pot of beef broth for dunking.
Where: 125-127 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG
Book now: Little Fires Mezcal Bar

El Camion, Soho

What: Open until 3am every night except Sundays, El Camion is Soho’s ultimate late-night saviour, serving up comforting, no-nonsense tacos and Mexican street food. The tacos here are the real deal, featuring slow-cooked meats, fresh salsas, and perfectly charred tortillas. Another handy tip: El Camion is always so busy, everything comes out super-quick from the kitchen - perfect if you’re starving after a night of Soho drinking. Grab some food, then head downstairs to the legendary subterranean bar for an unmatched selection of Tequila.
Where: 25-27 Brewer Street, W1F 0RR
Book now: El Camion

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, but be prepared for a wait.  
Where: 208 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 7HU
Book now: Sonora Taqueria

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. In fact, the tomatillo and agave-glazed pork belly taco might be one of our favourite bites in all of London, especially when chased with one of co-owner Jose’s delicious mezcal cocktails. 1910 is also fantastic for anyone who wants a bit of entertainment included in their evening - expect fiestas with mariachi bands, and some of the loudest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in London.  
Where: 277 New Kings Road, SW6 4RD
Book now: 1910 Cantina Parsons Green; 1910 Cantina Balham

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

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: 103-105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DB
Book now: Arcade Food Hall

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

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

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 fillings 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

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, Various locations

What: We couldn’t possibly curate a round-up of this Mexican magnitude without shouting about El Pastor. Named after its signature dish, this team takes its street food very seriously indeed - the namesake taco is a masterclass in flavor, packing 24-hour marinated pork shoulder, caramelized pineapple, freshly whipped guacamole, and a zesty hit of lime and coriander into two soft tortillas. Plus, with colourful sites scattered all over the capital, you are never far from a truly elite taco.
Where: Various locations
Book now: El Pastor London Bridge; El Pastor Battersea; El Pastor Soho; El Pastor King's Cross

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, Marylebone, and Shoreditch

What: After years as a beloved pop-up and supper club, Santo Remedio now has three bricks-and-mortar restaurants in around London, so you're never too far away from owner and chef Edson Diaz-Fuentes' delicious tacos. Santo Remedio is heavily inspired by the traditional taquerias and markets of Mexico City - Edson's home. Using both local produce and products sourced from Mexico, the menu features classics like 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; 13-14 Thayer Street, W1U 3JR; 55 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HP
Book now: Santo Remedio London Bridge; Santo Remedio Marylebone; Santo Remedio Shoreditch

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. 

Don't forget, if you see a restaurant you like, just click on the link and you can book a table direct from the page, as well as finding more information, images, menus, opening hours and more - all the info you need to plan your next meal out.