Sonora Taqueria is a Mexican restaurant in Stoke Newington, run by couple Michelle Salazar de la Rocha and Sam Napier. Open lunchtimes between Thursday and Sunday, queues form regularly outside Sonora Taqueria, as well as in the alleyway next to the small restaurant, where hungry punters feast on authentic Mexican tacos.
The name derives from Sonora, Mexico, where de la Rocha was raised before moving to London.
Sonora Taqueria first came to prominence during its time in Hackney’s Netil Market, where long queues would form early and the stall would regularly sell out in the early afternoon. In June 2023, Sonora Taqueria opened its first permanent bricks-and-mortar shop on Stoke Newington High Street. The shop itself is small with little in the way of seating - customers queue outside, then take their tacos away with them, often choosing to eat them outside the restaurant.
Sonora was also in the headlines in 2022 when the pair faced down a legal challenge from London-based taco restaurant Taqueria, which claimed it had trademarked the term ‘taqueria’ and demanded that Sonora remove it from their name. The claim was dropped after over 130,000 people signed a petition in support of Sonora Taqueria.
On the menu at Sonora Taqueria you’ll find classic taco options like beef barbacoa and carne asada, as well as grilled cactus nopales with refried beans, quesadillas with various fillings and queso fresco burritos. All tacos and tortillas are made fresh on the day using masa harina.
Sonora Taqueria doesn’t take bookings - the restaurant is only available to walk-ins!