The best Mexican restaurants in London

Ignore the double decker buses chugging past the windows and you could be in Mexico City, such is the Corrochio’s commitment to authenticity. The sandy floor tiles of what was once a Turkish supermarket have been painted hacienda red and walls are draped with handmade rugs, colourful crucifixes, and a giant Mary de Guadalupe statue found in a gas station in Oaxaca. Which would all be pointless if the food wasn’t also the real deal. Raised in Guadalajara, chef Daniel Carillo knows what he’s doing. His short but punch-pulling menu revolves around regional specials and the three Ts; tacos, tortas and tostadas. 

Time Out tip Start with a pot of queso fundido before an immaculately-cooked octopus tostada. 

Growing up between Mexico City and a small village in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, chef Adriana Cavita brings with her an impressive resumé that includes stints at the much-lauded Pujol, often called the best restaurant in Mexico City, and Spain’s mythical El Bulli. At Cavita, the vibe is decidedly more laidback. There’s more focus on winning over a local crowd with a damn good time than winning over critics and scoring Michelin stars, but the dishes are anything but simple.

Time Out tip Weekend brunch is a vibe. Order the chilaquiles. 

A seasonal Mexican restaurant and the first permanent venture from chef Santiago Lastra, Kol was the highest placed UK joint in the World's 50 Best Restaurants for 2024 list. Not bad going. Inside this modern Marylebone restaurant you'll find super seasonal British produce and ‘wild food’. You will, of course, have to book pretty far in advance to secure a hallowed table, and pay a premium price for the privilege. 

Time Out tip Visit on-site mezcal bar Kol Mezcaleria if you don’t quite have the budget for the full £185 tasting menu. 

A slice of Echo Park in Stoke Newington, this LA-style taco joint offers grilled and guisado (braised) tacos. Most are pork and beef-based, though there’s a cactus leaf nopales offering for vegetarians and faux chorizo for vegans. Prices are extremely reasonable, and though they look petite, Sonora’s paper-thin tortillas come packed to the floury brim. Truly excellent stuff. 

Time Out tip A sensible diner would order three tacos, but you’d be within your rights to order four, even five. 

A deliriously fun dining experience. Yes, Mestizo’s food is way better than a lot of Mexican restaurants in London. Yes, the drinks menu is overflowing with tequila-based beverages that ensure no one goes home sober. But it’s also got something else: a hilarious, endearing fun energy that turns every meal here into a party. Whether you like it or not. Tamales, tacos, enchiladas, all things you expect to see on a Mexican menu, but in London what you don’t necessarily expect is quality this high. The chocolate-y house mole consists of 25 ingredients and you can basically taste all of them.

Time Out tip This is a one of the only places in London to serve drinks made with delicious raicilla, the third Mexican spirit, which tastes a little bit like tennis balls, but in a good way.

Moving from its original home in Walthamstow's Wood Street Market hasn't stopped Homies on Donkeys from being one of London’s most authentic and downright delicious taco spots. Run by Tijuana-raised Sandra Bello and Erik Bautista, they serve pairs of perfect carnitas, chicken barbacoa, birria or steak tacos, with sublime sides of roasted jalapenos or refried beans. Decoration is as intense and eye-opening as the flavours. 

Time Out tip Homies on Donkeys is proudly cutlery-free, so prepare to eat with your hands.

Zapote serves punchy meat and elegant seafood dishes from the mind of chef Yahir Gonzalez. It’s something he does extremely well, serving up duck quesadillas with a gooey smoked chipotle jelly, scallop ceviche, beef tartare taco with roasted bone marrow and charred octopus.

Time Out tip At Zapote you would be a fool not to order dessert, especially if the pistachio doughnut with morello cherry jam is on.

Breddos keep things casual to suit what is ultimately still street food. A custom-made wood grill adds rustic charm. Tacos remain its strong suit, but try the seafood tostadas too, which team the crunch of tortilla shells with punchy cross-continental flavours.

Time Out tip The Coctel de Cafe, with tequila, coffee liqueur, espresso, and agave is punchier than any espresso martini.

Low-lit, inviting and spread over two floors, it seduces punters with easy-listening Latin grooves, flickering tea lights, and some inspired food – guacamole sprinkled with tiny grasshoppers, hibiscus flower quesadillas and enchiladas and 12-hour slow-cooked smoky beef tacos. There are punishing shots of mezcal too.

Time Out tip Swing by for the bottomless brunch weekend menu, for £58 per person with two courses, dessert, and free-flowing margaritas, sangria, cava, wine and beer for 90 minutes.

If you need cheering up, head down to this Mexican hideaway beneath the arches by Borough Market. Owned by the Hart brothers (of Barrafina fame), Pastor is a taco joint with pedigree and a rollicking fiesta vibe. Order the mighty Pastor pork taco, the DIY short rib or the gringa quesadillas with fresh salsas and a blast of loud Latin music. There are also branches in Soho, Battersea and Kings Cross, but this is the original. 

Time Out tip Queso fundido is addictive; melted cheese with red onion, pumpkin seeds, arbol chillies, and totopos for dipping.

Taquiza has a bit of a ramshackle feel to it, but this is down to the fact that the DIY Peckham space doubles up as The Carpet Shop, one of London’s best clubs, opened by the people behind the always-excellent Corsica Studios. Here pisco sours and spicy margs are flowing and you’ll feast on big portions of smoky refried black beans with gooey queso fundido and grilled elote. There are also wonderful tuna tostadas, goat shoulder tacos, and king prawn tacos.

Time Out tip Vegetarians will love the halloumi al pastor and coconut fried enoki mushroom tacos.

Del74’s Dalston outpost prides itself on its no-fuss Mexican fare that ‘keeps it simple, keeps it real’. It sports kitschy ’70s-inspired decor and the menu’s modest but appealing. Go for the tangy guacamole, which comes with a hearty helping of homemade tortilla chips, or try the cochinita pibil, a braised leg of pork topped with fresh avo and red pickled onions that’s a fiesta in your mouth.

Time Out tip Happy Hour is from 5-6pm every day, and it’s all you can eat tacos for £20. 

The second London restaurant from Santiago Lastra of Kol, Fonda pitches itself as a more casual, a la carte alternative to Kol’s fine dining largesse. It's still a pretty spenny spot however, and like Kol, the focus here is on Mexican food made with British ingredients alongside a pledge to never, ever use lime. Expect chunky Scottish sea trout ceviche, and puffy quesadillas filled with melted Oaxaca-style cheese from Canterbury. 

Time Out tip Cocktails are excellent. Try the easy-sipping Fig Leaf Batanga with mezcal, fig leaf liqueur and kola, or something from the dedicated Paloma menu.

Chef Meriel Armitage presides over a hot pink corner of Soho’s Kingly Court that’s permanently packed with happily seitan-stuffed diners. Club Mexicana is a totally vegan spot with jackfruit ribs lovingly smothered in sweet hickory BBQ sauce and blobs of thick, garlicky mayo; moreish vegan queso; and other
richly-flavoured soft tacos, abundant nachos and burritos. 

Time Out tip It’s walk-ins only, but open throughout the day - swing by at 4pm if you don’t want to worry about getting a table.