As pit-stops go, you could do a lot worse than Poncho No 8. The brainchild of two twenty-something best mates, these fresh and funky burrito bars have proved so popular in Spitalfields and St Paul’s that they’ve already spawned a third branch, this time in the heart of Soho.
The concept is the same: burritos, tacos or boxes (salad/tortilla chips) are built to order by a legion of smiling staff, with fillings including tender shredded pork or moreish braised beef. Prices hover at the £6.30 mark, which may seem a lot for a glorified Mexican wrap, but ingredients are of good quality and burritos well-prepared: no falling apart at the seams here.
The upstairs seating is clean and contemporary, with bowls of fresh lime wedges on the tables and a groovy, jazzy soundtrack blaring from the speakers (think ‘Sexual Healing’ as played by a mariachi band) – it’s hardly downtown Oaxaca, but judging from the ten-deep queue in the opening week, neither does it need to be.