Tacos in the United Kingdom
Tacos in the United Kingdom moved from the Tex-Mex cantinas of the 1990s to a London scene of market-stall taquerías, regional Mexican kitchens and Michelin-starred tasting menus. London is the center of the trend, with taquerías run by Mexican cooks in markets from Holloway to Peckham and the starred restaurant Kol in Marylebone.
Development
Time Out London describes the capital's Mexican food as having passed through a Tex-Mex phase in the 1990s before maturing into something more faithful to Mexico, with regional dishes, handmade tortillas, salsas, ceviches and moles. Many of today's taquerías are run by Mexican-born cooks, and several began as market stalls or food trucks before opening permanent sites.
The most acclaimed example is Kol in Marylebone, led by chef Santiago Lastra, whose motto is Mexican soul, British ingredients. The Michelin Guide awards it one star in its 2026 UK edition, citing modern technique applied to seasonal, traditionally rooted dishes; its signature is a langoustine taco with smoked chile and sea buckthorn, and the tasting menu ends in a downstairs mezcal bar. Time Out calls it London's first Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant.
Notable taquerías
London's taco map mixes casual stalls and full restaurants. Proper Tacos, run by Teresa Lopez in Holloway's Nag's Head Market, is known for traditional tacos, gorditas and chilaquiles. El Pastor, whose team previously ran a nightclub in Mexico City, opened by Borough Market and expanded to Soho, Battersea and King's Cross. Tacos Padre at Borough Market is led by a chef who previously worked at Pujol in Mexico City. Corrochio's in Dalston focuses on the food of Guadalajara, including tortas ahogadas, and Guacamoles in Peckham's Rye Lane Market serves birria and pozole from an entirely gluten-free menu. Cavita in Marylebone, run by head chef Adriana Cavita, offers al pastor and fish tacos alongside mole verde and pescado zarandeado. Birria, baja-style fish tacos and tacos gobernador of shrimp and cheese are now common on London menus. Smaller operations add to the mix: Homies on Donkeys in Leytonstone is a hands-only taquería known for its camarón enchilado taco, Taca Tacos sells MexiCali-style baja fish and beef birria tacos in Deptford, Peckham and at Brockley Market, and Taco Bros in East Finchley, run by brothers Emiliano and Fred, also operates a food truck on the Southbank.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 g white fish fillets such as haddock or pollock, cut in strips
- 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt
- About 1 cup cold lager
- Oil for frying
- 2 cups finely shredded red or white cabbage
- 1/2 cup soured cream mixed with 2 tbsp mayonnaise and the juice of 1 lime
- 1 chipotle in adobo, finely chopped (optional)
- 12 corn tortillas
- Pickled red onion, coriander and lime wedges
Steps
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt with enough lager to make a thin batter.
- Heat 5 cm of oil to 185 C.
- Dip the fish strips in the batter and fry in batches until golden, about 3 minutes. Drain.
- Stir the chipotle into the soured cream sauce if using.
- Warm the tortillas on a dry pan.
- Fill each with fish, cabbage, sauce, pickled onion and coriander, and serve with lime.
A British take on the baja fish taco using fish familiar from fish and chips.
Where to try it
- Kol, London (Marylebone): Chef Santiago Lastra's Mexican restaurant, one Michelin star (2026 guide).
- Proper Tacos, London (Holloway): Market taquería run by Teresa Lopez.
- El Pastor, London (Borough, Soho, Battersea, King's Cross): Taquería group named for its al pastor tacos.
- Cavita, London (Marylebone): Restaurant of chef Adriana Cavita.
Reviews
Reviews and tips open at launch. Readers will be able to share where they found the best version of this and how they make it at home.
See also
References
- "The best Mexican restaurants in London". Time Out London. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- "KOL – London - a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant". Michelin Guide. Retrieved 2026-10-10.