“I’m A Food Journalist – Here Are My Top 5 Tacos In London”
Burgers, pizza, tacos, sandwiches… they’re all the rage right now! Absolutely a recession indicator, but we can get into that another time. For now, please allow me this time to bask in the glorious sun that London’s tacos shine down upon us; let me reminisce on the beautiful options we have, because a couple of years ago, there were complaints: “London doesn’t have good tacos”. Well, London listened, and now we are rich with options. Here’s my top 5 (highly subject to change).
1. Best affordable taco
Two Twins Tacos, Daily Cray-Zay (4 soft shell tacos & a margarita) (£16)
I walked past Two Twins’ Notting Hill location for the first time on their opening day, headed up to Golborne Road (my happy place), when I noticed that they were handing out tacos for about a quid each. Granted, that was for celebratory reasons, but it’s not far off still. Two Twins is serving up trendy birria tacos for £3; they’re selling 4 tacos and a margarita for £16, and at happy hour, they’ve got £6 cocktails and a buy 1 get 1 free deal with Sol Lager. These days, it is hard to find chips and guac for under a fiver, but here we are. Not a thing but the cocktail deal goes over a tenner here, and for that my heart sings as I stomp my way toward Golborne Deli with a taco in hand to tide me over for the 5-minute walk.
Where: 291 Portobello Road, London, W10 5TD
Website: www.twotwinstacos.com
2. Best expensive taco
El Pastor, Tuna Tostada (£15) & Al Pastor tacos (£14.25)
Specifically the one in Borough. I don’t know what it is about this place, but I’ve been in love with it since I was a wee 18-year-old. Perhaps it has the novelty that comes with finding a cool restaurant as a budding foodie, or perhaps it is the very (very, very, very) good negronis sat alongside a bottomless set of 5 salsas. That being said, I have never walked out of here without a weight lifted off of me, the weight being no lighter than £5o. That said, worth it! Specifically the tuna tostadas with chile de arbol (£15) and even more specifically the al pastor with grilled pineapple tacos (£14.25) and the baja fish tacos (£9). If you’re going in, you might as well go all in.
Where: 7A Stoney St, London SE1 9AA
Website: www.tacoselpastor.co.uk
3. Best new(ish) taco
Taq, Carnitas Taco (£7) & Fish Taco (£7)
A very special congratulations to Taq after rebranding with the help of the ever-so-popular Jackson Boxer and rising from the ashes in under a year to secure not only a Michelin Guide inclusion but also the praise of the London community. Taq is, by all means, a fabulous spot built for overindulging on margs and cigarettes on the terrace. Each taco is different from the rest, with very obviously highly considered garnishes, salsas, pickles and various other toppings – each refreshingly individual. For me, what did it was the carnitas taco with salsa verde and escabeche pickles alongside a fried line-caught coley fish with shredded cabbage and chipotle mayo. Give these your attention; as much as the Dove taco is good, it is no rival to these.
Where: 141-145 Westbourne Grove London W11 2RS
Website: www.taq.london
4. Best looking taco
1910 Cantina, Baja Pescado Tacos (£13) & Quasabirria Tijuana Style (£13)
I was first introduced to 1910 at Cocktails in the City (an event which I vehemently back); they were one of the small, although curated, food stalls in the garden that day. I had the Baja Pescado Tacos — lightly battered white fish with shredded lettuce, chipotle mayo, red cabbage, and lime dressing with coriander — and then moved to a quesabirria Tijuana-style carne. My mouth is watering at this placement. A traditional quesadilla with slow-cooked beef brisket marinated in a blend of spices authentic to Tijuana, with melted cheese, onion, red chilli & coriander served with a side of birria gravy for dipping. I’m sure you can imagine how that one looks, hence the title.
Where: 3 Ramsden Rd, Balham, London, SW12 8QX & 277 New Kings Rd, Parsons Green, London SW6 4RD
Website: www.1910cantina.com
5. Honourable mention
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Les Lande Chicken (£120)
This is very much a wild card. How did a triple Michelin-star restaurant make its way onto a taco list? Let me explain. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught just launched their lunch à la carte menu, which I had the absolute privilege of being able to try. In fact, I actually had the privilege of going down to the kitchen with her to have a bit of a deep dive into the dish I am about to discuss — the Les Landes Chicken for two (£120). This is a whole chicken that comes to your table, stuffed and carved tableside before the carcass returns to the kitchen for the legs to be turned into a teenie chicken leg taco with tarragon aioli. This bite was far and away my favourite of the countless other bites I had on this afternoon, and with a pairing from one of the greatest wine collections in the country, if not the world… It is nothing short of remarkable. This à la carte lunch is a bucket list try, if not for the taco, then for anything else thought up and prepared by Hélène and Marco’s team.
Where: The Connaught, Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
Website: www.maybourne.com
