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Best Mexican restaurants in London, reviewed by the olive team

• Alex Crossley

Published: October 21, 2026 at 11:04 AM

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From casual taquerias to regional Mexican cooking and sleek fine dining, these are the best places to eat Mexican food in London – visited and chosen by the olive team

Want to know where to go for the best tacos, tamales and top-notch margaritas? Read on for our picks of the best Mexican restaurants in London, from laid-back taquerias and neighbourhood favourites to destination-worthy fine dining.

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For more London restaurant guides, check out our reviews of the best London openings, best restaurants in Soho and the best restaurants in Covent Garden.

Best Mexican restaurants in London

Kol, Marylebone

Santiago Lastra’s refined restaurant takes London’s Mexican scene to a new, fine-dining level. The vibe is anything but stuffy, with clay pots displayed against mottled red-orange walls and Santiago and his team calmly tending to multiple pans in the open kitchen.

Ask for a spicy mezcal margarita to start, impeccably balanced and sippable, with a charming Kol-branded ice cube. The menu features Mexican flavours made with the best seasonal English ingredients (corn, chillies and chocolate from Mexico) to create six or nine courses of Mexican dishes.

Think juicy, herbaceous strawberry stuffed with sea arrowgrass and pumpkin seed sikil pak, standout scallop paired with Trombone courgette and pil-pil, the scallop sweet against the salty sauce and sea buckthorn juice squeezed from a langoustine head over a sourdough taco loaded with the crustacean’s meaty flesh and a smoky chipotle mayo. For the main event, fill handmade corn tortillas with fall-apart 18-hour cooked short rib smothered in rich pasilla chilli mole. kolrestaurant.com

Taq, Notting Hill

Chefs Eduardo Yishima and Jackson Boxer (Brunswick House, Dove and Vesper) have teamed up to breathe new life into one of London’s original Mexican restaurants, Taqueria. The result is a lively spot with a glossy look and a totally new menu.

Dishes are built for sharing, with a loaded menu anchored by classic staples – tacos, tostadas and quesadillas – plus markedly non-traditional blackboard specials.

Begin with the shrimp taco dorados, two crispy golden shells stuffed with sweet meat, dunked into chipotle mayo; then move on to our highlight, the tuna tostada: juicy cubes of raw line-caught tuna heaped onto a toasted corn tortilla with avocado salsa and chipotle mayonnaise, topped with crispy shallots.

From the taco section, the standouts are the fish taco (fried line-caught coley, shredded cabbage, chipotle mayo), plus carnitas piled with slow-roasted heritage pork, salsa verde and escabeche pickles. But they are all sublime.

Finish with silky chocolate mousse pepped up with chilli, or tres leches piled with strawberries and chantilly cream.

The tight drinks list honours Mexican favourites, with classic and interesting margaritas (the salty jalapeño variety is a must), palomas and mezcalitas, plus Mexican lagers, micheladas and a short, sharp wine list of easy-drinking bottles. taq.london

Decimo, King's Cross

Hop in the red bubble lift that clings to the outside of The Standard Hotel, up to the upmarket restaurant Decimo on the 10th floor. Cacti poke out from behind wooden features, Mexican textiles line sweeping curved banquettes and an open fireplace provides a focal point. Book a burgundy-tiled table by the window for iconic London views while you sip zippy house margs and peruse the menu.

Paola Arenas, from Mexico City, has been appointed head chef following the departure of Peter Sanchez-Iglesias – while a few of Peter’s dishes remain (tuna tostadas), Paola’s heritage now informs the menu with shushed-up Mexican favourites, cooked over fire and made for sharing.

Begin with nachos coated in manchego to nibble on, then move on to delicate slices of habanero-pepped hamachi lightened with herbs and cucumber, or a show-stopping suckling pig carnitas taco crowned with a crisp shard of crackling. The halibut – Paola’s signature dish – is made using pre-Hispanic methods and arrives beautifully wrapped in a corn husk, garnished with roasted Yucatán pepita seeds.

Finish with a playful sun-soaked alphonso mango pavlova or a feather-light tres leches.

The drinks list features a sweeping selection of tequilas and mezcals from regions across Mexico, ready for sipping or sampling in flights. standardhotels.com

Cometa, Fitzrovia

Occupying the space that formerly housed Carousel’s wine bar, Cometa holds prime position – and a now permanent location – on Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street.

On a balmy evening, bifold windows open to allow a summer’s breeze into the terrazzo-tiled space, while woven rattan chairs and understated touches of modern artwork lean away from Mexican clichés.

From Carousel co-founders Ed and Ollie Templeton with head chef José Lizarralde Serralde in the kitchen, Mexican seafood is the focus – bar one or two carefully considered meat dishes, including dark and smoky, immense-sized fried chicken. Begin with oysters, paired with fresh lemon, a tangy rasurado salsa and a pipette of petróleo, a vigorous fermented hot sauce. Cometa pulls out all the stops: tempura summer greens and a caesar salad are towering creations, while generous slices of monkfish soak in a sea of smoked butter foam.

With three types of margaritas on the menu, this is a foregone conclusion – the spicy is perhaps stronger on the bracing acidity than the habanero spice but nevertheless thoroughly enjoyable with its Tajín rim.

For dessert, a creative twist on a buñuelo layers thin deep-fried slices of dough between a decadent chocolate cream. cometa.restaurant

Fonda, Soho

Santiago Lastra, chef-owner of Mexican fine dining restaurant Kol, offers a more informal choice just off Regent Street. A fonda is a Mexican family-run inn, to which there are nods in the décor (earthy tones, handwoven fabrics and Mexican crafts), regional Mexican menu and homely touches, including a trio of salsas – smoky salsa macha, vibrant gooseberry salsa verde and blazing salsa roja – brought to the table for customers to apply to dishes as they wish.

Start with Yucatan ground pumpkin seed speciality sikil pak garnished with vibrant green pine oil and deep-fried totopos. The traditional clay comal is the kitchen’s focal point and the dedicated comal list features Marmite beer-battered baja fish dressed with chipotle mayo, hispi cabbage and pistachio guacamole.

Moving on to sharing mains – black sesame, short rib stock and chocolate paste get top billing in the rich, 60-ingredient short rib mole. Charred adobo-laced monkfish arrives on soft Ratte potatoes doused in arbol chilli-infused butter.

For dessert, Santi's American cheesecake crowned with blackcurrant compote is a standout choice; steamed corn tamales are doused in butterscotch cream and velvety chocolate sorbet laced with Oaxacan oak-smoked pasilla chilli oil is an unexpected highlight. fondalondon.com

Image credit: James Moyle

Cavita, Marylebone

Cavita, Adriana Cavita’s debut following a stint at powerhouses including Spain’s El Bulli and a successful pop-up at The Dorchester, is one of London’s most vibrant Mexican offerings. The beautiful space on Wigmore Street is inviting, with food that fills the belly as well as the soul – like pig’s head tamal wrapped in charred collard greens; mole verde with wood-grilled, herb-fed chicken; and pan de elote with cajita, a sweet cornbread garnished with a goat’s milk caramel.

Cocktails are creative, with a secret bar below serving small-batch artisanal mezcal, tequila and the opportunity to learn more about Mexican culture. cavitarestaurant.com

MAYA, Marylebone

On a cobbled lane behind Wigmore Street’s Cavita (above), Maya is a subterranean agave den signposted only by a discreet ‘M’. Inside, the space is sultry and inviting, with woven wicker lampshades, vibrant South American textiles and the soft scent of palo santo setting the scene.

The bar is an oasis for mezcal and tequila enthusiasts, serving up a hibiscus-tinged margarita, jalapeño paloma and an exceptionally smooth mezcal espresso martini. Bar snacks are far from being an afterthought: hamachi and ceviche tostada are crisp and fresh, brochetas de pollo are plump and the Gringa, filled with Oaxacan cheese, iberico pork, pineapple, and achiote, serves authentic, bold flavour.

A custom hi-fi sound system assures the atmosphere buzzes, hosting intimate weekend sets from local and international DJs. mayamarylebone.com

Cinco, Dalston

Hidden away underneath sister restaurant Corrochio’s, Cinco is a rustic, moody basement den with flickering candles and bare concrete walls furnished with Mexican art. First and foremost a bar that specialises in agave and Mexican spirits, its collection – including unique bottlings – is curated by founders Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie from their travels across Daniel’s native Mexico. The bar even boasts its own in-house mezcal available to try and buy.

Cocktails are unexpected and complex, exhibiting the full breadth of what agave spirits have to offer. The Doña Mago uses raicilla (another agave spirit), tomato liqueur, plum sake, Ancho Reyes chilli liqueur, and plum and tomato cordial for a wonderful margarita-esque drink with smoky, fruity charm. Another next-level take on a marg arrives in the form of the El Chihuas, with sotol (another Mexican distillate, made from the desert spoon plant), fig, guanabana and yuzu liqueurs. The result is a tropical, creamy drink with a subtle floral edge.

Cinco also has a smart roster of no- and low-alcohol cocktails made using alcohol-free spirits and Mexican ingredients – the La Bikini Cero, with non-alcoholic agave spirit, chilli syrup, verdita water and pineapple has a satisfying spicy kick. corrochios.com

Santo Remedio, London Bridge

This vibrant Mexican restaurant bursts with colour and fun energy, from the uplifting Latin beats bouncing off walls papered with tropical patterns to the multicoloured tiles creating a focal point in the mezcal and tequila bottle-lined bar. Order a zippy margarita, or be adventurous and try the delicate hibiscus or smozy mezcal varieties, the latter finished with zingy chilli salt round the rim.

Kick off with guacamole topped with fried grasshoppers (think crispy onions more than critters!) and a piquant tuna tartare on crunchy tostadas, garnished with creamy chipotle mayo. Next, choose one of the slow-cooked, bone-in sharing dishes for the table (fall-apart lamb barbacoa, short ribs slathered in an intense mole negro sauce, or whole grilled mackerel with pineapple) to stuff into soft, handmade corn tortillas along with refried black beans, crunchy slaw and jalapeño potato salad. santoremedio.co.uk

Tacos Padre, Borough Market

Nestled in among the hustle and bustle of the food stalls at Borough Market is the compact, sunny-looking Tacos Padre. Irish-Spanish chef Nick Fitzgerald worked at Pujol in Mexico City before setting up here to serve up tacos, such as beef short-rib suadero with aged beef fat and morita salsa; chicken asado and cauliflower al pastor with guajillo adobo; and an increasingly famous salsa macha every day until 6pm.

Sides include grilled corn with chintextle (smoked pasilla chilli paste) mayo and red guacamole, and you can sip on drinks such as frozen margaritas, mezcal margaritas and micheladas. tacospadre.com

El Pastor, King's Cross

Dining is an alfresco affair at El Pastor – with multi-hued tables and chairs grouped around a central bar in a covered, heated terrace, complete with Latin beats pulsing from the speakers.

The menu may be casual – spicy Mexican-style rotisserie chicken, tostadas and tacos are the highlights here – but there’s an attention to detail that lifts the food. A surprisingly meaty mushroom taco comes with oaxaca cheese, caramelised onion, pumpkin seeds and coriander, with a piquant salsa made with toasted árbol chillies and garlic oil (they have seven salsas in total, all made in-house). tacoselpastor.co.uk

El Pastor, London Bridge

El Pastor is a taqueria concealed under a railway arch in Borough Market. The lighting is low, the music loud and the rustic, industrial-chic décor with scatterings of bright, sunshine colours transport you to Mexico City. Pull up a stool at the bar or slide into one of the standing tables and order a michelada (beer over ice with lime and a salt rim), margarita or carafe of mezcal, guac served with chicharron for scooping, and light, fresh sesame tuna tartare tostada with avocado and chilli while you wait for your table.

There’s a punchy list of just nine tacos to choose from, all on criollo corn tortillas, made on-site daily. Everything from smoky chargrilled stonebass to the signature al pastór – 24-hour marinated pork shoulder with caramelised pineapple – is exquisite, but fall-apart short rib with guajillo rub, punchy pineapple habanero salsa and roasted bone marrow and confit pork, cuerito, chicharron and salsa steal the show. tacoselpastor.co.uk

Taco Bros, East Finchley

Taco Bros is the sort of neighbourhood place you wander into for something simple and good, then find yourself staying longer than planned, thinking 'okay, we’ll order another round'. Taco Bros grew from a taco truck and still carries that scrappy charm, though the new bricks and mortar space has its own warmth. Family photos, bright ceiling decorations and the hum of early evening give it the feel of a home kitchen that happens to pour margaritas.

Start with the guacamole, which arrives with a heap of crisp tortilla chips and a bowl of green that keeps a little of its rustic chunkiness – the sort that feels properly made by hand rather than fussed with.

The fish tacos are a must: batter shatter-crisp, slaw bright, tortillas full of flavour. The lamb birria comes with a jus that's rich and intensely fatty, sharpened by white onion and lime. Even the chicken enchiladas feel like a quiet hug, all smoke and gentle heat.

The margarita list is long and playful. including a sweet and sunny mango version. There’s a full spread of the beloved Mexican soft drink brand, Jarritos, too. Finish with churros, hot and crisp with a generous helping of dulce de leche. tacobrosldn.co.uk

Taquiza, Peckham

This Mexican-inspired eatery is a fun, laid-back spot, ideal for a casual dinner with friends. It's an open and buzzy space, situated under a Peckham archway, with a menu of eat-with-your-hands dishes: grilled elote coated in chipotle aïoli, chilli and queso añejo (Mexican cheese), 12-hour beef tacos with salsa roja, onion and coriander, chiles toreados (blistered chilli peppers) and smoked tofu chorizo tacos with xcatik cream (a spicy chilli pepper cream), guacamole and jalapeños.

There’s a generously sized pasilla chocolate mousse for dessert, crowned with vanilla cremate and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and pistachio. Wash it all down with margarita picantes or, if the evening calls for it, a shot of smoky mezcal. instagram.com/taquizaldn

Breddos Tacos, Clerkenwell

Breddos opened its first permanent site in Clerkenwell in 2016. It serves 12cm corn tortilla tacos, tostadas and tlayudas (think Mexican pizzas) – the Baja fish with lime mayo, pico de gallo and cabbage is a star of Instagram. breddostacos.com

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Alex CrossleyDigital Editor

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