Sometimes there’s nothing than a big old bowl of nachos am-I-right? Topped off with spicy jalapeños and doused in layers of cheese, sour cream and all manner of goodies, they’re everyone’s favourite Mexican snack – and we’re practically salivating at the thought of them. Well, luckily for you dear reader, we’ve done a roundup of where to get the best nachos in London. You can thank us by buying us a sharing platter…
1. Acuarela, Camden
Kicking off this roundup of the best nachos in London is Camden-based Acuarela – a beloved takeaway spot specialising in quesadillas, tacos, burritos and chilaquiles – a traditional Mexican breakfast dish consisting of fried corn tortillas topped with lashings of red salsa, sour cream, queso fresco, sliced onions and avocado with eggs and refried beans on the side.
It’s all bloody delicious here, but arguably the star of the show lies in their gluten-free ‘nachos Mexicanos’ – crunchy corn tortilla chips slathered in refried black beans, fresco cheese, sour cream, chopped jalapeños and fresh tomatoes. If that wasn’t enough, you can opt to have them covered in juicy pulled pork, chicken in a mole or spicy chipotle sauce, or vegetables in chilli for all your veggie folk. Best make your way up to Camden then… They also do delivery too.
📍You’ll find Acuarela at Unit 7, 62 Randolph Street, London, NW1 0SR.
🚇 Nearest station is Camden Road.
2. Meathead Mexican Grill, Camden
Speaking of Camden, there’s competition in this neck of the woods, and it lies in Meat Head Mexican Grill – ‘the UK’s first dedicated Birria Taco joint’ which is based in none other than the legendary Camden Market. As well as their messy ‘birria tacos’ – AKA grilled cheese-style corn tortillas with a choice of slow-cooked pulled pork, chipotle chicken or achiote spiced minced lamb chilli – they also rustle up some bangin’ nachos here.
They’re only for meat eaters to be honest, but if you’re a carnivore, then you’re gonna be well and truly happy here. They’ve got all the usual goodies in their nachos here – including jalapeño chillies, guac and plenty of cheese – as well as some melt-in-the-mouth meat. Add in the fact that they do ‘Taco Tuesdays’ – where tacos cost just £3.50 – and you can see why we absolutely love this place. Plus, it’s right by our old office. Go figure.
📍You’ll find Meathead Mexican Grill at 96 Camden Lock Place, London, NW1 8AF.
🚇 Nearest station is Camden Town.
3. Caldera, Hackney
Next up on this roundup of where you can find the best nachos in London is Caldera – an uber-cool spot which is all about ‘serving up traditional Mexican cuisine with an international twist’. And with a name derived from the Spanish word for ‘cauldron’, it’s easy to see the thought-process behind putting the spotlight on less-familiar Mexican ingredients.
Based on the ever-fashionable Mare Street in Hackney, they also rustle up some killer tacos here, but they also ain’t slacking when it comes to nachos either. Perfect for vegans and gluten-freers, they’re a hefty main course here and are topped off with some tasty tatemada salsa, sourcream, guac, jalapeños and that yummy cheese sauce of course. Wash them down with a mezcal margarita and you really couldn’t do any better let’s be honest.
📍You’ll find Caldera at 143 Mare Street, London, E8 3FW.
🚇 Nearest station is London Fields.
4. Bob’s Café, Muswell Hill and Queen’s Park
Now with a name like Bob’s Café, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this one was all about coffee, cake, toasties and pastries. Well you’d be wrong, as this Muswell Hill- and Queen’s Park-based spot is actually more of a bistro-style joint with fantastic brekkie and brunch dishes, burgers, kebabs, steak frites, Japanese katsu curries and more.
Dog-friendly and perfect for all members of the family, they bill themselves as a ‘home away from home’, and it’s easy to see why. Their namesake ‘Bob’s Nachos’ come doused in cheese, black beans, avocado smash, sour cream, chipotle sauce, pickled red onions, and chillies – and they’re absolutely bloody delicious. If you’ve room left, why not try one of their delectable desserts, which include warm apple pie and a caramelised biscuit cheesecake. Yum, yum.
📍You’ll find Bob’s Café at 43 Muswell Hill Broadway, Muswell Hill, London, N10 3HA and at 77 Salusbury Road, London, NW6 6NH.
🚇 Nearest stations are Highgate and Queen’s Park.
5. Tortilla, Various Locations
With branches in Soho, Islington, King’s Cross St. Pancras, London Bridge, Spitalfields, Bermondsey and more – you’re never exactly far from a Tortilla. That’s pretty good news in our books, as far as we’re concerned, they whip up some of the Mexican fare in town. And yes – we know they’re a big chain…
Their burritos (both wrapped and of the naked variety), tacos and quesadillas are pretty perfect for a lunchtime meal, though we’d also argue that their nachos are pretty up there too. Lathered in a hot chipotle cheese sauce, fresh salsa, guac & jalapeños – and with the option to go fully-loaded with beef, chicken or chorizo – they’re absolutely delicious and will certainly stop any stomach from rumbling. Room for dessert? Then don’t miss out on their signature choc-nut churros or gooey brownies…
📍You’ll find Tortilla at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
6. Yucca, Fulham
Yucca in Fulham bill themselves as ‘London’s best Mexican restaurant’, and once you’ve paid them a visit, it’s hard to argue with that bold claim. A cosy yet colourful eatery – with paintings of Frida Kahlo decking the walls – it’s an atmospheric spot which has some lip-smackingly good fare and excellent cocktails to boot too.
As well as fajitas, burritos, tacos, quesadillas and succulent homemade burgers, they’ve also got some tasty ‘ricos nachos’ – a dish of classic nachos with cheese, jalapeños, pico de gallo salsa, smoked chipotle tomato sauce, guacamole and sour cream. If you’d like to make more of a meal of it, then you can also add chilli con carne or shredded chicken. Sounds like an obvious choice to us…
📍You’ll find Yucca at 496 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5NH.
🚇 Nearest station is Fulham Broadway.
7. Near & Far, Camden
Another Camden-based establishment here – this time we’re talking about Near & Far – a Palm Springs-inspired spot set over four floors with a gorgey covered roof terrace with panoramic views over Camden Market. The whole venue is decked out in pastel colours, plenty of foliage and hot pink lighting, so you can definitely feel the ‘Club Tropicana’ vibes at this one.
All the food served here is 100% gluten-free, and as well as an excellent brunch (and bottomless brunch) menu, they also have some excellent salads, burgers, fried chicken, steak and mac’n’cheese too. Don’t miss out on their nachos – which can either be a starter or a main – and which come with guac, salsa rojo, cheese, sour cream and optional pulled pork. A perfect stomach-liner for a night out on the town – did we mention that DJs spin until the wee hours here at weekends? They’ve got a great happy hour if you need any more convincing…
📍You’ll find Near & Far at 48 Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8AJ.=
🚇 Nearest station is Chalk Farm.
8. Café Pacifico, Covent Garden
Heading to Covent Garden now where’ll you’ll find Café Pacifico, which when it opened back in 1982, was the UK’s first tequila bar and Mexican restaurant – so they know exactly what they’re doing here. It’s a colourful, lively spot – as you’d expect – and there’s a whole roster of events on here throughout the year – including some pretty epic Day of the Dead celebrations.
On top of some award-winning cocktails, they’ve got some ruddy good (and authentic) Mexican fare here. As well as short rib beef tacos and ‘tacos de chamorro’ – both recommended by the Head Chef we’ll have you know – they’ve also got some great nachos here. Perfect for sharing, you can either choose them with melted cheese, pimiento and jalapeño chillies, or ground beef, coriander and Crema Mexicana. Date night perhaps? They’ve also recently opened a sister venue in Finsbury Park.
📍You’ll find Café Pacifico at 5 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA.
🚇 Nearest station is Covent Garden.
9. Mestizo, Warren Street
Our penultimate entry of this roundup of where to get the best nachos in London is Mestizo – a Mexican-restaurant-come-tequila-bar who have proved incredibly popular since they first opened their doors back in 2004 in Warren Street. They’ve got the largest selection of mezcal and tequila in the entire UK – currently 260 and counting – and they even do tequila tastings in the market area next door for a couple of hours for around 15 quid a pop per person.
Factor in their food, which includes traditional soups and salads, enchiladas, Mayan-style chicken breast and of course, nachos, which come with refried beans, layers of melted cheese, jalapeños and optional chicken or chorizo. Don’t miss their raucous ‘Taco Thursdays’ – a fun-filled night of dancing, live music, tacos and tequila.
📍You’ll find Mestizo at 103 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 3EL.
🚇 Nearest station is Warren Street.
10. Jalisco, Brixton and Loughborough Junction
Rounding off this list of the best places to get nachos in London is Jalisco – a family-run joint that has been serving up warm and hearty Latin American-inspired dishes right in the heart of Brixton for the last eight or so years. Run by husband and wife team Wilson and Carolina, their aim is to offer a menu of Venezuelan and regional Central American classics, infused with traditional ingredients and using time-honoured family recipes used throughout the generations.
As you might expect, all the food here is pretty out-of-this-world – ‘Pabellon Jalisco’ and BBQ ribs we’re looking at you. Though their nachos ain’t half-bad either – think all the normal bits and bobs with added sour cream, cilantro and shredded onions. Sign us up! They also show live sports on big TV screens here too – not half bad when the footy’s on!
📍You’ll find Jalisco at Unit 1, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8PR and at 234 Coldharbour Lane, Loughborough Junction, London, SW9 8SD.
🚇 Nearest stations are Brixton and Loughborough Junction.
So there you have it – a roundup of where to get your mitts on the best nachos in London Town. So wherever you are in town, if you’re looking to get your fix of everyone’s favourite Mexican snack, then you should be able to locate it with this nifty guide!