Birria Taco 

Some things lose their allure when they’re no longer a secret. Other things only get better, like Birria Taco, a walk-in only Mexican-inspired spot in Kensal Rise. What started as a IYKYK takeaway-only pop-up in a hotel basement in 2020, grew into a popular residency in a shisha lounge in Edgware Road. And it's now taken its final form as a permanent restaurant that we hope will stick around. In all its reincarnations, Birria Taco hasn’t lost the consistent, excellent quality of tacos.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

A runway to the till splits the lively, spacious, corridor-like room in two, both sides occupied by hungry people who have made the trip across the city to satisfy a birria taco craving. QR codes are scanned and patience is impossible to exercise when tables nearby dip fragrant lamb-filled tacos in shallow bowls of consommé, unintentionally taunting, as you wait eagerly for your order to appear. Multiple hands reach in simultaneously to grab a chunky, birria beef-topped chip, and the loud hum of voices of people whose life updates are so juicy it could replace the consommé, fills the room. 

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Birria tacos, birria-loaded fries, and birria ramen—everything at this warm, laid-back spot revolves around the adobo-marinated meat stew. And what a stew it is. Angus beef is cooked until it’s so tender it almost dissolves in your mouth, leaving behind the rich meaty flavour and a desire to get another round in immediately. When ordering tacos, we always end up in the upper range of 'a lot' to 'probably too much'.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Beef Birria Taco

London is seriously lacking in the birria taco department, and these ones are a cut above others in the city. The corn tortilla—orange after being soaked in the birria sauce—is crisped on the griddle, before being filled with tender beef and mozzarella, and served with a meaty consommé. The flavours are balanced, the spices from the adobo chilli cuts through, and the white onions sprinkled as a final addition add some welcome sweetness.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Lamb Birria Taco

Meatier in flavour than the beef option, this pulled lamb taco is equally as excellent and made even better with a dip in the deep brown consommé.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Chicken Al Pastor

The spicy marinated chicken leads the way, with creamy green salsa creeping up behind. And then out of nowhere the grilled pineapple chunks come out of left field with a surprising, but welcome, acidic and tangy sweetness. It’s fun, exciting, and a break from the red meat.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Loaded Birria Fries

The “loaded” part of loaded fries are usually unevenly distributed, disappointing, and kind of dry. But these birria fries—that are really more of a fat chip situation—are topped with generous amounts of creamy guacamole, refreshing salsa, crisp radishes, pickled red onions, and of course, the star of the show, the hearty birria. There’s an option of beef or lamb, both of which are great, so it really depends on your preference.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Beef Birria Ramen

A rich broth, filled with soft ramen noodles and tender, stringy, slow-cooked beef birria, this is the kind of comforting dish that will warm you from the inside out. Save this for the next time you feel a sore throat coming on.