Leicester Square itself, as opposed to the surrounding area, can get a little crowded with tourists looking for cheap theatre tickets, though keen-eyed gourmands may have noticed that the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire hotel on the square's south side is showcasing a stylish new eatery.

Despite its tongue-in-cheek moniker, the MO is a fusion of Peruvian and Mexican flavors served in shared dishes, including hard tacos with chili-lemon scented chicken, grilled chorizo, and tostadas with shredded crab and ginger mayonnaise. The chili and lychee margarita laced with blood orange liqueur is definitely the thing to send you out on a frigid night, and the drinks list is similarly bi-coastal.

Location: 31-36 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LH

Website: https://www.thekitchensrestaurants.co.uk/leicester-square-kitchen

This street food nonsense is becoming a well-worn path to opening a restaurant. Breddos has been serving tacos from their stall at Dalston Yard's Street Feast for a long time (three years, to be exact), and they've now made a permanent home in Clerkenwell. In some ways, going in through the street food stall route is brilliant because there's a chance to get the food right, to make sure you can hack the hours, the people, the constant working while others have fun.

You'll be relieved to hear that things are running as smoothly as clockwork a week later, as Breddos slings taco after taco into a jolly little dining room decked out in nick-able stoneware and succulents. They're making their own tortillas, as is the custom these days, nixtamilising and pressing tortillas on-site, and while the tacos aren't as flavorful as those at Tacos el Pastor, they do a good job of bending around the fillings, which is basically the point.

Location: 82 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7DB

Website: https://breddostacos.com

Do you have a thing for tacos? Casa Pastor is your pal. El Pastor's laid-back little sister performs seven types (11 if you count the large DIY options). They're also the best thing on the menu. The tortillas themselves have integrity that you don't often see in London, which is a slightly nerdy way of saying they have good bite, genuine flavor, and won't fall apart when handled. Chipotle chicken is the best filling to try, but Baja fish (battered goujons, slaw, and salsa) and chayote (slices of gourd and mild jalapeno, plus refried beans and crumbly queso fresco) also impressed.

But overall, Casa Pastor was very good. It’s one of those large, laidback joints you go to for casual catch-ups, the kind that combines good looks – vibrant colours, a huge tree in its centre – with helpful staff, better-than-average food and fairly friendly price tags. It feels like the kind of place which will end up being rolled out across town. It would be no bad thing to visit this restaurant.

Location: Unit 25-27, Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ

Website: www.casapastor.es

If you fancy some awesome food and extremely friendly service then this is the place to be! Serving tacos in Dalston with a great atmosphere, Toplist definitely recommends visiting for Taco Tuesday. Every taco at Del74 is just £2!! That’s not all – you can make the most of this amazing deal every day if you get there between 5 pm and 7 pm for their fabulous happy hour!

The atmosphere reflects the staff, who are happy, eccentric, and laid back. Del74 began as a pop-up in Clapton, serving only three types of tacos and one beer, with the idea that less is more. With two restaurants in East London, they have stayed true to their original vibe, offering a simple but delicious menu. Del74 has a simple menu that focuses on flavorful food, with two starters, two tostadas, three types of quesadillas, and seven types of tacos to choose from. It's also vegetarian-friendly since seven of the 16 menu choices are vegetarian. The daily happy hour (£2 tacos) is a wonderful price, and the staff was kind and helpful. And this location (along with another in Clapton) is dog-friendly.

Location: 129 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB

Website: www.tacosdel74.com

The ‘DF’ stands for ‘Distrito Federal’ – what Mexicans call the conurbation of Mexico City, a vast sprawl bigger than Greater London. Not that you’ll find many Mexicans in this Whitechapel namesake.

There are plenty of attentive graphic designers and off-duty DJs, but there aren't many Spanish-speaking North Americans who grew up on corn, beans, and chili. DF is very "London". The Wahaca chain has created a fashionable and reasonably priced modern Mexican diner. They're experimenting with a more mass-market and affordable format than Wahaca's cool Mexican cantina format. DF retains many Wahaca hallmarks – strikingly modern design, cheerful staff, no reservations – and will be a long-running popup (until 2015 at least). It feels and appears to be a test run for a new chain in the works.

Location: 28-29 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 1BL

Website: https://dftacos.co.uk

This taco restaurant in a railway arch next to Borough Market doesn’t accept bookings and the wait can, at peak times, be up to two hours. But at least there’s no standing in the rain: they take your number and will text when your table is ready. The excellent, Latin-vibey music is turned up loud; the staff is friendly and accommodating; and the lighting is set to 'looking good, baby'. This is the place to go if you need to be cheered up. For example, if you've recently been downsized or realized you've forgotten to record 'Sherlock'.

To begin your meal, a tuna tostada, a bowl of fresh guac, and a prawn taco all had the same problem: excessive salt. However, other tacos – all served on the same nicely firm corn tortillas – will make you happy, beginning with the strip of stone bass, the juicy chunks of chargrilled chicken, and the signature 24-hour marinated 'al pastor' pork.

Location: 7a Stoney StreetLondonSE1 9AA

Website: https://www.tacoselpastor.co.uk

This Mexican restaurant reopened in October 2017, though it had previously closed in August 2016 after only seven months in business in Shoreditch. Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes founded Santo Remedio ("Holy Remedy") as a supper club; Mr. Diaz-Fuentes previously worked for Wahaca. The L-shaped dining room has tightly packed tables and unnecessarily loud music, making conversation difficult even at lunch. The menu includes both traditional Mexican dishes and more exotic fare such as grasshoppers.

Tomatillo (green nightshade that looks like a little tomato) and Chihuahua cheese are used to make chicken enchiladas Suiza. The tomatillo's sour flavor contrasts nicely with the chicken, and the heat level is just right - this is the greatest meal you should try. Meatballs with a chipotle sauce (a dried, smoked jalapeño pepper) are rather safe. The beef has a good texture, and the chipotles added a light spice to brighten it up. There's also a fun little rice side dish that's dwarfed by the spoon that came with it. This piece appears absurdly mean since it is rice rather than caviar.

Location: 152 Tooley Street, London Se1 2Tu, Bermondsey, London SE1 2TU

Website: www.santoremedio.co.uk

This cheerful, scruffy, and cheap little dive captures the old boho buzz of Notting Hill, with its lively Latin beats, bare floors, and portraits of revolutionary hero Zapata on the walls. You should get your hands on succulent palm-sized tacos stuffed with shredded slow-cooked pork, pickled jalapeno, green pepper, and citrus.

Crispy tostadas topped with ceviche, home-cured chorizo, beer-marinated chicken, and even smoked fish with guacamole, roast corn, and chipotle are all available, with sides like refried black beans. You should also try deep-fried churros or a creamy cajeta pudding (the Mexican version of dulce de leche). If you're courageous, drink beer and Tequila; if you're not, drink 'aquas frescas' (flavored water).

Location: 141-145 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2Rs, Notting Hill, London W11 2RS

Website: https://taqueria.co.uk

Temper's menu has changed slightly since lockdown, but their USP remains the same: high-quality, in-house butchered meat and traditional corn tacos. In addition to Mexican classics like carnitas, mole, and tortillas, the menu draws inspiration from Argentinian, Spanish, and Korean dishes to produce flavorful food that hits the spot.

You'll want to order a bunch of their small/medium plates to make sure you get your fill and get to try as many as possible. If you're looking for a change from your regular tacos, try their cochinita pibil, a Yucatan meal of spicy braised pork with sweet and earthy tones that complement each other. For a gourmet treat, try it with their lamb kimchi carnitas and grilled sea bass. Though the menus at each Tempe location differ somewhat, Toplist suggests the Soho branch for a buzzy, lively lunch.

Location: 25 Broadwick Street, London W1F 0DF

Website: https://temperrestaurant.com

Cravings La Carreta, a warm, colorful Peckham spot serving filling burritos and tempting totopos, is humble yet hearty. Cravings La Carreta combines favorite recipes from Mexico and Venezuela in one menu, delivering authentic flavors that you'll remember long after your visit.

Their handmade sauces, fresh rice, and meats, which are blended with Mexican and South American flavors to produce filling dinners, exude quality. Their amply stuffed burritos with all the additional fixings and slow-roasted pork carnitas tacos are menu favorites. Toplist heartily recommends their wonderful vegan tacos loaded with crisped potatoes and cactus leaves for meat-free diners. It's difficult to find a good Mexican restaurant in London that doesn't skimp on the servings, but Craving La Carreta will leave you satisfied.

Location: 3-5 Station Way, London SE15 4RX

Website: https://cravingslacarreta.com