CDMX Tacos - Soho, London
Our Rating: ★★★ | ££££ - Authentic vibe but a bit pricey for tacos. Meat not up to standard. (How we rate restaurants)
CDMX Tacos has recently opened its doors in London, aiming to bring the vibrant essence of Mexico City's street food scene to the bustling streets of the capital.
Drawing inspiration from the popular Los Tacos No. 1 in New York and Taquería Orinoco in Mexico City, CDMX Tacos offers a similar design and vibe.
It’s a small, lively taqueria with standing counters only, capturing the bustling energy you would expect from a top-notch taco spot. However, despite its authenticity, there are a few areas where it falls short.
(Why trust our review? Because we spent five weeks in Mexico last year and have been to both Los Tacos No.1 and Taqueria Orinico)
Ambience and Atmosphere
The setting is intimate, ideal for a quick bite rather than a leisurely meal.
It gets busy quickly, but the pace of food being served is quick, which is what we would expect from a taqueria.
The vibe is lively, reminiscent of the bustling taquerias of Mexico City, and being here did transport us back to our time in Mexico City and New York.
The Food
CDMX Tacos nails the authenticity with the menu options and quality of the tortillas themselves (the most important part of a taco!).
The fillings are either:
Beef (Asada)
Pork (Al Pastor, Chicharron)
Cactus (Nopal)
While the flavours are good, the execution misses the mark. The beef, for instance, was disappointingly chewy making the tacos really hard to eat.
You also have two different salsas (served in Molcajetes), which have a slight kick but defintiely not the spice you would expect from a Mexican taqueria.
The Drinks
CDMX Tacos offers a range of authentic Mexican drinks which is a nice touch.
Victoria, Dos Equis and Modello (beers)
Mexican Coke and Jarritos (soft drinks)
By the way, Mexican Coke and UK Coke are the same formula. Mexican Coke just comes in a glass bottle.
The whole ‘Mexican Coke’ hype is more relevant for people in the US because Coca-Cola in the US is sweetened with Fructose syrup instead of cane sugar like in the UK or Mexico, giving it a diffrent taste.
Value for Money
This is where CDMX Tacos struggles. At around £5 per taco, the price is steep for what is traditionally a quick and inexpensive meal.
While the tortillas and flavours are commendable, the high cost and occasional issues with the fillings, like the overly chewy beef, make it hard to justify the expense.
Tacos should be a quick, cheap, and cheerful meal, and while CDMX Tacos delivers on authenticity, it doesn't quite hit the mark for the price you pay.
Final Thoughts
CDMX Tacos brings a slice of Mexico City's street food culture to London, with an authentic vibe and great tortillas.
However, the high prices and occasional issues with the fillings make it a bit of a mixed bag.
If you're in the area and craving a taste of Mexico, it's worth a visit, but don't expect it to replace your favourite taco joint just yet.
