The birria simmers with 17 spices for hours until the beef is falling apart. Each taco comes in a hand-pressed corn tortilla and is served with a cup of rich consomme for dipping. The Infatuation's review mentions birria juice dripping down your hand as part of the experience. Multiple reviewers describe these as a conversion moment for people who think London cannot do good Mexican food.
Tips from diners
Dip the taco in the consomme — it is not a side soup, it is part of how you eat this. The tortilla soaks up the broth and that is the point.
Grab extra napkins before you sit down. The birria juice goes everywhere and there is no clean way to eat these. That is part of the charm.
Rich, tender pulled pork that has been slow-cooked until it shreds apart easily. Served in the same hand-pressed corn tortillas with three homemade salsas on the side. A food blogger described the carnitas as their single best eating experience that weekend — above a Robbie Williams film and an Arsenal match. The pork is fatty, soft, and deeply flavoured.
Tips from diners
Try all three homemade salsas — they come free with every taco order. The green salsa has real heat, so taste carefully before dousing.
A sponge cake soaked in three types of milk — an heirloom recipe from Chef Manny's grandmother. The Infatuation calls it obsession-worthy. It is dense, moist, and sweet in a way that feels homemade rather than professional. This is the only dessert option and it sells out regularly, so ask about it early in your meal.
Tips from diners
Ask about this when you order your tacos — it sells out and if you leave it until the end of your meal, it may be gone.
Pork marinated in a blend of chillis and spices, then cooked until tender and juicy. Reviewers note a distinct fruity sweetness from orange in the marinade that separates these from other al pastor in London. One food blogger wrote that El Pastor in Borough Market could only dream of matching this consistency. Each order comes as a set of three with the house salsas.
Tips from diners
The orange in the marinade gives this a fruity sweetness you will not find at most London taco spots. Order these alongside the carnitas to compare.
Chunky pieces of braised ox tongue that are tender and slightly funky in flavour. A food reviewer named the tongue their favourite taco filling at Guacamoles — described as squidgy and rich in a way that more common proteins cannot replicate. If you eat offal, this is the order. The corn tortillas get a touch of extra oil that keeps them soft.
Tips from diners
If you eat offal, order this over everything else. The tongue is cooked until it is tender with a slight mineral funk that beef and pork do not have.
Run by Chef Manolo 'Taco Manny' de la Torre and his wife Gabriella out of Rye Lane Market in Peckham, Guacamoles started as a non-profit stall in Hounslow before becoming a must-visit taqueria. Manny's roots trace back to Veracruz, and the recipes come from his family cookbook. Every tortilla is hand-pressed from corn daily. The Financial Times and Vittles both called these the best tacos in London, and The Infatuation named it one of the best new restaurants of 2024.
Guacamoles is inside Rye Lane Indoor Market, not a standalone restaurant. Walk into the market and look for the colourful stall with papel picado bunting. Seating is at shared market tables, not private tables.
It gets busy on weekends with families and groups celebrating. Come on a weekday for a calmer experience, or embrace the energy — birthdays and spontaneous dancing are part of the atmosphere.
Chef Manny often comes to the tables to chat. He is genuinely enthusiastic about the food and will talk you through the menu if you ask.
Every taco order comes with complimentary guacamole and three homemade salsas. You can eat very well here for under £15 per person.
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