El Pastor Battersea — Restaurant in London

Tacos El Pastor in Battersea delivered a dining experience that left an indelible mark on our family evening. From the moment we stepped through the door, Kwincey's attentive service made us feel like honoured guests. Seated at a cosy table for three, my wife, our daughter, and I were treated to an evening of culinary delights and warm hospitality.

Kwincey's recommendations for starters were a revelation. The creamy guacamole and crisp Caesar salad were the perfect prelude to our meal, setting a high standard for what was to come. Each dish was crafted with care and attention to detail, a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality.

As we moved on to the main course, the tacos stole the spotlight. With two varieties each – the succulent Al Pastor and the flavourful chicken – we were transported to the streets of Mexico with every bite. The balance of flavours and textures was impeccable, leaving us eager for more.

The selection of salsas provided an extra layer of excitement to our meal. From mild to fiery, each salsa had its own unique personality, adding depth and complexity to the dishes. We found ourselves experimenting with different combinations, discovering new flavour profiles with each taste.

A particular highlight of the evening was the papas al arbol. These spicy potatoes were a revelation, offering a tantalising contrast to the main course with their bold flavours and addictive heat. It was a side dish that stole the show and left a lasting impression.

What truly set our experience apart was Kwincey's attention to detail. Noticing that the music was a bit loud for our daughter, who is sensitive to loud sounds, he promptly adjusted the volume to ensure her comfort. This thoughtful gesture exemplified the level of care and consideration that permeated every aspect of our dining experience.

Despite being newly opened on April 26th, Tacos El Pastor has already established itself as a must-visit destination in Battersea. From the impeccable service to the outstanding cuisine, every aspect of our evening exceeded our expectations. We left feeling satisfied and inspired, eager to return and explore more of what this gem of a restaurant...

My friend and I went to this branch to try it out as we've previously been to the London Bridge branch and loved it there. As it is our first time in the branch we have used Google Maps to locate the restaurant, and it led us to an entirely wrong location since this is what was pinned on the Maps. So we are now late to the 5:30pm reservation, and now we have to go around the Power Station to locate it on our own.

Given the confusion of directions which I told to the Front of House as reason for delay, and asking if there is still a table available she reluctantly gave us the high chair table in the middle. I tried to negotiate with her if a. al fresco is possible, b. if there are available walk in tables, c. and lastly if there is a table that gets freed up, we can be switched there.

She replied that a. she doesn't have a table outside, even if there were three empty tables at the moment. b. she doesn't have walk in tables available, and c, she didn't look out for us to keep her promise even during the time that there are 10 tables empty where she could have us switched to a better table.

She was very rude, didn't want to help us at all and all she kept saying was the restaurant was fully booked even if there were at least 10 tables empty throughout our time (5:45 - 7:45pm).

The servers were all very kind which had made the experience much better. But honestly discouraged to go back because...

DELICIOUS TACOS IN LONDON?! Okay, okay hear me out, I too was skeptical but after turning every other restaurant down that my husband suggested as we tried to figure out what we were going to eat for dinner, we walked by this place and decided to give it a try. Let me tell you, it was one of the best meals we had while we were in England for an entire month. Before we get to the food, I must give a shout out to the staff who were so warm, friendly and attentive.

What we ordered:

The short rib tacos for sharing. I am not exaggerating when I tell you it was DIVINE. The meat was so well seasoned and flavorful and it was literally falling off the bone. No, seriously, they bring it to your table, bone and all, and shred the meat for you. It’s served with unlimited tortillas and some fixings for your tacos such as pickled red onions cilantro, etc.

Caesar salad: A good solid caesar salad. Not the best I ever had in my life, but it was fresh, not too much anchovy in the dressing and came with a ton of shaved parmesan on top.

Elote corn: nice and flavorful, corn was not soggy. Great smoky flavor from the grill.

Guacamole: fresh and flavorful.

Margaritas: Well balanced, not too sweet and enough alcohol to where you could taste it but it didn’t make you grimace. I ended up ordering 2.

Beer: Not sure which beer, but my husband said it was his favorite one he tried our...