Authentic tacos, chilaquiles, ceviche & mezcal margaritas
"Not to do SE8 dirty, but there’s something a little Pleasantville about La Chingada’s spot in Surrey Quays. The Mexican taqueria is a grenade of colour and vibrancy on an otherwise nondescript road. The tacos it makes act in much the same way. The al pastor, chunks of glistening marinated pork with onion and punches of green and red salsa, plus a sweet sliver of pineapple, is good. But it’s the suadero taco (confit beef brisket with onion, coriander, and a dash of deep brown habanero salsa) and the chorizo taco—a vehicle for vivid red sausage—that are your essential orders." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, daisy meager, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
"We could go on about La Chingada’s crispy al pastor or soft suadero tacos. Or their deep brown habanero salsa. But it’s not just the food. This colourful Surrey Quays spot is really good fun. Groups of friends crowd around tables, taking down rounds of juicy al pastor tacos like shots, after doing the same with something tequila-based. The frozen margs flow, and there’s always room for one last order of tacos, or a gooey quesadilla for the road." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak
"London isn’t a place that’s known for its tacos. Maybe that’s because they feel like a sunny-weather type of food, and London is not known for sunny weather. But still La Chingada manages to transform a grey patch of Surrey Quays into glorious technicolour. Fluoro-red chilli sauce being poured on to the crispiest of chicken wings. Green salsa verde getting on everything: crispy chicharrones, gooey tostadas, your hungry jacket sleeve. This is a spot that combines all the best parts of summer and serves it in a bright little chicken shop-style space." - rianne shlebak
"London’s good-time taqueria is a great Sunday night restaurant. Not just because it’s open but because Sunday is when one-off specials are on the menu. Pozole, chilaquiles, aguachile verde, and more. La Chingada in Surrey Quays is open until 9pm." - jake missing, sinead cranna
"We could go on about La Chingada’s crispy al pastor or soft suadero tacos for hours. Or one of its hot salsas, a deep brown habanero number. But it’s not just the food. It’s the brightly coloured plastic chairs, easy-to-wipe tables primed for messy meals, and the clinking of glass Jarritos bottles as you cheers with your nearest and dearest." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna