The Taco Experience Review

The London Taco Experience returned this weekend, bringing tacos, tequila and music to south London. After two successful editions in 2025, the event made its Brixton debut at the newly opened Freight Brixton — London’s newest (and largest) rooftop bar and event space.

Eight of London’s hottest taco traders set up shop for the day: MexClub, Los Gordos, Pako Taco, Taco Bros, Polanco, Tacos MX, Carne and Hungry Tacos. Each offered their own spin on Mexican street food, with tacos, quesadillas, burritos and nachos on the menu. Individual tacos started at £4, with combination boxes (such as three for £11) making it easy to sample widely.

We did exactly that. After a lap around the venue debating beef birria vs pork vs sweet potato vs fish, one option kept catching my eye: cactus. But first, we started with a three‑for‑£11 box from Los Gordos — beef braised brisket (12‑hour beer‑braised brisket with crispy onions and coriander), Colombian fried chicken (marinated thighs with citrus corn, pickled red onion and chilli‑mango sauce) and chimichurri steak (24‑hour marinated bavette with citrus cabbage and sugar‑cane chimichurri). The chicken was well seasoned and a firm hit but the chimichurri edged ahead for us, thanks to its depth of flavour and perfectly cooked steak.

The cactus craving didn’t go away, so we headed to Hungry Taco next. Their beef birria — slow‑braised beef in a rich, chilli‑infused broth — was deeply savoury and tender, and the slow‑cooked garlic pork was equally satisfying. But the standout was the chorizo and cactus taco. I’d never tried cactus before; my friend described it as a soft vegetable, which proved accurate. I mentioned a bit of a kick and she looked at me like I was imagining things… until she tried it herself. Easily the most unique taco of the day, with a great mix of textures and a surprising depth of flavour.

Tacos MX had clearly been busy; their fish tacos were already sold out when we reached them. We switched to the pork, which was tender and flavourful, and a satisfying way to round off the day’s tasting.

For spice lovers, the Hot Sauce Showcase was a highlight, offering more than ten flavours. My friend lit up when she saw it and spent a good while deciding which combinations to top her tacos with. For those with a sweet tooth, churros were available too.

The only real frustration came from the drink queues. Around 4pm, one bar was staffed by a single bartender, and service moved slowly. Later, at around 7pm, my friend waited over 30 minutes for drinks despite only a dozen people ahead of her. She said the delay seemed to be in the drink‑making rather than the ordering or staffing levels.

Entertainment throughout the day came from DJs and a live Mariachi band, who brought a joyful, high‑energy atmosphere. Their versions of well‑known songs had the crowd tapping, singing and swaying along.

Freight Brixton itself officially opens on 7 May and is located just minutes from Brixton Station, adjacent to Brixton Village Market. With a capacity of 1,000, it brings Freight Island’s signature drink‑dance‑dine concept to south London. Although billed as a rooftop venue, a large canopy covers the bars, several traders, the stage and many of the wooden tables and benches. A smaller outdoor area housed four traders but offered very limited seating. On a warm Saturday, many people ended up sitting on the concrete floor — a bit more outdoor seating would go a long way as we head into summer.

The London Taco Experience is organised by Street Eats, the team behind Bohemia Place Markets, Cross The Tracks, City Splash in Brockwell Park and Free From Sleep. Their flair for large‑scale food and culture events is clear — this is a lively, generous, flavour‑packed day out.

Our tip: arrive hungry. There’s no better way to make the most of a taco festival.