RestaurantsLondonLondon BridgeSE1

Breaking news

June 2020: Post COVID-19 reopening is set for July 7.

survey result

Summary

£62
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“It’s always a bun-fight to get a table, but you get reliably excellent tacos” and “great margaritas”, attest fans of these “fun Mexican” hangouts, whose original SE1 branch in the arches of Borough Market generates the lion’s share of feedback. Locations in Soho, Coal Drops Yard and Battersea Power Station inspire similar praise, but are more likely to be judged “perfectly adequate” or “fine but not great”, and ratings overall took a bit of a dip this year.

Summary

£57
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The tacos are still loaded and delicious and the frozen margaritas are exceptional” at the Hart Bros’ “lively” Latino haunts: particularly the original SE1 branch – a “fabulous Mexican street food venue under the arches in Borough Market”. (The newer Soho branch with its basement ‘Mezcaleria Colmillo’ bar inspires good marks but much less feedback). In April 2024, they launched a new, 90-cover site in Battersea Power Station, with adjoining 60-cover, open-all-year, outdoor riverside terrace.

Summary

£56
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Properly authentic tortillas and tacos transport you to Mexico City” with their “spicy but very delicious” flavours, at this Mexican duo from the Hart Brothers, whose original venue in a “great location” on the edge of Borough Market is deservedly “very busy”. The Soho branch has a late-night basement bar, ‘Mezcaleria Colmillo’, while ‘big sister’ Casa Pastor at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross (see also) features live music.

Summary

£51
   ££
3
Good
2
Average
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“The tacos are tasty and the margaritas are fab” at this “fun and feisty” Mexican duo – part of the Hart Bros’ empire (with the Borough Market original still being much more commented on than its Soho sibling, which opened in 2021 on the former site of Hix). “Sometimes the service is a little overwhelmed by how busy the place gets”, and the “cheerful” ambience can be a bit “chaotic” as a result.

For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at El Pastór?

Restaurant details

No dress code

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£9.50 £7.90 £6.50
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £29.00
Filter Coffee £3.50
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 12.50%
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Thursday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Friday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Saturday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑11 pm
Sunday12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10 pm

Best Mexican restaurants nearby

Tacos Padre
Mexican restaurant in Southwark
£42
    £
4
Very Good
3
Good
2
Average
Santo Remedio
Mexican restaurant in Bermondsey
£72
  £££
3
Good
3
Good
2
Average
Wahaca
Mexican restaurant in South Bank
£54
   ££
2
Average
2
Average
3
Good

Best similarly priced restaurants nearby

Arabica Bar and Kitchen
Lebanese restaurant in Borough
£60
  £££
2
Average
3
Good
3
Good
Bancone
Italian restaurant in Southwark
£60
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
2
Average
Casa do Frango
Portuguese restaurant in Southwark
£57
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good