The story
El Pastor is a family of Mexican restaurants in London, born from the decade founders Sam Hart and Crispin Somerville spent in Mexico City running the legendary nightclub El Colmillo. The name honours the taco al pastor – Mexico City’s most beloved street food, itself a fusion of Lebanese shawarma tradition with pork, chilies, achiote and spices, cooked on a vertical trompo. At the heart of every dish is the tortilla, made fresh daily from heirloom Mexican corn sourced through TAMOA, an initiative protecting Mexico’s biodiversity and food heritage.
Each El Pastor channels a different side of Mexico City’s energy. The original sits on Stoney Street in Borough Market, where the first taco was served on a house-made tortilla. King’s Cross occupies reimagined Victorian railway arches in Coal Drops Yard. Soho’s heavy green door on Brewer Street opens into a brighter world. Battersea, set on the riverfront next to the power station, features a wall-size mural inspired by Diego Rivera. All serve tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, sharers and margaritas, alongside a happily researched list of mezcal, tequila and Mexican beers.
In 2026, El Pastor earned a Michelin Recommended award, a nod to its consistent, vibrant cooking. The team’s dedication to authentic Mexican cuisine extends beyond the menu: they host a guest chef series, EP + Amigos, bringing visionaries like Elena Reygadas and Enrique Olvera to cook one-off dinners. The regular set lunch at Soho and Battersea – a £15.50 menu of quesadillas, sides and aguas frescas – shows the same care in a casual, accessible format.
Expect bold, joyful flavours, from charred pork ends with grilled pineapple to chicken tinga with chipotle and cumin. The tortillas are the backbone, and the drinks – margaritas, Mexican beers, agave spirits – are taken just as seriously. Whether for a late-night cocktail or a weeknight dinner, El Pastor aims to transport you out of the ordinary.
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