Tacos and tequila- and everything else in between.
Cinco de Mayo is upon us for another year- not that we need another excuse to eat our weight in tacos and wash every mouthful down with plenty of margaritas, but if there is one, we’re all for it.
In Leeds we’re fortunate enough to have seemingly endless choices of Mexican-inspired cuisine for every occasion. Call Lane is home to Neon Catcus, the only place we need to get our midweek margarita fix, whilst the leafy suburbs host the likes of Pinche Pinche in Chapel Allerton and student favourite Lupe’s Cantina in Headingley.
Here’s our top picks to curb those Mexican foodie cravings this Cinco de Mayo- and every other day of the year …
Birria Bandits
Town Street, Horsforth | Open Wednesday – Saturday
Birria Bandits has only been open a week inside the former Arriba Arriba site in Horsforth, but word is travelling fast about the food options here. There’s five different taco options to choose from wrapped up in soft corn tortillas, plus the biggest birria loaded fries and nacho bowls we’ve ever seen!
The specials here are truly exciting: there’s Street Food Dish of the Year 2022 ‘Lets Taco Bao It’: Birria bao buns and a seriously moreish Birria Ramen: an award-winning Birria broth packed in with noodles, cheese, street salsa, sesame seeds and your choice of chicken, beef and jackfruit.
Find out more here.
Neon Cactus
Call Lane, Leeds city centre | Open 12pm – 4am
Call Lane favourite Neon Cactus is throwing a Cinco de Mayo special over the bank holiday weekend and pulling out all the stops to do so. In addition to the usual taco and empanadas menu that’s always got people talking, the bar will be putting out a series of cocktail specials.
There’s options like Space Jam, Big Chilli Style, Fineapple Express, Fawlty Sours and Cinco Swim to choose from as well as a huge El Jimador tequila truck.
Pinche Pinche
Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton | Open 4.30 – 9pm
With a cult following extending right into the suburbs, Chapel Allerton’s Pinche Pinche serves up a mouth-watering selection of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, wings and that’s before you’ve browsed through the small plates and nibbles menu.
The traditional Birria tacos, where you dip your dish into the marinated brisket juices into a variety of chiles and spices, come with slow cooked and tenderised beef brisket can be served as a sharing plate for two every Tuesday – Thursday.
Sabroso Street
Town Street, Farsley | Open 5 – 10pm or 12 – 10pm depending on the day of the week
Sabroso Street in Farsley is the place to go for delicious Mexican cuisine, friendly service and tasty cocktails. Opened by husband and wife team David and Anika in 2016, Sabroso is a casual Mexican eatery and bar just minutes away from Leeds city centre.
Mouth-watering tacos, burritos and loaded nachos can be enjoyed alongside your favourite tequila cocktail. They host an incredible bottomless brunch from Friday – Sunday where for just £27.50 per person, you can dine on one of their tongue tantalising brunch items whilst sipping on unlimited Prosecco, mimosas or Dos Equis beer for 90 whopping minutes.
You can also upgrade to unlimited margaritas for just £5 a head which we think is an absolute no brainer.
Find out more here.
Salma la Fondita
Pop-ups around Leeds city centre | Opening times vary
Despite not being on the Leeds foodie scene for long, Salma has managed to have quite an impact on Leeds. From the same people that brought the city MorMor, Salma is bringing together soft tacos, corn ribs and some seriously exciting sauce options to pop-ups around the city.
Lupe’s Cantina
Cardigan Road, Burley | Open Monday – Saturday
Open Monday – Saturday every week, Lupe’s Cantina Mexicana is always packed out with foodies eager to try out every single dish on the huge (and we mean huge) menu. Expect tacos and enchiladas nine different ways with combinations like the Tacos Al Pasto with Chilie Acha, achiote rubbed pork, chilie de albol salsa and grilled pineapple or Enchiladas de Mole Negra: corn tortillas filled with chicken and doused in a black mole topped with cheese, onion, cilantro and radish.
There’s a full seafood menu too with Camarones La Diabla (sauted prawns with a creamy chipotle sauce); Mejillones (Mussels with a creamy chipotle white wine sauce) and specialities like the Ceviche Veracruz Mixto: with haddock, shrimp, pico de gallo served in a passion fruit serrano broth.
Jimmy Macks
Pop-ups up regularly inside Trinity Kitchen
Packed with flavour, grab a meal deal from Jimmy Macks and take full advantage of the three-piece meal for £12. There’s roast squash and black bean soft tacos with charred corn salsa and lime crema or the cult-classic beef brisket birria in crispy folded tacos served with tomato salsa; Mexican chicken with jalapeno salsa and that birria dipping gravy that’s got everyone talking. Every meal deal is served with seasoned fries and a soft drink of your choice, or there’s side portions like loaded nachos and fries to choose from too.
The Mexican Pilgrim
Pop-ups all over Leeds and beyond
Serving from Leeds Dock, Central Square and Wellington Place, The Mexican Pilgrim is the pop-up food truck that Leeds’ just can’t seem to get enough of. On the ever-changing menu, you’ll find pork in homemade red wine and chipotle BBQ sauce and spiced chicken or avocado, amongst other one-of-a-kind options.
Other days, you might from lamb wrapped between layers of guac, salsa, sour cream and salad. To keep up to date with the whereabouts of the food truck, you can follow The Mexican Pilgrim on Twitter.
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Feature Image- Pinche Pinche
