Part of the Wahaca empire, DF Tacos bring USA-levels of indulgence to traditional Mexican comfort food through their menu of tacos, burritos, buns and nachos. Perched just behind the Truman Brewery, on the corner of Hanbury Street, the restaurant is packed on the night we venture in as tables of post-work punters sink frozen margs and prepare themselves for a pig out.
Stylish but relaxed interiors reflect the quality of the goods on offer.
It’s a self-service ordering system, which means it’s all too easy to panic-add a few extra bits onto your meal. An initial order of pork tacos, a chile beef bun and some regular fries turns into pork tacos, a chile beef bun, regular fries, cheesy fries and a plate of nachos. A meal of these proportions requires a drink that will last so I also grab a litre of raspberry and hibiscus margarita (£27.60), which comes fresh from the slushy machine behind the till.
Food arrives quickly, the DF Nachos (£6.75) materialising as a pile of crisp tortilla chips mostly obscured by a blanket of pinto beans, cheese sauce, sour cream, avocado salsa and sharply flavoured pink pickled onions. Thank god my companion and I gulped them down in a matter of moments or we’d be stuck for tablespace for the convoy of plates that park up shortly after.
Instagram vs Reality? The food at DF Tacos looks even better on its way to your mouth.
I’ve been drooling over Instagram images of the chile beef bun (£7.25) for about three weeks at this point, and it does not disappoint. A delicious mess of four-hour slow cooked beef, smashed avocado, pickles and slaw drizzled with a tangy chipotle mayo, it’s the kind of burger that requires you to eat directly over a plate, because this beefy boy is a dribbler. My friend is faring no better with the pork tacos (£7.15) as pieces of juicy achiote and citrus marinated pulled pork leave her scrabbling for napkins. The cheesy fries (£3.75), though a tidier affair, are no less indulgent and prove once and for all that crinkle-cut is truly the superior chip type.
Tacos, burritos and frozen margs make it the perfect place for a proper pig-out.
DesignMyNight Digest
A relaxed place for casual dining any day of the week, DF Tacos knows what it is and does it fantastically. For food that looks as good on the plate as it does on the ‘gram, and tastes even better, it should be the top of your list if you're looking for something to hit the spot.
