This coming March, Club Mexicana, the home of Mexican-Californian inspired street food that ripped up the vegan rulebook, is opening the doors to its very first restaurant: Club Mexicana Taqueria.
Five years on from the brand's humble street food beginnings, following a successful Hackney residency and the launch of The Spread Eagle, London’s first 100% vegan pub, founder Meriel Armitage and her team are beginning an exciting new chapter amidst the hustle and bustle of Carnaby’s Kingly Court.
Inspired by the rowdy street side taquerias of Los Angeles and Mexico City, Club Mexicana Taqueria will dedicate itself to a concise menu of expertly-made tacos and small plates, designed to be enjoyed with margarita (or two) in hand.
Guests can watch the open kitchen hard at work, as Meriel and her team slice into the star of the show: a sizzling vegan al pastor spit. The taqueria’s menu will feature cult favourites such as the beer battered Tofish Taco and the Cheezeburger Taco loaded up with ‘beef’ burger, red pepper queso, dill pickle and annatto mayo.
For those looking to feast, Club Mexicana Taqueria will be slinging nachos, tostadas and its new Queso Flameado – essentially a Mexican fondue of gooey melted vegan cheese topped with spicy ‘chorizo’, ready to be dipped into. There’s also a line-up of Club Mexicana’s much-loved burritos, including the MFC: a Mexican fried chick’n burrito packed with annatto-glazed fried chick’n, mustard mayo, pickled cabbage and hot jalapeños.
To counter the heat, the bar will shake up a curated menu of kitsch cocktails, wines and Mexican beers. Guests can grab a stool for chilled margaritas and grapefruit Palomas poured on tap, or opt for a true taste of Mexico with something spicier like the beer-led CM Chelada and pickle juice-spiked Michelada. Club Mexicana’s favourite frozen margaritas, a collaboration with Square Root Soda, can be ordered in classic sour lime, pink hibiscus, or juicy agua fresca.
Interiors will be decorated with Club Mexicana’s signature tropical neon pink signs and bold colour-pop artwork. The stool-lined bar is the perfect spot for a cocktail and a quick bite, while tables invite diners to keep those tacos coming. When the days get warmer, guests can also grab one of the outdoor tables to soak up the sunshine with tacos and a few chilled Mexican beers.
Meriel says, “We’re so excited to open our very first restaurant in the heart of Soho. We’re looking forward to doing what Club Mexicana does best - great vibes, lots of tacos and banging cocktails. We’ll be dishing up more tacos than ever before, as well as our biggest street food hits and favourite dishes. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”
“We are delighted to welcome Club Mexicana to Carnaby’s food hub, Kingly Court. The Mexican-Californian inspired vegan street food restaurant will enhance Carnaby’s ever-increasing, global dining offering,' says Shelley Webb, Head of Group Residential & Kingly Court.