Although we arrived on a Tuesday night, our friendly waitress explained that it gets “very busy” at weekends.
Luckily we were waved straight in and once seated at our table watching the generous portions and incredible-looking cocktails delivered to our fellow diners, we could see why.
The restaurant in High Road only opened a few months ago but it already has the feel of a neighbourhood favourite, with groups of friends meeting up for a midweek tacos and rounds of salt-crusted Margaritas.
Like them we ordered from the Latin American-themed cocktail list, a mojito packed with ice, fresh mint and lime, and a Pisco Sour, frothy with egg white and a sprinkle of angostura bitters.
Later we enjoyed a zinging home-made lemonade.
Taco Bros started three years ago when two brothers made food for a charity event.(Image: Taco Bros)
The family-run Taqueria started out as a charity food stall, then a food truck serving dishes inspired by family recipes.
Founder Emilano Ventura pays tribute to his late grandmother Mama Martha, who sold tacos from her home in Mexico to support the family.
The brightly-lit space has a lively but homely feel of pine wood, decorative tiles and family photos – alongside lucha libre masks, and a Jarritos neon sign on the walls
The nine different Tacos served up are made with Masafina heirloom corn tortillas from Yucatán.
But we started with the £12 sharing plate – corn tortillas piled with sour cream, guac, pickles, jalapeno and cheese. There’s a green salsa on the side and crunchy deep fried chimichanga filled with delicious shredded chicken, a chicken tinga and a cheese quesadilla.
It was a great start to our meal which continued with the Tacos – choose from the chicken, prawn, one with battered baja fish, lamb birria or shredded steak.
We opted for shredded pork cooked in its own fat – cut with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of coriander. The pair of tacos were generously filled and I’d love to go back another evening and work my way down the Taco menu.
But we had ordered another large portion of main course the signature Pollo Mole – which turned out to be beautifully cooked chicken thighs in a sauce of 15 spices including cinnamon, chili, nuts and chocolate.
It’s considered to be Mexico’s national dish and the sauce is rich, complex and unlike anything else you will have tried. It came with flavourful rice and we were almost too full to try dessert.
You can have churros dipped in chocolate or an unusual ice-cream encased in a fried batter made of cornflakes. But you really must try the Tres Leche cake.
It’s the most indulgent thing ever – made from milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk with a swirl of Dulce de Leche on top.
With the Tacos ranging from £10 to £13, mains around £17 to £25 and desserts at £6 this is an affordable treat with great sharing dishes to chat over with friends.
No wonder they are queueing out of the door.
Taco Bros is at 212 High Road, East Finchley N2.
