Mexican cuisine is known to be one of the best in the world, and I agree with “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So when I heard that DF Tacos offers Korean Fried Tofu Tacos, I was skeptical, but still had to check it out.
DF Tacos have just opened their second branch in London, on Tottenham Court Road, and they’re breaking the taco rules. With flavors like fish and chips and tikka masala, you won’t find these tacos anywhere else in the UK – or perhaps the world.
I started with the Hot Honey Chicken taco, which comes with buttermilk chicken, a juicy slaw and chip sticks, and I enjoyed the mix of sweet and juicy flavors in a warm tortilla. For the vegetables, the Korean Fried Tofu is unexpectedly my top choice, as the quality of the tofu is top notch and it comes with homemade kimchi.
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When I tried the menu, I started to warm to the idea – because with the right ingredients, almost anything tastes great in a tortilla. For example, one of my favorite dishes is Peking duck.
In this case, what really made the tacos work were the tortillas – they were the highlight of the meal. Thin, light and crispy, they perfectly complemented the generously loaded fillings.
I found some of the combinations strange, like the Chicken Tikka taco, which even came with rice. The chicken was tender and tasty, and the rice didn’t bother me – it almost felt like eating a burrito. Still, it was a bit strange to taste Indian spices when my brain was expecting Mexican flavors.
The fish and chips taco was the weirdest thing. At first the taste was off, but once the tartar sauce mixed with the fried pollock it became flavorful. But for me, the fried elements didn’t really go well with the wheat tortilla.
If you want something lighter, you can replace the tortilla with a crunchy lettuce leaf, which I tried with the Smashburger taco. With a beef patty, cheese sauce and house pickles, it felt like eating a folded hamburger, and I loved it.
Other tacos that hit the mark were the Halloumi Piña and Shroom tacos, both of which were delicious. Each taco starts at £5, and two is enough for a meal.
If you want to stick to classic Mexican, the fully loaded nachos are a solid choice. They are packed with chimichurri, salsa, jalapeno, cheese sauce and lots of guacamole.
DF Tacos also offers “best value margaritas in London”. Frozen margaritas come in three flavors and cost just £5. I went for the passion fruit, and it was perfect.
They also have freshly shaken margaritas, including a spicy picante or sweet coconut, from £7. If you don’t drink, definitely grab the £3.95 refillable cup for soft drinks or agua frescas. I highly recommend the Horchata, a Mexican drink made with rice, milk and cinnamon.
DF Tacos is running a soft launch until September 15, offering 50 percent off all tacos. Sign up for the offer here.
They definitely exceeded my expectations; while these tacos aren’t traditionally Mexican, they push the cuisine beyond its boundaries, and sometimes breaking the rules is the best way forward. If it weren’t for such innovations in history, we wouldn’t have hamburgers in buns or deep-dish pizza.
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