El Pastor team to launch second London taqueria

Sam and James Hart and Crispin Somerville are to open a smaller version of their Borough-market restaurant El Pastor that will offer tacos to eat in and takeaway.

Expected to open in late March, Tortilleria El Pastor will be located under railway arches at 106 Druid Street close to weekend hotspot Maltby Street Market. 

Like El Pastor, the tortilleria, or tortilla factory, will make fresh tortillas from scratch every day, using Mexican heirloom corn (maize). 

The venue will serve a short menu of tacos, including the namesake al pastor, with 24 hour marinated pork shoulder, caramelized pineapple and guacamole taquero; and the mushroom taco with caramelised onion and melted Oaxaca cheese.

The team will also be offering sopes for the first time, thick corn mini maize cakes piled high with toppings.

For something sweet, there will be Mezcal, burnt honey and grapefruit cake; chocolate pots; and El Pastor favourite, the EP Bounty Bar.

The restaurant will also offer freshly made El Pastor salsas, fresh tomatillos, serranos, jalapenos and other fresh chillies, Mexican style cheeses from Gringa Dairy, tortilla presses, mezcal and Mexican beers. 

The taco bar will serve Mexican beers, agua frescas and El Pastor’s first batch of its own mezcal, made in partnership with Mexico’s La Clandestina mezcaleria and their master mezcalero, Don Guillermo Abad. This mezcal will also be able to take away. 

Tortilleria El Pastor will seat 26, 20 at tables and six at a high taco bar. The design, led by James Hart, is utilitarian and pared back, but with the atmospheric festoon lighting, characteristic of the original Stoney Street restaurant.

The venue will be open Thursday dinner, Friday and Saturday lunch and dinner and Sunday lunch times.