LDNReview
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Once upon a time, La Chingada was a kaleidoscopic-looking, chicken shop-sized taqueria in Surrey Quays that doled out tender suadero tacos to anyone leaning inside or out. These days, La Chingada has grown up. For the most part, the food still hits. And like anyone or anything that has had an unwelcome but inevitable wave of maturity hit, it’s markedly less exciting, but infinitely more practical.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
La Chingada is now a bonafide restaurant. There are tables. There are chairs. There’s someone taking your order and, happily, not dissuading you from one more frozen mango margarita. The space is tailor-made for cracking Pacificos and celebrating something or other with those you love or those you’re just getting to know. A round of deep-fried shrimp tacos never goes amiss and, while the al pastor has its on and off days, it’s food that rarely disappoints when you’re en masse.
Restaurants change, spaces grow, and other things dilute. But now La Chingada is settled. Groups of baying friends and family come from all over London to eat here, to have fluoro-red chorizo oil drip down their own chins, to see what one-off Sunday special is on. It may not be as thrilling as standing on the street shovelling tacos, but this party has just moved inside.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Pastor Taco
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Suadero Taco
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Chorizo Taco
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Chicken Tinga Tostadas
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Quesadilla
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Salsas