Tortilla Restaurant Leadenhall – California-style Mexican cuisine have arrived in London City

Banish lunchtime boredom with a burrito: the fresh flavours of California-style Mexican cuisine have arrived in the City with the opening of a Tortilla taqueria in beautiful Leadenhall Market. Tortilla’s burritos, fajitas, tacos and salads pack a flavour punch and provide a healthy alternative to boring old sandwiches and pre-packed sushi.

The new branch – its fifth and biggest yet – brings City workers the taste of a culinary fusion that’s a way-of-life in San Francisco, presented in the traditional style of red and cream brickwork with large bay windows, trademark red tiles, distressed oak tables, and vibrant images of San Francisco’s Mission District adorning the walls.

A custom-made chandelier created from 456 bottles of Corona – submitted for a possible Guinness World Record – presides over customers as they order their food. With plenty of seating downstairs and a unique gallery overlooking the main taqueria, Tortilla is the perfect spot for a quick lunch or an after work pit-stop.

Tortilla’s dishes are all prepared on-site daily. Tender meats are marinated and grilled to perfection, chunky guacamole is crammed full of the ripest avocados, and authentic salsa roja provides a piquant bite. The health conscious can also sleep easy: gluten-free corn tortillas are available, while the grilled chicken is halal, plus an extensive set of toppings are vegetarian, and none of the meals at Tortilla are fried, banishing the old-age perception of heavy, greasy Mexican cuisine.

Order at the counter for a burrito filled with your choice of grilled barn-reared chicken marinated in a special Latin American adobo seasoning (pollo asado); Quality Assured pork (carnitas); or grilled Farm Assured steak, made with Tortilla’s secret recipe (carne asada). Top with fluffy steamed coriander and lime or Mexican rice, organic black or pinto beans, sour cream or Monterey Jack cheese and thick homemade guacamole made from specially selected Hass avocados. Finally choose between mild, medium or scarily hot salsa, and have it all wrapped in a thin tortilla (£4.95 medium, £5.95 large). If you prefer, opt for a fajita, which comes with the same great fillings, but with saute?ed peppers and onions (£4.95 medium, £5.95 large).

The carb-conscious can go ‘naked’: instead of a tortilla wrap, enjoy a salad of crisp Romaine lettuce and ripe tomatoes, served with the same flavoursome toppings and a choice of hot and spicy or cool and tangy dressings (£4.95). Tacos are another light bite: enjoy two soft tortillas with your choice of meat, salsa, cheese or sour cream and crunchy shredded iceberg lettuce – perfect to share if you want to feel slim line (£4.30).

Not forgetting the all-important sauces, Tortilla retails a range from the mild to the masochistic for you to take home. See if you can stand the heat by choosing from ‘Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce’, ‘You Can’t Handle This’, ‘Blair’s Death’ and ‘Scorned Woman Hot Sauce’, all priced from £3.

In keeping with the food, drinks at Tortilla are simple and authentic. Make yours a frozen margarita, made with silver tequila or a chilled Mexican beer such as Corona, Dos Equis, Negra Modelo, Modelo Especial or Pacifico. The beer offering also features a number of US ale-inspired favourites – Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada, and Anchor Steam. And Tortilla’s first draft offering includes Budvar and Lindeboom, with London’s own Truman’s Brewery beer coming soon.

Bringing together the very best ingredients, why not come down today and get your taco & burrito food fix in Leadenhall?

Tortilla Leadenhall Market,
28 Leadenhall Market,
London,
EC3V 1LR
Tel: 020 7929 7837
www.tortilla.co.uk