Hollywood star Danny Trejo to bring Trejo’s Tacos to the UK

Hollywood’s Danny Trejo has announced he will bring Trejo’s Tacos to the UK with the first site opening in London’s Notting Hill towards the end of this year.

The star of Machete, Spy Kids and From Dusk Till Dawn has revealed plans for a “Europe-wide rollout strategy” of the Mexican brand over the next five years, starting with London.

Trejo’s Tacos opened its first taqueria in Los Angeles in 2016 under a partnership between film producer Ash Shah and actor Danny Trejo. It now has seven restaurants in California, including Trejo’s Coffee and Donuts.

The Mexican restaurant chain also has an agreement with Live Nation, which could be extended to include partnerships with UK festival audiences at Glastonbury and Wilderness.

The UK’s first Trejo’s Tacos will be spread across two floors, seating 70 inside and 30 outside over a 3,000sq ft space.

It will feature a cocktail bar, a speakeasy and a DJ set-up and offer burritos and tacos through the day.

Signature dishes include slow-roasted pork carnitas taco with fresh pineapple and fermented hot sauce, streak asada taco with pepita pesto, and Baja-style beer-battered fish.

Local craft beers, agave-based tequila, mezcal spirits and non-alcoholic alternatives will also be available to pair to the menu.

The London-based venture is being led by two CEOs: restaurateur Jerome Armit, who is behind the Crazy Bear Fitzrovia and Truffle Hunting’s pub group, and film producer and financier Sean O’Kelly of Margin Call.

Meanwhile, Yianni Papoutsis, founder of Meatliquor, is on the advisory team.

Trejo, said: “When we launched Trejo’s Tacos in LA, our aim was to serve a better version of Mexican food that won’t clog your arteries. In Mexican cooking, recipes are handed down through generations, and that’s what inspired this whole concept: generations of my family’s recipes. We’ve taken out the stuff that isn’t healthy, without losing the great taste and flavour.”

“I’m so ready to bring Trejo’s Tacos to London. I love the creativity that the city inspires, and I can’t think of a better place to launch internationally than with our friends in London. I’m excited that we found the perfect time and team to bring Trejo’s to its second home.”

Armit, added: “We could not be more excited to be working with Danny and Ash to bring this world-leading brand to the UK. The diversity and cultural hub of West London’s iconic Portobello Road is the perfect home for our first site. We can’t wait to open our doors later this year.”

The launch comes after a £1m crowdfunding campaign was announced in June last year to fund a flagship outlet of Trejo's Tacos in central London.