Stopped in for dinner on a Monday night. The place was pretty full (it's a small place) and we only had to wait a few minutes. We started with a couple of their local draft beers, the chilaquiles(special) and the elote. The chilaquiles were delicious! Very flavorful but all the chips were quite soggy and a little thick. We also got a hot sauce on the side which was divine! It was spicy and had a great taste as well! The elote was sweet, juicy and the spices it was covered in were delicious! For our meals we got the steak and chorizo tacos, cauliflower tacos, Baja cod tacos and the pork carnitas tacos. All of the tacos were delicious! Again, the tortilla was a little thick, which was nice but it was falling apart a little. The cauliflower tacos already had a nice amount of spice to them. These were a great veg option for our vegetarian. The steak and chorizo tacos were interesting as it seems they were blended into a crispy pan fried patty and the sauce it came with was incredible. The cod tacos were my favorite! The fish was well seasoned, super crispy and very light! The sauce it was served with was rich abs tasty as well. I wasn't a fan of the pomegranate but that was my fault--should have ordered without it. They did not have any dessert. The service was also so great! The staff is very friendly and efficient. Would definitely recommend! read more

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My friend and I came here on whim while walking through Edinburgh. When we arrived, we were the only customers in the restaurant. They have good specials and we ordered their two taco special. The beef in the tacos was on the tough side and definitely could have been more tender. The service was slow despite us being the only people in the shop at the time and the waitress we had was not very friendly. The margarita was weak and watery. Overall this was a disappointing stop and I likely wouldn't come again. read more

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At first I was skeptical of a taco place in the tourist- enteric area of Edinburgh, but I was so wrong! I had the cochinita pibil, the duck confit, and lengua tacos. All were amazing, and the lengua was the best I've ever had! Wish I could e had enough space in my stomach to try more! Don't pass this place by! read more

El Cartel - Lengua tacos, don't pass these up! - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

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If you are craving a delicious margarita in Edinburgh, you need to go here. I had one of the best spicy margaritas of my life. The staff is also so warm and friendly. I didn't try the food, but the drinks and ambiance are a 10/10. read more

El Cartel - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Decent try at European "Mexican" food. Drinks were amazing, but food menu needs some tweaks... Get some real chips to serve with the guacamole, and don't charge extra if customers ask for more maybe? Service was great! Would come back read more

If you wrap it in a corn tortilla does not mean it's a good taco. It's unique but not what I would call good. The flavor came from the veggies not so much from the meat. The guacamole was different but lacked onions and tomatoes but it was the first time I ever had pomegranate on guacamole. Worth the try but wouldn't do it again. Maybe you will like it. read more

Fantastic! I never thought we would be enjoying an authentic tasting Mexican meal in Edinburgh, I'm so glad we found this little gem. We're from Scottsdale AZ so we have a lot of Mexican food options. It's not easy to find good food here in Edinburgh besides Fish & chips and even that can be a bit challenging. The tortillas were fresh & warm. The carne Asana was so delicious! Very fresh and definitely had an authentic flare to it. The #1. Complaint SMALL SPACE! Very small tables almost feels like your sitting with your neighbor which is not a comfy feeling. Nice list of Tequilas & Mezcal's I personally had the Patron Anjeo x 2 ! To keep me warm since it's so chill here. Try the popper they remind me of jalapeño poppers without the jalapeño, they are round crispy & come in 3, filled with cream cheese & jalapeño. Comes with a creamy chipotle sauce. Table of 3 each having an order of two tacos two beers and 3 shots of tequila for a total of 60£ or $60 USA read more

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This place was excellent!! We made another visit after the first one because we were very happy with all our food selections and the margaritas were also pretty much on point!! Do yourself a favor and go!!! read more

Loved it, was not expecting such great Mexican food in Edinburgh

Called in here for dinner last Friday night. A similar experience to it's sister establishment although smaller & so more intimate. Food, especially the street corn, up to the expected standards & the service was friendly and attentive (no need to ask for the bill so obviously they pay close attention, albeit seats being at a premium will focus that a bit). read more

I had one of my worst European dining experiences here, so unfortunately everything good about it was diminished. It was pouring rain the night I came here (from a highly recommended review from a local), so I had extremely high expectations... coming from Los Angeles, I take Lating/Mexican food very seriously. The shop is very small. No more than seats for 15 people and is like a small obstacle course just to get to your seat. The bathroom is even smaller and more awkward. When I walked in, I was told by the host that I could not sit anywhere as a party of 1 & that I could go across the walkway in their sister bar and have a drink while I wait - 30-40 minutes. Considering it was pouring outside, I decided to just deal with this and go over next door. I waited over 45 minutes and still no one came by - I therefore called them and asked. They basically replied with "We will come get you. It will be a few more minutes." Finally, she appeared, so we walked back inside... only to find that I was SHARING a table with a party of two! If I could share tables, why was I not able to sit at that same table 45 minutes before? At this point, I was irritated beyond belief and decided to expedite my experience here. I ordered duck tacos and their "supposedly amazing guacamole." Look, this food is definitely a Scottish interpretation of Mexican/Latin food... The duck tacos had pumpkin seeds and some other ingredients I couldn't decipher. The guacamole had pomegranate seeds (?) & some random cheese on top. And instead of chips, there were plantain chips... which Mexican people don't usally consume. That's more Latin America. Service was very cold. I felt like I was being profiled. I did not enjoy a single thing about this place. I do not recommend it at all. read more

Best tacos of my life. I got the duck confit ones and the duck was cooked so freakin well and was crispy finished. The corn tortilla was so authentic and soft and real and ugghhhhh. My friends got the carne Asada and quesadillas and loved them. Also got the guacamole and it was such a different twist on guac! Go here!!! read more

El Cartel - Guacamole National - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

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Great Mexican place! Cheap and cheerful. Went a while back and had the daily special and the corn on the cobb. Special was great but smothered in sauce, made a mental note to ask for it on the side next time. The corn was fantastic though, covered in Mayo and paprika - they only way to eat it if you ask me. They also have flavoured frozen margaritas. I'm not a big cocktail drinker but that stops when there are frozen margaritas. If I lived in Edinburgh (sigh) I know I'd be a regular. Impressive place considering how far Mexico is from Scotland read more

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LOVED this place. The food was amazing and the vibe was youthful, upbeat, and fun. It's a causal dress place and staff didn't seem to have a set uniform. Their music mix had me humming and singing obnoxiously at my boyfriend the whole night. My guy and I had three orders of tacos and an order of corn on the cob. They were phenomenal and filled us up. We also both ordered frozen margaritas which were also great. I'm not a huge fan of the giant margs you get at other restaurants; these sizes were perfect. I strongly recommend this place to all couples and groups. Seating is somewhat limited and packed but it fits the atmosphere and we didn't mind at all. read more

I was beginning to think that maybe I didn't like Mexican Food. I've tried many 'Mexican' restaurants and was getting fed up (literally) of stodgy food served with cheap mass produced tortilla chips. After reading the reviews I decided to give El Cartel a go. First attempts at getting a table at this tiny, popular restaurant that doesn't take reservations all failed. But today, after skipping lunch to cram in as many Doors Open Day venues as possible, we found ourselves starving at the awkward time of 5pm. Well awkward quickly turned to awesome!! We got a table at El Cartel! First glance at the menu left me bemused. A couple starters and a selection of tacos. No buritos, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos...... I was hungry. Would there be much I wanted? Well, it didn't take long to realise we wanted EVERYTHING! The flavor and texture combinations of the dozen or so tacos all sound fantastic. And the starters were just as 'appetising'. For the 2 of us we decided to get the Sweet Potato quesadilla and the guacamole (with plantain chips - NOT bagged tortilla chips). We somehow managed to narrow it down to just 3 tacos (you get 2 of each; perfect for sharing). We went for pumpkin, steak and the battered cod. The food came as it was ready - which was fine for us - didn't want it all in one go. We started with the guacamole - and it was perfect; really tasted the avocado and the plaintain chips are a new fave. Also loved the smoky flavor the chorizo added to the sweet potato quesadillas - these I will be trying at home! The tacos were all great. The perfect size and a great mix of flavours and so full of veggies. We easily got our 5 a day with the lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, courgette, kale, pumpkin, avocado, pomegranate seeds.... I think this may qualify as 'health food'!! So, for restoring my faith in Mexican food (and not a cheap tortilla chip in sight) I give El Cartel 5 stars!! read more

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Yum, yum, yum and apart from Jalapeño poppers, it is all gluten free! El Cartel has been open for about two weeks (if that) and replaces the much missed (and good for gluten free) Tex Mex 2. Owned by The Bon Vivant and situated on Thistle St across from TBV and the companion, it is a great addition! A tequila list as long as my arm, a mescal list and three types of margarita (clear, frozen blood orange and frozen blueberry and rose), plus beers then you can be well 'hydrated'. I loved all the food we had - starters around £5 so we had plantain and chorizo fritters and guacamole with plantain chips and pork scratchings. For me the sign of great Mexican food is the guac and with pomegranate, it was perfectly seasoned. Tacos were fab - good range of fillings (we had fish, steak and duck) and I loved them all as they were all sufficiently different with salad, veggie or spicy accompaniments! The place is well staffed, food came quickly and good service. It's all dark wood, dark decor and rap music so more menacing Mexican rather than what you'd normally find in a chain. I loved it and can't wait to go back. So, prices: margaritas - £7.50, starters £5, tacos (2 in serving) £6.50 and chilli chocolate ice-cream £2. We had 2 drinks, 2 starters, 3 x 2 tacos and ice cream = £43.50! Brilliant :-) read more

Oy, listen up, don't go here. Seriously, stay away, if you know what's good for you. Because if you show up, and I'm there, I'll pummel you. (How's my drug lord impression coming across?) But seriously, this place is small, too small for us all to partake, and if everyone knows how absolutely amazing it is, they will all come buzzing around like flies to a carcass. Ok, ok, enough of the violent gang imagery. They invited it, though. And they're all men who work here. The owner, who was eating there when my friend and I were, is young. A bit too young, if you catch my meaning. So the food. Yep, it's spicy as hell, delicious, with combinations I haven't seen since getting tapas in San Francisco. Good tequila menu. The ceviche and guac starters got us whet, and the tacos finished the job. So, yes, bravo. read more

El Cartel is exactly what you'd expect from the team behind The Bon Vivant - slick service, bangin' food and dangerously delectable cocktails. My favourite thing about it is that these guys are consistent, putting them a mile above many other Edinburgh hotspots which can elate quite as often as they deflate. Everyone I've raved to about this place has raved straight back at me, which screams out that El Cartel is a winner. Nothing worse than recommending a spot to pals only for them to have a totally average experience. They have a pretty small space, but a bit of clever table arranging means that there are lots of cosy corner tables to be had. Decor is minimalistic, with plenty of skull art provides a welcome pop of colour. Baby cacti are dotted around, but beware a lot of them sit at ass-height. And the food. Every time I go I face the same dilemma - I want it all. Roughly 5 'starters' and 6 tacos, of which I think 2 flavours tend to rotate. The guacamole is wildly good - topped with feta & pomegranate, so you get the creamy avo, salty cheese, then a burst of fresh & fruity pom. These flavours dance across the tongue as if a Mariachi band were serenading the lucky diner (please note: ECM does not do Mariachi, it does hiphop). Served with pork cracklin' and/or plantain chips for dunking. I never go without it. Tacos all come in pairs making them easy to share. Again with the flavour dance: there is so much going on in each bite, in a very good way. Bang coriander! Bang chilli! Bang delicious meaty goodness! Everything is fantastically fresh, with brilliant texture and interesting combinations - so far removed from the stereotypical fajita/burrito/nacho situation which Edinburgh's Mexican scene has been guilty of for a long time. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just brilliant to see the team here showcasing an alternative to Tex-Mex. And now, the drinks. As if you needed another reason to hit this place up. El Cartel offers a rainbow of frozen margaritas, with flavours changing daily. Again, they avoid the stereotype and focus on seasonally flavours alongside classic margaritas such a the Tommy's. All tart & tasty with a good kick of Tequila. Speaking of Tequila, on the last count their menu boasted more than 50, and the knowledgeable team are more than happy to chat you through the options. With food service running until midnight at the weekends, it's a great place to satisfy a booze induced hunger. Alternatively, the homemade sangrita would make a dynamite hair of the dog when charged with Mezcal. And the food comes fast which is exactly what you need the afternoon-after (doors open at midday meaning there's no reason to get out of bed earlier). Every time I leave I'm already thinking about when I can next go back, and who I can show this little gem off to. A definite contender for best casual dining in Edinburgh. read more

El Cartel - Guac with pork cracklin & plantain chips. Blueberry margarita. Jalapeño bombers. Cactus. - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

Our first time in Edinburgh. For "Mexican" food, I gotta say not bad. The carne asada tacos did not taste like what it's supposed to taste like our of a BBQ grill, it tastes like it was done on a stove, the meat wasn't cut into small little pieces like tacos are supposed to be but rather chunks and my taco fell apart. The tortilla on the other hand very close to hand made tortillas (yay). Aside from that it has amazing flavor. The duck, which I've Never had, tasted like chicharron so that was good for me. The quesadillas yummy! I think they were made out of sweet potatoes. Their drinks are awesome, especially the Tommy. I would definitely be coming back in the future. read more

El Cartel - Carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

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Considering it's only been open for a month or so, I consider myself VERY lucky to have stumbled across this absolute gem whilst on a long weekend in Edinburgh. The food is absolutely amazing with the combination of flavours in the tacos that blow your mind. Fresh, flavoursome and fabulous to say the least. We opted for the salmon cerviche and guacamole for starters. Both very fresh and immediately showed us that we were dealing with high standard food. The tacos (at a reasonable £6.50 for two) are incredible. We visited this place twice because we loved it so much so got to sample a few of them. Our favourite was the fish tacos, but the pork and duck were also both excellent. The staff were really friendly but not overbearing and the margarita's were refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to the food. They've kitted the place out with dark colours and bright Mexican skulls which match the rugged rap music which pumps the ambience of the entire place with an edgy (yet not pretentious) hipster feel. Highly highly recommended! read more

This place was really delicious. We went around noon and it wasn't very busy. We ordered the Pibil tacos, duck tacos, bombers (jalapeño poppers), and street corn to share. We especially enjoyed the duck tacos and street corn. It all was good. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star visit is because of the value. Two very small tacos for £7 is quite steep. Also, they seemed to forget the street corn. Not sure their process for deciding which table gets their food when, but the brought everything out within minutes, except the corn. Once we were finished and a substantial amount of time passed I inquired to the whereabouts of the corn and it appeared they still had the ticket in a queue of sorts... read more

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So many reasons yes! Great food, warm atmosphere, helpful staff, tasty drinks and did I say great food?? Some friends were visiting for the weekend and told me about this place. I personally hadn't heard about it but looked it up and found some good reviews so we went for it and so worth it. To start a mango margarita is right up there as a great brunch drink followed by a nice selection of mexican beers, but the food- yum! We could all just keep going. The waitress recommended 2 or 3 dishes each and I think we ended up with 3 or 4 each and if I had more room I would have gone for more! The ceviche and plantain chips I could eat all day! The specials were delicious and I want to go back to see what other new exciting dishes come out of that small kitchen! I like how the menu is simple enough that you don't get too lost and the sweet potato taco had a perfect bite mixed with crunch and flavour! read more

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El Cartel has shot up the list to one of my top eateries in Edinburgh. Firstly, I love Mexican food. It's my favourite cuisine. I cook it a lot and I will never say no to something that comes with guacamole. El Cartel has great food. It's in the street food style - order a bunch of little dishes that will arrive at different points. It's brilliantly manages to stay casual but also quite classy. This isn't like getting a burrito from a fast-food tex-mex joint. Everything has been made with a lot of care and looks fantastic. Flavours are interesting and sometimes a bit different. The guacamole with feta, pomegranate and plantain sounds weird on paper but is fantastic. I loved the corn on the cob. Secondly this place is hipster-cool in the best possible way. The love a bit of hip-hop here and they even have their own Spotify list. They have an extensive selection of Mezcal. It's relaxed and fun and has a bit of a buzz. The often hour-long wait to get a table is an indication that it's a trendy place to be. It's not somewhere to go for a budget dinner, because you should try a few different dishes. I've never felt it was overpriced though. Immediately after my first visit I wanted to come back. And bring friends. I love it. read more

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EPIC. First time here and my his place is now going to be a regular place. Stopped by for lunch with my partner. The atmosphere is good, fairly small place so I imagine it'd be pretty packed on a Friday night. Our server was really helpful when we ordered. We got the guacamole with plantain chips after reading previous reviews and were not disappointed. The guac was DELICIOUS. Next up the carne asada and pork shoulder tacos. Both delicious, but the carne asada is a MUST. The steak was cooked beautifully, smoky and spicy. After this we were still a bit hungry so also ordered a serve or the quesadilla. I'm pretty sure I could drown in a tub of these. The whole 'goats cheese with Mexican food' thing works beautifully. Serves are pretty small, however you can just keep ordering as you eat until you get full. They also serve these amazing garlic roasted peanuts which is a lovely touch. I'm already excited for my next visit which will certainly include a margarita :) read more

El Cartel - Mexican Near Me - Edinburgh, MLN

We dined at El Cartel on Saturday night and the food was very good. The service was very good, and the margaritas were very good. We were told there would be an hour wait, but we only waited about 1/2 hour. The food was unique in a good way. Very fresh and it all arrived really quickly. I only have one BIG complaint! The music!!! We all hated it! It was really loud hiphop and as we were seated in a corner, I think there must have been a speaker right over our heads. But, the fact that hiphop was playing in a Mexican restaurant made no sense and it actually created a unsettling anxious mood. Two of us are over 60, but the other two were 26 and 30 and whilst they like that kind of music sometimes, we all felt it was so wrong for the restaurant. There must be modern Mexican music that isn't rap or hiphop! It really ruined the experience for us. I really really liked the food and would like to go back, but if that is the music that is always playing, there is no way. There is another location, but I don't know if they play the same music or not. Please change the music so we can come back!!! read more

Mexican food in the heart of Haggis country? You have to try El Cartel. Flavors are layered so expertly..the depth of deliciousness is hard to explain. There is no reason to skip El Cartel in your culinary adventures in Edinburgh. Enjoy, Amigo! read more

Having enjoyed meals at this restaurant group's other places in the city, we decided to give this a shot (and wait the consistent day-over-day 90 minute wait for a table). The restaurant is very small and is not conducive for large groups. The staff seemed to be friendly and helpful. A nod to them for having nice mezcal options! Rey Campero is one of my faves from Mexico and it was nice to see it in the UK. We ordered the guac, street corn, plantain tacos and duck carnitas tacos. I will preface this with the following - if you are trying to find authentic Mexican street food, this isn't the place for you. The guac has pomegranate seeds & the tacos have pumpkin seeds, and I can see some folks getting upset about this. Overall the food was good, but not great. If there isn't a long wait and you want to explore a new take on tacos, this is the place to go. read more

I was on a mission to try this new restaurant. After having spoken with a fellow foodie I had learnt that El Cartel make everything fresh by hand. Which meant they make fresh tortillas by hand !! This is a big deal. They also don't use the usual, masa harina but blue corn which is much more flavoursome. I was sold. It's been practically impossible to find this level of freshness with Mexican food in Edinburgh, I had to try it ASAP! We trucked along, to the old tex mex 2 location and were sat in a lovely booth. I was very impressed with the music selection, it's not everyday (or ever) that you hear souls of mischief in public these days. The menu is very minimal but everything is cooked fresh, prepared to order. We ordered the guacamole & plantains, which were light and crispy. The guacamole had a little spice but nothing my toddler couldn't stand and was topped with fresh and sweet pomegranate seeds. Very lovely with the avocado pieces, and chunks of Mexican cheese (maybe cotija? A crumbly and light not very overpowering cheese) everything very fresh and tasty. And spot on taste wise. The tacos were very good, each pair comprising of many different toppings. The steak had salsa verde some kind of cabbage and spring onions . The tortillas were very tasty, they had this nice earthy corn taste that you don't get from the store bought ones. Very authentic indeed. The carnitas pibil was spicier but also very tasty. The pork is roasted with ancho chilies and quite literally smothered in a red onion escabeche but seemed more pickeled to me. Either way very flavourful and delightful. We all enjoyed every bite. Really impressed and hope that this place does really well as the food is excellent and it is quite nice to eat homemade tortillas! read more

So tasty. I definitely recommend the street corn. The only fault is that the portions are quite small and the prices are high

Call me a philistine, but I'm not the kind of guy who much goes in for 'trendy' restaurants or that style of food or eating experience. I'm talking about this sort of thing: https://youtu.be/JvsWibR_nsk There are some cuisines for which that is absolutely appropriate and, in such instances, you would set your expectations accordingly. Mexican food, however, is not the type of thing that I want to order tiny "tapas-style" servings of from a bemusing and expensive menu. My first clue that I was not to enjoy El Cartel should have been when our waiter told us that the menu is "Mexican street-food". Well guess what, buddy: this isn't a street stall, it's a restaurant and you're charging me restaurant prices! The menu itself is a single, sparse page with two columns: one for tacos, one for other things. The selection of tacos is pretty varied and imaginative. Between the wife and I, we ordered three pairs of tacos (they come in pairs) and one bowl of guacamole. The guacamole, as others have noted on here, was really excellently tasty but also amazingly small. Like maybe one tea-cup in size. That might be fine if it was an amuse bouche, but this costs almost as much as an entire burrito from Los Cardos. It was served with about a dozen plantain chips. Sure, that's more exciting than some tortilla chips from a bag, but they were extremely greasy (actually leaving pools of oil on the chopping board on which they were served), tasteless and so brittle that it is virtually impossible to actually scoop any guacamole with them. As others have noted, the tacos are tiny. TINY. And you pay £6.50 for a pair. They were mostly quite tasty, although not well thought out practically. I don't know if there's some sort of special technique to eating them, but I couldn't take a single bite without the whole thing disintegrating. There was also a thick leaf of kale running though one and, given how fibrous kale stalks are, it was impossible to bite through, leading to the entire taco being turned inside out and plopping onto my plate with the first bite. The flavours are interesting, though. Everything seemed very well prepared and the ingredients harmonised together. I don't know about authentic 'street food'... do street tacos in Mexico really come topped with crumbled sheep's cheese, pomegranate and toasted pumpkin seeds? I want to emphasise that the ambiance and decor inside is *not* that of a fancy restaurant; it's very casual just like the service, incongruously with the pretentious menu and lofty prices. A number of very hipster-looking people were wandering in and out while we were eating, greeting the waiting staff with hugs and kisses right in the middle of the restaurant. This is run by hipsters, for hipsters and it felt a lot like I was sitting in a stranger's living room rather than in a restaurant. After the wife and I ate three diminutive tacos, half a small bowl of guacamole, half a thimbleful of beans and drank one bottle of beer each, our bill was just shy of £40. I left hungry, unsatisfied and irritated. Don't get me wrong, the food is great quality in here and tastes pretty good. But decide what you are, guys: a fancy restaurant or a Mexican street-food dive. You can't charge the prices of the former with the presentation of the latter. The ingredients of Mexican food is largely tortilla bread, rice, beans and vegetables. These are seriously cheap ingredients and there's no reason to be so stingy with portion sizes. read more

On Saturday early afternoon we took a trip to this delightful Mexican food. There was three of us and we got served straight away. It small and great for conversations with friends. read more

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El Cartel is all casual and cool, with dim lights and hip Mexican interior. I came here with two friends with margaritas and tacos on the agenda and left positively unwound at the end of a working day. Staff were such a pleasure and made our visit a fun, memorable one. The mixed berry frozen margarita packed a punch. This grown up slushee made for one delicious cocktail. We'd all ordered different flavours so, after trying the mango, peach and apricot and also the original margarita, I can confirm that they're all pretty damn tasty. I'm not a tequila drinker and I don't like my drinks too strong, but this was just perfect; strong but not overpoweringly so. The food? Outstanding! We ordered just about every taco option on the menu and one from the specials board; a total of ten tacos. This meant we got to try as much of the menu as possible and also satisfy our insatiable post work hunger. I tried duck, beef, pork and cod and, whilst I'd normally have preference over certain kinds of meat, I genuinely can't pick a favourite because they were all so delicious. Every dish was a standout; every taco a winner; every bite a pleasure. Tacos, anyone? read more

So.... Yeah. This was good, really good. I took myself here for Mothers' Day - just me, a book, fantastic food and delicious margaritas. I opted for the duck carnitas tacos and guacamole with plantain crisps. The tacos were generously heaped and the guac lasted beyond the crisps and was a delicious accompaniment to a few bites of duck. Honestly it blew me away. I left feeling satisfied (and a bit tipsy!) and while I coule have eaten more that was really just because it was so incredibly delicious. Huge props to the people behind the Bon Vivant here, El Cartel is a gem. read more

Yes. This place has the best tacos I've had this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Everything about this tiny restaurant is cute, from the decor (sugar skull fabric cushions, slightly glam turquoise wallpaper with gold skulls, rustic wood tables), to the Day of the Dead beer and the counter which is also a display case for a ridiculous range of tequila. The menu is short but perfectly formed, it has a selection of tacos, sides and small dishes that were all excellent. The server explained to us that the food was tapas style and that everything would come out when it was ready. Myself and two friends ordered three types of taco, three small plates and all the sides, and every single thing was fantastic. I highly recommend the steak tacos and the guacamole with plantain chips was really great too! Lucky we had a large table because it was covered in food but we finished every scrap. The whole lot of that plus five drinks came to less than £70! We were so happy with the whole experience we've all vowed to come back with others. A word to the wise: because the restaurant is small and they don't take reservations it can get busy, but if they don't have a table when you arrive then you can nip across the road to the Bon Vivant for a beverage and they will come to get you when they have one free. Top service! read more

Man, what can I say about this place except: what a find! My guy and I were in Edinburgh for the day and were actually looking for a pub off the beaten track when I spotted two huge Mexican flags flying off the side of a building. Being half Mexican and missing some good Mexican food here in Scotland, you know I b-lined it over to the flags to figure out what we had just discovered. I peered in the windows to see tops about 10 tables packed in to this wee cafe. It looked full up, so we kept walking and I looked them up online. First things first, it's a first come first served type cafe. No reservations taken. They have a website, but there's not much on it, only directions to check out their facebook page for a menu. After searching around a bit, I finally found their menu. Prices were pretty decent, so we walked back to see about a table. There was one two seater available, but we were told it was taken and that we could be put on the wait list, which was 45 mins to an hour. No worries, we could just go hit up a pub around the corner while we waited (which is exactly what we did). The interior of this place is pretty typical Mexican. Sombreros on the walls, day of the dead skulls everywhere and a view straight back in to the kitchen as soon as you walk in. There are also a few frozen margarita machines and a fridge (hidden behind a blackboard) stocked full of beverages. There menu is pretty awesome, with something for everyone (there are even veg options) Tacos (come 2 to an order), quesadillas (come three slices to an order), jalapeno poppers (come three balls to an order), beans, rice, slaw, etc. We ended up going for the lamb tacos, the beef tacos, the chorizo quesadilla, and the mexican slaw. The beef tacos came first and they were delicious. The beef was cut in bite size thick slices, so tender and amazingly seasoned. The corn tortillas were home made and perfect. The jalapeno poppers (they're actually called bombers on the menu) came out next. Not exactly my idea of a jalapeno popper, but they were deep friend balls of feta type cheese (salty and chunky) with jalapeno mixed through it. They were served with a chipotle cream based sauce which went very well with them. Next up were the Mexican slaw and the lamb tacos. The slaw was a perfect mixture of cabbage, carrot, onion, pomagranate seeds and the chipotle cream based sauce that came with the bombers Deeeeeeeelicious! Seriously, so much tastier than I could imagine. Lastly, the lamb tacos. Holy mole' mother of pearl, they were amazing. The lamb was tender and shredded, topped with mint and these slices of cucumber that reminded me of a NYC deli pickle, crisp and salty. We agreed that these tacos were the best thing about the meal, even though everything as a whole was amazing. We looked around and noticed so many more things we could have ordered that people were eating, but were pleased with the amount of food we ordered and how full we actually were when we were done. To top off the meal, we also ordered up some mezcal and ginger beer. I absolutely hate tequila (unless it's mixed in to a sweet frozen margarita), so I took about two sips of my drink and passed it over to my guy who gladly finished his and then mine. Yick! (but very tasty according to my guy- and the other people around us who were happily drinking tequila or mezcal or beers or margaritas off their pretty extensive booze menu). This place is a hidden gem and it was a great time had! The music was amazing (I love me some hip hop beats) and the staff were friendly and attentive. The toilets could have done with a bit of scrubbing as both men and women were using the women's toilet, but that didn't put me off in the slightest. We will be back for sure, and I recommend you give this place a go, asap. Just make sure you give yourself some time to wait as this place is hopping! read more

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Good place for Mexican food! Tried the baja cod tacos as it was recommended but it was not up to the expectation. But the sweet potato tacos was just awesome! Didn't like their tacos bread tho. A must try for the sweet potato tacos and the plantain chips with guacamole! They also have awesome frozen margaritas! Such a refreshing one :) read more

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Found our way to El Cartel after a long day of driving to Edinburgh. We were wrapping up a few weeks driving around the country and as much as we loved the seafood, haggis, etc. we were really craving something with a little...spice. Walked into El Cartel exhausted and nearing high levels of hanger...we were immediately swept over to a table and the waitress grabbed our incredibly heavy luggage and put it in the back for us, no questions asked. SO THOUGHTFUL and unexpected. The vibe was really cool, fast service and truly delicious tacos...we tried the sweet potato, hanger steak (incredible) and chicken. Even living in the states where we have access to pretty incredible Mexican food, we were very impressed. read more

Probably the best place to have a date in Edinburgh. Sophisticated, cool and just the right amount of lighting to make your partners eyes sparkle. Aside from my smooshy romantic vibes, the food and drinks were tip top and highly recommended. I had a strawberry frozen margarita, which was just devine and looked scrumptious as heck. Tacos were a great size and came in twos, which was perfect to share between us. We had a variety and they were all super amazing. Just writing this I am making myself hungry and I can't wait to go back! read more

Lets have a for real talk about Mexican food for a minute: what it is, what it isn't, and why it's amazing. Tex-Mex, as good as it can be, is not authentic Mexican food. Burritos are God status, but they're a Texican creation. Mexican food is not nachos. It is not salsa from a jar. It is not gummy flour tortillas. It is not smoking mountains of ganja and then going to Taco Bell. Mexican food IS: colorful, textured, vibrant, bold, harmonious, spicy, and emotional. El Cartel is Mexican food! Mexican food is El Cartel! As good as any high-end restaurant you'll find in DF, but found, weirdly enough, in Edinburgh. I thought I was going to go to this place to get barely passable Mexican grub. Just enough to cure any homesickness I may have been feeling. After all, I'm in the UK... how could I expect more? My first clue I was wrong happened when I stepped in the door. It looked like I had rolled into Boyle Heights or Huntington Park. They were bumping Gangstarr. Everyone had neck tats. There was no way in fuck I was in Scotland. They made platanos amarillos to go with their epic guacamole. It was an amazing textural substitute for tortilla chips, and healthier. Their Mexican slaw used pepino seeds to make an incredible crunch. Pomegranate was used liberally. Their duck tacos were just.... stupid. They were so good that I scored seconds. My boyfriend (a lifelong Angelino) said they were the best tacos he's ever had. I concur. I also bought a bottle of their hot sauce, I'm cheating on my girl, Cholula, so you know that ish is the bomb. read more

Eclectic setting, hip different approach to this cuisine, Worth a try.