‘Ridiculously great’ street food chain from Miami to open first-ever UK restaurant

Coyo Taco is looking to open a flagship UK site in London (Picture: Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

If there’s one thing London could do with more of, it’s great Mexican food – because, who doesn’t love a taco?

And one brand is hoping to give Londoners just that as it’s making plans to launch its first-ever UK location in the capital.

Coyo Taco is a street food chain from the US that serves up tacos, burritos, quesadillas, margaritas and more.

It was founded in 2015 in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District and has gone on to open 11 further branches, with restaurants across South Florida as well as in Portugal, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. 

Not only does the brand have some impressive reviews online, it’s also garnered some rather famous fans, with Will Smith, Barack Obama and David Beckham all spotted enjoying a Coyo Taco meal.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama arrives for lunch at the Coyo Taco restaurant in Miami, Florida (Picture: by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Plans for the chain’s UK debut are still in the early stages, but a franchise deal has been signed with investment firm Kuvi Hospitality.

Coyo Taco is now looking for a flagship UK site with a goal of opening in early 2026.

Kuvi Hospitality is led by Shereen Ritchie, a former managing director at Leon and chief executive at Buns from Home.

Speaking about the Coyo Tacos agreement, Shereen told The Caterer: ‘Coyo Taco is more than a restaurant – it’s a cultural experience. The freshness of the food, the vibrancy of the speakeasy and the authenticity of its Mexican roots make it stand out from anything else in the UK market. 

‘It’s soulful, fun and full of energy. We believe Coyo Taco will strike a powerful chord with Londoners and has the potential to thrive nationwide.’

The menu features tacos, burritos and more (Picture: Getty Images)

But what do people really think of the food?

A Coyo Taco restaurant in Miami has garnered a rating of 4.3 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, with 354 excellent reviews.

A reviewer from Greater Manchester, known only as Keith O, claimed it was the ‘best food’ he had in Miami during his visit.

‘Amazing food. Without a doubt the best tasting food we had during our stay in Miami. Portion sizes were also good,’ he said.

Similarly, Kristen T wrote: ‘We ordered steak tacos, chicken tacos, a chicken burrito, and frozen strawberry margaritas. Everything was fresh and delicious!’

While Daniel F posted: ‘Unassuming restaurant, reduced to the bare minimum. Incredibly tasty tacos.. authentic and a real treat.. A chance encounter that was worth it.’

However, the reviews for a restaurant in Lisbon were much more varied on Tripadvisor, with this branch scoring 3.9 out of 5.

Comments were mixed, with some saying the food was ‘the best’ and ‘ridiculously great’, but others thought it was ‘nothing special’ and ‘just ok’.

And Coyo Tacos isn’t the only brand from the US planning a launch over the pond.

American chicken chain Raising Cane’s also recently announced it’s going to be opening its flagship site in London in late 2026.

The chain is known for its chicken tenders, giant cups of sauce and Texas toast.

Chick-fil-A has also confirmed it’ll be launching more UK sites, after opening one in Belfast earlier this year. And Dave’s Hot Chicken is also planning to expand across the UK soon too.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Comments