Where to Find Mexican Ingredients in London: A Neighbourhood Guide

London: A Growing Hub for Mexican Ingredients

London's food scene has transformed dramatically over the past decade, and Mexican cuisine has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. What was once a culinary desert for Mexican ingredients now boasts a growing network of specialist shops, market stalls and even mainstream supermarkets stocking authentic products.

Whether you are looking for dried chillies, masa harina, Mexican chocolate or obscure ingredients like epazote and hoja santa, this neighbourhood guide will point you in the right direction.

Central London

Borough Market (London Bridge)

London's most famous food market hosts several stalls relevant to Mexican cooking. Cool Chile Co has a permanent presence here, selling dried chillies, masa harina, Mexican chocolate, mole pastes and a curated range of authentic ingredients. This is arguably the single best place in London to buy Mexican ingredients in person.

What to look for: Their own-brand dried chilli packs, fresh masa (when available), Mexican oregano and chile pastes.

Getting there: London Bridge station (Northern and Jubilee lines). Open Wednesday to Saturday.

Soho and Chinatown

The Chinese and Southeast Asian supermarkets in and around Chinatown stock some useful crossover ingredients. Loon Fung and other Chinese grocers carry fresh chillies, coriander in large bunches (much cheaper than supermarket packs), limes, various dried chillies and sometimes tomatillos.

Best for: Fresh chillies, coriander, limes and dried spices at competitive prices.

South London

Brixton

Brixton Market and the surrounding area have long been one of London's most diverse food shopping destinations. The Afro-Caribbean shops here stock scotch bonnet peppers (an excellent habanero substitute), plantains, black beans and various hot sauces. Several Latin American shops have opened in recent years, expanding the Mexican ingredient offering.

What to look for: Fresh scotch bonnets, plantains, avocados (often cheaper than supermarkets), black beans in bulk and hot sauces.

Elephant and Castle

This area has London's highest concentration of Latin American shops and restaurants, primarily serving the Colombian and Ecuadorian communities. Several of these shops stock Mexican products including masa harina, dried chillies, Mexican hot sauces, tinned chipotles and corn husks for tamales.

Best for: Masa harina (Maseca brand), tinned chipotles, Mexican hot sauces (Valentina, Cholula, Tajin), dried chillies and Latin American produce.

Getting there: Elephant & Castle station (Bakerloo and Northern lines).

East London

Dalston and Ridley Road Market

Ridley Road Market is one of London's most vibrant street markets, with a strong African, Caribbean and Turkish influence. You will find excellent prices on fresh produce including chillies, coriander, avocados and limes. The Turkish shops stock good quality dried chilli flakes and pastes that can supplement a Mexican larder.

Hackney and Shoreditch

This area is home to several trendy food shops that stock premium Mexican ingredients. Look for specialist food shops and delis that carry artisanal Mexican products including stone-ground masa harina, single-origin Mexican chocolate and small-batch hot sauces.

North London

Seven Sisters and Tottenham

The Latin American community in this area supports several shops stocking Mexican and Central American products. The indoor market at Seven Sisters (Pueblito Paisa, now relocated nearby) is worth exploring for Latin American ingredients.

Best for: Mexican soft drinks, sweets, dried chillies, tortilla presses and hard-to-find ingredients like dried avocado leaves.

Camden and Kentish Town

Camden Market hosts occasional Mexican food stalls, and the diverse food shops along Kentish Town Road stock a reasonable range of Mexican ingredients. The area's international food shops often carry dried chillies, masa harina and Mexican sauces.

West London

Shepherd's Bush and Goldhawk Road

The Middle Eastern and South American shops along Goldhawk Road offer useful ingredients for Mexican cooking. Fresh chillies, bulk spices, dried fruits and various international ingredients are available at excellent prices.

Notting Hill and Portobello Road

Portobello Market on Saturdays features various food stalls, and the permanent shops in the area include some excellent delis and specialist food stores that stock premium Mexican ingredients.

Online Retailers Based in London

If you prefer to shop from home, several London-based online retailers offer comprehensive Mexican ingredient selections:

• Cool Chile Co (coolchileco.co.uk) - The UK's premier Mexican ingredient specialist. Excellent range of dried chillies, masa harina, Mexican chocolate, spices and pantry staples. Based in London with nationwide delivery.
• MexGrocer (mexgrocer.co.uk) - Wide range of Mexican branded products including La Costena, San Marcos and Maseca. Good selection of dried chillies, tinned goods and sauces.
• Sous Chef (souschef.co.uk) - Premium food ingredient retailer with a good Mexican section including specialty items.

What Mainstream Supermarkets Stock

You might be surprised by how much Mexican-relevant stock the major supermarkets now carry:

Waitrose

Best mainstream supermarket for Mexican ingredients. Stocks fresh jalapeños, fresh coriander, a good range of dried spices, tinned black beans, several salsa varieties, corn tortillas and occasionally masa harina.

Sainsbury's

Good range of tortillas (flour and corn), refried beans, salsa, pickled jalapeños, fresh chillies, soured cream and increasingly stocks chipotles in adobo in the world food aisle.

Tesco

Similar range to Sainsbury's with perhaps slightly fewer specialist items. Large Tesco Extra stores tend to have better world food sections. Good for basics: tortillas, beans, rice, fresh coriander, limes and avocados.

M&S Food

Smaller Mexican range but good quality. Their own-brand salsas and Mexican-inspired ready meals use decent ingredients, and they stock fresh jalapeños, avocados and a reasonable spice selection.

Ocado

Best online supermarket for Mexican ingredients. Stocks Bob's Red Mill masa harina, a wide range of hot sauces, specialty beans and many items that are harder to find in physical stores.

Tips for Ingredient Shopping in London

• Buy dried chillies in bulk when you find them. They keep for months in an airtight container and are not always in stock.
• Check the use-by dates on masa harina. Fresh stock has a noticeable difference in flavour compared to bags that have been sitting on shelves for months.
• Ask shopkeepers for recommendations. Latin American shop owners are often happy to suggest brands and alternatives.
• Visit markets early. Borough Market in particular gets very crowded by midday on Saturdays.
• Join online communities. Facebook groups for Mexicans in London regularly share tips on where to find specific ingredients.

For a complete directory of Mexican ingredient shops across the UK, browse our store listings. And once you have stocked up, explore our recipe collection to put those ingredients to delicious use. If you would rather eat out, our restaurant guide covers the best Mexican dining options in London and beyond.