20 Aug, 2024
When we first opened our doors in August 2009, Gringos was a small, 30-seat taqueria with a simple menu, passionate staff, and big dreams. Fifteen years later, we’re proud to have grown into one of London’s most beloved Mexican restaurants, evolving from those humble beginnings into the Mexican Smokehouse that brings together the best of traditional Mexican flavors and Texas BBQ techniques.
This month, we’re celebrating this milestone with a series of special events, menus, and offers that honor both our heritage and our evolution. As we mark this anniversary, we’d like to share some reflections on our journey and invite you to join the festivities.
“I still remember our opening night,” says founder James Wilson. “We had one tiny kitchen, three staff members, and a menu that fit on a single page. We ran out of food by 9 PM and had to apologize to waiting customers. It was chaotic but exhilarating.”
That original location, just two streets away from our current home, could barely accommodate 30 diners. The menu focused on street tacos, basic burritos, and a small selection of traditional Mexican dishes that were still relatively uncommon in London at the time.
“Mexican food was often misunderstood back then,” explains head chef Miguel Ortiz, who joined the team in our second year. “People expected heavy, cheese-laden Tex-Mex dishes. We were trying to introduce more authentic regional Mexican cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and traditional techniques.”
The restaurant quickly developed a loyal following, and by 2012, we had expanded into the neighboring space, doubling our capacity. 2016 marked another significant milestone as we relocated to our current, much larger premises, allowing us to accommodate our growing customer base and expand our culinary offerings.
The most transformative change, however, came just last year with the introduction of our “Fast Eddie” smoker and the evolution into a Mexican Smokehouse concept that bridges two beloved culinary traditions.
Throughout August, we’re hosting a series of events to commemorate this journey:
A special seven-course menu taking guests through our evolution, featuring one signature dish from each phase of our development. From our original street tacos to our latest smoked meat creations, this culinary journey tells our story through flavor.
Each Thursday features a different year from our history, with original menu items at original prices (while supplies last). It’s a chance to revisit favorites that may have disappeared from our regular offerings as we evolved.
Join our founder and original team members for a night of stories, shared memories, and special surprises. We’ll be recording oral histories from long-time customers and staff to preserve the cultural heritage of Gringos for the next 15 years.
Three special classes focusing on different aspects of our cuisine:
Any restaurant’s story is ultimately about people, and our 15-year journey has been shaped by the passionate individuals who’ve been part of the Gringos family.
Some of our staff have been with us almost from the beginning, including:
Elena Rodriguez (Front of House Manager): “When I started 12 years ago, we were still explaining to customers what a tostada was. Now we have regulars who can tell you which region of Mexico each mole comes from. It’s been amazing to see that evolution in London’s food culture.”
Carlos Mendez (Sous Chef): “I’ve been here for 11 years, and the biggest change has been in ingredients availability. When we started, we were substituting ingredients because we couldn’t source authentic Mexican products. Now we’re growing Mexican chilies right here in London with our farm partners.”
Sarah Chen (Pastry Chef): “Joining seven years ago changed my career trajectory completely. I’d been trained in French pastry, but learning to work with Mexican flavors and techniques opened a whole new world of possibilities.”
We’re equally grateful to our loyal customers, some of whom have been dining with us since those early days in our original location. Your support has allowed us to grow, experiment, and evolve while staying true to our core values of quality, authenticity, and hospitality.
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re also looking ahead to the next chapter of Gringos. Later this year, we’ll be announcing some exciting new developments that will further enhance your dining experience with us.
“The introduction of our smokehouse concept last year was just the beginning,” hints James. “We’re continuing to explore the fascinating intersection of Mexican and Texas traditions, while also looking at other complementary culinary influences.”
Chef Miguel adds: “We’ve spent fifteen years building relationships with suppliers, farmers, and producers. Those connections allow us to create dishes today that wouldn’t have been possible when we started. I’m excited to keep pushing those boundaries.”
We invite all of our friends, regulars, and newcomers alike to join us throughout August as we celebrate this milestone. To thank our community for fifteen wonderful years, we’re offering:
Reservations for our special events are recommended, as they’re filling quickly. You can book through our website or by calling us directly.
Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are just discovering Gringos, we’re grateful for your support. Here’s to fifteen years of flavor, community, and evolution—and to many more to come!
¡Gracias y salud!
