Review of Homies on Donkeys in Leytonstone

Celebrating their 8th Birthday, Homies on Donkeys in Leytonstone takes its food seriously, but little else. Born out of a market stall in Walthamstow and now firmly rooted in East London’s Leytonstone High Road, the restaurant is run by husband a wife team Sandra Bello and chef Erik “Smokey” Bautista.

This summer marks its eighth birthday, and the place shows no signs of slowing down, at 7pm on a Wednesday night the place was already full, a buzz with happy dinners. The venue is unapologetically loud and playful, splashed in hot pinks and yellows, with graffiti art on the walls. With music pumping out and laughter everywhere, we got talking to the table next to us almost immediately, the street party vibes were strong.

The food is fun and creative, opting for the plant based options we were really impressed with the unique selection here. We tried the roasted broccoli taco; charred florets layered with garlic, refried beans, salsa macha and crispy onion. A smoky, crunchy, umami-packed winner, broccoli on a taco sounds a bit mad but it really did work, with the added benefit of getting in some nutrients in there.

The mushroom barbacoa was a firm favourite; with guajillo and roasted tomato salsa, sweet onion and cilantro. The meatiness of the mushrooms was a great shout for a taco and the toppings brought a deep earthy richness and a touch of sweetness. A standout was the Mexican Cauliflower vegan special; finished with their signature salsa, roasted pineapple and habanera sauce, Spanish onion and cilantro cress. A bold, nostalgic creation packed with layered flavours and a playful nod to West Coast taquerías. It’s clear the kitchen gives just as much love to its vegan dishes as its carnivorous classics.

For a starter / side we went for the waiter’s suggestion; refried beans (usually served with queso fresco but without for a vegan option) with salsa roja and totopos. I’m usually gauc all the way but I was glad we went with the suggestion here! It was rich, silky and packed with umami. We paired the whole meal with spicy margaritas, which cut through the richness with just the right amount of heat and citrus, balancing the meal perfectly.

There’s a reason Homies on Donkeys have done so well over the last year and have become a local hero. A fun setting with lovely service and truly amazing food, they have everything right here. The tacos are truly stacked and most tacos cost around £8 for a pair and mains rarely topping £12, the pricing is really fair for what you get.

Address: Homies on Donkeys, 686 High Rd Leytonstone, London, E11 3AA

For more info. or to book click here.

Written by Jordan Crowley

Photos courtesy of Naf Castañas / @adashandasplash