Cancel any misconceptions you may have about burritos – Tortilla on Market Place is fast, healthy and centrally located, too.

The Venue
Decorated in deep red and wood, Tortilla looks inviting, although the simple seating structure may make you think of a fast food chain. Opposite the entrance on the ground floor is a glass counter behind which you’ll find an assembly line of staff busily crafting burritos. During the warm weather you can sit outdoors on chairs and tables made out of light metal.

On rainy or cold days, when cheerful Mexican food will boost your mood, you can sit on the ground floor or opt for the cosy basement which can also be reserved for private parties. Both are a mixture of dark red tiles, brick walls, square wooden tables, red benches and red metal chairs. Near the counter, a wooden rack displays small bags of beans and a dazzling variety of hot sauces, all of which are for sale. Choose your poison – from Widow: No Survivors to Scorned Woman, the hot sauces may have funny names but they also come with serious consequences!

The Atmosphere
The sauces are a clue to the atmosphere at Tortilla, which is casual and not overly serious, despite the large number of office workers swarming Market Place for lunch. At this time of the day, expect a quick, orderly queue stretching along the ground floor area.

Tortilla is ideal for a relaxed bite with friends. It’s a better option than a greasy kebab and although it might be quiet outside lunch hours, expect it to pick up soon as word spreads about burritos as an alternative to fast food for a night-time snack.

The Food
Although the food is technically Mexican, the style served here hails from sunny California and the health-consciousness typical of that state is evident. There are no freezers or cans, the black beans are often organic, everything is gluten free but the flour tortillas, the chicken is all barn-reared, halal and marinated on site for 12 hours. And, of course, all the fresh produce is delivered daily, including the South African avocadoes, which are exclusively Hass. The idea is to deliver something healthy, fresh and yet very enjoyable, and as such heavy refried beans have been eliminated in favour of boiled beans.

To order, first choose between a burrito or a fajita wrap, a naked burrito, a salad or tacos (£4.10 - £5.70). Then you can pick your filling, such as grilled chicken or steak, braised pork or vegetarian. Finally, decide on the toppings, which include rice, beans, salsa, guacamole, cheese (Monterey Jack and never cheddar) or sour cream.

The combination of black beans and rice is recommended as the two flavours are the ideal base setting off nicely the flavoursome meat. Both grilled steak and braised pork are a true surprise – you will bite into proper chunks of well cooked steak rather than the usual indistinctive minced medley. The chunky guacamole is another of Tortilla’s strong points. Made fresh daily, just like the salsas, rice, beans and meats, it is thick and lemony and not at all hot. If you are used to fiery guacamole this may be a disappointment but this delicate version is refreshing when matched with strong flavours.

The fresh salsas are also not as fierce as you would imagine. The medium salsa verde is manageable by almost all palates and the hot salsa roja is just a bit stronger. If you need an extra dose of heat, you can help yourself to more hot sauce on the tables. In keeping with their fresh policy, at Tortilla you will never find enchiladas, since they need to be cooked ahead. However, in the evenings, when it’s quiet, the staff can prepare nachos and quesadillas on request.

The Drink
True to Mexican traditions, here you can order imported beers like Dos Equis, Dos Equis Especial and Corona (£2.95 - £3.95), and Margaritas (£4.25) made with silver tequila. Otherwise you can choose from a variety of Snapple flavours and carbonated drinks (£1 -£2.95).

The Last Word
Honest, healthy and comforting food is what Tortilla is all about.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (12) image gallery (6)