Rating: ★★★★★ (5 out of 5 stars)
Situated on the edge of Brighton Open Market, Taquitos Casazul is a literal hidden gem offering an authentic taste of Mexico. Gabriel, the owner, greets you with a smile and makes you feel right at home with his genuine friendliness and recommendations. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, with indoor seating and outdoor tables that are perfect for sunny days.
Taquitos Casazul has a more down-to-earth vibe compared to some of Brighton’s other Mexican joints, which feel more theatrical in comparison. This place offers a real, authentic experience. The relaxed atmosphere, combined with Gabriel’s warm hospitality, makes it a perfect spot for a casual yet flavour-packed meal.
TLDR – Casazul Review
Super welcoming and highly authentic. The menu is focused on tacos (which are amazing), but no burritos or tostadas.
🌿 Vegan? Yes, many options
🌾 Gluten-free? Yes, the whole kitchen is gluten free (but they stock some items that aren’t prepared in the kitchen that are not)
Address: Open Market, 21 Marshalls Row, Brighton, BN1 4JU
📍View on Google Maps
Authentic Mexican Flavours 🇲🇽
The menu at Taquitos Casazul caters to both meat-eaters and vegans, offering a wide range of traditional Mexican dishes. One of the standout options is the chicken mole tacos. This dish features a rich mole sauce made with a variety of ingredients, including chillies, spices, nuts, seeds, and a touch of chocolate, creating a unique and complex flavour profile. The mole has a deep, slightly sweet, and spicy taste (maybe with hints of star anise?) and a velvety, chocolatey texture. The vegan mole, made with baked cauliflower, mirrors this rich complexity, ensuring no one misses out on this authentic experience.
View the Taquitos Casazul menu here.
A highlight is the cochinita pibil tacos, filled with succulent pulled pork marinated in a mild achiote and orange sauce. The combination of achiote and orange creates a vibrant, tangy flavour that pairs beautifully with the pickled red onions on top. For a vegan twist, the cochinita pibil is made with marinated oyster mushrooms, delivering a similarly delicious experience.
The tinga tacos are another must try. The chicken tinga is simmered in a mild tomato and smoky chipotle sauce, topped with sour cream, lettuce, and crumbly cheese, offering a comforting, slightly smoky flavour. The vegan version, featuring carrot tinga, provides the same delightful smokiness with a satisfying, plant-based twist.
We paired our meal with Mexican Jarritos sodas, which added a fun, colourful touch to the experience, reminiscent of the street food vendors in New York.
Award-Winning DIY Taco Kits! 📦
Taquitos Casazul are well known by locals for their famous taco kits, complete with packs of tortillas, salsas, and fresh fillings from the fridge! Allowing you to recreate authentic dishes in the comfort of your home. These were an innovation during the 2020 lockdown but went on to receive the 1st place ‘Good to Go’ title by Brighton Restaurant Awards (as well as 2nd place for ‘Sustainable Eats’).
You can also take home pre-prepared tamales that are stocked up in their freezer. Fair warning, the tamales are super filling and you get three per pack! I’d strongly recommend sharing, especially if you’re planning to have a couple of tacos too. We were lucky enough to have these cooked up for us at the restaurant, but tacos are much faster to the table. The tamales felt like a special taste of Mexico, something I hadn’t tried before. The refried beans served with them added necessary moisture and flavour, making for a delightful combination.
The grocery section also offers a range of imported Mexican goods such as salsa, hot sauce, and taco kits. You can find packs of corn tortillas, corn husks, dried chillies, dried hibiscus, and more – all the ingredients you need to cook up authentic Mexican dishes at home. The shop offers deliveries every day between 12 pm to 2 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm (to Brighton only).
Get Down to the Open Market to Try a Taco! 🌮
Taquitos Casazul has been throwing delicious tacos out of their kitchen since 2019. This local, family-run business is well-regarded locally because of its amazing flavours and good vibes. Gabriel’s deep passion for food is really evident and it’s a lovely experience that you should definitely have for yourself! All in all, Taquitos Casazul is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Mexican food. With a tempting array of meat and vegan tacos and a variety of imported goods, we’re lucky to have this spot in the UK, let alone in Brighton.
Looking for somewhere else good? Check out this list of minority-owned restaurants in Brighton. Some great places to eat, whilst supporting the community! Or, if you’re travelling to London and you’re after some other gluten free options, check out Skye’s blog here, the Celiac Guide – for a GF tour of the capital city!
Based in Brighton since 2023, Mitch is all about uncovering hidden gem restaurants and supporting independents over chains. With a seasoned palate developed from years of eating out, he’s your go-to for discovering the best local spots.
