Chow Down Leeds: Food and drink a plenty as Taco and Tequila Festival kicks off at outdoor venue this weekend

If you’re a fan of Mexican inspired food and tequila based drinks, then Chow Down is the place for you this weekend, as the Taco + Tequila Festival kicks off for a weekend long celebration. 

The event, taking place from Friday June 23 to Sunday June 25, will see live bands, cocktail-making and tasting masterclasses, churros, tacos, a tequila shot bar and a margarita and paloma bar.

There will also be competitions, including  margarita-making speed tests and  make-your-own taco contests throughout the three day festival. 

The tequila-based drinks will be mixed by Leeds-famous Leng Libation, also known as Sam Greedy, and will include cocktails such as mango and raspberry frozen margaritas, pineapple palomas and of course tequila shots.

Jimmy Macks, who are voted the best taco in the North, are bringing three special tacos to the festival; slow and low beef short rib and brisket birria, fire jerk chicken 'over coals', and smokey roasted squash + black bean.

Other food vendors serving tacos and birrias and more include Bastard Bistro, Torito Taco and Brazin Squad, each of who bring their own personal flavour.

Taco and Tequila Festival at Chow Down is a free event, you just need to book a table to enter.

Taco and Tequila Festival 2023 menu

Tequila Bar by Leng Libation

• Mango Frozen Margarita - £9
• Raspberry Frozen Margarita - £9
• Pineapple Paloma - £9
• El Diablo - £8.5
• Spicy Tommys - £9
• Red Grasshopper - £8
• Mexican Penacilin - £9.5
• Tequila Verdita Shot - £5

Bastards Bisto

• Smoked Pork & Pineapple Pibil - Street salsa, lime crema 
• Carne Asada - Salsa verde, roast garlic aioli 
• Buttermilk fried chicken Kiev taco - Parsley mayo, parmesan crumb 
• Pina colada jackfruit (Vegan) - Coconut siriacha, pina salsa 
• Beeria taco - Beer braised beef shin, aged cheddar. Bone marrow birria consome 
• Cheese burger birria - Gherkin salsa 
• Vegan mushroom alternative
• Smoked pork & pineapple pibil loaded nachos - Nacho cheese / street salsa / pickled pink onion & jalapeño, lime crema
• Beer braised beef shin nachos - Nacho cheese, chipotle tomatillo salsa, pickled pink onion & jalapeño, lime crema 

Jimmy Mack

• Slow and low Beef short rib + brisket Birria - 2 crispy flour tortillas dipped in beef juices, topped with melted cheese, Pico de Gallo + loaded with pulled 8hr birria marinated beef brisket and short rib. Served with our Birria dipping gravy
• Fire Jerk chicken 'over coals' - Over night marinated jerk chicken thighs, cooked over fire and served in 2 crispy flour tortillas with burnt scallion salsa, melted cheese and sour cream. 
• Smokey roasted squash + black bean (vegetarian, gf) - Squash and black beans slow roasted in a smokey, mexican house blend of spices served on 4 open corn tortillas with charred corn salsa, pink onion pickles, lime crema + tajin. 
• Loaded nachos (vegetarian, gf) - Cheese sauce, pink onions, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream. Add Guacamole

Brazin Squad

• Smoked citrus pink bream cerviche taco - Avocado crema, charred pineapple salsa, nori crisps 
• Coal roast beetroot taco - Beetroot mole, pickled candied beetroot, Tajin and preserved lemon sour cream
• Smoked Confit duck leg - Mango salsa, smoked duck fat mayo, crispy duck skin

Torito Taco

• Masa fried chicken tacos - Crispy fried chicken thigh, red cabbage, chipotle crema & pickles. With salsa taqueria. 3 corn tortillas
• Vegan chicken tinga tacos - Chipotle & orange juice marinated vegan chicken, salsa taqueria, red cabbage, pickles, coriander & onion, & lime. 3 corn tortillas
• Avocado & charred corn quesadillas 
• Loaded nachos - Corn nachos, cheese sauce, smoky chilli, crema, guacamole, pink onions, coriander, lime (vegetarian)