we were chefs unleashed and thats not the way kitchens traditionally run. Thats what made us “Cowboys’.”
The Food
Food for Cowboys is truly unlike anything else on the Hull food scene. Our dishes are made using authentic Mexican methods that have been extensively researched and adapted to work with local and seasonal produce. We make the tortillas, cheese, signature salsas, and our famous cornbreads with love daily. Whilst much of the menu is considered classic Mexican cuisine, the majority of the dishes are re-imagined to create an experience you will not find elsewhere. Good food for everyone is part of the Food for Cowboys ethos – so a large portion of the menu is gluten free, and there are multiple vegetarian, vegan and halal options to choose from. The restaurant has a unique drinks offering, including hand-selected tequilas, natural wines, and a cocktail/mocktail menu centred on a small batch of artisanal spirits from Mexico.
Food for Cowboys have two premises in the heart of Hull, East Yorkshire. Our dine-in restaurant located on Alfred Gelder Street [link to the find us page] has a beautiful seating area in one of the city’s iconic buildings (please note booking is advised – link), and we also provide take away food into the neighbouring pub, the White Hart.
The Bond Street Taqueria [link to the find us page] is located in a converted ticket office in the city centre’s K2 tower, making it Hull’s smallest takeaway and the smallest taqueria in the UK. Our taqueria serves take out food and drink only, but is partnered with the local café bar Brew if you’re looking for somewhere to sit down and eat your Cowboy feast.
The Story
Food for Cowboys is the brainchild of Tarik Bolton. Born and bred on a council estate in Hull, Tarik is a self-taught chef who worked around the UK before returning to his hometown of Hull to start his own venture. From very humble beginnings, Tarik’s desire to make his high-quality food accessible to as many people as possible is a key part of the business’s vision.
The Food for Cowboys brand was developed on a shoestring in response to the challenging hospitality climate post-pandemic. With the cost of living crisis hitting Hull especially hard, Tarik noticed his amigos – the other chefs in the city - were losing shifts because restaurants were cutting their hours due to plummeting footfall. With his own young family to support, he knew he had to be creative and consider where there could be opportunity.
With just a dream and a taco press, Tarik started trialling recipes at pop-ups and events around the city in late 2022. Reflecting on that time Tarik remembers:
“We were cooking with no bosses, no businessman in the office who wanted to keep fries on the menu because it makes a good gross profit. We cooked for fun. We would learn some dishes on the Monday and serve them on the Thursday. We would run out of prepped dishes so we’d have to adlib new dishes halfway through service. The food tasted great because it was cooked with energy and enthusiasm. We didn't want to buy anything, like cheese or tortillas, that we could make ourselves. We were chefs unleashed and that’s not the way kitchens are traditionally run. That's what made us ‘Cowboys'.”
With a growing customer base but no grants or investors, he and his best friend Daryl Thackeray opened their first premise in summer 2024. As Hull’s smallest take-away, this tiny venue and frugal approach to business presented hurdles that required creative thinking and innovative culinary techniques. Tarik and Daryl and the team minimised waste and maximised the little space they had, even making fresh cheese daily by hanging it from the ceiling to account for the reduced workbench space. By Spring 2025 they had opened their first dine-in restaurant on Alfred Gelder Street providing a brunch and lunch daytime menu and a modern small plate evening menu. Since then, the people of Hull and beyond have shown enormous support for this fledgling business and the Cowboys team continue to challenge what people think they know about Mexican food and the Hull hospitality scene.
The mission
The Food for Cowboys mission is simple:
- Quality – the highest quality food, made fresh in-house
- Versatility – providing food for a special occasion, lunch on the go, or take away night
- Collaborative – always seeking opportunities to work with local suppliers, artists and communities