Cheap Eats: A messy meal with plenty of Mex appeal

You won’t be a Lone Ranger at this popular Mexican joint down south, writes Tara Nash.

Tequila n Tacos’ porterhouse steak. Photo: Tara Nash

Meat juices drip down my arms as I devour a tostadita and sip on fruity sangria ... I am in my element. This place had me at the name: Tequila n Tacos. How could we go wrong?

Located in the hub of pubs, cafes and shops at Port Noarlunga, this casual restaurant transports you straight to the Mexican desert.

It takes a family affair to pull off this joint. The owners are husband and wife team Viv and Jacinta Dhir, with her father Rob Pullens.

And it’s full – which seems typical of this place every time I’ve walked past – of chattering, laughing, relaxed locals and families.

Inside, a large mural spans the wall, depicting a cowboy on a horse; and coloured chairs fill the dimly lit room.

Tequila n Tacos. Photo: Tara Nash

We opt for a spot out the front, right on the street, and pore over the menu that offers all your traditional Tex-Mex style choices.

The busy staff thank us for our order with a smile at the counter, and aside from giving us our meals, they leave us to ourselves.

To kick things off, choose from bontanas, or snacks, entremeses, or appetisers, with jalapeno poppers, potato skins, dips and more.

I can’t pass on the tostaditas ($7.50), which end up being the highlight of the night. Three crispy tortillas arrive, layered with cheddar and chipotle mayo. You have a choice of meats or beans – we choose pork – with salsas. It’s not the most elegant dish on a date, with juices dripping down my arms as I tuck into this incredibly tender, delicious and messy dish.

Tequila n Tacos’ crispy tortillas. Photo: Tara Nash

For the mains, choose from chef’s specials, salads, and comidas with ribs, grilled chicken, and all those lovely Spanish words rhyming with “adas”: fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos and your chimichangas (deep-fried filled tortilla).

Tacos take my fancy ($10), with a choice of soft flour tortilla or hard shell corn tortilla, and a range of meats.
I pick braised beef, topped with lettuce, pico de gallo (fresh salsa) and cheese. “Extras?” the waiter asks, the question redundant – obviously I’m taking the gaucamole for $2.50 and sour cream for $1.50.
The tacos comes out very crispy and, while slightly more dry than our entrees, the tried
and tested combo of flavours delivers.

And while our Cheap Eats meals are under $20, if you’re happy to splurge a little more, try steak, the Mexican way ($26). What arrives is a 300g porterhouse steak with beetroot puree, lime rice and coleslaw, which seems an unusual combo to me. The unexpected flavours and colours I find a bit offputting at first.

But the dish works. The steak is cooked with citrus and spicy flavours, and while it’s a tad overdone for a medium-rare steak, the rice, coleslaw and puree work very well together. The puree’s flavour is more subtle than its bold colour, which I’m pleased about.

We polish our meals off with a jug of sangria (when in Mexico, or so the saying
goes) then take the short stroll to the beach.

Tequila n Tacos

WHERE: 1/7 Gawler St, Port Noarlunga, 8186 1944

OWNERS: Viv and Jacinta Dhir and Rob Pullens

CHEF: Viv Dhir

FOOD: Mexican

P RICE: $6-$26

DRINKS: Full bar service

OPEN: Monday-Tuesday: 5pm-9pm, Wednesday-Sunday: noon-9pm

A TMOSPHERE: Mexican fiesta

CROWD: Families, casual catch ups

TRY: Chimichangas

SCORE 7/10