Where to find Victoria’s best Mexican restaurants
FLYING duck tacos, braised beef tostaditas and the city’s best nachos — add these Mexican restaurants to your must-eats bucket list.
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IF YOU thought the Mexican wave was over, think again.
Melburnians are still as taco loco as ever.
Our love affair with lime, margaritas and guacamole is so strong, in fact, that southern-inspired fresh-Mex comedors are becoming the new suburban staple.
MELBOURNE’S BEST SOUTH AMERICAN RESTAURANTS
MUST-EAT DISHES IN MELBOURNE THIS YEAR
So ubiquitous is the sour cream and salsa-loaded cuisine that a future where every suburb has its own Mexican restaurant (as well as a trendy cafe, wine bar, Thai restaurant, Indian joint, pizza place and pub) is so close we can almost taste it.
Because every Melburnian should be able to Margarita Monday, Taco Tuesday, Guac Wednesday, Cerveza Saturday and Sangria Sunday from the comfort and convenience of somewhere within a 5km radius of their home.
And we live for that day.
VICTORIA’S BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANTS
CITY
55 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
What’s more Melbourne than a modern Mexican restaurant? An underground Mexican bodega with a 100 per cent small-batch agave list featuring more than 60 bottles of mezcal and 20-plus bottles of tequila.
Try: Their fried sweet potato and pickled beetroot tacos with matched mezcal. You won’t regret it.
233 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Mexican restaurant and agave-based cocktail bar with a share-style menu and all the tacos. Try: Go for the queso flameado (“molten smoked Mexican cheese, spicy chorizo, tortilla chips, guacamole”), the octopus tacos and the Mexican fried chicken wings. What a feast.
Level 6, Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Get around the braised beef cheek and chipotle jackfruit tacos (they are two separate tacos, for the record) at this city Mexican palace. Or be adventurous and try the wallaby loin tartare with freekeh, horseradish, black garlic aoli and blue corn tortilla.
11 Collins St, Melbourne
One of the originals and still one of the best. Try: Mole chicken, braised beef tostaditas and, if you’re feeling adventurous, some tongue tacos. Yep, you read right.
WEST
30 Ballarat St, Yarraville
Triple Taco Tuesdays at the Village are what we live for. Try: The chargrilled octopus taco with guacamole, corn salsa, pico de gallo and red cabbage topped with house chipotle aioli.
72 Stubbs St, Kensington
Artisan Mexican wholesaler and eatery dishing up authentic homemade tortillas and totopos (tortilla chips) made from Australian-grown corn in the traditional Aztec method. So yeah, I guess you could say they’re the real deal. Try: The corn-battered barramundi tacos with jalapeño may and slaw. PSA: The menu at this Kensington kitchen is totally gluten-free.
128 Mitchell St, Maidstone
A little slice of Mexico in Maidstone. Don’t miss the flaming beef fajitas.
85 Peel St, West Melbourne
Yes way, Jose. And yes way to hand-pressed tortillas topped with slow-cooked beef, chipotle cream, jalapeños and Jose’s secret green sauce that is almost too delicious to tell you about. Also, did we mention churros?
NORTH
307 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Asian-style tacos. Now we’ve heard of everything. Think: Korean fried chicken tacos with slaw, sriracha mayo, gochujang sauce, pickled ginger and fresh herbs, four-hour roast duck tacos with hoisin, slaw, sriracha mayo, cucumber, spring onion and shallots, satay chicken tacos with Thai coconut chilli or even tempura barramundi tacos. That’s some seriously tasty Mexi-sion.
MORE: MELBOURNE’S BEST FOOD MASH UPS
339 Victoria St, Brunswick
Late-night taqueria dishing up delish Mexican until the wee hours. Try: The ensalata de nopales (marinated cactus salad) and the sopes (chicken, zucchini or mushrooms on a handmade maize base layered with refried beans, cheese and finished with homemade salsa).
219 High St, Preston
What started out as a passion for creating products that gave people a taste of authentic global flavours has grown into a thriving wholesale salsa business, cafe and retail store. Try: The chicken burrito bowl or Mexican mole.
41 Anderson St, Templestowe | 695-697 Whitehorse Rd, Mitcham | 599 High St, Northcote
Contemporary flavours and seasonal produce come together to create a menu that is fresh, hearty and full of deliciousness. Try: Beef Colorado (tender pieces of slow-cooked beef with ground spices and onion, served with frijoles, Mexican rice and two flour tortillas).
EAST
838 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn | 4-7 Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda
When a menu features popcorn cauliflower, jalapeño poppers and pulled jackfruit tacos, you know you’re in for an interesting night out.
174 Smith St, Collingwood
If you like Mamasita, you’ll love its northside little brother, Hotel Jesus. Dishing up some of the city’s freshest Mexican fare, this 70s-style Mexi-themed diner offers vibrant, tangy and traditional flavours with a modern twist. Try: The authentic, Verucrus-style brisket mole (slow-cooked beef in a spicy chocolate sauce). The pork quesadillas and green chorizo tacos also come highly recommended.
Collingwood | Windsor | Flinders Lane | Hawthorn | Richmond | Chadstone | Knox
Laid-back Mexican cantina with a focus on fresh, simple food that is made with love. Try: The chopped beef burrito.
2/4 Cremorne St, Cremorne
One of the latest additions to Cremorne’s sizzling food scene. This casual eatery with a seriously cool fit-out is one of the picks of the Cremorne restaurant bunch. And trust us, you won’t want to miss the nachos with pulled pork. It’s a big call — but we reckon they’re the best you’ll find, anywhere.
175 Waverley Rd, Mount Waverley | 141 Nepean Hwy, Aspendale
This family-friendly Mexican restaurant has been bringing Tex-Mex to the ‘burbs since 1980. Try: The buffalo wings, sizzling fajitas and flautas.
19/163 Boronia Rd, Boronia | 72 Maroondah Hwy, Croydon
An unfussy and unpretentious Mexican restaurant run by a bunch of people who just really love Mexican tucker. The slow-cooked ranchero fajitas and Mexican potato skins filled with chile con carne are a local fave.
Town Square, Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood | 1/500 Bourke St, Melbourne
When it comes to freakin’ yummy food, Spanish chef George Camorra (of Movida acclaim) has the Midas touch. His Mexican-inspired street-food venture is no exception. Try: The BBQ corn and 14-hour slow-cooked pork shoulder taco with peanut mole, pineapple and kohlrabi. So. Much. Yum.
14 Main St Upwey, Melbourne
Started by Yarra Valley chef Dave Walsh as a way to celebrate his love of global cuisine, this food-truck-come-kitchen takes its flavour inspirations from everywhere from Italy and Africa to Pakistan and Mexico. Try: The 14-hour beef brisket burger with smoky tomato and chimichurri.
SOUTH
Brighton | South Yarra | Fitzroy
Vibrant kitchen and bar dishing up classic, Mexican hits (and it won’t break the bank).Try: the fish burrito.
6 Acland St, St Kilda | 234 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Vegetarian Mexican street food, at its finest. Try: The original burrito and black bean quesadillas are a real treat.
2 Acland St, St Kilda
A restaurant, bar and late-night haunt dishing up Tex-Mex style cuisine from the ambient Prince of Wales underground. Try: The red mole-braised beef brisket and braised lamb and three-cheese enchiladas.
193 Carlisle St, Balaclava
Eat, drink, love, taco. That’s the catchphrase for this Balaclava belle, and we totally dig it. What’s not to love about eating baja, brisket or grilled prawn tacos and washing them down with a refreshing imported cerveza. Exactly, nothing. Plus, three-for-two taco Tuesdays. Get around it.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH’S FAVOURITE ST KILDA CAFE
11-13 Carlisle St, St Kilda
Authentic Mexican flavours, made the Melbourne way. If you haven’t tried their cactus and black bean quesadillas made with blue corn tortillas, you haven’t lived.
92B Acland St, St Kilda | 75 Hardware Ln, Melbourne | 7/478 Chapel St, South Yarra
Established in 1981, and currently located in three of the most popular and eclectic dining districts in Melbourne, Amigos is all about warm hospitality and authentic cuisine made for the Melbourne crowd. Try: The stuffed jalapeños and shredded beef enchiladas. Oh yeah.
South Melbourne Market, Cecil St, South Melbourne
An honest Mexican-inspired all-day eatery in the heart of South Melbourne’s market precinct. Kick off the AM with a hearty breakfast burrito, or wind down with some street food and Mexican beer. Try: The tempura zucchini tacos and slow-cooked pork quesadillas.
2 Railway Parade, Highett
Being right opposite Highett train station makes this the ideal spot for a post work taco feast. It’s authentic approach to Mexican cuisine is probably why this place has been going gangbusters since it opened in April last year. Try: The pork belly tacos are pretty special. Or, if you’re in the mood for sharing, start with some corn on the cob and a couple of tostadas, then grab the lamb barbacoa — slow-cooked lamb served in a banana leaf with cactus salad, guac, lime, herbs and salsa for some DIY taco action.
260 Centre Rd, Bentleigh
We’re all about the chicken chimichangas (basically a deep-fried burrito) from this Bentleigh beauty. And not just because it’s fun to say — but fun to eat, as well.
OUT OF TOWN
25 Main St, Mornington
You don’t get named a Finalist in the Peninsula Business Awards for nothing. And when your food is this tempting, it’s not hard to understand why Mi Mexiko is kicking serious restaurant goals. Get a gobful of their ceviche and crispy pork belly tacos.
Ground Floor 8/12 Seymour St, Traralgon
If you’ve been craving quick, fresh, tasty Mexican-style street food, Arriba is where it’s at. Try: The loaded totopos — crispy corn chips topped with succulent beef, chicken or pork, black beans, guacamole and house-made pico de gallo.
66 Pall Mall, Bendigo
If this was a game of Monopoly, you’d definitely want to land on Pall Mall. Apparently life really does imitate board games so why not take the green card and treat yourself to a night at Pall Mall’s newest Mexican madhouse. Try: The Chic Chic Boom chicken — fiery hot and fried to perfection. The Back Alley Lamb Ribs are also mouthwateringly good.
2201-2209 Point Nepean Rd, Rye
Tacos and live music — that’s got to be one of the ultimate sensory combinations. Established in 2006, Baha is coastal taco institution. Try: It’s always hard to go past the chimichangas. And if you like your Mexican food spicy — get into their Hall of Flame for by attempting their chilli beef burrito challenge. It’s been nice knowing you.
115 Ryrie Street, Geelong | 1A Grove Rd, Lorne
This mod-Mex joint is one of the latest to join Geelong’s star-studded restaurant scene. Get around the pulled pork tacos and asparagus quesadillas.
54 Moorabool St, Geelong
Mexican street food that is simple, fuss-free and made to be shared. Try: All of the tacos.
HAVE WE MISSED ANYTHING? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
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