Casuarina’s Burrito Bar could be the first of many in Top End

Mexican restaurants are the go in Darwin, with another franchise opening its doors. Read what and where.

Darwin is fast becoming the Tijuana of the north with another Mexican restaurant opening its doors - only this time with a twist.

Just two months after Guzman Y Gomez opened its new Stuart Park restaurant, new franchise Burrito Bar has opened a new restaurant at the Corporate on 289 building at Casuarina Village on Trower Road.

It will be the 45th Burrito Bar in Australia after it first launched in Queensland seven years ago with new stores following in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT.

For Burrito Bar franchise owner Vikram Kosaraju, the Darwin store opening was a long-time coming.

Plans to open a restaurant at Casuarina Square were thwarted when Covid-19 kicked in, but the change of plan allowed him a chance to reset.

Burrito Bar at the Village Shopping Centre Casuarina, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

This time he opted for Trower Road street frontage with rear access for a drive-thru restaurant and a liquor license for dine-in customers.

“We did the designs, everything was done and then Covid hit and we had to stop,” Mr Kosaraju.

“It wasn’t the worst thing. Anytime drive-thrus are always the option to go and we welcomed the chance to have street frontage.”

Burrito Bar describes its food as new wave, street-style Mexican, combining fresh Mexican favorites with chilled desert options for a hot city.

Foods inlcude burritos, nachos, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, wings, ribs, grills and salads as well as deserts including waffles, brownies, chocolate nachos and churros as well as as a range of sundaes, milkshakes nand ice creams.

Nihanth P.V.S from the Burrito Bar drive thru at the Village Shopping Centre. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The fully licensed venue will also offer signature margaritas and cocktails as well as a range of local and imported beers, wines and spirits.

Between 30 and 40 locals will be employed at the business as well as the indirect benefits delivered to other small businesses including suppliers and contractors.

Mr Kosaraju said Burrito Bar opened in the United States in 2011 and was first franchised in 2013 inspired by the streets of San Francisco with its blend of traditional Mexican street food.

He said the brand survived Covid unscathed and hoped to open two more outlets including one around Palmerston and Coolalinga.

The company aims to have over 50 stores nationally within the next five years.

“Burrito Bar will be supporting the local community on an ongoing basis and in particular, they are already collaborating with numerous charities and not-for-profit’s to make sure the

community can fully benefit from its operation,” he said.

It seems the Darwin region can’t get enough of Mexican fare, with other options including a second Guzman Y Gomez at Bakewell, Hot Tamale restaurant at the Darwin waterfront, Zambrero in Mitchell Street and long-time favourite, Prickles Mexican at Parap.