Disco balls, dancing and a delish opening special sanga at Ricos Tacos in Redfern
Mexican restaurant Ricos Tacos has reopened as a taqueria and bar at The Norfolk Hotel in Redfern. And it’s set to be one of Sydney’s most fun spots this summer.
Mexican restaurant Ricos Tacos reopened as a 200-seat taqueria and bar at The Norfolk Hotel in Redfern at the weekend, with a limited edition al pastor sandwich to celebrate.
The two-storey venue is the largest yet for Ricos, a far-cry from its start as a COVID-era food truck. There’s a lush, fairy-lit beer garden; bright hand-painted murals by Mike Delaney; and an upstairs bar with a giant, customised disco ball inspired by the Mexican football culture of the 1960s.
“The idea is that you sit outside and have a casual meal, then go upstairs for a bit of a boogie,” says owner and chef Toby Wilson, who drew inspiration from bars and cantinas in Guadalajara.
The $19 toasted sandwich opening special, available until Friday (unless sold out earlier), is a collaboration with new neighbours Good Ways Deli, and features juicy roast pork, adobo jam, pineapple, green salsa and cheese on a ciabatta bun.
It’s one of many specials popping up at Ricos over the following weeks, including $20 ‘tortas and tinnies’ on Wednesdays, and ‘Sunday asada’, when the chefs will charcoal grill meat and vegetables in the courtyard.
The everyday menu features old favourites like the al pastor taco, fish taco, and twice-fried hash browns, as well as additions like hamburguesas (burgers), coconut lime ceviche and a spiced chocolate ice-cream sandwich. For drinks, there’s a tight selection of Mexican staples such as palomas, margaritas and tequila.
The evolution of the Ricos Tacos brand from one-man-band to multi-storey dining experiences comes following Wilson’s partnership with Sydney hospitality group Public.
“We agreed to work with each other within a couple of days of meeting because it just made sense for both of us,” Wilson explains.
“[The partnership] gave me the resources and the space and the staff to create this experience.”
Despite the acquisition, Wilson remains at the creative and culinary helm of Ricos Tacos.
“Public brought us on because they like what we do and how we’re different from other taco brands in this space, and they have put a lot of trust in us to take on the space and keep delivering what people like about us,” he says.
Ricos Tacos
Open lunch and dinner Wed-Sun
305 Cleveland Street, Redfern; ricostacos.com.au
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Bianca Hrovat – Bianca is Good Food's Sydney-based reporter.