Considering the geographical barriers between Australia and Mexico, Sydney has come an impressively long way from its Taco Bill days. Hat tip to the ever-increasing availability of North American ingredients and street food documentaries on Netflix.
From taco joints to fine diners, we’ve put together a list of our fave Sydney Mexican restaurants, for when 24 hours in transit is just too much.
sydney mexican restaurants to try...
01
Comedor
Location: 128 Australia St, Newtown
Situated in a freshly refurbed Newtown warehouse, Comedor—that’s Spanish for “dining room”—has nary a nacho in sight. Mexican-born chef Alejandro Huerta’s modern menu is guided by time at Noma, Copenhagen, and Pujol in Mexico City. Think charred sugarloaf cabbage with ancho chilli chutney, or a 25-ingredient red mole. The exposed brick and cathedral-style ceiling in the dining room, which is built around the open kitchen, is a stunner, too.
02
Ricos Tacos
Location: 305 Cleveland St, Redfern
There’s something quintessentially “Sydney” about Rico’s Tacos, a food truck-turned-taqueria that’s now shacked up at Redfern’s Norfolk Hotel. The 100-year-old courtyard has given way to bright yellow folding chairs and plastic plates stacked with soft, warm tortillas, while the drinks list has a lot more tequila. Chef Toby Wilson’s signature taco al pastor—with rotisserie pork shaved to order, a slice of pineapple and salsa verde—is a must.
03
Tamaleria & Mexican Deli
Location: 463 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill
This unassuming Marrickville Road takeaway joint is an homage to chef and owner Rosa Cienfuegos’s homeland, Mexico City. Her tamales — masa flour parcels stuffed with meat, cheese and salsa—race out the door at $10 each, while $5 “Taco Tuesdays” draw crowds. The “tamaleria” is also part grocery store, so stock up on Mexican ingredients for home.
04
El Loco at Slip Inn
Locations: 111 Sussex St, Sydney & Excelsior Hotel, 64 Foveaux St, Surry Hills
With its sunken beer garden decked out in colourful bunting, potted palms and teal paintwork, Merivale’s Mexican pub is a great spot for after work drinks. Okay, $16 margs from 5–7pm weekdays don’t hurt either. With a menu of loaded nachos, “DIY” taco plates and hot wings, this crowd-pleaser is more Cali-Tex than Mexican, but it’s still a bucket of fun. Because it’s the pub where Tasmania’s Mary Donaldson (aka: the current Queen of Denmark) met her royal husband-to-be, they serve a Danish-style hotdog, too.
There’s also a second location at Surry Hills’ Excelsior Hotel.
05
El Primo Sanchez
Location: 27-33 Oxford St, Paddington
Staying with the Mexican pub trend, the Maybe Sammy team brings 1980s Mexico City vibes to the old Rose Hotel on Oxford Street with El Primo Sanchez. They’re serving up DJs and disco balls (plural) alongside a slick menu of punchy street food from head chef Diego Sotelo, who recently took over from Alejandro Huerta (of Comedor, see above). The beef barbacoa taco is juicy, the tuna tostadas generous and the nachos are available until 1am. It’s as raucously loud as one would expect from a pub with free karaoke, and we love it.
06
Estaban
Location: 27-33 Oxford St, Paddington
This two-hatted Mexican restaurant is cooking with fire, literally, with a custom-made parilla and vertical gyro grill (for tacos al pastor) at the heart of the open kitchen. Keep it casual in the basement mescal bar or go all out in the moody timber-clad dining room. Corn tortillas are made in house daily, while steaks are served with chipotle butter. On the drinks list, tinnies of Tecate and choose your-own-adventure margaritas. On the rocks with a salt rim over here, thanks.
Enjoyed Cosmo’s wrap of Sydney Mexican restaurants? Check out more of our recs below.
