Let's Taco 'Bout Sydney’s Must-Try Mexican Restaurants
We’ve rounded up the best Mexican eateries in Sydney for you to try.
Sydney's Best Mexican (Instagram)
There are few cuisines loved by Aussie foodies as much as Mexican. Vibrant, flavoursome, and steeped in tradition, Mexican food has fast become a major player in Sydney’s culinary scene.
While Tex-Mex – think fast food outlets like Taco Bell and Guzman y Gomez - has been the standard fare for decades, times are changing as food lovers seek authentic Mexican, something Sydney has in spades.
Whether you’re a fiend for burritos, enjoy breakfast chilaquiles, or don’t mind getting messy stuffing your face with a plate of nachos, we’ve rounded up the best Mexican eateries in Sydney for you to try.
St. Alma
Housed in what was once a Bendigo Bank, St. Alma is the little sister of the popular Sydney eatery Alma. Open and airy, the building is as inviting as the food, with St. Alma serving delectable Mexican dishes with a modern twist.
Highlights include the barramundi taco with guacamole, coleslaw, and chipotle aioli, and the agave beef short ribs with grilled cos, pickled carrots, and handmade tortillas.
It's not just the food that’s impressive, with the folks behind St. Alma taking great pride in the restaurant’s diverse drinks menu comprised of six unique Margarita mixes, a host of colourful cocktails, and an extensive collection of tequila and mezcal to rival any bar in Sydney.
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Address: 20 Albert St, Freshwater
Website: St. Alma
Calita
Mexican fans who love seafood will be all about Calita. This Bondi restaurant has a menu inspired by Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, specialising in tacos and botanas (Spanish for “snack”).
The small menu uses locally sourced produce and features dishes such as crispy calamari botanas with paprika, fresh dill, jalapeno and tartar sauce, fish and chips with jalapeno, tartar sauce and chives and mushroom quesadillas with adobo, epazote and Oaxaca cheese.
The drinks list is solid, with a selection of tequilas, cocktails, and Mexican beers available to quench your thirst. Get down midweek for Beachside Taco Wednesday and enjoy a range of tacos for just $6 each. Bargain!
Address: 226 Campbell Pde, Bondi Beach
Website: Calita
Bad Hombres
If eating meat doesn’t take your fancy, then this Mexican diner is right up your alley.
Bad Hombres is hands down the best plant-based Mexican in Sydney where you can indulge in a selection of vege tacos and wash them down with a natural wine or homemade cocktail (our pick is the Izamal Tour made using gingerbread-infused Mescal).
Bad Hombres has several themed nights where you can enjoy three tacos for $15 (Taco Tuesday) and $13 Margaritas (Tequila Thursday).
Address: 40 Reservoir St, Surrey Hills
Website: Bad Hombres
Nativo
This hole-in-the-wall Mexican Taqueria is the brainchild of Oaxaca-born chef Manuel Diaz.
Small in both menu and size (it seats just 14 people), this casual dining spot has a selection of tacos and other snacks made using Australian ingredients and inspired by traditional Mexican recipes, with the Zarandeado octopus (Tasmanian octopus, chimichurri, confit onions and potato) a must try.
Address: Shop 6, 54-55 Harris St, Pyrmont
Website: Nativo
Esteban
Esteban is a romantic laneway restaurant from the team behind Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird.
Sharing is caring here, with tapas-style dishes representing all corners of Mexico’s diverse food culture.
The best way to experience Esteban is the $105pp Chef’s Menu that encompasses four courses and incorporates a tasty Tasmanian salmon ceviche taco, 700g NSW lamb shoulder, wood friend broccolini and Tres Leches cake with ice cream.
Address: 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney
Website: Esteban
Checho’s
Penrith’s Checho’s is contemporary Mexican in a lively and open space that first opened in 2020 and has fast become a local hot spot.
$10 tacos are at the top of Checho’s best bites while an array of sharing plates showcase dishes such as pan-seared scallops, chargrilled lamb and Wagyu flank steak with red miso, ancho chilli, chipotle butter, crispy onion and lime cheek.
Once the food service is finished, Checho’s turns into a late-night watering hole with a young crowd enjoying wine, beer, tequila, mezcal, and a scrumptious cocktail list.
Address: Shop 1/396 High St, Penrith
Website: Checho’s
Sonora Mexican
The folks behind Bondi’s Taqiz, Carbon, La Palma, and Calita have come together for another awesome venture: the high-end Mexican restaurant Sonora.
Taking inspiration from the coastal state of Sonora – where flour tortillas are preferred over corn – this eatery is all about big flavours and mezcal, with one of the largest selections of the spirit in Sydney.
We highly recommend giving the Bottomless Fiesta a crack one weekend where for $89pp you can chow down on all-you-can-eat tacos and salsas and get loaded on unlimited margaritas, Tecate beers and rose for 1.5 hours.
Address: 1/37-41 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point
Website: Sonora Mexican
El Loco
Part of the ever-expanding Merivale empire, El Loco is a Surrey Hills cantina with tasty tacos, cheesy quesadillas and over 100 types of tequila and mezcal to choose from.
Beef, chicken, fish, and veggie tacos are on the menu (we recommend the smoked Wagyu beef brisket taco), along with El Loco’s secret taco with a surprise filling.
If it’s date night, try the D.I.Y. taco platters where you are provided with all the essentials and can choose from eggplant or beef top sirloin and make your tacos at your table.
Address: 64 Foveaux St, Surrey Hills
Website: El Loco
Rico’s Tacos
Almost everything is handmade at Rico’s Tacos, a Redfern highlight where you can enjoy botanas, tacos, and tostadas while sipping on a chilled tequila in a welcoming setting.
This food truck turned restaurant has a club above, so once you’ve done eating head upstairs for more drinks and a boogie.
If you’re after something different from your standard taco or burrito, visit on a Wednesday for Tortas and Tinnies and try their beef, chicken or fish tortas (“Mexican burgers”) accompanied by a range of Mexican cervezas.
Address: 305 Cleveland St, Redfern
Website: Rico’s Tacos
Flying Fajita Sistas
Chef and owner Joe Slakey has been serving up delicious grub with a European flare at one of Sydney’s original Mexican joints longer than most.
Long before Mexican cuisine became the talk of the town, Flying Fajita Sistas has been hawking panko prawn tacos, jackfruit enchiladas, and lime and herb chicken fajitas to local foodies for 15 years.
Portions are generous and prices are more than reasonable, with Flying Fajita Sistas a Sydney institution that deserves repeat visits.
Address: 65 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Website: Flying Fajita Sistas
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