From sizzling fajitas to tangy salsas and fiery chillies, Melbourne’s Mexican restaurants deliver an explosion of flavours time and time again. Flavours that might even have you forgetting how much a flight to Mexico City or Cancún will cost you from Australia. Oh well, at least these vibrant and authentic eateries are bringing the taste of Mexico to you, adorned with colourful décor and a lively ambience… and plenty of margaritas to boot. Every bite is a fiesta for your senses, so without further preamble, let’s dive right into Melbourne’s favourite Mexican restaurants.
1. Mamasita
Mamasita is a true gastronomic haven – for instance, how many Mexican restaurants have you encountered with ox tongue tacos on the menu? Inventive cooking fused with modern Mexican recipes results in an enviable selection of food, with the sublime corn elote regarded as an absolute must-try. Accompany your meal with their vast selection of rare mezcals, tequila, and innovative cocktails, such as the Border Old Fashioned (bourbon, tequila, and smoked grapefruit bitters), and you’ll be one happy diner.
📍Level 1/11 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
2. Bodega Underground
Step off Little Bourke Street and into a dimly-lit Mexican restaurant with a high-wattage menu. CBD spot Bodega Underground boasts an inviting atmosphere and a menu overflowing with totopos, tacos, and lamb ribs with mole amarillo. Handily, their food is 100% gluten-free, and the menu is very vegan-friendly, so it’s an excellent option for all diets – especially when you consider their tempting bottomless brunch, which runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The restaurant’s excellent cocktail menu puts a neat spin on classic cocktails, such as the ‘Espresso Martinez’, and you just know their mezcal and tequila selections are going to be on point. One word of warning though: it’s a good idea to book in advance, as this popular spot fills up quickly.
📍55 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
3. Mejico
Mejico landed in Melbourne’s Mexican dining landscape in 2020, making it easily one of the best things to come out of that cursed year. The Sydney sister site has been serving since 2013, and they claim to have the largest selection of tequila and mezcal in all of Australia. So, it’s well worth investigating! A visit here allows you to experience the interactive preparation of their famous table-smashed guacamole, bursting with freshness and flavour, whilst the soft-shell crab tacos offer a sensory explosion of succulent seafood and crispy textures.
📍1 Pink Alley, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
4. Amigos Hardware Lane
Melbourne’s quintessential laneway dining experience meets the vibrant and artfully presented dishes of Amigos Hardware Lane. Start your dinner with a sizzling plate of chicken fajitas, expertly cooked and impeccably seasoned, accompanied by a delightful array of traditional accompaniments. For drinks, a jug of sangria wouldn’t go amiss, especially on a warm summer’s night – in winter, meanwhile, the basement dining area might be more suitable, especially since you can watch the workings of the open kitchen whilst you wait.
📍75-77 Hardware Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
5. Mesa Verde
Make your way to the sixth floor of Curtain House and prepare for a fiesta of flavours at Mesa Verde, where the influence of Australian produce encounters the rich traditions of Mexican cooking. That surprising fusion of Australia and Mexico results in dishes such as tender kangaroo, perfectly marinated, and the irresistible grilled corn that’s the hallmark of any great Mexican street market. All in all, it’s a delightful symphony of textures and aromas, and we’d definitely recommend that you pair your meal with their exceptional margaritas, crafted to perfection.
📍Level 6, Curtain House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
6. Hello José
A prime spot opposite Queen Victoria Market makes Hello José an excellent spot to escape the crowds, especially if you snag a seat in their outdoor courtyard (AKA the ‘Cerveza Garden’), designed to keep you snug even on chilly winter evenings. This colourfully-decorated restaurant stands out in more ways than one; aside from the flags, string lights, and eye-catching artwork, Hello José makes their own authentic hand-pressed tortillas. That’s an essential part of arguably their standout dish, the Ceviche Tostadita, although their churros, coated generously in sugar and accompanied by a heavenly caramel dipping sauce, also score highly in our books. Oh, and that’s before we even to mention their lively Boozy Brunches, perfect for starting your weekend on a high note.
📍85 Peel St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, Australia
7. Village Cantina
Village Cantina, with branches in both Yarraville and Werribee, is an absolute winner for fresh, flavourful tacos and expertly cooked burritos. No surprise, since the owner founded Village Cantina after travelling extensively through central America. The restaurant offers a winsome combination of top-notch service, exceptional food, and tantalizing cocktails, highlighted by the irresistibly spicy chili margs. Speaking of spice, their three types of sauces, including the fiery ghost chili, will add an exciting kick to your dishes – if you can handle it, of course. It’s a sizzlingly good addition to Melbourne’s vibrant food scene in our book.
📍30 Ballarat St, Yarraville VIC 3013, Australia