Remember when Mexican food consisted of a box of hard-shelled tacos, a block of cheddar, and a spice packet?
We've progressed since then. Melbourne's next-generation cantinas not only import the unique chiles, maize varieties, and other ingredients required to prepare real Mexican meals, but they also have the cocktails to match. So, order a few rounds of tacos or tostadas and pair them with a michelada, tequila, or mezcal.
When you have a craving for Mexican food, the selection of Mexican restaurants in Melbourne might be rather daunting. Fortunately for you, we've identified the best places to satisfy your taco needs while also getting the party started with some tequila cocktails. Continue reading to uncover the best Mexican restaurants Melbourne has to offer.
Something about Mexican food immediately takes you. The smokiness, crunch, lime, avocado, chilli, and coriander are all present. Simply said, it is everything.
The Best 20 Melbourne Mexican Restaurants
Mexican food is unlike anything else on the menu. Its varied cuisine and regional specialities have won over our hearts and tummies.
The romance of Mexican cuisine may be seen in the inclusion of pico de gallo, a fresh and bright salsa, atop tacos filled with slow-cooked beef.
Here is a list of the greatest Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, so kick back with ice cold and relax.
Mamasita
CBD
If lunch queues spend an hour at Mamasita in the Central Business District are any indication, this Mexican restaurant is the greatest in town. A few years ago, these guys raced into Melbourne on the coattails of an upswing in hip Mexican eateries. Their braised prawn tacos, mojo chicken tostadas, and bbq octopus are still among the best in the city.
And, you can't possibly leave without buying a drink for yourself. We'll have the Paloma with salted grapefruit.
Mamasita, a Mexican restaurant in Melbourne, has been open since 2010, and its dedication to serving authentic Mexican food has only grown since then.
The menu is always evolving as chefs play with regional flavours and seasonal ingredients to create new and interesting dishes. They even have a Mezcalier on staff who can answer any questions you might have about tequila or other agave-based drinks.
When it comes to authentic Mexican food, Mamasita, one of Melbourne's first taquerias, is still the best. The rockling ceviche with aji panca, fennel, pomelo, and river mint, the mushroom tostadas with poblano, huitlacoche, and cotija, and the lengua tacos with braised ox tongue, arbol salsa, and crema are all excellent places to start exploring the varied menu.
Mesa Verde
CBD
A new tequila bar and kitchen serving Mexican cuisine have opened up at Curtin House on Swanston Street. Mesa Verde's pork carnitas tacos, kingfish ceviche tostada, and Mexican mushroom quesadillas have propelled them to the forefront of Melbourne's Mexican dining scene.
They boast a 10-page drink menu in addition to their gourmet food menu, with beverages like the Ghost Face Killer chilli margarita and the Frida Kahlo cocktail, as well as tequila and sangria jugs, and bottle service with limitless drinks.
Mesa Verde, a restaurant known for its daring and originality, serves authentic Mexican cuisine and has one of the greatest collections of tequila and mezcal in all of Australia. Add some of their "Hazard sauce" to any dish if you like things spicy; it will reduce even the toughest men to tears. On Fridays and Saturdays, there are live DJs and a lively crowd.
Little Hop
FITZROY
The red storefront of Little Hop, a popular taco shop in the Fitzroy neighbourhood, is a constant hub of activity.
You'll be arms-length apart with other customers as you chow down on their legendary fish tacos and sip on your specialty cocktails in the restaurant's intimate, candle-lit confines. They also stock a wide variety of excellent craft beers in cans and on tap.
Hello José
WEST MELBOURNE
Hello José, tucked away on the periphery of the fresh fruit and 1D memorabilia hotspot that is shopping at the market is now more than just buying hot jelly doughnuts and cheap imitation shoes, thanks to Queen Vic Market. Despite the limited size of the menu, you won't want to waste another minute thinking about Old El Paso soft taco packs.
You may stuff your tacos with seven different options, including chipotle chicken wings, chargrilled corn, tostadas, and churros. Hello, Jose was created by two roommates who took a trip to Mexico and were inspired by the country's hospitable culture, especially its delicious tacos and a never-ending supply of tequila.
It's easy to forget about your troubles over a few margaritas, some delicious Mexican food, and good company in this laid-back setting. If you're looking for some free entertainment on Tuesdays, you should check this place out.
Taquito
CARLTON
Taquito was slow to get off the ground, but now it serves some of the finest Mexican cuisines outside of the city. Authenticity is of utmost importance to Mexican owner, Alec Villarreal and the chef Paul Clarke, from New Zealand, who together will lead you on a gastronomical tour that includes Mexico City and other cities.
The humble tortilla is the star of the show when it comes to Mexican cuisine. Taquito is one of the only places in Melbourne to manufacture its own flat, circular bread, which is the foundation of many traditional Mexican recipes. Also on the list is La Tortilleria, which serves them; however, with as many Mexican restaurants as there are in this city, you might expect there to be more.
For example, the stone-ground gluten-free corn tortillas at this quaint Carlton restaurant are dressed to perfection, demonstrating how much better Mexican food is when the dimension is prioritised alongside texture and flavour.
You may choose from a variety of ingredients, like crispy skin chicken chicharron, Baja style crispy fish, slow-cooked pig hock, and camomile baked sweet potato, all stuffed into precisely proportioned tacos. To limit oneself to tacos would be a mistake, as the menu also features kangaroo tartare on a blue corn tostada with leek cream and preserved egg yolk, as well as eggplant barbacoa with pineapple salsa and Mexican rice.
Bodega Underground
CBD
The staff at Bodega Underground have previously worked in the hospitality industry at illustrious establishments like Hawker Hall and Royal Saxon, so you know you're in good hands.
Enjoy the finest of Mexico's (and booze-filled Mexico's) tradition in Bodega's hip underground space with a plate of tacos and a glass of tequila. Not to mention, their tacos at 3 in the morning are the best in town.
If you're craving Mexican food in Melbourne, look no further than this hidden gem. As the name implies, Bodega Underground is located underground. It has everything you need to make octopus tacos, sweet and spicy pig carnitas, prawn ceviche, and totopos with guacamole, among other traditional Mexican dishes. The 70 mezcals and 20 tequilas on the walls are a nice touch as well.
Los Hermanos
BRUNSWICK
Now, besides bargain tailoring, $5 tacos are luring people to Brunswick. You'll never feel so satisfied having spent so little as when eating at Los Hermanos, where tacos are $5 apiece and come stuffed with lamb, chicken, zucchini and green beans, potato, and eggs laced with Jalapeo. (You may then use that extra cash to buy tequila.)
Los Hermanos throws the best Mexican celebrations in town. If you're looking for a location to keep the party going or grab some late-night tacos, this is the one for you. You can't go wrong with a few dishes shared among friends and a few beers. It's one of the top Mexican restaurants in Melbourne and offers everything you'd expect from a genuine Taqueria.
Los Hermanos is the place to go for genuine Mexican cuisine served late into the night. Dishes like the slow-cooked leg of lamb served on an open tortilla, known as de barbacoa (if the name sounds familiar, it's because it's the origin of the phrase "barbeque"), are highlights.
Hotel Jesus
COLLINGWOOD
Those who enjoy Mamasita now have TWO PLACES to do so. Hotel Jesus is the younger sibling of the Mexican matriarch of the Central Business District. This tostaderia is in the midst of Smith Street, and it is well-known not just for its delicious food (such as the pork and pineapple tortillas and seafood-stuffed tacos) but also for its extensive drink menu (which includes tequila, mezcal, margaritas, and sangria on tap).
Part of the Mamasita family, Hotel Jesus features a lively and colourful decor with lots of care given to the ambience and, of course, the food! The food is authentic and basic, like a taqueria from the 1970s in Mexico. Spending the day or evening sampling the communal plates is time well spent. A taste of Mexico in the heart of Melbourne.
It's a no-frills Mexican bar and restaurant, so don't expect any fancy decor (think white and blue tiles and Coca-Cola signage), but the food is hearty and reasonably priced. The menu is extensive for such a little restaurant, so we suggest ordering "feed me," the chef's choice of some of the house's most popular meals meant for sharing.
South Of The Wall
CREMORNE
This continues to rank among our best-loved 2017 debuts. We fell in love with South Of The Wall because of their extensive margarita menu and the Donald Trump painting in the bright courtyard in the back. A great spot for company events, late-night tequila, and leisurely Saturday afternoons. The furnishings have a smidgen of a Tikki vibe about them. It's strange, but it seems to be working. The kingfish ceviche is highly recommended.
Bodriggy & Co
ABBOTSFORD
More "refined" than your average Mexican restaurant in Melbourne, the selection at Bodriggy & Co is extensive. If the word "tacos" makes you eye-roll when you see it on the menu at your typical bar, you won't have to worry about that here. Ceviche, if you're feeling sophisticated; cauliflower steak; and if you're really hungry, some luscious beef short rib. The ubiquitous tacos are also available. They're fantastic, by the way.
Radio Mexico
ST KILDA
One of the most exciting developments in St. Kilda cuisine is the combination of mobile cuisine and five-star service.
Radio Mexico has everything you want in a contemporary Mexican restaurant, with a list full of juicy authentic meals like chipotle tamarind pork ribs, spanner crab, corn and potato and chorizo quesadillas, and more. The carnitas tacos, which are little and topped with a crunchy cheese shell, also deserve praise.
The 'Carro de tacos' at Radio Mexico, a casual restaurant in Melbourne, is a nod to traditional Mexican food carts. Anyone may walk in, grab a menu, and have a drink and a taco or a large order of shared plates. If you need an additional reason to visit this bar on a Monday, consider the fact that Margaritas are half price.
Jalisco Mexican
WINDSOR
If you're looking for conventional, make a reservation at Jalisco Mexican. These guys offer street corn worth calling home for, stuffed jalapenos worth returning for, and fish tacos that will make you regret ever ordering nachos from Taco Bill on UberEATS.
La Tortilleria
KENSINGTON
Take it from us, La Tortilleria is the only restaurant in Australia to make its tortillas using a stone grinder. You can count on them to last. Possibly the best-kept secret in all of the Western civilisation can be found in this tiny boutique eatery on a residential street in Kensington.
Tacos from handcrafted tortillas are priced at $4.50 per on Tuesdays (or $5.50 for seafood tacos). Avoid falling into the same trap we appear to have done the first multiple times we went for their vanilla flan but left without trying the marinated pork tacos.
Award-winning tortillas are a labour of love for Mexican immigrant Gerardo Lopez and his American business partner Diana Hull. You can even buy extra tortillas to take with you when you leave.
La Tortilleria has to be one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Melbourne if you want to experience the real flavour of Mexican tortillas without a trip.
Trippy Taco
FITZROY
The vegetarian Mexican eatery Trippy Taco can be found tucked away on Gertrude Street in Melbourne. Trippy is the place to be for hipsters drinking craft beer late into the night, but don't let that stop you from stopping by for a late breakfast or a late-night snack.
Enter that endearing establishment, stuff your face with a jug of sangria, a big platter of nachos, a burrito, and a few good music, and now try to say that you don't like it.
Village Cantina
YARRAVILLE
Village Cantina in Yarraville is a strong contender for the title of the greatest Mexican restaurant in Melbourne, as it serves some of the city's best food at affordable prices. You should visit this bright restaurant right away because of the great prices on items like tacos and meal bundles.
Si Senor Art Taqueria
BALACLAVA
Si Senor's motto is "Eat, Drink, Love Taco," and we couldn't be more on board with that. Among the best and most colourful courtyards in the area, the quirky taqueria also serves up some absolutely wonderful Mexican fare. Adding a few booze or mixed drinks will turn any gathering into a fiesta.
Si Senor Art Taqueria, one of the top Mexican restaurants in Melbourne and run by Mexican chef Cindy Flores, is a colourful, neon-lit establishment serving authentic Mexican cuisine. You can get cheesy burritos, tacos with jerked beef brisket, tangy prawn ceviche, and refried bean frijoles. To drink with a classic mojito or imported Cerveza.
Fonda Mexican
Fonda Mexican is the perfect place to begin exploring the informal cuisine of Mexico's street vendors. This is the kind of food that you can take up and immediately put in your mouth, from the chargrilled corn with chipotle aioli to the fried green tomato tacos to the pasilla chicken quesadilla with pico de gallo, and there is everything to love about this vibrant and busy café.
Address: 248 Swan St, Richmond,
Paco’s Tacos
Paco's Tacos in Melbourne serves up some pretty good Mexican street food, and you can expect to find it there. Fresh corn tortillas are created from scratch every day at Paco's Tacos, and these, together with fresh farm produce and Mexican regional flavours, are skilfully prepared by the restaurant's chefs. It is a pleasant and busy location to have a cheap taco for about six dollars, try out the local artisan brews, or sip on a traditional Margarita while catching up with friends.
Address: Level 1/500 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Touché Hombre
Touché Hombre, which opened in 2011 and has been going strong ever since, is all about the fiesta, shareable food, long communal tables, and an outstanding inventory of 80 different tequilas.
There are many different options available, including tacos, elotes, fried chicken, ceviche, and a variety of other dishes. Touché Hombre is a top choice for those seeking some of the finest Mexican food that Melbourne has to offer.
Address: 233 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Frankie’s Tortas & Tacos
Fresh-faced Although Frankie's Tortas & Tacos appears to be all alone on Smith Street, and this imposing Collingwood kiosk is never short of eager customers.
Locals in Melbourne can't get enough of the place's no-fuss vibe and paper-plate service, and the restaurant's small, poorly defined dining space is encircled by barbed wire fencing.
This bare-bones kiosk was donated to Collingwood at the end of last year, and it has been a beacon for simple take-home enchiladas throughout the pandemic. On a regular basis, you may expect to see only tortas, tacos, and maybe some guacamole on the menu.
No one who enjoys Mexican street food is going to be dissatisfied, whether they order a beef torta Milanese-style or a potent al pastor taco.
Address: 384 Smith St, Collingwood
FAQs About Melbourne Restaurants
You can find some of the best Mexican food in Melbourne at Touché Hombre, Los Hermanos Mexican Taqueria, Si Senor Art Taqueria, Bodega Underground, and Mamasita, to name just a few places.
Some of Melbourne's top Mexican restaurants are open as late as 10 pm or even midnight. Going the extra mile is Bodega Underground, which is open until 3 am every day of the week.
Read the facts:
- There are three different colours of corn tortillas: Yellow, red and blue.
- In the USA, Mexican food is called Tex Mex.
- Tortillas are in the diet of hundreds of families in México.
- Mexican food is healthy because it has the perfect blend of all food groups between carbs and proteins.
Today Mexican Cuisine is a nice blend of indigenous and Spanish cuisine. It is still based on beans, corn, tortillas, and chilli peppers, but they are usually served with some meat and cheese. Most dishes come with some rice and spices as well, a clear nod to the European influence.
Since ancient times, the most important foods in the Mexican diet have been corn, beans, squash, tomatillos, and chile peppers. The role of these ingredients in Mexican food culture through the centuries is the basis of this volume.
Conclusion
The romance of Mexican cuisine may be seen in the inclusion of pico de gallo, a fresh and bright salsa, atop tacos filled with slow-cooked beef. Its varied cuisine and regional specialities have won over our hearts and tummies. Mamasita, a Mexican restaurant in Melbourne, has been open since 2010. Something about Mexican food immediately takes you.
When it comes to authentic Mexican food, Mamasita is still the best. Mesa Verde's pork carnitas tacos and Mexican mushroom quesadillas have propelled them to the forefront of Melbourne's Mexican dining scene. Hello Jose, tucked away on the periphery of the Queen Vic Market, is now more than just buying hot jelly doughnuts. Jose was created by two roommates who took a trip to Mexico and were inspired by the country's hospitable culture, especially its delicious tacos and a never-ending supply of tequila Mesa Verde's pork carnitas tacos, kingfish ceviche tostada, and Mexican mushroom quesadillas have propelled them to the forefront of Melbourne's Mexican dining scene. The humble tortilla is the star of the show when it comes to Mexican cuisine in Melbourne.
Taquito is one of the only places in Melbourne to manufacture its own flat, circular bread, which is the foundation of many traditional Mexican recipes. Bodega Underground is located underground and serves the finest of Mexico's (and booze-filled Mexico's) tradition. It has everything you need to make octopus tacos, sweet and spicy pig carnitas, prawn ceviche, and totopos with guacamole, among other traditional Mexican dishes. Los Hermanos is one of the top Mexican restaurants in Melbourne. Hotel Jesus is the younger sibling of the Mexican matriarch of the Central Business District.
South Of The Wall is a no-frills Mexican bar and restaurant, but the food is hearty and reasonably priced. Mamasita offers a taste of Mexico in the heart of Melbourne. Los Hermanos is the place to go for genuine Mexican cuisine served late into the night. Radio Mexico has everything you want in a contemporary Mexican restaurant, with a list full of juicy authentic meals like chipotle tamarind pork ribs, spanner crab, corn and potato and chorizo quesadillas, and more. La Tortilleria is one of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Melbourne.
Village Cantina serves some of the city's best food at affordable prices. Si Senor Art Taqueria is a colourful, neon-lit establishment serving authentic Mexican cuisine. Trippy Taco is the place to be for hipsters drinking craft beer late into the night. Frankie's Tortas & Tacos has been a beacon for simple take-home enchiladas throughout the pandemic. Locals in Melbourne can't get enough of the place's no-fuss vibe and paper-plate service. Mexican is the perfect place to begin exploring the informal cuisine of Mexico's street vendors.
Content Summary
- A new tequila bar and kitchen serving Mexican cuisine have opened up at Curtin House on Swanston Street.
- Mesa Verde's pork carnitas tacos, kingfish ceviche tostada, and Mexican mushroom quesadillas have propelled them to the forefront of Melbourne's Mexican dining scene.
- Mesa Verde, a restaurant known for its daring and originality, serves authentic Mexican cuisine and has one of the greatest collections of tequila and mezcal in all of Australia.
- Authenticity is of utmost importance to Mexican owner, Alec Villarreal and the chef Paul Clarke, from New Zealand, who together will lead you on a gastronomical tour that includes Mexico City and other cities.
- Taquito is one of the only places in Melbourne to manufacture its own flat, circular bread, which is the foundation of many traditional Mexican recipes.
- Los Hermanos is the place to go for genuine Mexican cuisine served late into the night.
- We fell in love with South Of The Wall because of their extensive margarita menu and the Donald Trump painting in the bright courtyard in the back.
- The 'Carro de tacos' at Radio Mexico, a casual restaurant in Melbourne, is a nod to traditional Mexican food carts.
- Si Senor Art Taqueria, one of the top Mexican restaurants in Melbourne and run by Mexican chef Cindy Flores, is a colourful, neon-lit establishment serving authentic Mexican cuisine.
- Fonda Mexican is the perfect place to begin exploring the informal cuisine of Mexico's street vendors.