11 Mexican Restaurants in Sydney You’ve Got to Hit Up

The level of excitement surrounding Mexican restaurants in Sydney is fast approaching fever pitch.

A cuisine with many strings to its bow, tables at Mexican stalwarts like El Loco are hot property these days.

And what’s not to love? Fantastic fare and refreshing cocktails go hand in hand, with big flavours guaranteed.

Melbourne’s love affair with Mexican restaurants is long-standing, but Sydney’s class of 2019 are more than ready to rumble for the title of Australia’s best.

So jump on board the Mexican wave and make your way down to these 11 eateries for a fiesta of flamin’ hot food.

Must-Visit Mexican Restaurants in Sydney

Mejico

Ask a passer-by on George Street or King Street for directions to the best Mexican eatery in Sydney and 9 times out of 10 they’ll point you towards Mejico. Home to Australia’s finest selection of tequila, this sophisticated CBD spot serves up signature dishes like Yucatán-spiced fried chicken and smoked lamb empanadas. Popular with the city’s cool kids, dining out at Mejico is sure to send your Instagram following into a frenzy.

Address: 105 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 12pm – late; Sun: closed

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $26

Fonda

Home to some of the best Mexican fare in Sydney, Fonda’s enthusiastic approach to food blends in beautifully with Bondi Beach’s positive vibes. A well-established name on Melbourne’s dining scene, Fonda’s first Sydney outpost is well on the path to glory. Menu highlights include crispy prawn tacos, sweet potato quesadillas and a jalapeño kombucha margarita. Fonda gets bonus points for its bright, aesthetically-pleasing interior design too.

Address: 85 Hall Street, Bondi Beach NSW 2026

Opening Hours: Mon – Wed: 12pm – 9pm; Thu: 12pm – 9:30pm; Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10pm; Sun: 12pm – 9pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $17

Bad Hombres

Flying the flag for vegan restaurants on our list, Bad Hombres is a must for lovers of Mexican food and marvellous wines. An intimate dining space with a killer ‘80s soundtrack, you can get up close and personal with treats like cauliflower with cashew cream & salsa verde or sweetcorn crème brûlée with chipotle-cacao sugar. Place your trust in the team at Bad Hombres and you’ll be rewarded beyond your wildest culinary dreams.

Address: 40 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Opening Hours: Tue – Sat: 5pm – late; Sun & Mon: closed

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $18

Reserve a table

Bar Patrón

Mexican restaurants in Sydney don’t come more luxurious than Bar Patrón. Having already caught the eye of the good people at The New York Times, the team at this Phillip Street venue are clearly doing something right. Braised kale enfrijoladas and lamb barbacoa act as star attractions, ably supported by a strong cast of side plates and cocktails. Our advice? Come for the fantastic Latin American fare, stay for the views of Sydney Harbour.

Address: 2 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Opening Hours: Sun – Wed: 12pm – 3pm & 5:30pm – 10pm; Thu – Sat: 12pm – 3pm & 5:30pm – 11pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $30

El Topo Mexican

A calming oasis of cacti and colourful decor, El Topo Mexican on Oxford Street oozes creativity. Perched atop The Eastern in Bondi Junction, this restaurant and bar is inspired by the food culture of Oaxaca. The kitchen’s mushroom tacos with pumpkin mole are a big hit with Sydney’s veggie community, and the buñuelos with Azteca chilli chocolate are a dessert lover’s dream. What’s more, dozens of tequilas and cocktails ensure every hour spent here is a happy one.

Address: 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022

Opening Hours: Mon: closed; Tue – Thu: 4pm – 10pm; Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am; Sun: 12pm – 10pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $18

Reserve a table

Chimmi Changa’s Burrito Bar

Chimmi Changa’s Burrito Bar in South Hurstville pays mouth-watering Mexican street food the respect it deserves. The team here go above and beyond to whip up some jaw-dropping plates, including crispy fish tacos and chipotle chicken burritos with house guac. The bar’s signature sangria – served by the glass or carafe – is another crowd-pleaser. If you’re looking to awaken your taste buds, this Day of the Dead-themed joint has your back.

Address: 48-50 Connells Point Road, South Hurstville NSW 2221

Opening Hours: Mon & Tue: closed; Wed – Sun: 5pm – late

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $17

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Frank & Blanco

One of the most exciting Mexican restaurants in Sydney, Frank & Blanco takes its food and drink very seriously. Whether you’re popping by for a revitalising brunch of huevos rancheros or looking to get your fix of beef flautas, you’ll be in good hands here. Cocktails are up for grabs from 11am too, so you can sip on a midday margarita with no shame. A restaurant with its finger on the pulse of the latest culinary trends, we recommend you go and #getfranked, pronto.

Address: 790 Old Princes Highway, Sutherland NSW 2232

Opening Hours: Mon: 7am – 12pm; Tue – Thu: 7am – 9:30pm; Fri: 7am – 12am; Sat: 8am – 12am; Sun: 8am – 12pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $18

Reserve a table

Carbòn

If you want to tuck into Mexican food in Sydney with a twist, descending upon Carbón is a good call. Specialising in wood-fired dishes, you’ll be in your element at this Bondi Road spot if BBQ chicken and lamb shoulder with macadamia whet your appetite. The menu here is made for sharing, so you can treat your mates or your mum to an absolute feast. Swap the beaches of Bondi for the shores of Tulum and make a beeline for Carbón sooner rather than later.

Address: 288 Bondi Road, Bondi NSW 2026

Opening Hours: Mon: closed; Tue – Fri: 5pm – 12am; Sat: 12pm – 12am; Sun: 12pm – 10pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $32

Mexicano

Bringing authentic Mexican fare to the good people of Narrabeen, Mexicano is a restaurant with real character. The team here like to keep things local, sourcing fresh meat, fruit and vegetables from neighbouring markets. Hand-rolled tortillas and pork belly tacos with crackling take centre stage on the menu, with ice-cold mojitos on standby to quench your thirst. Boasting a second premises in Mona Vale, Mexicano seems to have found itself a sure-fire recipe for success.

Address: 2/209-211 Ocean Street, Narrabeen NSW 2101

Opening Hours: Mon: closed; Tue – Sat: 5:30pm – late; Sun: 12pm – 3pm & 5:30pm – late

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $19

Chula

Going toe-to-toe with some of the best Mexican restaurants in Sydney, Chula makes a great first impression. Agave plants, wicker chairs and soft lighting create a dining space straight out of Mexico City, and that’s just the decor. Lesser-known delicacies are given the stage to shine here, like grilled octopus and birria – a spicy lamb shoulder stew. Oh, and did we mention the drinks card? On the count of three folks, 1… 2… tequila!

Address: 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point NSW 2011

Opening Hours: Mon: closed; Tue – Thu: 5pm – 11pm; Fri: 5pm – 1am; Sat: 12pm – 1am; Sun: 5pm – 11pm

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $22

Chica Bonita

Chica Bonita’s two Sydney spots are evidence that good things do come in pairs. Meaning ‘pretty girl’ in Spanish, these two Mexican restaurants turn heads for all the right reasons. Dishes that fly off the pass at breakneck speed include prawn ceviche with charred habanero and a traditional tlayuda. Connoisseurs of fine wine can also sample some rich Mexican tipples from the Valle de Guadalupe. If you’re looking to whisk a special someone off their feet, dinner and drinks at Chica Bonita should do just the trick.

Address: There are Chica Bonita venues in Manly and Sydney’s CBD

Opening Hours: See the website for exact details

Budget: Average price of a main dish is $20