18 Best Mexican Restaurants in Sydney

From tacos to taquitos, the best Mexican restaurants in Sydney have it all, and for good reason. Whether it’s the authentic Mexican flavours of Redfern’s Rosa Cienfuegos Itacate or the up-scale dining of Esteban, Sydney’s Mexican food offering is as diverse as the South American cuisine itself. Whatever you’re looking for we bet you’ll find something to satisfy your belly on our list of the best Mexican food Sydney has on show.

Best Mexican Sydney

With a crash course in Mexican cuisine now complete, it’s time to dive into the best Mexican restaurants Sydney has to offer. From traditional to Tex-Mex, here are our top picks to put on your list.

• Best overall: Carbon Mexican Woodfire
• Most authentic Mexican: Rosa Cienfuegos Itacate
• Mexican fine dining: Esteban
• Best vegan Mexican: Bad Hombres
• For street-food fans: Maiz Mexican Street Food

1. Rosa Cienfuegos Itacate

• Address: 129-133 Redfern Street, Redfern NSW, 2016
• Phone: 0450 585 478

If you are looking for authentic Mexican food in Sydney, Rosa Cienfuegos is your best bet. What started as a food truck operation has since grown into two Inner West icons, with the Redfern establishment a bit more upmarket than its Dulwich Hill deli sibling. Famous for its handmade tamales, which feature a softened corn husk, shredded chicken and a healthy dose of salsa verde, this charming little hotspot looks straight out of Oaxaca. A must-visit for Sydney Mexican food fans.

2. Esteban

• Service options: Dine-in · No takeaway · No delivery
• Address: 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
• Menu: estebanrestaurant.com.au
• Phone: (02) 9062 8565

While Mexican food often conjures up thoughts of tacos and burritos, Esteban is firmly grounded in the upscale dining market. Here, you’ll find a stunning array of mezcals and tequilas for sipping, alongside a series of dishes from across Mexico.

Owners Mark Crawford and Michael Fegent, along with executive chef John Frid have put together an authentic journey through the region, highlighted by a 3.4-metre ironbark-fuelled parilla grill. The entire H&E Architects-designed venue is stunningly dark-lit and reeks of blackened meat cooked over an open flame. Be sure to check out the one-kilogram Wagyu delmonico rib eye.

3. Carbon Mexican Woodfire

• Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · Delivery
• Address: 288 Bondi Rd, Bondi NSW 2026
• Menu: carbonmexican.com.au
• Phone: (02) 9388 1451

A 60-person eatery that has become ingrained in the Bondi foodie culture, Carbon specialises in woodfired Mexican dishes by incorporating traditional Latin American parrilla grilling techniques. Inspired by the haciendas of the Mexican Caribbean, the diner has a unique atmosphere that capitalists on its traditional white walls and Mexican textiles. In terms of food, we recommend grabbing a few share plates, namely the Hampshire suckling pig and roasted lamb shoulder.

4. Chica Bonita Manly

• Address: 9 The Corso, Manly NSW 2095
• Phone: (02) 9976 5255

Chica Bonita Manly has piles of personality and Mexican fare for the hungry crowds. Its stools are often packed to the brim but well worth the wait. Start off with some of the tasty snack foods like kingfish ceviche or guacamole and chips. Then get stuck into the tacos and tostadas like the cheeseburger taco or the brisket tostada.

5. Dos Senoritas

• Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
• Address: Shop 2/3-7 Cowell St, Gladesville NSW 2111
• Menu: dossenoritas.com.au
• Phone: (02) 9817 3737

Arriving straight from the streets of Guadalajara Mexico, Dos Senoritas is a truly authentic journey through flavour and texture. Located in Gladesville, the eatery is home to Chef Domingo, a man so proud of his heritage, he went and recreated it here in Sydney. Dos Senoritas is famous for its moles – Mole Poblano, chicken breast cooked slowly in green mole pepian or Mole Oaxaca, featuring chicken cooked in a dark chocolate sauce – or his tamales stuffed with chicken or beef and wrapped in a corn husk.

6. Chula

• Address: 33 Bayswater Rd, Potts Point NSW 2011
• Phone: (02) 9331 0126

Potts Points’ Chula offers a delicious range with some of the best Mexican in Sydney. The dishes and beverages highlight the menu in a modern contemporary style. Think Charcoal-grilled beef, zingy ceviche, fresh zesty salads, Mexican truffle quesadillas and more. And don’t forget the most popular Mexican dessert, Churros are also on the menu. For the drinks, try the Mexican cocktails or Michelada.

7. La Farmacia Sydney

• Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway · No-contact delivery
• Located in: Mrs Palmer Sandwich
• Address: 81 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
• Address: 81 Stanley St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010

Dishing out authentic Mexican food in Sydney, complete with a near-endless list of margaritas to choose from, La Farmacia is a must-visit dining destination. Hidden behind a closed door in Stanley Street eatery Mrs Palmer Sandwich, the hidden tequila bar and restaurant isn’t easy to spot, but once you enter, you’ll never forget it. If you’ve got the time, we highly recommend the bottomless brunch options on Saturdays and Sundays, which sees a set menu, mixed spirits, Mexican beer or wine and 1.5 hours of bottomless margaritas.

8. Maiz Mexican Street Food

• Service options: Dine-in · Takeaway
• Address: 415 King St, Newtown NSW 2042
• Menu: maizstreetfood.com
• Phone: 0466 867 700

Sydney’s proverbial home of street plays host to a Mexican icon from head chef and co-owner Juan Carlo. Maiz Mexican Street Food opened in King Street in 2021 at the height of the lockdown and has been booming ever since. With a beautiful courtyard that feels equal parts familiar and foreign, the restaurant is renowned for its signature vegan hibiscus al pastor, spanner crab tinga and 16-hour slow-cooked beef barbacoa.

9. Fonda Mexican

• Address: 85 Hall Street, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
• Contact: [email protected]

With several restaurants throughout Melbourne, Fonda is now gracing the golden sands of Bondi beach, producing fresh and simple Mexican food made with love. ‘Fonda’ meaning a home that is open to the community as a restaurant is exactly what founders Tim McDonald and Dave Youl had in mind. Think crispy prawn tacos, fresh bright salads, tostadas and shared taco boards.

10. El Loco at Excelsior

• Address: 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
• Phone: (02) 9114 7339

Check out El Loco at Excelsior for a bounty of the best Mexican Sydney. Located in trendy Surry Hills, make sure you get in early because this Mexican restaurant in Sydney is packed on most nights. It’s no wonder since the food does the talking. Streetfood is the name of the game and the menu keeps things simple, like all the best things in life, flavourful and fresh.

11. SoCal Sydney

• Address: 1 Young St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089
• Phone: (02) 9904 5691

Perhaps a little less Mexican and a little more Cali, SoCal in beautiful Neutral Bay is the perfect spot for a bit of Golden State ambience. It’s packed with modern Southern Californian share-style Mexican street food with a heavy dose of Latin American spices. Dishes like the seared tuna tostadas, ocean trout ceviche or the Baja fish tacos will have you coming back for some of the best Mexican Sydney.

12. Mejico Restaurant

• Address: 105 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
• Phone: (02) 9230 0119

This Mexican restaurant is right at the heart of Sydney’s CBD and has the largest selection of tequila in the city, need we say more? Not only that Mejico pumps out all the Mexican classics with a modern twist, like the Chipotle beer glazed pork ribs or the baked king trout taco with thyme and fennel mayo. For dessert, there are margarita cheesecake bites and crunchy fried banana.

13. Flying Fajita Sistas

• Address: 65 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037
• Phone: (02) 9552 6522

Flying Fajita Sistas in Glebe is all about fresh, seasonally available produce combined with authentic spices and flavours of Mexico. So if you’re on the hunt for the best Mexican in Sydney, this one is hard to walk by. The menu features all your favourite Mexican dishes like tamales, enchiladas, tacos and as the name suggests, a whole bunch of fajitas with every type of filling like, king prawns, mango and cheese, sweet chipotle chicken and more.

14. Calaveras Mexican Cantina & Tequila Bar

• Address: Level 1/324A King St, Newtown NSW 2042
• Phone: 0451 541 712

Ascend the stairs at Calaveras, past the twinkling fairy lights and art-filled walls, the atmosphere is set for a great Mexican dining experience. Tasty tacos filled with toppings and quesadillas stuffed with cheese…and then there are the drinks. With an impressive Tequila and Mezcal collection, you’ll probably find it a bit daunting on which to choose, but the knowledgeable staff are happy to give you recommendations.

15. Tequila Mockingbird

• Address: 6 Heeley St, Paddington NSW 2021
• Phone: (02) 9062 8566

Take a trip down to Paddington’s Five Ways for some of the best Mexican Sydney has on offer. Tequila Mockingbird’s cosy dining space and culinary prowess will have you wishing you’d found this place sooner. Combining the tastes of Latin America with the modern Australian kitchen provides a flavourful and inventive dining experience. Try the ceviche taco or the Wagyu Picanha with garlic jalapeno butter.

16. Bad Hombres

• Address: 40 Reservoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
• Phone: 0410 191 441

There’s Good Food at Bad Hombres, not only good but 100 per cent vegan. There are small plates to share like the king mushroom Peruvian ceviche or the Nachos with cheddar “cheese” and Pico de Gallo. Or for something more substantial the mains include the Shiitake and sunflower seed chilli, Lomo Saltado (Peruvian style stir fry) or the veggie bowl with seasonal vegetables. Great for vegans but also those who want to try some of the different types of Mexican restaurants Sydney has to offer.

17. El Loco at Slip Inn

• Address: 111 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000
• Phone: (02) 9114 7327

Another El Loco popped up at Slip Inn after its successful takeover at Excelsior and offers the same delicious quality Mexican food Sydney has come to expect from its sister restaurant. Try one of the Mexican inspired burgers or snack and share some Jalapeno mayo chicken wings, salt and pepper squid or one of the many delicious tacos. The cocktail list is just as tasty with Margaritas galore, and a hefty wine list.

18. Mexicano

• Address: 2/209-211 Ocean St, Narrabeen NSW 2011
• Phone: (02) 9970 8975

Quality produce, sourced locally is what Mexicano does best. They’ve got tacos for days with every protein you can think of, share plates like the prawn ceviche, jalapeno croquettes or beef chimichangas. Try one of the banquet options for a little taste of everything and for dessert, you can’t go wrong with the salted caramel ancho chilli truffles.

Traditional Mexican Food vs Tex Mex

First thing first, understanding the difference between traditional Mexican food and Tex Mex is a must. Emerging in America during the mid-20th century, Tex-Mex played an important role in gaining exposure to flavours that originate south of the border, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is authentic. In fact, many of the foods we’ve come to love as Mexican staples aren’t really Mexican at all. For example, burritos and nachos are two Tex-Mex specials, inspired by Mexican cuisine, with a healthy pinch of Texan style.

Differentiating traditional Mexican food from Tex-Mex can often be difficult, as the two share commonalities in taste and texture, but there is a trick and it starts at step one. Ingredients such as beef, yellow cheese, wheat flour, cumin, and vegetables are utilised in Tex-Mex food, whereas they aren’t typically used in authentic Mexican food because they aren’t common. You’ll also find the flavours of traditional Mexican food are a little smokier as most authentic eateries will make use of a parilla grill, an open-flame technique best utilised for lamb.

Key Things to Consider for Sydney Mexican Restaurants

The key factors to keep in mind when deciding where to go:

• Price – how expensive is your food/drinks.
• Variation – menu variety and ability to make changes when needed.
• Location – whether that be in the center of all the action or somewhere quaint and quiet.
• Service – good service makes the experience at a restaurant that much more enjoyable.

Alternatives to Mexican Restaurants in Sydney

If you’re looking for other things to do in and around Sydney, we’ve got you covered with some of the options listed below. You can also check out our list of fun things to do in Sydney. If you’re looking for a more specific cuisine, check out our list of burgers or ramen restaurants. If you’re full, we can also help you with your search for the best rooftop bars or show you the best Sydney museums.

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How Man of Many Chose the Best Mexican in Sydney

With an editorial team full of foodies, Man of Many has had the unique opportunity to directly sample and experience Mexican food from the best spots in Sydney. It is also based on our experience, in-depth research and customer reviews of Mexican restaurants in Sydney. As expert journalists who guide people between competing products and services, we have provided our independent opinion in formulating our selections. Our editors have taken into account food, service and atmosphere while also making a concerted effort to highlight a few spots outside of the CBD. You can review our editorial policy here surrounding how we maintain our independence in our editorial reviews.