The Best Mexican Restaurants in Sydney

As we all know, when a Mexican craving sets in there is very little one can do to stop it. A morsel of jalapeño somehow manages to hit spots that no pepperoni pizza could, and there is no way on earth that a burrito could be outdone by a sushi roll. 

With that in mind, your best bet is to succumb to the will of your stubborn appetite and pay a visit to one of these Mexican restaurants in Sydney—and lucky for us, we're spoilt for choice. So, get ready to savour the rich, savoury, and spicy delights that these Mexican restaurants in Sydney have to offer. Get ready for a fiesta of flavours!

Maíz Mexican

Maíz's story began at the Summer Hill Flour Mill Markets, where they introduced Sydney to sopes – thick, hearty corn tortillas with inventive toppings, a rarity outside Mexico.

Corn, the cornerstone of Mexican cooking, is Maíz's muse. Take, for instance, the telera de huitlacoche – a delightful creation featuring corn served in four distinct forms. Each dish at Maiz is a corn-centric masterpiece, as tortillas are hand-pressed and prepared to order, keeping the tradition alive. Forget tacos, Maíz focuses on other delicious Mexican handhelds, including molotes, corn pastries brimming with free-range pork chorizo. 

Elevate your experience with agave spirits, Mexican wines, or inventive libations like nixtamal corn whisky. The Margarita lineup offers five delightful renditions that’ll round out your corn odyssey at Maíz.

33 Enmore Road, Newtown

El Primo Sanchez  

El Primo Sanchez is full of delights from the moment you enter. Brought to us from the good people behind Maybe Sammy, this tequila and street food bar has left no stone unturned when it comes to detail. The deliciously retro interiors, block colours and disco balls suspended from the ceiling are a visual feast that just keeps giving with each nook channelling 1940s Mexico.

Start your night with the creative drink menu and the iconic guacamole before moving onto some larger share plates. Don't miss the Brussel Sprout Tacos, Tuna Tostada and Roast Corn. For drinks, try the Gimlet El Maiz, that uses a cordial made from leftover toasted tortillas, and the Sanchez Paloma made with mandarin soda, agave and lime, before delving into the extensive tequila menu. 

End with a session in the venue's petite soundproof karaoke booth that boasts an on-demand tequila button. Quesadillas with a side of Britney? Heaven. 

27-33 Oxford Street, Paddington 

Rosa

Rosa brings chill Mexican vibes to Mona Vale with their modern take on Mexican classics and chic interiors. Brought to you by the team behind Palm Beach favourite, Dunes, the focus is on fresh produce, packed full of flavour. The tequila pasta with tomato & chilli cream is an unexpected but delightful take on the viral vodka pasta, the Jungle Kingfish Ceviche with fermented pineapple, cucumber and herbs is light and bright but the whole BBQ Snapper Verde & Roja Salsa is a real showstopper. 

18 Barrenjoey Road, Mona Vale 

Sayulita 

Boasting some of the most serene interiors we've encountered to date, Sayulita is a haven of fresh food, incredible drinks and warm service. The terracotta tones create a refreshing backdrop for a memorable dining experience, curated by Chef Luis Zaleta who was born and raised in Mexico City. All dishes are designed to share with the Chargrilled Macha Halloumi just one of the many standouts. As for the drinks, order the coconut marg or live to regret it. 

The Canopy, 2 Rosenthal Avenue, Lane Cove 

Londres 126

A hidden gem tucked away in bustling Circular Quay, Londres 126 explores the luxurious boundaries of Mexican cuisine and mezcal. Decked out in a 1940s-salon-like setting (reminiscent of the fiestas thrown by Frida Kahlo), expect a menu full of premium produce that puts a modern twist on Mexican cuisine. Enjoy with an artisanal mezcal from the restaurant's extensive collection or a tequila cocktail. 

8 Loftus Street, Quay Quarters 

Taqueria

Brought to you by the team behind Lane Cove's Sayulita, comes Taqueria. Serving up modern Mexican helmed by head chef Luis Zaleta, this Cammeray spot has been delighting locals and drawing serious attention for its innovative menu — and creative margarita menu to match. The jalapeno is a must or if a sweet margi is more your thing opt for the Strawberry and Hibiscus with 1800 Blanco tequila, lime agave, fresh muddled strawberries and Jimaca syrup. When it comes to the food you can't go past the salmon ceviche, beetroot carpaccio and chorizo tacos, but the Matcha Portobello with seasonal greens and patatas bravas is a real showstopper. 

Shop 1, Cammeray Square, 450-476 Miller St

Nativo Mexican

A tiny taqueria that’s small in size but big on flavour, Nativo Mexican offers a concise street food-inspired menu. The venue offers seating for just 14 customers with a focus on takeaway and a colourful, playful design that echoes the streets of Mexico. The innovative menu from this Sydney restaurant pays homage to Chef Diaz's history by using traditional native Australian ingredients such as Al Pastor pork shoulder tacos with saltbush morita salsa and guac with lemon myrtle oil.

Shop 6 / 45-55 Harris St, Pyrmont NSW (above John St Square Rail Station)

St. Alma

It was a very good day indeed when the team behind Avalon favourite Mexican eatery, Alma, opened a sister venue in nearby Freshwater. With beachside charm, casual fine dining and Mexican dishes with a modern twist, St. Alma plays host to visiting chefs from Mexico and features a range of share plates alongside a seasonal cocktail menu. 

20 Albert Street, Freshwater

Tequila Daisy’s Bar Taqueria

Sat on the edge of the harbour at Barangaroo, Tequila Daisy, from Rebecca Lines and Hamish Ingham, presents a fresh Australian twist on the diverse range of Mexican cuisine. Tequila Daisy is named for the precursor of the margarita which translates to daisy in Spanish. Settle in and enjoy the full glory of the bright, bustling 200-seat eatery with picnic tables and tones of red, yellow and blue, in the meantime, you can enjoy the entire range of tacos including grilled chicken, Wagyu beef brisket, pulled pork, fried fish, lamb and roasted carrot.

11/33 Barangaroo Ave, Sydney

Tequila Mockingbird

The lovely and literary named Tequila Mockingbird is our favourite Mexican restaurant in Paddington. Offering much more than the traditional burritos and fajitas, Tequila Mockingbird specialises in the likes of ceviche tacos, fried tapioca, whole snapper and mote and miso glazed eggplant steak. Wash it all down with signature tequila-based cocktails and mescal pours.

6 Heeley Street, Paddington

Calita

Calita (‘tiny beach’ in Spanish) is a 26-seat seafood restaurant that sits pretty on Bondi Beach amongst a lineup of local legends (i.e. Sean's Panorama and Porch & Parlour). Working with local suppliers to showcase a rotating selection of fresh, locally and sustainably sourced seafood, and boasting a mezcal and tequila-based drinks menu made up of small bath and boutique Mexican drops, Calita will fast become your new favourite restaurant.

Shop 1/266 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach

Esteban

Esteban is the latest offering from the team behind popular Paddo neighbourhood gem, Tequila Mockingbird. From street vendor-inspired bites to large asado share plates, Esteban delivers an innovative dining menu showcasing authentic Mexican dishes. Across the split-level venue, you can get comfy in the upper-tier restaurant, basement taqueria, tequila and mezcal bar or the alfresco dining laneway. The choice is yours!

1 Temperance Lane, Sydney

Sonora

From the brains behind Bondi’s Taqiza and Carbon comes upmarket Mezcal bar and Mexican restaurant in Sydney, Sonora; an eatery fast becoming known as one of the best new Mexican restaurants in Sydney. Far from your cheap and cheerful Mexican street food, the dishes rolling out of the kitchen at Sonora push the envelope, taking Mexican cuisine into fine-dining territory. The food is fresh with a market-to-table vibe, and the bar focuses on Tequila and Mezcal: from top-shelf drops to boutique tipples.

37 Bayswater Road, Potts Point

No. 92

This neighbourhood wine bar serves delicate dishes inspired by Mexican flavours and traditions. Their ‘made for sharing’ menu includes kingfish tepache, casarecce with mushrooms, brown butter, XO and pangrattato, Mexican fried chicken with habanero mayo and scotch fillet with mole and charred choko.

92 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Una Màs, Coogee Pavilion

Taking pride of place on Coogee Pavilion’s middle floor, Una Más, is a local wine and tapas bar with a Mediterranean soul. A place where locals can walk off the beach and stop by for a quick bite or get lost for a few hours, the menu is uncomplicated and recognisable, with influences from both Spain and Australia –freshly shucked oysters and eating plancha style.

Level 1, 169 Dolphin Street, Coogee

SoCal

Crisp and refreshing, SoCal answered the calls of Lower North Shore locals and set up shop in foodie’s-favourite Neutral Bay. The open layout and sun-drenched deck space ensures that it’s always time for a fiesta, especially when the cocktails start flowing. The Cali Club with Beefeater Gin, blueberry jam compote, lime, PS40 bush tonic and mezcal mist is completely refreshing, while a Tommy's Margarita will keep the Mexican fanatics happy. For a bite to eat, you can't go wrong with ordering a few share plates, like the jerk chicken with puffed black rice, broad beans, coriander, pomegranate and pickled white onion or the 'low and slow' smoky pork ribs.

1 Young Street, Neutral Bay

El Loco Excelsior

Providing Surry Hills with their very own local cantina, El Loco offers a punchy list of margaritas, tequilas and Mexican fare that will put a fire in your belly. Get amongst their chicken or chorizo quesadillas or the house favourite El Loco Hotdog  with fries, pico de gallo, mustard relish, jalapeños, mayo and queso fresca. The grilled market fish with fries, salad, and habanero sauce is a lighter option for those thinking of their waistline.

El Loco, Excelsior Hotel, 64 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills

Chica Bonita

When the bronzed, beach-faring folk of Manly are in need of some buenos tiempos, Chica Bonita has it covered. This is one of those places where it’s easy to get carried away with the ordering. With plantain chips, carne fries and chimichanga all making for strong nibbles, we’d continue with the Kale Quesadilla for a fresh take on the Mexcian staple. The kingfish and prawn ceviche tostada with guacamole, jalapeno salsa and fresh pomegranate is bliss.

9A/B, 9 The Corso, Manly

Baja Cantina

If burritos are your calling, there is no better place to frequent than Baja Cantina. Sangria, wine, cocktails and margaritas abound (very reasonably priced might we add) however, with such an extensive tequila and mescal list you’d be crazy not to dabble in a few nips. This Glebe institution is also famed for its Burrito Grande; giant tortillas lovingly stuffed with rice, beans, cheese, your choice of meat and salsa before being lightly fried and served with guacamole and a side salad. Trust us, you won’t need to eat again for 48 hours.

43-45 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Cantina Bar

If a low-key, authentic Mexican bar vibe is high on your agenda; Cantina Bar in Balmain is the venue for you. Pull up a chair at the rustic timber bar or settle into a table by the front window and watch locals traipse down Darling Street as you imbibe in a little Mezcal tequila to get in the mood. Taking influences not only from Mexican cuisine but Spain, Portugal and Cuba for an enticingly tropical feel; the Baja California crispy fish and the Yucatan mushroom tacos hit the spice notes perfectly, while Cantina Big Board pulls it’s weight with alpaca skewers, prawns & chorizo skewers, bbq chicken wings, charred corn on the cob, habanero crema, pico de gallo and chimichurri. Go big or go home.

350 Darling Street, Balmain

Enjoyed this edit of the best Mexican restaurants in Sydney and keen to indulge in more Mexican food and drinks? A margarita maybe? Or if you're looking for a different cuisine? Head to our Eat & Drink pillar to explore the best of the Sydney restaurant scene.