Breaking the chain: 6 Mexican spots giving the franchises a run for their money

Source: Stock image

Let’s first preface this with an acknowledgment – Aussies love a good Mexican fast food run at lunch and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s not that we have anything against burritos that come wrapped in branded foil, but Mexican food in Australia goes beyond Guzman Y Gomez, Mad Mex and Salsa’s.


We’re told a trip to and from Mexico is a bit of a hike, so it’s only fair that we show a little appreciation for some of the restaurants making the food, culture and spirit of the country available to Australian diners.

We know this isn’t the whole enchilada – just think of it as a curated shortlist of Mexican gems we think you’ll want to check out.

Baja Cantina (Glebe and Surry Hills, Sydney)

Source: Baja Cantina Facebook

Established: 2008

Vibe: Laidback indoor dining and drinks with bright coloured decor and accents reminiscent of Mexico in the movies

Menu Highlights: Baja famous nachos, Ceviche Tostadas, Chicken Mole, Steak Fajitas and sangria

Price: $60-$70pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian and Gluten Free options available

Breaking the chain: Baja Cantina brings the home-cooked Mexican food experience to the Inner West. Going beyond the standard choose-your-own-adventure tacos and burritos that we’re all too familiar with, this joint offers more complex flavour profiles, showing a bit more faith in the curiosity and palate of the average Aussie diner. Authenticity is of great importance at Baja Cantina, but as the claim of ‘20 secret ingredients’ in their ever-popular mole sauce would suggest, they’re not afraid to be playful or adventurous. 

Calaveras Mexican Cantina and Tequila Bar (Newtown, Sydney)

Source: Calaveras Mexican Instagram

Established: 2015

Vibe: Day of the Dead meets dive bar party – neon skulls (calaveras), fairy lights, papel picado and spicy margarita energy

Menu Highlights: El Toro tacos, Pollo loco and Chipotle Quesadilla, Enchiladas Rancheras Rojas, Spicy Melon Margarita

Price Point: $60-$80pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian and Gluten Free options available

Breaking the chain: A hop and skip from Newtown’s train station, with an inviting neon pink board you can’t miss, Calavera’s is a vibrant cantina-style bar and restaurant. The menu leans classic but bold – it hosts a generous list of corn tortilla tacos, margaritas and salsas that go well beyond the usual suspects. While you might find a few South American accents (chimichurri makes the occasional cameo) in a few items, if you’re after a well-rounded, flavour-forward Mexican dinner with a bit of flair, you’ll definitely find it here.

Radio Mexico (St Kilda, Melbourne)

Source: Radio Mexico Instagram

Established: 2012

Vibe: Cosy wooden panels, deliberate warm lighting – an effortlessly cool atmosphere with a killer front deck

Menu Highlights: Sopa de Tortilla (Tortilla soup), Costillas (Slow-cooked tamarind pork ribs), Costra (Crispy bite-sized tacos), Margarita Picosa

Price Point: $40-$60pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free options available – they even have an allergy matrix.

Breaking the chain: This St Kilda staple feels like a neighbourhood party you want to crash every weekend. The menu stays true to traditional Mexican flavours, presented in what they call ‘a Melbourne kind of way.’ What that means is anyone’s guess, because food culture in Melbourne is nothing if not layered. The use of top-shelf tequila in their margaritas, high-end tortillas (yes, that’s a real thing and you can tell the difference) and the choice to keep their tacos off the takeaway menu to avoid the inevitable sog-fest is a testament to Radio Mexico’s commitment to quality.

Mamasita (Melbourne CBD)

Source: Mamasita Instagram

Established: 2010

Vibe: Cosy, gourmet diner feel with large windows, checkered floors, a mural and a subtle hint of cumin wafting through the air. 

Menu Highlights: House totopos and salsas, Braised Chicken Flautas, Lamb Birria, Mamasita Margarita* 

Price Point: $50-$70pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free options available

Breaking the chain: Mamasita on Collins St is one of Melbourne’s OGs of modern Mexican cuisine. The staple offering of tacos, flautas and tostadas is refreshed every so often with a twist of modern flavours like the mushroom confit or scallop sashimi, making it a hit among those looking for some novelty. Similarly, the mains are hearty and anchored in Mexican flavour, but unafraid to lean into broader influences when it makes the dish sing. It’s a great pick for those wanting to take a break from their weekly Cali burrito.

El Mexicano (Adelaide CBD, Hyde Park SA and Glenelg, SA)

Source: elmexicano.com.au

Established: 2023

Vibe: Vibrant, urban and immersive – Think neon signs and graffiti, sombreros, colourful furniture and a daily fiesta that’s never heard of a siesta.

Menu Highlights: Birria tacos, Chilaquiles, Sexy Jarritos margarita

Price Point: $25-$50pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free options available

Breaking the chain: With four venues under its belt, El Mexicano might look like a big franchise in the making – but step inside and you’ll find a refreshingly unpolished, high-energy space with real ‘the party don’t start till I walk in’ chops. Complete with birria tacos, crisp chimichangas and frozen margaritas, the menu is generous, eager to satisfy and built for a good time. A far cry from the grab-and-go of a chain, this is food made to linger over, preferably with a mezcal chaser.

La Cholita (Northbridge, Perth)

Established: 2011

Vibe: Late-night corner cantina with lively, casual energy – tasteful murals, rustic furniture and a back bar you wouldn’t believe.

Menu Highlights: Spicy duck taquitos, Chipotle glazed pumpkin tacos , Swiss brown mushroom quesadillas, Tamarind margarita

Price Point: $40-$60pp for a full meal + drink

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free options available

Breaking the chain:  La Cholita doesn’t need to shout. The space is warm and low-lit, the walls lined with over a 100 bottles of tequila and mezcal that speak for themselves. The cantina-style spot on William St in Northbridge serves up rich, decadent flavours – like a three-cheese quesadilla worth risking a mild arrhythmia for and spiced pork belly that melts on contact. The bar reads ambitious but effortless, with tequila flights that feel curated, not performative. It’s got the kind of quiet swagger you’d be hard pressed to find at a commercial fast food chain.

*Menu highlights are subject to change.

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