You might have come across Rosa Cienfuegos slinging tacos at her fairly regular pop-ups at breweries around the Inner West, but you can also try her authentic Mexican cooking six days a week at her deli shop in Dulwich Hill.

Rolling down King Street looking for somewhere to dine can be daunting. The sheer amount of options spanning every price point is enough to stress anyone out. 

Sydney’s two-storey, 60-seat restaurant and mezcal bar Nu’u is all about standout southern Mexican food. The homely eatery comes to Glebe Point Road from the Oaxaca-born team behind Nativo in Pyrmont.

We were shattered to hear that Ricos Tacos closed its popular Chippendale home in mid-2023, but we only had to wait a few months before discovering it was moving to a massive new venue.

“Authenticity is paramount for us,” says The Maybe Group’s co-owner Stefano Catino. “We didn’t want the concept to be a nod towards Mexican culture, spirits or food — it had to be a respectful homage.” 

Smoking Gringos is the passion project of Burger Head Founder Richard Borg and Jade Jackson. The specialty at this viral Mexican joint is the quesa taco, a three-corn tortilla dipped in marinade and fried before being topped with three kinds of cheese.

Inspired by a lengthy trip through South America, Paddington’s Tequila Mockingbird is a marriage of the vibrant, bold flavours of that continent and top-shelf Australian produce. 

In May of 2022, the long-awaited Quay Quarter Lanes arrived in Circular Quay, and with it came Londres 126 — a Mexican restaurant set in a stunning wood-panelled dining room. 

Freshwater welcomed a new Mexican restaurant in 2022 that boasts an expansive set menu of food and drink. A sibling to Avalon’s Alma, St. Alma joined the long-standing venue in the northern beaches, 30 minutes south of the OG eatery.

Chica Bonita is another reason to head to Sydney’s Nothern Beaches. Translated to ‘pretty lady’ in Spanish, the Good Good Company (Sunset Sabi, Winona Wine) has created a casual hang-out in a back arcade of Manly. 

CBD dining institution Mejico has been serving Sydneysiders some of the finest Mexican cuisine and tequila for over a decade now. The Mejico space remains much the same after so many years — a lofty industrial ceiling and exposed brick walls.

A red neon sign declaring “everything with tequila” beckons you off the street and downstairs into a moody basement space with hanging wire lamps, potted succulents, booth seating and a cluster of chandeliers above one long table. 

Checho’s opened in 2020, bringing contemporary Mexican dining to Penrith. The aesthetic is breezy, almost coastal chic, with pastel tones and neon feature pieces. But you’re here for the food: expect vibrant flavours that pop. 

The bright red exterior of Surry Hills’ Bad Hombres signals to the artsy vibe of the industrial fit-out, where a bustling kitchen is pumping out 100-percent vegan and mostly gluten-free Mexican eats. 

A temple to tequila and tacos, Bar Patron brings an air of sophistication to Sydney’s Mexican restaurant scene. Located in the old Café Ananas spot in Circular Quay, the venue comes courtesy of Rockpool Dining Group.

Coyoacán Social is a Mexican street food eatery from the Plate It Forward team. The hospo crew and social enterprise has already made a huge impact on Sydney’s culinary scene with its slate of venues including Colombo Social and Kyiv Social.

Popular multi-level venue Esteban is split into three distinct offerings: an upstairs restaurant, a downstairs mezcal bar and a laneway dining space. In the kitchen, Will Quartel is plating up Mexican share plates created using traditional techniques.

Glebe’s long-standing Mexican haunt is known for its cheap tacos and glowing wall of tequilas. Using fresh, seasonally available produce and imported spices and sauces that are usually only found in Mexico or the US.

DIY tacos, made-to-order tortillas and a serious mezcal program are all on the menu at the bustling restaurant on a corner of Bayswater Road in Potts Point.