Overview
A Michelin-trained chef has brought a new authentic Mexican taqueria to Pyrmont. Nativo is now open above the John St Square Rail Station, bringing tacos and Mexican street food from highly travelled and experienced chef Manuel Diaz to the waterfront suburb.
Focusing mainly on takeaway — with just 14 al fresco seats available for dining — the menu at Nativo is concise, with four flavours of tacos and a range of antojitos and snacks making up the entire menu.
Born in the city of Oaxaca, Diaz has worked across some of the most renowned restaurants in Mexico, as well as the Michelin-starred restaurant La Chevre d'Or in France. Since moving to Australia, he's occupied kitchens across the Milpa Collective Group's collection of Mexican favourites like Sonora and Carbon, and headed up Bar Patron as the Executive Chef.
Diaz is bringing this wealth of experience to a fun and vibrant menu, with a local twist to it — the use of native Australian ingredients. Order the Cochinita Pibilfeatu and you'll find slow-cooked pulled pork paired with a saltbush morita salsa, while the guacamole has been complimented with lemon myrtle oil.
"The best of Mexican gastronomy is inspired by ideas developed by the Indigenous communities and ancestors of the country," says Diaz. "I have crafted a menu that honours these flavours and traditions, and we celebrate our union with the Australian community by complimenting these recipes with native Australian ingredients to create a unique fusion that brings these roots together."
Other taco varieties include a classic beef birria starring a 12-hour cooked brisket, a vegetarian fried potato and mushroom chorizo combo, and a chimichurri octopus option. Accompanying these are the aforementioned guac with corn chips, tostada takes on the pork and vegetarian tacos, and quesadilla rolls packed with your choice of protein, oaxaca cheese, guacamole, coriander and orange-chipotle salsa on pita bread.
Nativo continues a boom Sydney has been experiencing around Mexican-born chefs opening standout restaurants in the city. In the last couple of years, we've seen central Mexcian cuisine arrive in Newtown courtesy of Maiz (one of Concrete Playground's 15 best Sydney restaurants) and Rosa Cienfuegos has opened her pair of beloved hole-in-the-wall eateries in Dulwich Hill and Redfern, just to name a few.
Nativo is open 11am–8.30pm Tuesday–Saturday at Shop 6/45–55 Harris Street, Pyrmont.