Cult Sydney Favourite Ricos Tacos Is Reopening Next Month in Redfern's Norfolk Hotel

When Ricos Tacos closed its popular Chippendale home at the start of this month, founder and head honcho Toby Wilson promised: "We'll reopen in a bigger way later on in the year". That time has arrived sooner rather than later with the cult-favourite Mexican joint set to emerge in a new home in Redfern next month.

Ricos has been acquired by PUBLIC, the hospitality group behind The Strand Hotel, The Lady Hampshire, Oxford House and Maybe Sammy. With the help of PUBLIC, Wilson and the team are levelling up Ricos at Cleveland Street stalwart The Norfolk Hotel and transforming it into the impressive restaurant and bar that it was always destined to be.

"We never intended to have a 20-seater venue," Wilson told Concrete Playground when the Chippendale outpost closed down. "Ricos was always meant to be something a bit bigger than that."

The multi-storey restaurant will be split into two distinct spaces — a bright yellow dining room and beer garden downstairs, and the mysterious Club Ricos upstairs. Food-wise, you can expect favourites from both the previous venue and the beloved taco truck, plus some new additions including a permanent spot for tacos al pastor on the menu and a rotating taco of the week.

"I've spent a lot of time at The Norfolk being a Sydney local and it's the perfect place for the version of Ricos Tacos I've been envisioning since I started in the food truck," says Wilson. "Jon and the team at PUBLIC have allowed me full creative license and support to enhance its offering. I can't wait to show everyone what we're working on."

Hailing back to the 1920s, The Norfolk Hotel is a historic Redfern watering hole that already boasts one of Sydney's best wine and snack bars in La Salut. The moody corner bar specialises in all things Spanish and Catalonian, recently taking out the Special Jury Prize at the international Star Wine List of the Year awards for 2023.

Ricos Tacos will join the party from early September. The hotel closed last month for general renovations and so that the rooms that will become the new iteration of Ricos could be transformed into a vibrant space reminiscent of Mexican sports bars.

La Salut, Nikki To

Ricos Tacos will open at The Norfolk Hotel, 305 Cleveland Street, Redfern in early September.

Top image: Nikki To