Make your way down Locomotive Street in South Eveleigh and you're presented with many interesting spots for a feed or a drink. There's the sustainability-focused, zero-waste bar Re-, there's BrewDog's massive beer bar with its vegan-heavy menu, and there's Coyoacán Social, a Mexican street food eatery from the Plate It Forward team.
Plate It Forward has already made an impact on Sydney's culinary scene and beyond with its first two venues: the beloved Enmore Road Sri Lankan restaurant Colombo Social and the 2022 arrival Kabul Social. The hospitality group's inaugural spot is based on the philosophy of providing employment opportunities, training and meals to people seeking asylum, while its Afghan counterpart in the CBD is run by a group of female refugees, and donates a meal to a person in need in both Australia and Afghanistan for each meal sold.
Roman Cortes and his mother Maru Navarro
Coyoacán Social is the third restaurant to join the hospitality group, a walk-in-only spot that's donating a meal to Mexico City for every guest who buys a set of tacos while also working with local charities to create a safe space within the local Redfern and South Eveleigh communities.
Plate It Forward founder Shaun Christie-David has put the restaurant in the hands of Head Chef Roman Cortes, a Mexico City native and someone who has previously faced the challenges of overcoming addiction. Cortes shares Christie-David and Plate It Forward's belief in the power of food to create social change, and has pulled together a vibrant menu inspired by his mother Maru Navarro's cooking and dishes from her birthplace Coyoacán.
Birria tacos ($19.50) are the star of the menu, made with shredded beef marinated in a traditional adobo, topped with melted cheese and served alongside a side of beef compote cooked overnight for dipping. Outside of tacos, you'll find a customisable nachos menu ($16), crunch tostadas ($18) smothered in toppings, and a range of accompaniments like guacamole ($6-9) and pico de Gallo ($4).
For the sweet tooth in attendance, there's horchata or hibiscus flower iced tea ($6) to accompany your savoury mains, and there's some of Sydney's best churros ($10 for four). The crunchy cinnamon sticks are drenched in creamy sweetened caramel for a truly indulgent end to your meal.
Images: Rhiannon Hopley.