Saturday, April 20, 2013

Mexico Food And Liquor, Surry Hills

Hearing great things about Mexico Food And Liquor, my friends and I decided to fill up our stomachs here before heading over to the Art Gallery of New South Wale for this year's Archibald, Wynne and Sulmain Prize (I really enjoyed the Wynne Prize exhibition this year - it's worth going!). Located on the site that was previously District Dining, it is a very short walk from Central Station. I was quite sad about being unable to visit District Dining before it closed down, but why be sad when there's Mexican food to enjoy? Ole!


Hello purdy flower. Hot sauce condiments on the table for those who like it spicy!

Coffee & maple braised pork spare ribs, plantain chips, herb salad, $16.00
Ribs!! Who doesn't love ribs? They are meant to be messy to eat and best done with your hands. Forget cutlery! These ribs were so tender, fall off the bone, and had a wonderful sticky sauce coating. I wasn't sure what to expect from the plantain chips, but they were reminiscent of a savoury banana. Quite addictively crunchy. I just realised when reading the description that we weren't given a herb salad...

Smokey beef arrachera, charred onions, pork crackling, pineapple mayo, $7.00
I was very disappointed when the taco hit the table because it was a small portion when paying $7 for a taco and the filling looked sparse. What it lacked in size however, made up for it in flavour. The beef was wonderfully smoky and the onions (from the tiny pieces we got) and pineapple mayo melded the flavours together with a sweet finish. Pork crackling was nowhere to be seen though. I also noticed amount of filling was a inconsistent around the table. Pity about the lack of finesse about these details.

MEXICO’s fried chicken, $14.00
The let down of the taco was quickly made up for with the fried chicken. Succulent fried chicken!! Awesome dipped into the aioli which was less spicy than expected despite the sprinkling of paprika on top. Nonetheless, that was good aioli and good fried chicken.

Caramel braised pork, snow pea shoot, green chili, poblano crema quesadilla, $14.00
Not expecting the portion sizes to be so small, we were still hungry an unanimously agreed with the braised pork quesadilla. Crunchy tortilla outer encasing cheesey innards. Amazing of all sorts when smothered with green mayo on the side.

It was too early for drinks as we were having lunch here, but maybe I'll come back and give those a go. The food was good and it was simple to share. Just go easy with the ordering as it can become quite easy to rack up a bill! Especially if you're going to order a few tacos by the looks of what we got that particular visit.

Do you all prefer to share dishes and try a bit of everything, or do your preferences lie with ordering a main dish to have by yourself? Personally, I think sharing is the way to go!

Mexico Food And Liquor
17 Randle Street
Surry Hills, NSW, 2010
9211 7798
http://mexicofoodandliquor.com.au

Opening Hours
Open 7 days from 12 noon until late

Mexico Food and Liquor on Urbanspoon

12 comments:

  1. Sharing all the way as I ALWAYS have food envy and like to try what everyone else is having. I love plantain chips. I'd like to come back here and try more things -- the mushroom taco was quite big...you must've had a dud taco.

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    1. That pesky green eyed food envy monster is easily kept in check by sharing ;) I definitely would've loved more plantain chips to keep munching on! So easy to snack on hehe. Oh dear, maybe they assumed us Asian girls surely couldn't eat that much because my friends' tacos were also quite small... Big underestimation! Apparently the mushroom taco is delicious so I should order that when I go back!

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  2. We loved the fried chicken too! And the herb salad on ours was literally a sprinkling of herbs-I actually didn't think that it was even worth mentioning as it was just a garnish :P

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    1. I tend to enjoy most fried chicken I eat :P The herb salad surely wasn't missed when eating those ribs though!

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  3. Many love this place, I've been there four times now, nice food, but I'm always left 'wanting'.

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    1. Hey there Thang! I've read that there are hit and misses here so I guess it depends on what you order :) Though I do understand what you mean about the 'wanting' after my experience

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  4. Mexican is def the craze right now. I quite liked their mushroom tacos but thought some of their other dishes could of done with more flav

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    1. Oh no I didn't order the mushroom tacos! Mexican definitely seems like it's hitting a trend at the moment. I just read your most recent Mexican post as well!

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  5. mmmm the fried chicken looks so crispy! :). only been once but they've changed the menu since then so need to go back there soon

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    1. The fried chicken was tasty but who doesn't like fried chicken? :D

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  6. You are right. That taco filling does look a little sparse. Curious... Those ribs look great however! Funny you didn't notice the herb salad was missing until the end!

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    1. I was quite sad upon looking at the meager taco filling :( But the ribs were yummy! Haha the herb salad wasn't missed so it's all good :)

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