"RantingDev"

 

Here are my picks:

Classic Curry Co.
597 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
$
Probably one of the best curry places around, and really cheap! Rice is included when you purchase a curry, and it costs an average of $8.50 for a curry. They also have naan, paratha, and some yummy desserts for $4 and under each. They're open almost every day for lunch and dinner, and there's a decent amount of parking available in the evenings. The only downside: They only take cash, so you'll need to drop by an ATM on your way. Trust me, though...it's worth it!

Choix Creperie Cafe
620 Collins Street (down Liberty Lane), Melbourne
$
Hands down the best kept secret in the CBD! This place makes the most delicious crepes around, both sweet and savoury. (I recommend the savoury one with goat's cheese, spinach, and roasted capsicum!) They also do sandwiches and coffee, but the crepes are the best! The crepes average at around $7.50 each, and are plenty big for lunch. They're open until 4:30 Monday to Friday. Be careful when trying to find the place, though. The old saying, "If you blink, you'll miss it!" definitely applies to this place! It is TINY, so you need to keep an eye out for it when walking down Liberty Lane.

Koko Black
167 Lygon Street, Carlton
http://www.kokoblack.com/
$$
I just discovered the wonder that they call Koko Black recently, and I've craved it ever since! It is nothing but chocolate! They have the yummiest displays of truffles and other chocolates downstairs, or you can sit down, have a cup of hot or iced chocolate (the best in the world!) and choose from one of the sinfully delicious chocolate desserts on their menu. The amount you get for your money is rather small, but trust me...if you're a chocolate lover, it is worth every penny! My recommendation: Go every so often. It's nice to be able to crave it...not to mention nicer on your bank account! There are two other locations around Melbourne, but the Lygon Street location is probably the most fun!

Quote:

 

While I was getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist here in Sydney a few years ago I noticed the dental assistants name was Rosario. Being from San Diego and craving GOOD Mexican food, I asked her where she was from. When she said she was from Mexico and her husband worked for the Mexican Embassy, I was elated!
I first asked my new best friend Rosario how many Mexicans were living in Australia and she confidently told me there were only 750 in Australia. "Extrodinary" was my first thought since that was the same amount I thought that lived in a small two bedroom appartment in East L.A.

Next I got down to the question that really counted and I asked Rosario through my dental mask with a barley understandable mumble, "Where is the best Mexican food in Australia." Rosario said matter of factly, "There is only one place that Mexicans go and that is. . . Aztecas in Randwick.

After I received the news I felt a sense of enlightenment come over me. Once I departed the denist and my new savior Rosario, I couldn't wait for the numbness to leave the left side of my face and that night I raced over to Aztecas. Once there I noticed about half of all the Mexicans in Australia sitting at one table. All 325 of them there in one place, what a site to behold! I couldn't help but shout, "Ole!"

Jose, the owner, was passing out sombraros and playing guitar and singing traditional Mexican songs. He also played traditional Beatle songs with a traditional Mexican accent. Wow, this was truely heaven in Randwick! I had finally arrived in the promised land!

"Okay", I thought, "This place has potential." The menu was promising and it offered all the classics including more than one kind of Mexican beer. OLE!

I went for the basic taco and burrito with a Dos Equis Amber. When it arrived I was not dissapointed. To be honest it was not as good as the 2 am burritos you get in San Diego from the little stand on the corner for $2.50 but I'd rate this place a solid "7" if I was eating in America.

This is the best place I've been to in Sydney for Mexican food. Cafe Pacifico is a bit more expensive, niether is cheap, and is not as good as Aztecas, although I really like the rolled tacos and chips and salsa at Cafe Pacifico better than Aztecas.

Aztecas also offers imported mexican spices and sauces for sale which really come in handy and Jose is a legend!

Give this place a try, I think you'll like it.

"Ginger"

 

For anyone looking for Mexican in Perth

Acapulco Annie's located NOR in Tuart Hill $$$ (better/cheaper than Garcia's, which appears to be one of the only other Mexican restaurants in WA!)

We went there for the 4th of July (a bit off, but it had been months since I had Mexican!) and I was very pleasantly surprised. The mains were $15-20, but honestly all you can eat (I took half of my beef and frijole burrito home with me), and they had a 2 for 1 cocktail special going on Tues nights. The food wasn't as good as home, but still quite tasty (and they used shredded beef). Their sangria was delicious and the pure entertainment of watching my Au counterparts try to order Mexican food was worth every cent (my husband was good, as he had already heard words like quesadilla and fajita pronounced correctly in my hometown...but my inlaws and friends were another story!).

"Kansas"

 

All the restaurants I really love are not in the CBD or close to it really (30-45 minutes SW of CBD), so I am not sure how helpfully it will be. If we ever eat in Brisbane I will post again!

A Taste of Texas
Shop 49, 91 Middle Street, Cleveland
$$$
This place is great when I am craving something familiar and homy. They have a bit of Mexican and TexMex. I prefer their TexMex but the mexican is better than any I have had in Australia, so far. Plus they have really good ranch dressing and Hot wings! The restaurant is normally pretty quiet. And since it is on Middle Street there is always parking close. It is a bit hard to find, but just look up for the flags (Mexico, US, Australia) and the blue hand rail. Also it is a BYO.



Bellisimo Pizza Pasta and Ribs
Shop 5 / 190 Birkdale Road, Birkdale QLD
$$
The pizza here is great! They really pile on the fresh toppings. The breads are very yummy also. The pasta seems a bit generic, but if you are really in the mood for pasta, the Chicken Cacciatore is pretty good. It is a little shop, and it always seems very busy so we also do take out or delivery.


Jaipur Palace
Shop 3 / 379 Main Road, Wellington Point
$$
Wonderful Curry. This is the first Indian restaurant I have eaten at and I am HOOKED. Everything I have tried from here has been great. Curries cost $13.90 - 14.50 ($1 more if you want seafood)this includes rice and one curry will feed both of us. The naan and samosa are very good and under $5.

"hawaii_nick"

 

when i was back at xmas and a few weeks ago i found this great indian place called Bedi's in Kings Way in Melbourne. It was pretty awesome food. A little pricey for Indian but great food and wine selection and great service too.

RantingDev

Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:28 pm

Mexicali Rose
103 Swan Street, Richmond
$$$
I just got back from here, and all my taste buds can say is YUM!  I didn't think it was possible to get authentic Mexican food in Australia, but I was so wrong!  This place is definitely your best bet for Mexican food in Melbourne.  Their mains range from $15-$20, and their meals are HUGE!  They're open for dinner every day from 6:00 PM on, and it is advisable to make a booking!  We got there right at opening time tonight, and the place was almost full within minutes.  They're very popular...and with good reason!

TerritorianTori

Tue Feb 27, 2007 4:53 am

This is a post on the AMSOC messageboards found here, but since that's not a perma-link, I'll quote the whole thing:

Quote:

 

While I was getting my teeth cleaned at the dentist here in Sydney a few years ago I noticed the dental assistants name was Rosario. Being from San Diego and craving GOOD Mexican food, I asked her where she was from. When she said she was from Mexico and her husband worked for the Mexican Embassy, I was elated!
I first asked my new best friend Rosario how many Mexicans were living in Australia and she confidently told me there were only 750 in Australia. "Extrodinary" was my first thought since that was the same amount I thought that lived in a small two bedroom appartment in East L.A.

Next I got down to the question that really counted and I asked Rosario through my dental mask with a barley understandable mumble, "Where is the best Mexican food in Australia." Rosario said matter of factly, "There is only one place that Mexicans go and that is. . . Aztecas in Randwick.

After I received the news I felt a sense of enlightenment come over me. Once I departed the denist and my new savior Rosario, I couldn't wait for the numbness to leave the left side of my face and that night I raced over to Aztecas. Once there I noticed about half of all the Mexicans in Australia sitting at one table. All 325 of them there in one place, what a site to behold! I couldn't help but shout, "Ole!"

Jose, the owner, was passing out sombraros and playing guitar and singing traditional Mexican songs. He also played traditional Beatle songs with a traditional Mexican accent. Wow, this was truely heaven in Randwick! I had finally arrived in the promised land!

"Okay", I thought, "This place has potential." The menu was promising and it offered all the classics including more than one kind of Mexican beer. OLE!

I went for the basic taco and burrito with a Dos Equis Amber. When it arrived I was not dissapointed. To be honest it was not as good as the 2 am burritos you get in San Diego from the little stand on the corner for $2.50 but I'd rate this place a solid "7" if I was eating in America.

This is the best place I've been to in Sydney for Mexican food. Cafe Pacifico is a bit more expensive, niether is cheap, and is not as good as Aztecas, although I really like the rolled tacos and chips and salsa at Cafe Pacifico better than Aztecas.

Aztecas also offers imported mexican spices and sauces for sale which really come in handy and Jose is a legend!

Give this place a try, I think you'll like it.