Mexican fast food: Guzman y Gomez

Guzman y Gomez definitely can’t compare to a Mexican restaurant like Mamasita, which we reviewed in our last blog post. However, as far as Mexican fast-food chains go Guzman y Gomes is one of the better options. It avoids some of the mistakes of other fast-food chains, such as Mad Mex (runny cheese sauce on their nachos rather than real cheese) and Salsa’s (they use the rice/beans from their burritos in their tacos as well… what even is taco?). The prices at Guzman y Gomez are fairly standard for Mexican fast-food, including $10.90 burritos and $11.50 nachos.

Pork chipotle burrito bowl

We bought these burrito bowls for just $5 each because of a special offer that was available back in March. Cheap, yay! However the original price is still pretty reasonable, considering that the bowls are a filling lunch option. All the burritos have rice, cheese, beans and salsa as a base, then you can pick a topping.

Mamasita

At Mamasita, the higher-end tapas style dining means that some dishes will be expensive for the quantity that you get ($14 for four mini tortilla chips topped with pulled pork)… BUT the flavours are very good. You’ll want to keep ordering more despite the price. We probably wouldn’t come here for a casual lunch, but this is a great place for a special dinner. Mamasita is a popular restaurant, but you can avoid the long wait for a table by having an early dinner.

Elote callejero – ‘streetstyle’ chargrilled corn on the cob, queso, chipotle mayo & lime ($4.90 each)

This corn is so good! So good! Definitely a favourite. Hot, sweet corn, deliciously creamy mayo, cheese and a hint of spice. Simple but effective.

Tostadita de Carnitas – fried tortilla chips topped with pulled pork, pickled cucumber, pineapple, habanero onion coriander ($14)

We were expecting a pile of tortilla chips topped with pork, so we were disappointed when we saw the four mini chips. The presentation was very pretty though, and the combination of flavours was lovely. The balance between the saltiness of the meat, sweetness of the pineapple and tanginess of the pickled cucumber was spot-on. We could eat a whole platter of these.

Tacos and Nachos at Paco’s Tacos

Enticed by the promise of $6 tacos, we found ourselves having lunch at Paco’s Tacos on Bourke Street, a restaurant created by the MoVida group. This little Mexican eatery has six different tacos on the menu, as well as a handful of other options. The garden-style outdoor sitting area has brightly coloured decor, and a net of leaves overhead shields patrons from the view of skyscrapers, leading to a relaxed vibe.

Initially the three of us ordered five different tacos to share, but this turned out not to be enough food for us, so we ended up sharing a regular bowl of nachos as well.