You sure would not know it from the outside, but Mamasita offers incredible Mexican food in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District.
My review of Mexican food around the world continues. For earlier installments:
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cusco, Peru
- Hamburg, Germany
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Toronto, Canada
- Yerevan, Armenia
It is easy to miss this restaurant as you walk down Collins Street. There is no big sign or grand storefront. Just a glass door next to a 7-11.
Inside you are met with a white, scuffed-up staircase that leads up to the restaurant.
And that’s actually the point. It’s a hidden gem.
Mamasita claims to be the first “real” Mexican restaurant in Australia. This is not a “Tex Mex” place and the owners have lived in both Mexico and New York City.
The signature dish at Mamasita is streetstyle corn, which includes chargrilled corn, queso cheese, lime, and chipotle mayo. We began lunch with that as well as chips and guacamole.
We followed that up with a trio of pork tacos. They were tiny, but tasty.
Finally, we each had salmon with black beans. The fish had an excellent flavor.
Arrive early or be prepared for a long wait for a table. We arrived at 4pm on Sunday and were seated without wait.
The restaurant is open seven days per week:
- Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 10pm
- Friday: 12pm – 11pm
- Saturday: 4pm – 11pm
- Sunday: 4pm – 10pm
Menu here.
CONCLUSION
This is a very popular restaurant in Melbourne that came highly rated by three different staff members at the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Judging by the crowds, it is a local favorite. Next time you are in Melbourne, it’s certainly worth a stop.
No coincidence the Mexican pavilion restaurant at EPCOT used to be the most profitable for Disney. Glad to read you met a Mamasita in Australia. Now I can’t wait to find some tamales, tacos al pastor, mole and cochinito pibil.
Is it called ‘Mamacita’ or is “Australia’s first real Mexican restaurant” misspelling one of the most integral words of the Spanish language…?
No, it is called Mamasita. I realize the spelling is technically incorrect, but I spelled it correctly in my post.
Is there a bar type seating area or its all tables?