El Columpio — Restaurant in Melbourne

So almost 20 years ago I saw a sign for a brand new taqueria opening on King st called Guzman y Gomez. The queue went around the block and Steve Marks was personally managing the till.

The menu was completely unrecognisable to what it is today. The original concept barely lasted a year, because Australians just didn't get it, and the 10 Mexicans that lived in Australia back then were just confused.

Now, I think palates have matured, and places like El Colompio can not only succeed, but thrive. The food is even more authentic than original GyG, the portions are bigger and the vibe is cooler. It seems to cater to locals that get it as much as it does expats that want the real thing. The Pastor lets the place down a little, but it is still better than Frankie's, which is also pretty good. It is definitely not the best Mexican you ever had, but I would still argue it is the best Mexican that Australia has to offer.

It can get a little expensive if you start smashing everything on the menu as I tend to do. You can probably eat for under 30 but if you go nuts the bill can come to over 60 bucks a person. I don't blame the establishment for that, it's not like the ingredients are readily accessible here like they would be on the other side of the Pacific.

I've taken away the Tamales a few times. They are better than the ones at Casa Iberica.

TLDR I rate it as the best Mexican in town. But not the best Mexican. Dont take your Mexican friends here though, that would be like taking a Korean guy for...

Tried out El Columpio in Fitzroy — a solid Mexican spot doing generously filled tacos and hearty sides. Just a heads-up: the tacos come on soft, non-toasted tortillas, so don’t expect any crunch. That said, they load them up, and each taco is wrapped in two tortillas, so you could easily split it and make two if you wanted.

At $9.50 a taco, it’s not cheap, but the portion makes up for it. My favourite filling was the brisket — juicy and full of flavour. The pork and lamb were a bit on the dry or chewy side for me, so not my top picks. The chorizo tasted more like a kabana-style sausage than a crispy chorizo, but it had a decent spicy kick I wasn’t expecting — still enjoyable.

The nacho-style plate and tortilla + dips side pack were standout starters — perfect to share, especially with the guac. We also got jalapeños with caramelised onions, which were tasty but not spicy at all — not quite what we expected, but a nice touch.

And beware — the house hot sauce at the end of the table is seriously hot. Like, not-for-the-faint-hearted hot.

Overall, the food was solid, if a little pricey, but the service really lifted the whole experience. Shoutout to the young guy serving us — super friendly, helpful, and made the night that much...

Response: It was not a busy afternoon. I saw the chef just practically waiting for my order. I try to help the industry by not ordering thru Uber-like delivery although I felt like my order was treated like an Uber order. It's a common knowledge that establishments make less money unless they order and pick up direct. But look at the picture. Would you pay $33.00 for that? It was practically just sauteed pulled beef with onion and slapped over soft taco shells. Didn't taste like Mexican to me. Was it also a mistake? Yes, there was a serving of green salsa and 2 thin slices of lemon. Probably that makes it Mexican. BTW, I'm all for weekend surcharge because I know you have to pay more for your staff. And thank you for the offer of a refund (for the missing cheese) - but thank you.

*Got excited when I first learned about this restaurant advertising as a Mexican restaurant. I ordered Suadequeso and there was NO cheese. I feel cheated. If you didn't have the cheese on the day, why not be honest about it. Almost everybody knows what QUESO is! I wouldn't have mind the $33.00 (surcharge inc) as long as I get...