Hecho En Mexico Eltham — Restaurant in Melbourne

In short, if you're local, go to Mexican Kitchen in Templestowe or, further afield, El Camino Cantina in Fitzroy

Sadly, but not surprisingly, I see i received the same stock-standard response every other negative review received.

Never again. Left and decided to eat at a much better Mexican restaurant. Firstly, I will say that the margaritas and street-style corn were enjoyable (using a premix?), and the young waitperson was attentive and friendly and tried to accommodate our requests where she was allowed. Unfortunately, that is where the positives end.

Our booking was made for (a cold 8 deg) Saturday evening. Approaching the franchise. we noticed the restaurant was only a third full, but we put that down to it only being 6.30pm. We assumed it would fill up later.

What hit us like a brick, as we entered, though, was how freezing-cold it was inside. We were shown to our table up the back (away from the originally allocated table next to the door). Even where we were seated, it was still cold and asked if the air-conditioning could be turned up/on and pointed out how most of the patrons were wearing their puffer jackets/coats. We were informed the air-conditioning was broken (for a few days?) and politely offered another table near an electric fake fireplace, which didn’t expel much heat. I appreciate heating issues do occur at inconvenient times, but until the air-con is repaired, perhaps purchase and place a few small heating units around the room to help create some comfort for the patrons.

We ordered the corn dish (to share) along with our drinks while we decided on the mains. The menu was confusing and the franchise’s menu policy apparently inflexible. Dishes had base prices and “instructions” on the extra costs for additives. Dining in many restaurants (here and overseas),we know how menus work, but at one point, we had to ask whether the base meal contained meat as one of the additional costs was for meat.

Then came issues with ordering tacos. Tacos could be ordered as singles or as a combo (three, one of each meat). I only wanted two tacos (one beef and one chicken) and asked if I could have hard shells. The waitperson advised that hard shells can only come in the combo order but would ask the cook if they could meet, what I thought was a simple request. The waitperson came back, very apologetic and advised that unless I ordered the combo, I could only have a soft-shell taco.

I realise franchises have policies/standards in place for consistency. However, where is the flexibility that is shown by other restaurants and, indeed, franchises? Certainly, no flexibility is shown here.

In the end, my diner companion said it was all too hard and suggested eating elsewhere. As I was paying for what we had already consumed, I informed the cashier of our whole experience and was informed that being a franchise, it would be the same at all other Hecho En Mexico venues. I replied with that being the case, I will NOT attend any of their other venues. I also informed that we were leaving them to go to (independent) Mexican Kitchen in Templestowe. There was a shocked look on their face.

Footnotes: Mexican Kitchen was a totally different experience. The venue was almost full (that says something), warm and cosy and had a less complicated menu. On top of that, they were flexible with nothing being too much trouble. Oh’ and they didn’t apply a surcharge for it being a Saturday night. Recommended

By absolute coincidence, last Monday I was taken to El Camino Cantina in Fitzroy. I think they are a franchise but, like Mexican Kitchen in Templestowe, they showed flexibility in their meals. Also, as our group couldn’t decide which margarita flavours to order, we were offered free samples each flavour to try.

Hecho En Mexico franchise, I suggest you look at their business models and hopefully learn something.

Readers of this very long post, I suggest you avoid Hecho En Mexico and try Mexican Kitchen and El Camino...

Our recent visit to Hecho En Mexico in Eltham left much to be desired, from the confused service to the underwhelming food and virtually undrinkable beverages. For a Saturday evening at 5 PM, the restaurant was largely empty, yet the experience felt anything but welcoming or organized.

The Food: We started with the Jalapeño Poppers. While the outer breading was nice and the jalapeño flavor came through, the rice filling was disappointingly soggy, and the promised tomato flavor was almost non-existent.

Next, the Birria Quesatacos with Beef were a significant letdown. The beef itself was dry and lacked any discernible flavor, while the deep-fried tacos, though crispy, didn't offer a satisfying crunch. The birria broth was alarmingly vinegary, missing the rich meaty and tomato notes typical of a good birria. The choice of chilies also seemed ill-suited to the overall flavor profile.

The Grilled Chicken Burrito had a couple of redeeming qualities: the chicken was moist, and the Mexican green rice was flavorful. However, it was missing crucial components. There was no pico de gallo whatsoever, not a single piece of tomato, and instead of lettuce, we found sad, purple cabbage. This deviation from the menu and lack of freshness were quite disappointing.

The Drinks: Both the Horchata and Mexicolada were essentially liquid sugar. The horchata, which should get its sweetness from fermented rice, clearly had excessive added sugar, making it unpleasant to drink. The Mexicolada suffered from the same issue, offering little more than a hyper-sweet taste with only a faint pineapple aftertaste. Neither drink was enjoyable.

The Service: Upon entering at 5 PM, with only one other table occupied, the single server made eye contact but offered no greeting. After waiting for a moment, he eventually showed us to a table. He then instructed us to use the QR code to order, without clarifying that it was only for viewing the menu and that he would return to take our order. This left us feeling confused and fumbling in an almost empty restaurant.

The Value: Severely Lacking Spending over $80 for what we received felt like a complete waste. The portions were small, the "salad" was practically non-existent, and the overall taste experience was deeply unsatisfying. Based on this visit, I absolutely would not recommend dining at Hecho En...

A wonderful birthday dinner 🎉

Allow me to start by highlighting the impressive menu options available at Hecho en Mexico, particularly their vegan options. The restaurant has an extensive vegano menu with a plethora of tasty and creative dishes to choose from. It is worth noting that despite the absence of meat and dairy, the dishes we ordered were not lacking in flavor or substance. As a vegan, I was genuinely impressed with the range of options available to me and the overall quality of the food.

In addition, the highlight of our experience was the impeccable service provided by Bhavika, our waitress. Bhavika's patience, kindness, and sweet demeanour made our dining experience memorable. She was attentive to our needs, answered our menu questions, and made recommendations based on her expertise. Bhavika's warm personality and exceptional service were only surpassed by the generosity she displayed when offering me a complimentary dessert in honour of my birthday. The food, drinks, and dessert menus are all exceptional at Hecho en Mexico.

Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention the vibrant and inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. The colourful decor, authentic Mexican artwork, and lively ambience create a truly immersive dining experience. Whether you're with family or friends, Hecho en Mexico offers an inviting space to savour delicious food and make lasting memories.

Hecho en Mexico restaurant in Eltham is a must-visit for anyone looking for a delightful dining experience. With its inclusive menu options, warm and welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding service, it's no wonder why this restaurant is held in such high regard. Thank you, Bhavika, for your exceptional service and for making our experience unforgettable.

P.S. The big screen playing Spanish music videos adds to the wonderful and fun...