El Loco at Excelsior — Restaurant in Sydney

El Loco at Excelsior is an exceptional Mexican cuisine pub located in the vibrant heart of Surry Hills, Sydney. This establishment stands out with its stunning architectural design, both inside and out, creating an inviting atmosphere that captivates visitors from the moment they arrive.

Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the positive energy in the room; smiles adorned the faces of patrons, and the staff exuded enthusiasm for their roles. Each team member appeared genuinely engaged in providing excellent service, making my experience even more enjoyable.

The ambience is beautifully complemented by the decor, which reflects the lively spirit of Mexican culture. The cuisine offered aligns perfectly with the character of the neighbourhood, enhancing the overall dining experience.

The manager was exceptionally welcoming and confident in their service. I was pleased to find that my food arrived promptly within 30 minutes, despite the bustling crowd—a testament to their efficiency.

Now, regarding the food: it was nothing short of extraordinary. I ordered chicken wings, a burrito bowl, and two delightful drinks to share with my aunt.

The wings were served first; although I initially found a small hair in my dish, it was swiftly addressed. The moment I tasted the chicken, I was astounded by its flavor—these are undoubtedly some of the best wings I have ever encountered in Australia. They were perfectly cooked—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavour.

The burrito bowl also exceeded my expectations. Each ingredient tasted fresh and well-prepared; the chicken was cooked to perfection, and the rice had a delightful texture that suggested it was made with care. The accompanying toppings were equally impressive.

The drinks complemented our meal beautifully, further enhancing our overall experience at El Loco.

In summary, El Loco at Excelsior has quickly become one of my favourite spots in Sydney. From the moment I entered to the last bite of my meal, I felt compelled to award this establishment an outstanding rating—definitely deserving of more than just five stars.

El Loco exemplifies excellence in dining and holds three Michelin stars for good reason. This review reflects my genuine admiration for this remarkable venue. I highly recommend visiting El Loco; it should be a priority on your itinerary when exploring Sydney.

It is perplexing that this establishment only has a 4.2-star rating; it truly deserves much higher recognition. I wholeheartedly recommend El Loco at Excelsior for anyone seeking an unforgettable...

My fiance and I, in a very rare occurrence, wound up early to a planned lunch with our friend - so popped into El Loco for a cocktail to fill in the time. I had been here before on many a "squished to the walls" Saturday and was surprised by how much I loved the chilled Sunday vibe. Despite being about to head up to Ze Pickle, I couldn't go past their Sunday special lamb taco and went with their Carajillo cocktail - which I 100% failed at pronouncing. That experience was a 10/10, 5 (6 if I could) star worthy one - and the reason for the 3 stars comes next.

So we finished our absolutely incredible cocktails and scrumptious taco and headed down to Ze Pickle for a fine lunch. But it kept eating at me.... how good that cocktail was. About a third of the way through our meal we saw the awesome bartender who served us (a short-haired blonde booze magician) walk past - presumably to the station. This did sink my heart a little, but I was sure that the cocktail was something that could also be made by the other staff - and I insisted that we return to El Loco after finishing our lunch.

Which we did. And I do regret it. The next lady who served us was about 10% as friendly - which is cool, I don't need that much pep on a Sunday afternoon. But the cocktail was nothing like the one I had just a couple short hours earlier. I get that everyone cant do the same thing, and different people have different taste buds - but this was my personal experience. The first time I was there was a 5/5 time, and the second was a 2/5 time - so I split the difference. I would've preferred to give 3 and a half stars, but I couldn't bring myself to give 4 - because if I had only been there the second time, my whole sunday session experience there would've been a disappointment and I would once again dismiss El Loco back to the "drunken saturday night venue" section...

In true typical Surry Hills fashion, this place is full of hipsters in tacky trendy ambiance. It's got a sticky floor and a sticky table but the food is amazingly tasty and quick, the cocktails are salty fresh and you should be potentially prepared for a queue.

I've been here quite drunk as well when there is a bit of a dance floor. It's got a good university young vibe to things. My favourite taco overall was the prawn taco!! I would recommend this for shiz

The Beef Taco is your base taco. The Beef Taco is tasty and a nice bite to eat. The meat is marinated well and taste like Bulgogi (Korean). There are nicely cut and clean cucumbers, finely grated cabbage and cheese. A nice snack at $5

The prawn taco was my favourite and also $5. If you had a hint of chilli, it was amazing. The prawns were beautifully cooked and matched the pico de gallo (salsa).

I washed it down with a salty fresh beetroot and lime margarita. It was something a bit different. This is what I call a down to earth cocktail. It was still delicious and went well with my tacos.

The chicken taco has small pieces of chicken with corn and the salsa taste like the subway onion sauce so overall I was a fan. Ultimately I fell into taco heaven and could have easily consumed a few more margaritas.

I think two small dishes is enough for a girl (like me). You may have to order a few more dishes if you are a man. I'd definitely come back and will have to check it out at the slip inn (although the dishes are slightly more...