Los Villanos Mexican Kitchen

UPDATED 19/12/19: This venue has now CLOSED.

Los Villanos Mexican Kitchen is an ambient cantina-style taco shack and tequila bar tucked away in the old Cabiria digs at The Barracks.

Amigos can pull up a stool in the dim-lit bar with its brick arches or nab a table out on the covered wooden terrace under Mexican flags and strings of coloured light bulbs and tuck into some delicious Mexican street food washed down with a tequila, beer, Mexican soda or cocktail.

Music is a mix of mariachi and retro 1980’s rock and the menu ranges from snacks like Mexican street corn, nachos or Kingfish Ceviche Verde through the gamut of Tortillas, Burritos, Tacos, Quesadillas, Tostadas and Tortas to the meal-sized Platos

Grande (think 12 Hour Beef Cheek with Black Mole and Mexican Rice, Goat Barabacoa with Green Mole and Green Rice or Pedro’s Grandmother’s slow-cooked Pork Ribs with jalapeno sauce, pickled chilli and coriander).

Despite the bulk of standard Mexican offerings there’s nothing standard about the food, with all of the tortilla chips, tacos and so forth being made in-house while all sauces and delicious refined fillings are prepared fresh (the only things found in a can here are the mini cacti that adorn the tables).

Recommended are the Kingfish Tacos – marinated kingfish, spiced cabbage and pico de gallo – and the Chicken Tostadas – grilled spiced chicken with crushed avo, corn and tomato salsa. Or for something different try the Tortas Cochinita Pibil – a kind of spicy Mexican sandwich filled with pulled pork, shredded cabbage, jalapeno, pickled onion and manchego.

And for something sweet there’s options like Flaming Finger Lime and Tequila Tart or Flan Tradicional.

In true Mexican form, tequila rules on the drinks menu with half of the cocktails being tequila based (here’s the place for frozen and classic Margaritas, or for something refreshingly different, try the Villanos Horchata) and an extensive list of tequilas you won’t find anywhere else.

Beer is mostly Australian craft with some Mexican additions like Corona, Tecata and Dosequis lager and amber along with Estrella Dam draught.

Need to know – Serving portions are on the modest side, with a choice of 3 dishes (which are all designed to share) recommended for 2 people. *Kitchen closes around 9.30pm

Nice to know – The quirky Mexican statuettes and adornments are for sale save for the giant vintage cart wheel hanging from the kitchen ceiling.