If, like us, you conjure fried and refried carbs when somebody suggests Mexican for dinner, prepare to be surprised by Mamasita.

Part taqueria, tequila bar, and supper club – with a full menu that runs until 11pm, and tacos and quesadillas available until close – Mamasita (Spanish slang for ‘hot babe’) is housed in the upstairs space vacated by Recorded Music Salon last December.

Mâitre d’ Matt Lane and chef Jason Jones (veterans of Cumulus Inc, Circa and La Esquina and kitchens across Central and South America respectively) have long dreamt of bringing real Mexican food to Melbourne, and boy have they succeeded: you’ll swoon for the elote (chargrilled corn with queso fresco, chipotle mayonnaise and lime), tacos (we loved the de Pescado of grilled fish, achiote paste and red onion salsa), quesadillas (you simply can’t go past the de Pollo) and ensaladas (get the de Quinoa with corn, spinach and coriander). Need we mention the sangria, or that everything is gluten free?

Super popular; you can’t book for groups of less than eight and more than 12. She’s a bit of a tease with the long lines, but you’ll find Mamasita worth the wait.

Mamasita
Level 1, 11 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000
T:  (03) 9650 3821

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