Tuck into tacos, tequila and taquitos at the Gold Coast’s best Mexican restaurants
From cozy taquerias to lively cantinas, the Gold Coast is brimming with top-notch Mexican eateries, serving everything from authentic hand-pressed tacos and classic margaritas to cheeseburger chimichangas and corn-cob lemonade. We’ve rounded up some of the finest Mexican restaurants on the Gold Coast in one easy-to-navigate list, so you can dive straight into the deliciousness.
Costa Taco, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach and Byron Bay
There’s nothing quite like rolling off the beach sandy-footed into Costa Taco for a round of tacos and margaritas. Here, you’ll find a fresh and fun take on authentic Mexican cuisine, with street-style tacos leading the charge. The hot, cheesy birria tacos served with hot consome (for dipping) are must-try. As are the chilaquiles, aka ‘wet nachos’, drowning in salsa, queso, coriander and pickled onion – best enjoyed with a classic margarita. Its OG Palm Beach location has closed – but the team is now slinging the goods just a stone’s throw away from a huge new venue in Burleigh Heads.
Tommy’s Taco Bar, Currumbin
Sitting just a stone’s throw from Currumbin Creek, this bustling walk-ins-only taqueria and bar is always teeming with taco-loving locals snacking and sipping their way through Tommy’s mouth-watering menu. There’s a tight list of tacos, from achiote slow-cooked pork with pineapple salsa to birria tacos loaded with oxtail, short ribs, oaxaca cheese, chillies and coriander. Love nachos? Tuck into the chilli con carne or vegetarian variety, and grab a chilli margarita while you’re at it. While it’s technically a pop-up, we’re secretly manifesting that Tommy’s will be staying put forever.
Mexicali Bar Y Taqueria, Nobby Beach
From Baja-style fish tacos and chorizo quesadillas to street-style corn and glorious guac’, Mexicali’s menu is filled with fresh and delicious bites. Grab a spot in the sunshine, order a Jug’urita (yes to margs by the jug) and settle in for a rooftop Mexican feast. Hot tip – the Casamigos Blanco tequila shot served with a verdita chaser is a great digestive.
La Casita, Brunswick Heads
Located just a few clicks south of the border, popular cantina La Casita is all about antojitos (meaning ‘little cravings’), tacos and agave, serving a menu of authentic bites kissed by flames from the wood-fired grill. Think snacks like sweet-potato and local fish empanadas and wood-grilled jalapenos stuffed with pork sausage. The tortillas are made using organic corn masa and are rolled, pressed and grilled in the kitchen daily, forming the base of taco combinations like Ballina king prawns with sofrito, chintextle and queso oaxaca. Go for the Benny’s margarita (or the corn-cob lemonade) and finish with a slice of pastel tres leches, aka three-milk cake.
Nude Amigos, Broadbeach, Coolangatta and Kingscliff
With three locations (and more to come) Nude Amigos has garnered quite the following with its crowd-pleasing menu of vibrant Mexican eats and myriad of margaritas. There’s everything from traditional quesadillas and stuffed burritos to sizzling fajitas, flavour-packed nachos and a series of tasty taco combinations like glazed pork belly with housemade chilli jam, grilled pineapple, guacamole and pickle slaw. The Nude Amigos bar menu is stacked with margaritas and other Mexican cocktails like smoky mezcal palomas.
Agave Rosa, Kirra
At Agave Rosa, authentic Mexican fare is given a subtle Asian twist, resulting in a menu of unique eats like tuna sashimi-topped tostadas and hibachi-grilled wagyu with yuzu-miso butter. Tacos headline the Agave Rosa menu in flavours such as crispy-skin pork belly with pickled cabbage, and melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked beef with recardo negro. The Mexican sips are covered with a collection of top-notch margaritas, palomas and blush sangria.
Taqueria Chihuahua, Byron Bay
Next time you venture to Byron Bay, be sure to visit Taqueria Chihuahua for arguably some of the best tacos outside of Mexico. Meats from local farms and fresh fish straight from the trawlers form Taqueria Chihuahua’s concise menu, which covers tacos, nachos and quesadillas. The slow-roasted pulled-pork taco with pineapple, roast-pepper salsa, crackling and chipotle aioli is well worth the drive from the Gold Coast.
Hail Mary, Burleigh Heads
Tucked in about halfway down James Street, Hail Mary dishes up some seriously mouth-watering Mexican including tasty tacos, crispy quesadillas, nachos, salads, tortas and miscellaneous morsels like jalapeno poppers and chilli-lime squid. If a cheeky tipple is on the agenda, share a jug of sangria (or keep it all to yourself) or sip on one of the venue’s classic margaritas.
Pablito’s Mexican Cuisine and Tequilaria, Sanctuary Cove
Nestled in Sanctuary Cove’s Marine Village, Pablito’s serves up top-notch modern-Mexican fare, spotlighting the best local produce with its ‘farm to fiesta’ ethos. The menu opens with bites like smoky charred corn ribs, tender grilled-beef skewers with chimichurri and a zesty citrus-cured ceviche using locally caught orange roughy. Savour tacos like corn-crusted chicken, larger plates like beef-brisket nachos and sizzling fajitas, and sweets like crispy churros for dessert. Love a good marg? There are eight to choose from, including the lavish Millionaire’s Margarita made with Fortaleza Reposado tequila.
Street Taco Bar & Taqueria, Paradise Point
Street Taco Bar & Taqueria brings a burst of Cali-style Mexican flavour to Paradise Point, where tacos reign supreme – from slow-cooked beef and crispy fish to halloumi with caramelised chilli. The 100-percent gluten-free menu is made entirely in-house and best enjoyed with a real-lime margarita in the colourful, laid-back space.
Lolita’s, Casuarina
Just south of the border you’ll find colourful Casuarina cantina Lolita’s and its menu of local-produce-powered Mexican fare. Crafted with house-made tortillas, Lolita’s tacos are stacked with mouth-watering combinations like pulled brisket, esquites, jicama and battered onion rings. There are smaller snacks like ceviche, charred sweet corn and fun bites like cheeseburger chimichangas with spicy pickled cucumbers. Thirsty? Grab a Tecatè or a Tommy’s marg.
Hotel Panchos, Mudgeeraba
If you’ve been rolling around the coast long enough, chances are you’re familiar with Panchos. The long-standing Mexican institution originally opened its doors in 1982 and quickly became the place for shredded chicken tacos, nachos and racks of ribs. With new owners at the helm, Hotel Panchos (as its now known) puts a modern spin on much-loved Mexican classics. Think crunchy barramundi tacos with cabbage slaw, pickled onions, burnt-corn salsa and coriander mayo, and pulled-pork burritos with caramelised pineapple alongside fajitas, nachos and sizzling Mexican steak with chimichurri. Oh, and Hotel Panchos’ margaritas are tops, so you’d best Uber out there.
Bonita Bonita, Mermaid Beach
As one of the coast’s first modern-Mexican eateries, Bonita Bonita has earned a loyal following of locals. Taco Thursdays are always a hit, as are its empanadas, taquitos, chimichangas and moreish nachos. We’d highly recommend starting or finishing your feast at the tequila bar next door.
Honourable mentions: Want more? Locals love Miss Margarita in Byron Bay, Mexicano Del Ray in Burleigh Heads, El Burro on Tamborine Mountain, El Camino at Paradise Centre in Surfers Paradise, Alma in Surfers Paradise and The Aztec in Coolangatta and Broadbeach.