Great dining addition to Sylvia Park. Awesome colourful and funky mexican decor and a simple, yet…read moreeffective menu. Great if your keen to sit and enjoy a beer but also perfect for a quick lunch stop in. 2 for $10 tacos during the week is a great deal!

There were 8 of us from work sampling the delights of this local. Between us we tried the…read moreTostaditas (pork), Pollo pibil (Chicken), Camarones (Prawns), De arrachera (Beef), Pescado (Fish) dishes. Everybody enjoyed themselves, the dishes we just the right size. All the dishes could have done with more of the main ingredient though. The cocktails were flowing nicely too. My favourite was Cave Creek Chilli beer, it had a nice bite to it, and yes they do add a chilli as well. Pity I was the driver. Good excuse for another visit. The staff were very friendly and responded quickly to clear our spillages Beware of the cocktail glasses, they are easily knocked over. We achieved 3 knock overs. Can you beat us !!! !

For those Americans looking for Mexican food, this place is akin to Chipotle. You can choose all…read moreyour ingredients for burritos or bowls and it was pretty good. Great for a quick lunch, but there could be more flavor/spice in the ingredients. I'll come back for sure and add it to my list of regular lunch spots, but I'm not clambering to go everyday.

In the United States there is the most amazing fast food Mexican joint called Chipotle. Okay,…read moremaybe I am the only one that thinks it's like Disneyland but it is good! I come to Auckland regularly for work and was so excited that Mexicali Fresh finally opened up by my hotel. It has the same concept as Chipotle with it's all natural meats and ingredients so I was ready to get my Cali-style Mexican food fix. Mexicali has daily specials and it just so happened I came on a Tuesday and it's $3 tacos! You tell them what you want, pick your meat, fillings, and salsa. The food is definitely fresh and flavourful. Not bad for $3 a tacos and two filled me up quite nicely although I could've stuffed a third one down. I will be back since this is only a skip and a hop away from where I stay. Free WiFi and salsa bar.

Mexican food outside of North America is a tough nut to crack. The tacos are pretty good, but the…read moreguacamole felt overpriced for a small serving. There are some unique flavors that work well, and sidewalk cafe feel along with Dia de Los Muertos classy kitch (if that's possible).

Mexico is where you can have boisterous vibes, cocktails and cheap Mexican eats. With its…read morepopularity the stores have begun to spread to other areas of the country after starting a few in Auckland. I am a bit disappointed writing this review, because I had been to Mexico a few times before the change of the new menu, and tbh I was a fan of the cheap eats, even though they weren't authentic. There were definitely hits and misses with the new menu. I think the pork taco was a great choice, the pineapple salsa gives it a fresh flavour and brings a nice texture to it. Although the polenta chips were nice, they were just far too big and too filling, and with the blue cheese milk it was just too rich, and we agreed it would be nice if it was served with a chipotle aioli maybe. The biggest disappointment were the filled gorditas, although the filling was nice, the gordita itself was so oily I couldn't even finish it, it dripped in oil and was just unappetising. Also I think they were $15, which makes its quite poor value for money. The dish we enjoyed the most was the blackboard special, the prawn tostaditas, it was light and fresh and kept on par with the Mexican theme. Based on this experience, I would recommend they return to their original menu, why change whats already so good. Rating Food: 6.5/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Good 164 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-Late

Stopped by this restaurant on our way to the Westfield Mall in Newmarket. Our server was great and…read morequick with being out our food and drinks. Thought the meal was only okay for the price. Nothing spectacular, but still good food.

I saw a Grabone deal last week for this new restaurant (The Flying Burrito Brothers) that had just…read morerecently opened up in Newmarket. It looked really interesting and had read good reviews about their Albany branch on Yelp. My sister and I went here for dinner on Wednesday night and arrived quite late, around 8pm (Broadway movies just around the corner), but thankfully I called the restaurant earlier just to confirm their kitchen would still be open then - yes and we didn't have to book - they said there would be plenty of seating! First thing that caught my eye was definitely the décor/design of the place! I LOVE skulls and they were everywhere, from skull heads on tequila bottles to art on the wall, so I was in absolute heaven! The restaurant also had hanging lights, colourful outdoor seating, a full bar complete with frozen margarita machines and a range of Mexican hot sauces on each table! Another cool aspect was the menus. The 'Comida' (food) menu was broken down into different categories - small bites, tacos, tortilla dishes, fajitas, big bites, desserts and kids meals. This was great because it was easier to decide and all the meal descriptions were really clear. Also, at the back of each menu, there is a 'Glossary', so if you're unsure about something on the menu, you will find it here. I have never seen this on a restaurant menu, so thought it was awesome! For mains, we ordered the 'Macho Nachos' ($16, with their homemade chilli con carne, braised beef, black beans, jalapeno chilli, cheese and served with corn chips) and the 'Pollo Chimichanga Mexicana' ($25, with a flour tortilla filled with cheese, chicken, rice and served with a slaw). Firstly, the nachos. Usually when you order nachos, it's the corn chips on the bottom and the fillings on top. However, the fillings were served separately to the corn chips, which we thought was odd. The Mexican chicken tortilla was interesting as well. Just reading the menu now, I think they got my order wrong - this was meant to come with rice and slaw, but I didn't receive any rice, just black beans. So confusing! We both agreed that the food didn't taste fresh. My sister's corn chips were stale, my burrito base too tough to cut into and the chicken mixture not fresh. I had read a review about this restaurant on another site and the reviewer had asked to have one of the burrito fillings changed, but the waitress replied saying they prepare all the items and fillings in the morning - so this might be the reason (food sitting around for 8 hours!) Having said that, both meals were tasty and had a really good spicy kick to it! Overall, it's a pretty cool concept - tasty Mexican food and nice surroundings. I don't know if I would come back for dinner, but I would definitely bring my friends and have a tequila night - they have so many to choose from!

Having just got back from Florida, we've ventured out a few times and the guilt is pressing on me…read moreto review. So easing into it with Mexicali fresh, the chain that is popping up all over Auckland. Being North shorties we visited constellation drive. Without further ado it's the cutest mixture of California with Mexican food, the decor is practically Hawaiian but the menu is all Mexico baby. Taco salad is huge, surrounded by a deep crater of corn chip, quality is good even if the store is lacking in central ingredients (water was frozen solid and low on drinks in the fridge)

Back today & they are back to their super awesome deliciousness!…read more I would have given five stars for today's visit, as the food was fresh, hot, and very very tasty. The customer service was A+++ and the restaurant was quite clean...However, the medium salsa was empty on the salsa bar & I had to go back up to ask for some. By the time I finished my meal and left, it still hadn't been refilled.

THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERT RIP-OFF ARTISTS! It is criminal when a service you expect in accordance to…read moreyour verbal order is not met when served on your plate. Today I came into Mexicali Fresh on Ponsonby to order a burrito with chicken. What I literally got served was a burrito deceptively stuffed with cabbage. I don't know what sort of unethical and deliberate procedure these employees are expected to follow, but serving someone a wrap full of cheap filler instead of the protein they paid for is a blatant scam. When I attempted to rectify this daylight robbery, the coward who dealt with my feedback hid in the back kitchen, sending out a female clerk to handle his dirty work and refuse a simple refund. She meandered and deflected in her excuse not to refund me. This isn't just bad service; it's a total lack of integrity and honesty. As an authentic Mexican, I find this place an absolute insult to my culture. To call this "Mexican" food is a lie; to serve it with such deceptive business practices is a disgrace with little regard to honesty and integrity. They are banking on the public's ignorance to push sub-par, "cunningly" assembled filler while hiding behind a counter when called out. If you value your money--and your palate--stay far away from this trap. They don't sell food; they sell deception. Zero stars. Unethical, unauthentic, and utterly pathetic.

best burrito , good and friendly staff, veggie nachos was good too, good ambiance.read more

Zambrero had fast become a favourite lunch break destination for myself and my workmates due to the…read moregenerous portions, (once) vibrant atmosphere and ethical endeavours. Zambrero is a fresh spin on the old Cali burrito craze, but manages to improve on those familiar themes. I often opt for the quesadillas with tangy verde sauce, but the burritos and salad bowls are also great. In addition to being tasty, many of the menu items are part of a 'Plate 4 Plate' initiative where each purchase also donates a plate of food to a child in need. Update: since coming under new management, the service here has become absolutely dreadful. One day I went in to order and could hear staff laughing and watching videos out back while people were waiting in line for service. I had to call out for assistance to get their attention so that one staff member came out to start making orders. She was followed by another staff member who leant on the counter and continued watching her video while laughing obnoxiously and ignoring customers. The food is still alright but I never stay longer than is strictly necessary because the whole atmosphere of the place is dreadful.

If you, like me, have noticed that there's suddenly been a huge explosion of "build your own" style…read moreMexican chains in the city this summer, you'll have noticed that one name in particular keeps popping up over Auckland everywhere: Zambrero. Whilst the concept is hardly original (think Mexicali) and the menu not exactly wild (think quesadillas, burritos and tacos) the actual flavours and portion sizes of the dishes on offer are commendable, and relatively healthy compared to alternatives! Featured below is their Black Rice Power Bowl with Lamb and Guacamole. Definitely not bad for a somewhat guilt free lunch when you're out and about. I rate it.

On vacation in Auckland walking along Quay Street and spotted Taco Medic. Had a couple the tacos,…read moreceviche, and churros. Food was wonderful. Lots of gluten free options.

What a treat to order a taco, and get a meal! Depending upon where you're from, you might think of…read moretacos as mostly tortilla with a little bit of meat and flavor inside. Not here! Taco medic serves the most gorgeous flavorful taco. The flavors are interesting, warm, and just right. You can eat inside or outside if the weather is good, which it was on the day that I was there. The chips are quite different. They too hard for my taste, but I can see some people really liking them.