Mexican food outside of North America is a tough nut to crack. The tacos are pretty good, but the guacamole 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). read more

Mexico is where you can have boisterous vibes, cocktails and cheap Mexican eats. With its popularity 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 read more

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Located in the heart of Ponsonby, Mexico has effectively provided a fresh, chilled place to both have a drink or a great meal. Every experience I've had there have exceeded expectations, either popping in for a quick lunch or an evening meal, Mexico has an amazing atmosphere and decor and it's not surprising why it has become such a popular chain in the short amount of time it has been open. Although this popularity does mean it is often hard to find a table a peak times, from my experiences, it has always been worth the wait. It seems to have taken away the stuffy Ponsonby attitude that many eateries in the area have and provides a great area with a laid back vibe which have quickly made it one of my favourite places to meet with friends. read more

Mexico - Mexican Near Me - Auckland, AUK

This is a challenging review to write.....there is a lot of good. But there is also improvement to be made. Pluses: the food is for the most part, delicious and creative. We tried a variety of dishes: the signature fried chicken is a winner. Crunchy, sweet and salty. A perfect spice delight. We also really loved the quinoa salad ....it was crunchy with a bit of citrus...garlic and oil?...whichever....such a treat. It reminded me of the way we cook Kasha. My smoked beef taco was tiny. But tasty. Not worth $8. I should think 5-6 dollars. The squid salad special was delicious. The quesadilla with shredded pork was the best deal and tasty. We also enjoyed the burnt avocado guacamole. We tried all three deserts: The churros were a hit...though I would prefer them with ice cream ...not smudges of chocolate. The coconut ice cream with peppered popcorn and mint was tonight's creative winner. Dang that was good We did not however, like the sweet potato tart with peanut ice cream and candied seeds....the flavor was flat...it needed some acid. The place is designed very creatively. Though, it is not acoustically Desirable. It is too darn loud. The wait staff too, left Us wanting much more. For the price we paid for these little plates of mostly tasty but Overpriced, food....we should not have to wait ten minutes after clearing dishes to order desert. They need a bit more organization. Many tables are next to one another. So if you have two separate parties at two side by side tables, the same server should host. Drink waiters are needed separate from food staff. Nice people. Overpriced. My 'shot' of tequila was much less than an sounded. For $16 dollars.....I want my ounce! And the jugs of margaritas are merely small wine decanters. Stop being so tight with the booze. Offer specials. The alcohol Makes money but, being ripped off makes me either not drink here or not eat here or both. Overall good. Would return for sure. read more

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We came here at around 7pm on a Monday night to find the place buzzing. Now I know it's on Ponsonby Rd and it's close to Xmas so people are out and about drinking, but I didn't expect quite that level. Totally fine, of course, because Mexico knows how to handle large numbers of people. I think the shocking thing was that even though it was buzzing away, we got a table as we walked in - I don't think that's ever happened to me at Mexico! I haven't been to Mexico Britomart or Taka in a couple of months, so their menus may have changed too, but I love the menu changes at Ponsonby. Thanks to the waitress' suggestion, I didn't order the pork taco as she said it came with a fair amount of fat on it - obviously they've had a couple of people who are not big fans. I instead ordered the blackened duck taco - and I would go back right now and order another if I could. Beautiful, beautiful flavours. We also ordered the corn and lamb dish (which I forget the name of) which reads like a very simple dish on the menu, but I highly recommend you order it. Also, when in Rome... You have to order the fried chicken, there's no two ways about it. The bravas, quesadillas - all super tasty. And I love that they serve everything with beautiful sauces and lots of it! As you may have seen in previous reviews, I am ALL about the sauce. My virgin margarita was fresh and just what I felt like - loved the cinnamon edge on the glass too. The only downside to the evening was that they were out of a few beers that we wanted, but it's no big deal. I think the Mexico chain is doing great things, and I'm a big fan of them opening up all over the show. This is a great place for a casual dinner with friends before a big night out, and with Mexico being the raucous place that it is, you could definitely start the night off with a bang here. Everything is reasonably priced - take a few people and share lots of dishes. But if you have more than three people, get two servings of the fried chicken... read more

We had high hopes for Mexico - We arrived and the waiter told us that there was a 15 minute wait for food because they were so busy. So we said that we would order everything at once. Well wouldn't you know the food came at the same time as the chips and salsa. The chips were so over salted we couldn't eat them. We ordered a Margarita for 2 - worst I ever tasted! I couldn't finish my glass. Duck taco - great. Mitchell had the Skirt Steak Taco and it was way over salted. We shared the fried chicken which was very good. The service was practically non-existent, I understand they are busy but the waiter did not ever appear after he took our order. We were going to order another fried chicken, but couldn't get anyone's attention so we decided to leave. Finally got the check and I told the girl that I was paying exactly what I expressed here, but really wasn't interested. Not for us. read more

I could eat tacos daily - so thank you, Mexico, for making Taco Tuesday a reality for me while in NZ. But seriously - there is absolutely nothing better than mexican food on a hot day, and the day we came here it was scorching. We ordered guacamole to start, and it was actually unreal. The chips were fresh, hot and clearly straight out of the fryer. There weren't a ton of chips, but the exact perfect amount for the guacamole portion. The guac itself was so good. Nice hint of lime and cilantro, a perfect amount of salt, tomato and onion. My El Salvadorian brother, who makes the best guacamole i've ever had, would approve. For tacos - they're decently sized. You could eat two and be pretty full. My husband and I each got a pork carnitas taco and although they were messy, they were perfectly cooked, and had the most balanced and perfect flavour. The hot pulled pork against the pickled cabbage was such an epic contrast, both with temperature and fat/acid balance. So yum. Husband got the chicken taco - which was actually lightly deep-fried and RIDICULOUS. Oh man if you want a treat, for sure go with that. For my second taco I got the braised beef, with pork chicharron and aioli. It was super rich and I could definitely only eat one but it was so good. If i were to do it again I would eat the beef taco first, and save the fresh taco one for second. As it stood I left the meal on a rich note. Also their margarita selection was pretty great. My understanding is that the base for the margaritas are all syrups but they had really interesting flavours. I.e Lychee and mint, or chile lime. We did the chile lime margarita and it was like a classic margarita with a touch of heat. I'd definitely recommend it. As far as their hot sauces - damn. So good. The mole based one was the jam, but my second favourite had to be them mango coconut habanero sauce. So yum. My advice? Try each of the hot sauces and play with the flavours before you pour them all over your food. The flavours are pretty strong in both the food and the hot sauce (the second ingredient in one of the sauces is fennel seed), so there's the risk it could clash...Just a tip. read more

Super cute masks to keep kids (or big kids like me) occupied - wrestling or F. Khalo! I digress; they had a great deal for Queens B-day weekend - Margarita, chef's special Fish Taco, Churros w/chili choc for dipping, all for $20! Bargain! Food was fresh, hot & tasty - not the biggest portions in the world, but would you expect for $20? I had a Persimmon Margarita - incredibly tasty, good strength (tequila wise) cinnamon on the rim set it off perfectly! Love the decor, they even had blankets for those willing to brave the cold outside. Oh and NO stupid bloody public holiday "surcharge". Service was in the form of friendly hipster types. read more

This was my fave little pop in for a quick bite and a margarita hangout. Something has changed and it's the menu. Not at all a fan of the new menu. We ordered lots and the only this that was truly yum was the pork taco. They have taken a few of the best things from the menu and honestly it's not an improvement. Something's were way salty, some boring, other were flavours that simply didn't complement. My mouth came for a party that never took off. We left a lot of food and that's saying something!! On the up side the service was friendly and they are so brilliant for children. I really want to love Mexico, it has so much going for it!! But the menu needs a good look over. read more

Mexico - Yummy - Mexican Near Me - Auckland, AUK

Wow. What can I say...? What a huge disappointment and overhyped and terrible dining experience. Where do I start??... In summary... Decor: Probably the only good thing about the place. Quirky art on the walls, plenty to look at. Ambience: Loud. That's about it. Food: Possibly worst Mexican I've had worldwide. Quality: Erm... Value for money: LOL Service: Good lord.. Scene: Sunday evening in the famous Ponsonby where all the cool hip and wealthy hang and dine... we're a part of 3 and a half (baby) for dinner, restaurant wasn't too busy, looked like a large group of diners were just finishing up their meal. We got a seat near the loos to accommodate the buggy. Waitress who looked about 14 came to take our order, she was friendly enough. We ordered drinks first while we looked at the menu,.. then we ordered the starters and mains, the whole lot... she repeated the orders which was good... then the clock starts ticking... drinks didn't come... ceviche arrives first - which I would totally just avoid ordering as it's mainly just a pile of red onions and some tiny cubes of fish, all you can taste is red onion... so we're waiting.. and waiting.... then our drinks arrive..... still no starters (which I might add are just guacomole and chips with salsa).... by now it's been nearly 30mins... the same waitress comes by and asks if we'd like to order some food....WTF!?! Had to ask her to print out our docket so I can double check the order,... sure enough, the order was put through but she had no sense to remember... so apologies are made and the kitchen is told... shortly after the food comes out... no seasoning, looked rushed and tasted bland and lacked seasoning. Order breakdown: Salsa roja with house made corn chips $6: Salsa was good, the house made chips were ok Guacamole w toasted almond, fresh jalapeno, lime, totopos $8: Guacamole was good, don't even bother with the chips that it comes with. Waste of calories Pork carnita $7: Edible, could do with more depth of flavour Fish taco $7: Not bad, but not fantastic Pan fried mushroom, queso fresco, roast papa, coriander, blackened onion crema $14: OMG. This was a waste of time. Looked promising when it first came out, but up close you can see it's burnt. On top of that the filling was tasteless, no seasoning at all, bland as hell. Thought maybe the dip will make up for it.. but no... that was bland as hell too. Silverbeet, pine nut, yoghurt milk, avocado, green onion, baked kumara $12: How can you go wrong with a salad!?!???!?? Again.. bland as, had to go and ask for salt and pepper... Drinks: Citrus & Ginger Agua Fresca Description: "A perfect mix of freshly juiced citrus fruit with a kick of ginger makes one refreshing and delicious agua fresca" Reality: Worst agua fresca, there was no 'kick' of ginger, couldn't taste this at all. Got a teeny hint of citrus but tasted mainly like a juice bottle had been rinsed lightly and filled with agua. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. Toilets... well, the women's bathroom was dirty, toilet paper on the floor, the sink was filthy, old stains everywhere. There was enough staff on to keep an eye on the bathrooms... lazy. The thing with this place and it's location is that it feels more like a fast food place trying to be flash and cool but lacks in quality, service and overall experience. Don't know if it was just the Sunday staff or if this is just purely overhyped or perhaps people that come here get drunk and think the food is good. Who knows. There was no "quality over quantity", there was neither. The people I went with said they usually go to the Ellerslie branch which is good, they were embarrassed about suggesting the Ponsonby one as it turned out to be so bad. We got a discount for their stuff ups but what would've been nice was better service and better food. Waste of time, money and calories. Definitely don't recommend this. read more

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Average food. 3/5 stars. This is gastropub food with a Mexican twist -- salty and goes well with cerveza. SERVICE: staff seemed hurried in order to keep up with frenetic scene. still, good and responsive. during very busy times, we weren't sure who our server was, so just grabbed the nearest staff who didn't seem to mind -- not rude or dismissive. AMBIANCE: loud. busy. trendy. popular. colorful interior. okay to go with toddler/kids during non-peak times. they even offer coloring pencils and paper for drawing. during peak-times, you'll likely have to share tables. not a big deal. no reservations policy. FOOD: Chips and salsa - average. salsa bland. chips are thicker and heavier than what we prefer. unclear if chips were freshly made, which is not a good sign. Beef skirt taco - too salty. meat was tender. generous filling. Fish taco - great. flavorful. generous filling. Pork cheek taco - too salty. generous filling. Duck taco - great. flavorful. generous filling. Ceviche - bland flavor. somewhat chewy. would not order again. Fried chicken - more like chicken poppers. could see from outside it was over cooked -- parts looked on the cusp of being burned. batter outside had a nice crunch. meat was somewhat dry and definitely needed the dipping sauces. would we order again? probably. this is easy to eat and the epitome of comfort food. Mushroom quesadilla - simple. tasty. Corn (children's menu) - finished what our child didn't eat. very fresh, flavorful and tasty. Overall, food is inconsistent and pretty average. That being said, this is one of our new favorite neighborhood go-to places. Fast. Filling. Fun. The Lucky Taco truck's tacos down the street are superior, but Mexico has more variety and you can sit down comfortably. read more

A solid performer in the Mexico chain. It was a quiet Sunday lunch time so no problem getting a table and service was nice and prompt. Drinks as always were very expensive for what you get, and the food also seems to be less flavoursome than my last Mexico experience. The fried chicken was tasty but less spicy than normal, and I had the special beef taco which was average with quite bland beef. However, others had the black bean dip which was great and the pork belly tacos which were also excellent. Hopefully this was just a one off, and not Mexico falling into the trap of becoming too much only a chain and losing its food quality! read more

I have just had my first Mexigasm courtesy of Mexco in Ponsonby. Boy oh boy did I enjoy my meal here with my wife and kids. We called ahead but were assured there would be space for us, regardless they reserved us a table and were expecting us, and seated us nice and close to the kitchen. Staff were friendly, and made sure the kids had some drawing stuff, which is a good way to start as it allowed the adults to concentrate on the food. We started with the guacamole, which was probably the most average of the dishes. It had nice consistency, not smooth, but rather chunky, which is how I believe Guac should be. The problem was that it had too much lemon/lime juice and it overpowered the super fresh flavour of the avocado. The chips were pleasant and it was gone in an instant. We then had the Esquites corn w chipotle butter, blackened onion crema, queso seco. Everyone really enjoyed this, and I can imagine it will be an absolutely amazing dish once corn is actually in season and you get that fresher bite from in season corn. The Chipolte cream was outstanding. Wonderful savoury dish My wife had the beef taco, and I had the special, pork belly taco, both soft shell. Both excellent, though the beef was the better of the two dishes, with it's tender smoky flavour. Mine was awesome as well, though pork belly isn't a strong flavour and it got a little lost in the rest of the dish which had jalapeno mayo (yummo) and cauliflower, and red chillis. We were recommended the Mexico fried chicken, which we were warned might be too warm for our kids, but at 3 and 6, they had no issues other than a comment they had "spicy lips". The crunch was fantastic, there was good depth of flavour and the chicken was tender despite it's crunchy outside. Outstanding. I would have to say, raw fish is one of my favorite things in the world to eat. I eat enough of it to make a school of Tuna and Trevally tremble in fear. When I saw they had Ceviche on the menu, despite feeling we might be over ordering, I could not resist. I have to say, this is hands down one of the best two raw fish dishes I've ever had in my life. It's AMAZING. The star of the show, was the freshly grated coconut that the super fresh, beautify (lightly) marinated chunks of fish and fresh chilli were resting on. It absolutely knocked my socks off. I am drooling remembering it. Unbelievably, we still had room (after we removed belts and other waist restricting items, for dessert. My wife had the special dessert of the day a Coconut granita Popcorn Icecream with Coriander. She wasn't quite as impressed, as she doesn't like savoury elements in her desserts, however I thought it was an outstanding dish, original (to me), and complex, and well balanced. I had the Lemon Curd and Vanilla Cheesecake, which was actually a desconstruction. The flavours were good, it had all the right elements, and presentation was superb. I probably would have preferred it in a more traditional assembly. Still a very pleasant way to end the evening. On the way out they stamped a loyalty card and told us about the Sunday Familia day, we have already booked to come back with our inLaws and my BIL's family. Kids eat free! In my experience, this is the best Mexican food in Auckland right now. I am just trying to work out how I can get a second mortgage on my house so I can eat there 4 days a week! :) read more

Great place to go for an ever changing Mexi-Kiwi menu (is there such a thing?). Some dishes aren't my thing, but I always find something I really enjoy. The Ponsonby location is much bigger than the oNe in the CBD and the patio is great for people watching. read more

Nice big dining area and really great service. Love the fried chicken, and tonight special grilled peach salad was awesome. highly recomennded read more

A mexican restraunt that doesnt serve normal tacos and such. Went there looking for some soft tacos and they only served weird fish tacos for like 7 bucks each. Bahhh. Ended up getting the fried chicken for 16 bucks and turned out to be chicken nibbles at best. Totally not worth it. Will never go there again!!! read more