Best Mexican Restaurants in Newcastle: Your Insider’s Guide

Established in 1983, Mucho’s has remained a constant fixture on the Newcastle restaurant scene. Combining Mexican and Aztec flavours, owners Garth and Lesa have created a menu that any person, no matter their spice threshold, can enjoy. It is all about the experience when you visit Mucho’s, with ethnic music, dim lighting, and yes, a tasty drinks menu. One plus is the Doritos and dip starter to get you in the mood, but be warned, once you start, you will find it very hard to stop. The best times to visit for dinner are “Cantina Night” on Mondays and Wednesdays where you can select one of their combination meals for only $10.90. You will certainly have to make a reservation on one of these nights, because although the price is cheap, size and quality get 5 Insider stars.

Although it’s around a 25-minute drive from the centre of Newcastle, it is well worth it. Creating a perfect blend of Mexican and Italian food, this fully licensed restaurant provides a great family dining atmosphere. They don’t leave anyone out either, offering vegetarian and celiac options as well as wheel chair access for its patrons. Did I forget to mention that they also do takeaway? Now you can enjoy the best Mexican food in the comfort of your own home (as well as secretly try to get rid of that hangover). If you are part of a young family or wish to escape the crowds, they do not close between lunch and dinner from Friday to Sunday, so consider your weekend outing decided!

Located inside Wests New Lambton, Cantina is a Mexican restaurant you will certainly remember. Open 7 nights a week and boasting a wide selection of icy Margaritas, this is the ultimate party venue, Mexican-style. With a Private Party Deck that can seat 36 guests and offers a unique party menu, take your gringo’s on a night out that they will remember. Why not set the night in stone by taking on the ‘Big Ass Burrito’ Challenge, a photo of your achievement being plastered on their ‘Big Ass Pillar of Fame’. However, when they say ‘Big Ass Burrito’ they mean it, so it isn’t a competition for those who wish to keep their zips up for the rest of the night. Customers that wish to make room for dessert will be treated to a Mexican twist on Australian desserts, and with no reservation needed for non-party guests, hit up Cantina tonight!

La Casita (“Little House”) is fairly new on the Newcastle Mexican food scene, but is a favourite of Insider readers. Run by husband and wife team Rene Pichardo Orozco and Linda Pichardo along with Rene’s brother and chef Alberto “Beto” Pineda Selgado, this restaurant draws from the brother’s family history. The brothers wanted to bring authentic and modern Mexican food to our shores rather than the common Tex-Mex options you see in other restaurants. This dream of Rene’s has been 10 years in the making, and is well worth the wait. Although the prices are a bit higher than other Insider picks, La Casita offers all the regulars as well as flautas and Pollo Pacifico, a traditional Pacific Coast dish. These extras (as well as learning a few new Mexican words) means you won’t go home angry at your bill.

Casa De Loco (“The Crazy House”) located in Newcastle East is a CBD and Insider fave, with a wide range of modern Mexican-style food to suit any pallet and budget. With two floors to cater to small gatherings and large 60 person events, it is easy to reserve a table or grab a delicious snack at the bar. Speaking of the bar, this Newcastle treat has traditional house tequila, Ocho, as well as other tequila delights (that will hopefully not make your face hit the floor, if you catch my drift). Their diverse menu will keep the whole family happy, with a side of corn chips and salsa to keep the kids satisfied at $4, to the big seafood dish for dad at $40. Open Wednesday to Sunday, there are plenty of days you can try out this local treat. And hey, it may just become your favourite!

This small offering in Charlestown is fast becoming a local favourite, using locally sourced produce across their range. One bonus of this Mexican treat is being able to customise your meal upon request. This includes the level of spice, so you choose how much water you are going to consume during your meal. Open everyday except Sunday and walk-ins welcome at any time, you can have that siesta whenever the mood for Mexican strikes.