Hispanic Mechanic

We had lunch at Hispanic Mechanic and ordered an entrée selection of wings, nachos, and corn on the cob, followed by mains of Dirty Duck, vegetarian enchiladas, and the slow-cooked 36-hour beef brisket, along with a few drinks. All the food came out at the same time, which meant there wasn’t really an opportunity to enjoy the entrées without the mains going cold. The drinks camevout after all the food.. The margarita was also a letdown, arriving as barely half a glass. On the food itself, the highlight was definitely the duck – rich, flavourful, and well put together. The vegetarian enchiladas were decent, though not particularly memorable. The brisket was the biggest disappointment. After 36 hours of slow cooking, we expected something tender and juicy, but it arrived cubed, served with mash, the gravy was the real star of that plate. Overall, the food had good moments but didn’t quite meet expectations, especially with the brisket falling flat.

We went there for a quiet tea. The food was absolutely delicious and there were not many people around just as we wanted it to be. The service was amazing. Definitely will be visiting again.

Food was honestly incredible. We went on Taco Tuesday which was the best luck ever because we got to try pretty much all the tacos. The kingfish taco was my fave, so crispy and super fresh. Jalapeño poppers are unreal. They’ve also got heaps of vegan options and all delicious. The jalapeño margarita and the nachos were also to die for. Service was quick, and the staff were genuinely so lovely and welcoming.

It’s one of the best Mexican meal I had in Adelaide so far! The food was superb and the Jalapeño Tequila is a top notch. The place is also vibin’. Great staffs, very welcoming! We’d definitely be back for more.

Nice little spot. Food was really nice! 4 of us had the $35 feed me/banquet option. All servings were absolutely delicious! Service was prompt and efficient. Got a sangria which was more fruit than liquid, probably wouldn’t recommend. But everything else was nice.

Only one hour to enjoy the $33 unlimited tacos on a Tuesday night, so make sure you order plenty and don't run out of time. Make sure you check your orders too as they twice forgot to bring a few tacos and we had to reorder them. The second time they forgot it was close to the hour so I had to insist that they were still brought out. In the end they did fulfil the orders, so all good. The tacos themselves were awesome. The crispy chicken and the lamb were my highlights but others in the group loved the KFC and the fish tacos. The soft drinks are a little on the expensive side at $8 each but they are imported, so splash out and enjoy!

Still good, but slipping. Have been here several times over many years. Food is still very tasty but not sure there is much innovating in the menu. We had the standard nachos which is still delicious especially the chips themselves, but a bit heavy on the sweet sauces. Bird in a bowl remains a yummy dish but I think i remember som chilantro flavour which was missing. Menus we received were literally falling apart, creased, broken and old. Early warning sign, not sure the owners are keeping up the investment? It's still a great option but I think it might be getting a bit comfortable in its place in the dining scene.

We came on a Tuesday night. They must have been very understaffed because it took ~20 minutes after we were seated for someone to take our order. The staff were friendly, but very slow. Food was pretty average unfortunately. We had a brisket which was just not a great taste despite being well cooked. The chicken stew was better, but honestly I’ve made nicer dishes at home. The margaritas were terrible. Sorry to say, I wont be returning.

The BEST by far Latin restaurant I have tried in quite a long time. Granted, having come from the SW of the USA the cuisine is often just "Tex-Mex." My friends and I sampled the very large and completely shareable nachos ($15) to which we added pulled smokey and very tender chicken. This well seasoned dish was ample and made from quality ingredients. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Afterwards we shared the delectable empanadas 2 for $6.50, a bit pricey for the portion but again high quality outer pastry with a wonderful corn flavour. The meat filling could have been more generous but it to was spiced perfectly and was not at all greasy. Another HIGHLY recommended dish. Price wise all dishes at the table were adequate and delicious. This is a good value for the money.

This place was such a great find! Randomly wanted to have something Mexican and happened to find this place right by the house. Ugh it's so good! I especially like their beef brisket. It's so delicious. And queso fundido totopos and prawn snacks, all delicious! Food comes out quick and service is nice

And yet another edition to the Mexican Restaurant family in Adelaide! Hooray! Loving this so much. Sisters with Lucky Lupitas and United Latino Cocina. My partner and I have been really excited about trying out this restaurant for a while. The name of it might be misleading, I should probably ask the owners what that is all about. The restaurant itself is decked out. All sorts of exciting decor, furniture and bar. It is laid out in a smart way separating the front bar area from the restaurant. That way, if you want to stop in for a drink, you don't have to sit in the midst of diners. Get your party on, this place is great for groups. There is a long share table in the middle and a bunch of other tables scattered around the restaurant. I imagine that when it warms up the outside area will be decked out as well. I saw a pizza oven on my way in, so that is exciting. We made a last minute decision to go here and we were lucky to be seated fast at the share table. This table featured 5 different house made hot sauces to douse your food in. This made my partner very happy! Surprised by the Korean-Mex menu, we had to order each item. I had never tried the fusion before. Something about tacos with kim-chi salad appeals to me. My fav item on the menu was the Crispy Chicken taco with Wasabi Mayo. So yummy - even though wasabi is generally Japanese. The Duck taco from the specials board was also a winner, great smokey flavor with Mexican spices in the background. Tortillas were fresh and soft. The Elote was very tasty (just like Lucky Lupitas), but I feel could have done with a little more mayo and cheese. The staff were also tentative and helpful with the menu. We actually got our service very fast in consideration of how busy it was. I was impressed. I am looking forward to see how this restaurant grows and also when I have some time to sample the many types of tequila behind the front bar! Check it out!

What a great night with friends at this new hot spot! It was recommended we have the banquet as there were 9 of us. 2 friends had dietary requirements and were able to order what they wanted off the main menu, which made them very happy. We were able to bring our own wine and pay $15 corkage which is always great! Food was tasty and came out fast. I feel we needed more time to finish each course before the next course came out, and staff were a bit too snappy to clear plates away when were were still wanting to pick at the plates. All round though a good experience! Very happy!

Bit on the expensive side, but good flavor combos and restaurant vibe. Appreciated the veg options and would recommend the KFC taco and the veef taco. Also a great paloma that was made with Jarritos grapefruit, which I haven't seen often here in Aus. A friend got the veg enchiladas and I will be ordering next time!

My family and I went here for lunch and couldn't have been happier. Service was incredibly fast and attentive. Our waiter took the time to explain everything to us and his recommendations were most welcome. It was great for example, to hear about Hispanic Mechanic's connection to Lucky Lupitas and how some of the furniture and glassware had been salvaged from the now defunct Sangrias. Talking of which, the fit out of the restaurant itself was also very impressive. Industrial and colourful with a large outdoor area that will be worth revisiting with a large group of friends on warm summer nights. On the all important food, we enjoyed almost all of what we ordered save for a crispy pig's hock dish with a somewhat challenging bed of tamal (corn meal). The tamal has a gelatinous texture which I didn't really enjoy. This is a personal preference though as those of you who like porridge would probably take no issue with it! Overall the food was great and came out to our table quickly and beautifully presented. Well worth visiting!

Hispanic Mechanic provides great service and a great atmosphere. The chicken wings are fantastic but since i have been back being vegetarian, the options i have found were not the best. Overall, the restaurant is quite good and i would recommend for hangouts with friends or a casual dinner.

YAY! Deliciousness abounds at Hispanic Mechanic. I was a little apprehensive when I friend suggested Hispanic Mechanic for a long overdue couples catchup. 1) I don't like hype... it makes me skeptical. 2) I am someone who is incredibly budget conscious and so I don't often like to spend much on dinner... why spend $40 on a main when I can get an amazing pho for a tenner!?! But I do like to splurge for occasions, so I just shifted my mind into special occasion mode and then I was pumped. Looking over the menu, my partner and I were struggling to decide... beef ribs, pork hock, ceviche, sooo many tacos; the options were overwhelming. In the end the 6 of us decided to just go for the $39 banquet option. GOOD GOD. BEST DECISION EVER! Starters: Elote, wings, tostaditos ceviche (TO.DIE.FOR). Main: pork hock, beef short ribs, chicken salad (HIGHLIGHT!), grilled cos caesar Dessert: Tres Leches (topped with crispy caramelised banana slices... a highlight) & corn cake (with the most INCREDIBLE caramel sauce) Overall, the food was perfectly seasoned, an amazing balance of flavours and very generous servings. The six of us are all big eaters and we were stuffed... we even took some dessert home because we couldn't finish it. We also knocked of 3 of the litre carafe options two litres of tequila & citrus based La Paloma Grande and a litre of red sangria. Both were delish. The service was good, the servers busy, but lovely. My only niggling criticisms are that we were told when we booked that even though we were sitting outside it was sheltered and heated. That we would only need a light jumper... but then we were sat right near the entrance in the middle of winter. So by the end of the night we'd almost lost feeling in our feet and legs we were so cold. Also, the space was SUPER noisy (due to the popularity with groups which is understandable) and earlier in the night there were a number of kids running around near our tables, which is not ideal given their parents were nowhere in sight. But that's not really Hispanic Mechanic's fault. All in all, I'd certainly head back for another special occasion... Hispanic Mechanic lives up to the hype.

Wow. This place... I think I have found my new favorite restaurant in Adelaide. There are so many aspects to Hispanic Mechanic that I don't know where to start, but I'll try to sum it all up as best I can. We lived in Crafers for a few years, so the drive to the city always took us down Glen Osmond road. Late last year we saw the stirrings of something interesting. "Hispanic Mechanic" was being constructed and I thought it might be a restaurant, but also wondered if it would just be a bunch of Hispanic guys hotting up cars and stuff. I'm glad it was the former. Lucky Lupitas is one of my favorite restaurants as is its sister restaurant United Latino Cucina, so when we walked into Hispanic Mechanic and saw familiar faces from those restaurants, including the head chef, I was excited straight away. We were given a few options on where to sit and chose the communal long table in the centre to get right amongst it and were given menus quickly and our drink orders were taken a few minutes later - great service. One thing I'll mention here is that HM is much much bigger than the other two restaurants (Lucky Lupitas and United Cocina) which was good to see as it means less chance of having to wait. We ordered some Mexican beers and then ordered an assortment of dishes, but stuck to the Korean-Mex section of the menu except for a duck taco and Elote (which is a Lucky Lupitas specialty). The great thing about HM is their Mexican Korean fusion menu. Tacos with wasabi mayonnaise! So freaking good. Kimchi slaw... What!? But it all works so well, it's genius. I was blown away by the imagination and quality at Hispanic Mechanic and the interior and graphic design of the restaurant is really cool and fitting with the food. They also have a gorgeous bar with over 20 tequilas, rums, Mexican beers and all the food from the restaurant is available at the bar. They make their own chili sauces and rubs which can be bought in the bar and they are amazing. If you love chili like me, try the habanero sauce. It has a kick! The outdoor area looks like it will kick off in summer too, so I can't wait to take a group of friends here for a Korean-Mex party!

Yummy! Hispanic Mechanic's menu is a product of latin and Korean influences and some dishes reflect the fusion - including the tostones with bulgogi beef and tart apple kim chi, which was well-spiced but not spicy/hot! The tuna and avocado ceviche was fresh and delicious on a hot and humid day. I had a hibiscus margarita, while my husband had a classic. He declared it to be the best margarita he'd had since being in Australia (8 years from California). A number of our group had the nachos, which were also beautiful and smokey. Like many restaurants, the HM has two seatings: 6 and 8. We were in for our 6 o'clock booking and the crowd was sparse. It quickly began filling up and was packed by 7! The atmosphere is fun and funky and more thematic than its little sister, Lucky Lupita well worth a visit!

If there's one thing that's hard to find in Adelaide, it's a decent Mexican restaurant. But luckily Hispanic Mechanic has come to the rescue with its authentic Mexican and South American meals. Don't be shy to grab a taco as a starter, I had the Smoky Chicken which I would recommend. The mains looked & tasted amazing; I had the Brazilian Black Bean Stew which was very rich in flavour and had nice big chunks of pork and beef, although I did find it quite filling. The bar is stocked with a good assortment of imported beers from Mexico and South America. My main issue is that the venue was very loud and quite dimly lit which made for difficult conversation. They do also offer two banquets for $35 and $49pp which I'm pretty keen to try next time I'm there, which is hopefully pretty soon. Keep up the good work guys

This place is buzzing on a Saturday night! If you just want drinks, the very friendly boatmen will help you out with fancy cocktails and if you want food make sure to book ahead (a few weeks out). The place is very loud like a bar even in the dining area which was a little exhausting after a while. The service was some of the best I've had in a long time though, everyone was cheerful and efficient. We went as a group and were seated in a room full of other large groups who all seemed to do the same as us and ordered the buffet. Two options give you one at $39 pp or $49 pp. The $39 pp was huge and more than enough for our group of girls. The salads were amazing as were the other courses. All of the options were interesting and items I wouldn't normally order but I loved it. I must admit the noise level and the dessert were let downs but everything else was great.

Hispanic Mechanic does a great job of providing modern Mexican food in a trendy environment. The staff were friendly, attentive, and provided good recommendations. The venue is great for groups, with most tables set up for 4 - 8 people. It's ok for date nights, but you might be distracted by the energetic conversation from the table next to you. For the food, I had three sets of tacos. Each taco selection provides just one small taco on a corn-based tortilla. The average guy could easily get through 3 sets. It was a bit small and close to being considered expensive, but the quality of the ingredients made up for it. The choices were varied, and I particularly liked the smoked chicken and pork belly varieties. You can also sense a slight Korean fusion trend that has gone into some of the selections. Would happily visit again, but the price does make it reserved for special nights out (i.e. don't think of this as a casual taco joint).

Amazing food here, highly recommend the nachos or any of the '5star dishes' The decor was fun and modern, the outdoor area looked very inviting Service staff were excellent and knowledgable

Where to begin?! I'm glad this place has changed hands because I wasn't overly impressed with its previous incarnation. I'd read good things from other Yelpers about its current state and decided it would be a good choice for a weekday dinner out. Stepping out of the throng of noise inside the restaurant to visit the mens room, I was delightfully reminded of some of the haciendas where I had stayed in Costa Rica a few years ago. The rustic design and interesting artworks really sell this place for me. We were out for dinner on what I thought was a balmy night outside but my mother had other ideas so we sat indoors. We were sat at a long table with planterbox dividers splitting it into three smaller table areas. I was apprehensive at first because I was hoping to have a nice family dinner with my parents and my partner and it didn't seem fitting to share a table with another group (not trying to sound snobby, but it all turned out well in the end) I will throw in this tip here and also in tips: If you want an animated, busy, exciting dinner with lots! of noise, opt for a table in the main indoors dining space. If you want a quieter, more intimate experience, perhaps ask for somewhere outside or in another area. I found the service top-notch. Attentive, detailed assistance with menu choices, quick drinks brought to the table, no hovering over us trying to move us along, not too frantic or rushed, friendly and fun. Some solid staff recruitment choices have gone on here. We decided to share our food, and I'm really glad we did. For starters, we had corns on the cob...on skewers, chicken wings and nachos. All amazing flavours, great portion size and came out really quickly. For mains, we had the pork spare ribs (so good with the habanero sauce!), vegetarian enchaladas, duck tacos, chicken tacos, lamb tacos and tuna tacos. None of it fell below a level of supreme delicious for any of us. The tuna was a real standout with the watermelon salsa really lifting the flavour profile. All of that food between five people almost got finished, but not quite. The waiter was happy to give us a to-go bag with the leftover enchilada and taco. The wine list was easy to navigate and it was a reasonable price for a bottle (or two!) of red. We opted for the 2011 Aramis (Mclaren Vale) shiraz. As far as 2011 reds goes, this was a standout. All up, it was a top night. The noise factor did get to me towards the end of the evening, but it doesn't really reflect on the venue itself...except that they could use some noise diffusers on the walls and ceiling. I will venture back soon and try a different area. Hasta pronto Hispanic Mechanic!

Hispanic Mechanic has it all going on with excellent food and friendly staff. I was really pleasantly surprised by the broad range of fresh, zesty dishes all at a very affordable price. The cocktail menu does a great job complimenting the food too. Getting more than enough delicious food for two and a couple of drinks for less than $90 works for me!

After the review I gave above, which was three stars (still good!) the owner offered to let my girlfriend and I return to see how we went as a couple rather than as a group, as I finished off my review recommending that the place is far more suited towards groups rather than couples. As it turned out, we did have a really enjoyable time on our return, with friendly staff and a chorus of good food, particularly a mix of tacos- which were all delicious, and given my girlfriend does not enjoy hot food, I got to enjoy the spicy one she ordered by mistake! So, it is an enjoyable place as a couple, although I still think it has an edge if you are going as a group. Regardless of how you visit, I encourage you, given how busy the place can get, to book ahead to make sure you find yourself a space! Enjoy.

Amazing food, friendly efficient service. Noise from main road location not noticeable. Choice of areas to sit depending on weather/occasion (outdoors open & covered, indoor casual and formal).

If you tried this place when it first opened and thought the service was lacking - try it again! I have been to Hispanic Mechanic 4 times. I don't know what's happened but the service went from 1 star to 5 stars since the last time I was there. And of course, the decor and food are fantastic as well (but that was always the case, which was why I toughed out the terrible service).

I've wanted to try this restaurant for a long time and got the opportunity today. My friend and I opted for two entrees (Master Kim's 5 star wings and Arepas), two tacos (smoky chicken and Master Kim's 5 star beef) and a Heart of Palm salad to share. The food was to die for! Tasty and spicy without being too hot. The salad was a great complement to the spicy food. We wanted a frozen margarita, but their machine was broken to we had a classic one instead. The service was excellent and they have a lot of staff (even on a Sunday). My only complaint would be that you don't have one waiter for your table. While this lead to excellent service it also lead to doubling up on "can I take your order" for drinks and food. Great atmosphere, great food, great service. Will be back!

Very nice restaurant, lovely outdoor area. Good service and food comes out quickly. Great for functions also.

Fantastic. Staff were great, explaining how to order, the type of food and individual dishes. The food was amazing, serving sizes just right unless you're getting the larger plates which need to be shared. & A drinks menu that made me wish I hadn't just driven there.