California Tacos

Let’s talk tacos. California Tacos, specifically, which has arrived in West End with the brand’s fifth location Queensland-wide. While the venue may appear small when you first enter, there’s definitely more than meets the eye here. Take a wander out back via the laneway (or just sit out the front under the watchful eye of Ron Burgundy if you want, we won’t stop you) and you’ll find yourself in a slate blue oasis peppered with neon pink highlights and natural stone embellishments. Where else would you want to spend an evening sipping margaritas—of which they have six varieties—and munching on Australia’s biggest nachos? 

Brought to life by franchise owners Nathan ‘Macca’ McElroy and Ruby Lewis, plus one half of disc jockey duo Choomba, Timothy Benson, the West End expansion is the place to devour tacos, burritos and nachos, paired with a solid line up of sips. Homemade flour tortillas and hand cut corn chips make up the base of those nachos, which you can get in regular size or a share size, that as previously mentioned, lays claim to the title of Australia’s biggest serving of nachos and has to be seen to be believed. It’s loaded with black beans, cheese, avo-peño crema, guac, sour cream, baja aioli and Pico de Gallo that will keep you (and probably a few others) munching for a while. 

Now we can move on to the real reason everyone really heads to a Mexican joint: tequila. Whether you prefer a traditional margarita or decide to try their ‘Death Valley’ concoction featuring hibiscus and habanero, these guys can get you your fix. There’s also plenty of frozen cocktails, beers and two or three litre Tijuana towers which you can fill with anything on tap—including margaritas.

Need more reasons to check them out? Mondays are Margarita Mondays, while on Tuesdays all classic tacos are $6. If that wasn’t enough, a DJ booth means there’s live music on weekends, and there’s bottomless brunches coming soon.

Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine