Come Hungry, Here’s Where To Find The Best Birria Tacos In Sydney
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
When it comes to global cuisines, there’s always debate around what’s truly “authentic.” But one thing’s certain: Sydneysiders are hungry for the real deal—especially when it comes to Mexican food. And right now, one dish is leading the charge.
Enter the birria taco: a rich, juicy, dunkable Mexican street food classic that’s taken over Los Angeles, dominated TikTok feeds, and is now making waves in Sydney/Eora.
Originally from Jalisco, Mexico (home to Guadalajara on the country’s central-western coast), birria began as a slow-cooked goat stew simmered in a deeply spiced broth of dried chillies, garlic, oregano and warming aromatics. These days, beef is the more common choice, prized for its richness and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The meat is braised low and slow, then tucked into a corn tortilla, topped with onion and coriander, and served with a side of consommé for dipping.
Some spots take it further, adding crispy melted cheese for that signature golden crust, layering in jalapeño heat, and serving the tacos dripping, glossy and ready for their close-up.
While birria tacos in Sydney aren’t quite as easy to come by as your standard fish taco, they’re definitely here—and worth tracking down. From Inner West taquerias to late-night CBD kitchens, these are Urban List's picks for the best birria tacos in Sydney right now.
Radio Taco
67 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale
Image credit: Radio Taco | Instagram
Leaning all the way into birria tunnel vision is Radio Taco in Chippendale, the 12-seat taqueria that’s been selling out most nights. Focused almost exclusively on Jalisco-style birria, this inner-city newcomer keeps things tight: slow-cooked, 48-hour marinated beef simmered with imported Mexican chillies and served with that ultra-rich consommé for dunking.
The must-order is the queso taco—crispy, cheesy and dripping in broth—but you can also load up on birria burritos, nachos and even a cult-fave birria ramen. There’s a mushroom option that more than holds its own, plus chicken, with goat reportedly on the way.
Insider Intel
- Keep an eye on their specials board—expect birria to pop up in tortas, tamales and other limited-run drops.
Papi's Birria
147 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Papi's Birria | Instagram
After building a cult following with a food truck in Haberfield (and later Carlton), Papi's Birria has settled into their latest Darlinghurst address—and the hype hasn’t slowed.
The signature birria tacos are built with a rich blend of beef cuts, slow-cooked until fall-apart tender and served with a deeply spiced consommé made for dunking. Tortillas hit the grill with a generous layer of cheese, crisping at the edges into those golden, lacy bits that regulars know not to skip.
Beyond the OG birria, the expanded menu leans into regional Mexican flavours. Think slow-braised carnitas with citrusy depth, al pastor-style pork paired with pineapple, plus plant-based options featuring nopales. Sides bring smoky refried beans and charred salsas, while drinks like cinnamon-spiked horchata and bright agua fresca are made in-house.
Insider Intel
- There’s even a dessert lineup with fluffy churros and fruit cups dusted in tangy-spicy seasoning.
Chololo
Various Locations
Image credit: Chololo | Instagram
Taking the game to new heights is Chololo, with locations across Newtown, Blacktown and St Leonards. They tell us they decided to hop on the birria taco train after seeing the digital frenzy. “It initially started as a craving fueled by a bombardment of birria tacos on social media. We decided to make our own and after a while and saw that a lot of other Sydneysiders wanted to try it too.”
Opening from 5.30pm - 10.30pm, Chololo targets the street food crowd, which is where birria tacos really shine (although, in Tijuana, where a lot of the LA scene draws inspo, this is breakfast food).
Insider Intel
- These guys are not hardline traditionalists either and have concocted a birria ramen too, which is just the pinnacle of cross-cultural mash-ups.
Olotl
12 King Street, Newtown
Image credit: Olotl | Instagram
Named after the Aztec word for the heart of the corn, Olotl in Newtown is all about soul (and seriously good tortillas). After building a cult following with weekend pop-ups, this mother-daughter taqueria now has a permanent King Street home—and it’s usually packed.
Blanca Perera and Blanca Mejia bring generations of family recipes to the menu, including a deeply layered mole verde taco based on a decades-old recipe that simmers all day. The birria taco is a standout too, while vegetarians can dive into mushroom and cheese quesadillas or plant-based mole and birria options.
The handmade corn tortillas are the foundation of it all: soft, smooth and pressed fresh in big weekend batches.
Insider Intel
- Tamales land in ultra-limited quantities, alongside cups of Mexican cacao and sweet conchas for a full morning spread.
Señor Toro
13-15 Doonside Road, Doonside
Image credit: Señor Toro | Instagram
The birria taco wave has officially hit Doonside—and Señor Toro is taking the reigns. This vibrant local spot leans all the way in on colour, spice and comforting, slow-cooked goodness.
The hero order is the quesabirria: tender beef simmered low and slow, tucked into a cheese-crusted tortilla and served with rich consommé for dipping. Finished with fresh onion and coriander, it’s juicy, messy and absolutely worth the extra napkins.
Insider Intel
- Order it extra crispy and don’t skip the consommé—half the fun is the dunk.
Main image credit: Radio Taco | Instagram
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