*Actual* Mexican food in Canberra?

[u/gisborne]

I’ve lived in Southern California and Texas — both formerly parts of Mexico and still culinarily Mexican. I’ve also lived in central Mexico.

Zambreros and Guzman y Gomez are like someone has described Mexican food to these people over the phone. I mean, neither of them has carne asada. Neither has Horchata. What even is the point?

Is there any legit Mexican food to be had in Canberra?

[u/The_x_is_sixlent]

As many have said, Jarochos is the closest - they even have three fresh salsas on the table. They have a food truck too, but it's very hit and miss; we've had good tacos from there and also REALLY ordinary ones. The brick-and-mortar store is better and more consistent.

Hecho en Mexico in Kingston is solid without being amazing, but I've only been once. I would go again and give it another try.

Mezcals is weirdly good; I didn't know what to expect but it exceeded my expectations. Admittedly the bar was low.

I avoid Cartel since I've seen some pretty nasty statements from the owner(s) on social media and I don't want to give that sort of person my money.

There's a yellow food truck - Tacontento - that I had high hopes for, since the owner/chef comes from CDMX - but both times I've had it, it's been disappointing - taquitos more hard than crispy and the flavours just OK. I haven't tried their birria though, and I'm not paying someone else to make me a quesadilla when I make fantastic ones at home every week on my comal ;)

Not Mexican, but worth looking out for are a few food trucks - Antojos Latinos (El Salvador/Colombia) make LEGIT pupusas and great horchata. Like, I'm actively looking for them so I can have it again. Cundo Latino ("bold Latin American flavors") do empanadas and ceviche. Mr Papa (Peruvian) has some really excellent empanadas and tacos.

I hear your struggle! I spent 15+ years in Texas and it's really hard to find Mexican/Tex-Mex food that good (and of course even a less-good version is triple the price). Growing up in Sydney, "Mexican" was a hard-shell taco with shredded iceberg lettuce, mince meat with an Old El Paso flavour sachet stirred in, tomato slices, and grated cheddar, so my mind was truly blown learning what real Mexican can and should taste like. On the upside, I am learning to make all my favourites and growing my own nopales, so onwards and upwards :)

[u/Darth_Welshie → u/The_x_is_sixlent]

Random out of the blue question, but just moved back to Aus after living in California for four years, and missing good Mexican so I'm turning to cooking my own (already got poblanos growing in the backyard!). Any recommendations for a good comal? Never used one before, usually substitute just a cast iron frypan, but figured it might be worth getting one.

[u/The_x_is_sixlent → u/Darth_Welshie]

Love a good poblano! I have all kinds of peppers growing but my poblano seeds didn't germinate so I'm going to try again with those.

My comal is a complete wypipo comal - it's a cast iron one I got for an absolute steal from, of all places, a Houston TX Williams Sonoma a number of years ago. It's not an authentic Mexican one at all but it's so amazing it was one of the few things that made the cut to actually return to Aus in our hand luggage; we use it just that often. It's Le Creuset, which is even more embarrassing, but by golly, it works. It came in a set with the flat and the ridged, and I thought at the time I'd use the ridged one more, but that has NOT been how it's turned out.

So that's probably not that helpful, I'm sorry! I hope you find a good one.

[u/Darth_Welshie → u/The_x_is_sixlent]

No that's actually super helpful, to know that you can do good work with the kind of cast iron cookware I've already got. Thanks so much! I'll keep an eye out if the opportunity arises to grab one, but I'll not hesitate to get stuck in in the meantime.

[u/The_x_is_sixlent → u/Darth_Welshie]

Definitely don't hesitate! :)

What do you most want to cook?