Sluurpy > Restaurants in Auckland Central > Mexico

Review Mexico - Auckland Central

Shamim Shadfar
I really enjoyed having dinner with my bestie there :) Atmosphere, music, food, decoration…everything was good, BUT what made me giving five stars is two of the staff: Aimee and Bronnie xx They are the BEST Super nice, friendly, helpful, and with a great positive energy❤️❤️ Thanks a lot!
grace-ann lopes
Food was average.. didn’t really taste like Mexican food. Atmosphere was great! Fun, dark, not too loud. They getting 4 star because of Gabriella! She was amazing, kind and very professional. My partner gave her a tip and made sure she kept to herself! Definitely keen her on 😊
J L
Had a wonderful meal here with my sister. Decided last minute to eat in Ponsonby and was attracted by the vibes and decor of the place. We were ushered in by the most friendly staff, Oliver, who then took our orders with wit and attentiveness. Drinks and food arrived quite quickly, and were all beautifully made with fresh ingredients. We ordered the guacamole and chips, pork belly and a selection of tacos. Really can’t think of anything to complain about except if they could sell the guac in large containers to take home. The cocktails were also fresh and well balanced - with even sugar free varieties offered. I look forward to returning to this gem of a place soon with great anticipation to try out the other items on the menu.
Eru Ihaka
Went out for dinner amd drinks with my friends and was helped by the two loveliest girls, Ella and Gabriella. They were very busy but still ensured we enjoyed our evening, very grateful to these two and would highly recommend! 10/10 experience
Nick Pitt
A delicious restaurant - some of the nicest Mexican food I’ve had for a while. Unlike some, the portion sizes were not massive, nor were the dishes drowning in cheese. The drinks were good too - my Bohemian beer was an excellent Mexican Pilsner (who knew?) while the lemon lime soda tasted much nicer than a usual soft drink.
BAILEYWOOD Ch
if i could rate the service higher, i’d rate it 20. loveliest staff i’ve ever met and food is of course (as always) phenomenal!!!
Nick Jenness
Awesome little restaurant. Staff are very friendly and had good banter. Food was lovely and good size portions. I left there very full. Highly recommended AAA +++
James Gerbich
Really enjoyed our visit. Service was friendly and attentive, food came out quickly and was delicious!! Highly recommend.
Suan Yeo
Food is amazing here. Mexico chicken, croquettes, fish tacos, pork carnitas tacos were the standout. The sangria is very refreshing as well. Service is a little slow (we waited almost 40 mins for tacos because I think they forgot our order). reservations needed for dinner or come after 830pm. Will come back again but better service please!
Jeff Walker (Code Ranger)
Good was excellent. Service and atmosphere were good. Only thing that could have been better was the mezcal flight. It seemed to highlight their mixers instead of the mezcal.
Michael Davidson
The food was amazing here when I came with a few colleagues. The tacos were fantastic (I had the chicken, pork and beef) and the snacks were tried were also great (the corn, croquettes and Mexican chicken). The place does seem slightly crowded though and our food did take a long time to come out, but I'd probably still come here again if I'm craving the delicious food.
Debbie Nik
As the name suggests, this is a Mexican restaurant with Latino offerings. They have a wide selection of margaritas which were delicious and refreshing. Food was great, the crispy chicken and quesadillas were the highlight, the churros came out warm, very drool worthy. Service was friendly, not a long wait for food, with lots of street parking available.
Corey Dick
Awesome frozen margaritas and food is fresh and tasty well worth visit for a fair price.
Luke Benson
We only came here for drinks but it looked like a good eatery with surprisingly interesting vegan options. The melon and mint Margherita option was lovely and refreshing - the others looked to much for me.
T Trifonoff
Fantastic atmosphere, friendly staff and fabulous food! Even though there were plenty of other people inside, the food was delivered in record time. We also really enjoyed the margaritas and were lucky enough to get the deal with tacos. The fried chicken was absolutely tasty, though less spicy than expected - easily solved with the yummy hot sauce provided. Had a lovely experience here and would definitely recommend!
Crytos
Great place for a bite to eat, relatively quiet and friendly service. Came for lunch, but you can tell nights will be exceptionally loud due to where it's located on Ponsonby Road. The food is delicious, comes as it's ready so just keep ordering and you won't be disappointed! The fried chicken is amazing too!
javier yebenes
Excellent food and good atmosphere. Recommended!
Stphn
I went to Mexico Ponsonby and had a terrible experience. Firstly, they did not have payWave so you had to order online in order to use contactless payment. I ordered a Lamb Quesadilla, but when I got home I opened the box and it was a Chicken Quesadilla. Although the box was labelled Lamb Quesadilla. I was very annoyed but I called back and they offered to make another one but I was not going to drive back just to pick up another one. They said they could give me a refund if I emailed them my bank details, but they have not responded to my email or processed a refund. I am never ordering from here again.
Ling Nieh
This is my first time to the Takapuna restaurant, and only the second time to Mexico.<br/><br/>The three of us all ordered from the lunch menu, $16 for the soft shell tacos and $20 for the wrap. <br/><br/>The portion was too small to be called lunch. <br/><br/>There is no worse feeling than not getting enough food at a restaurant.<br/><br/>What is the restaurant is trying to achieve by putting something on the lunch menu deal when the serving size is so far from feeding your customers sufficiently?<br/><br/>It is such an awkward vibe when none of us had enough to eat. When the waiter came to clear the plates, he asked if we’d like to order anything else to eat, as though he also felt like there’s no way we could be satisfied after two tiny soft shell tacos which won’t even fill a 5-year-old.<br/><br/>
Pandadrools
Weekend vibes @mexiconz Ponsonby 🇲🇽 🌮 <br/>.<br/>Loved the ambience with caged lightings, ethnic murals and liquor bottle walls. Here’s some highlights from our dinner:<br/>.<br/>Lamb Quesadilla 🥙 $19<br/>This is great value, came with 8 pieces of quesadilla. The griddled tortilla is filled with slowed cooked lamb and cheese, mmmm.<br/><br/>Stuffed Jalapeños 🌶 $18<br/>Jalapeño peppers wrapped in bacon, it’s juicy and bursting flavors with a punch of heat afterwards, loved it!<br/><br/>Fried chicken 🍗 $16<br/>This is their signature dish👌🏼<br/>.<br/>Haven’t had Mexican food for so long since I moved back from LA, happy to have found @mexiconz! Gracias!<br/>.<br/>😋Taste 4.4/5<br/>📍Ponsonby
MCP
Went in for the limited edition spicy taco - ended up ordering a lot of other food! We order the spicy taco, lamb taco, cauliflower, mushroom and fried chicken! they were all so good! if you like spicy food, you gotta try the spicy taco; it’s really refreshing with perfect heat! the fried chicken, cauliflower and mushroom came with creamy mayo and super crunchy! will be coming back 😋
Angela8273
I really believe Mexico should not be called “Mexico”. How could you call yourself Mexico and shy so far away from the actual, authenticity of Mexican food? The tacos lacked the depth of flavour real Mexican food , literally 0 to none spice, where’s the salsa? Honestly, I’m baffled! I walked into Mexico with a pre judgement that it would taste somewhat or remind me of Mexico! I’m shocked at how disappointed I was and the price! I don’t even want to begin to talk about the price vs. quantity. Never coming back
Aanahera
Mexico Ponsonby, really slow service. We ordered prawn soft shell prawn taco, pulled lamb quesadilla, chicken quesadilla, ribs, nachos. The prawn taco have two prawns heavily coated in batter, more batter than prawns and tasteless. The quesadilla had barely any meat - bread, small amount of meat, small amount of cheese and that&#039;s it. No flavour. Ribs were there most awful I have ever eaten - dry, almost no sauce at all. We ate two and left the rest. Nachos were the best dish, margaritas were nice however I will not return for food
Emily
Mexico is one of those spots where you always go in with high hopes but then always leave a bit disappointed. Food is always delish but service needs work, the staff are obviously bribed with fried chicken to turn over the tables 15 times in one night because you’re rushed to finish every time without fault. But I always come crawling back because of those bloody magrz and fried chook
Hannah
I came here with my fam and loved it! Although it’s super loud and a pretty buzzy atmosphere, it’s really enjoyable if you don’t mind yelling across the table to chat 😛 <br/><br/>I had the jackfruit taco, tempura eggplant special taco, the chickpea patatas and then the vegan chocolate dessert. I tell ya, what a feast. The portion sizes looked small but were actually great! Really awesome flavours and surprisingly filling! I would 100% come back, maybe with a group of friends so we can try some more cocktails 🍸 <br/><br/>Service was really friendly, and super fast. Can’t fault it.
Karina
Mexico is one of my fav restaurants ever!! Ponsonby one is my 2nd fav after the Taka one. Love the food - faves are the guacamole & chicken quesadilla. Love the Mexican sodas aswell my fav are the - white cola & raspberry and cucumber. Food is amazing and staff is lovely. Best Mexican in Akl :)) Definitely recommend!!!
Neha Goomer
Good food, had lots of vegetarian options. We ordered almost everything vegetarian on their menu and nothing disappointed. It was bit crowded with loud music but good food made for it.
Josh Hall
I used to enjoy Mexico but I find the food a bit uninspired now and the prices have increased steadily the last few years. It's overly sugary and sickly - not at all like traditional Mexican. Still enjoyable enough, but would be nice to have a real Mexican place here.
Bayley
Live for Mexico. Prefer the Takapuna location as I think the staff are a bit friendlier there! They got a bit strange about us using our work discount there, but did end up putting it through :) fried chicken of course can’t be missed. Great sangria too!
Gem
Love this Mexico! This is our new favourite. Usually we go to Ellerslie. We recently came here on a Friday night, it was very busy but was a great atmosphere and great vibe. We sat up in the stools and leaner and it was quite a cosy spot. Absolutely loved all of the food; we had Patatas, Mexico fried chicken, soft shell tacos (the beef, fish and prawn), Esquites and an amazing baked white chocolate cheesecake! They were ALL amazing! The White Cola is delicious too. From the fantastic service to the food and awesome vibe (plus the perks of the I love Mexico card) it was all next level and will be our new regular!
Mary Underwood
In a great location with easier parking down the side streets. Met up with friends for lunch. I had the beef soft taco which sadly was average at best. The most was not tender but chewy, like chuck steak. Sadly my taco was soggy. The slaw which was added was steeped in liquid. By the time it came to the table, the taco was soggy and needed to be drained. Great fire to the taco but that was about it. Only marking up as our waitress was super friendly and the virgin sangria was yum. Other than that, portions are getting smaller.
Dani
The first thing that I loved about this place was the set up of the store. Groovy and cool vibes all round which is my kinda thing. The black bean dip and quesadillas are super tasty, however, I do think it is quite pricey for the small portions that they give hence why an average rating. Customer service was good though however, wouldn't come here occasionally.
Warren
Late afternoon shopping in Ponsonby, start getting hungry and want a snack before finishing up. Enter Mexico... <br/><br/>Having visited their Takapuna store many times there is a comfort in knowing what you are about to order and eat.<br/><br/>We are welcomed into the restaurant and seated by our friendly waitress. We place our order ( didn’t really need to look at the menu) afternoon snack of Mexico Fried Chicken, one of their speciality’s. Food arrives shortly there after and it’s exactly what the doctor ordered. Great as always!!!<br/><br/>If you haven’t eaten here before there are plenty of other goodies to try on the menu: worth a mention is their soft shell tacos, they always go down a treat!<br/><br/>Food: 75%<br/>Ambience: 78%<br/>Service: 80%<br/>Coffee: N/A
Alas
The staff are friendly and helpful. Had someone who was dairy intolerant and was willing to cater for their needs regardless. The margarita all always good. Drinks are always good here. Food is always close to Mexican Street food. Food and one cocktail each for two people was $75.
Dxlche
Came here on a rainy Friday for dinner. We were seated fast and ordered our food fast too. We got 6 soft shell tacos, the quesadilla special, the fried chicken and three sodas. <br/>The fried chicken was overpriced at $16, as there was only maybe 6/7 pieces. The tacos were a good deal. We tried the fish, beef, chicken and lamb. The lamb was by far the best. It was tender and well sauced. <br/>The fish was slightly underwhelming. <br/>Overall the service was great, the girls were very attentive and friendly. The bill came to $111 between three people, which left all of us very filled.
Georgia Vossen
I’ve heard a lot about this place! And a lot of great things! And man it really lives up to it’s reputation. The tacos are INSANE. My chicken one, oh my lordy I wish I could describe to what level it was so amazing at. The sauce just made it, 10/10 for that. My cauliflower was really good too but not quite to the standard of the chicken. Prices are not bad! $7 per taco, not bad for how delicious they are. <br/>Starters were stunning too, the corn with the blackened onion crema... drool. Never knew burnt stuff mixed with creamy onion sauce could be good! <br/>Service really lovely too, cool spot right on Ponsonby road. <br/>Just thought sangria was a bit meh, compared with the large jug from little easy up the road for $20 at happy hour, with the one I got at México in a smallish bottle thing for $30 and a few bits of fruit I thought it was very over priced. Also not extremely into spicey spicey so a bit annoying you can’t adjust spiciness on meals but I guess that makes things more difficult for them. Everything on menu is a set spiciness. <br/>Will DEFINITELY be back though, tacos woo!
Shannon
I find the food at Mexico pretty average for the price - portions are small. We came to the Ponsonby location at the weekend and shared a mushroom quesadilla which was too salty and too spicy as well even though on the menu it only had one chilli icon next to it. The broccoli salad was pretty tasty however. I also ordered a pinot noir and it was served in a highball glass - was pretty unimpressed. On a positive note the service was really good however I would not come back just for that.
AK
My mother and I came here for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. The service was attentive and friendly, and the vibe and decoration of the restaurant added to the overall dining experience. We ordered margaritas and a sangria to drink, both of which were yummy and nicely presented. To eat we ordered the roasted corn with queso fresco, onion crema and flour tortillas, a fish taco, a beef taco and the pork belly with carrot/turmeric purée and a fresh and crunchy fennel salad. Everything we ordered was incredibly delicious with a great flavour, with the corn dish being a standout. We will definitely be back again!
Ryan Wong
Always enjoyed coming here the service has been great, food is delicious. It's on the pricier side but you get the awesome ambiance of being in Mexico with the cook decorations. The food menu is minimalistic which is not a bad thing and drinks menu plentiful which most will appreciate! I did order a brownie dessert and got an allergic reaction (nuts) even though it was confirmed there were none in the dessert and was likely cross contaminated. I wasn't feeling ill for the rest of the night however the manager took the drinks tab off our bill which was nice sentiment.
Oksana Zhang
We weren’t feeling much of an appetite so we ordered a Sopes, Chickpea Patatas, a Xocolate Mole Beef Taco, and a Slaw to share between 2. <br/><br/>Presentation is always nice and creative. Slaw was a bit disappointing, lacked flavour and was very watery. Texture was ok though, sunflower seeds saved it. <br/><br/>Sopes was interesting; you have a dense cornflower cup with some mushroom in it, topped with purple cabbage and some other garnish. Lacked flavour once again. <br/>Chickpea Patatas was interesting. Looked like tofu but I believe was made of chickpea and sat in a golden bed of chickpea purée; good flavours here! <br/>Xocolate mole beef taco wasn’t as good as I remembered it to be; portion was a lot smaller than last time too, kind of disappointing. <br/><br/>Split between 2 it’ll set you back by ~$23.60. <br/><br/>Food: 6/10 <br/>Price: 6/10<br/>Ambience: 8/10<br/>Service: 7/10<br/>
Shalom Ngaro
After a disappointing experience at Mexico Ellerslie, I was hesitant to try another Mexico restaurant. However my family and I went there for lunch today and were very pleased with both the awesome customer service and food as well. The food came out quite fast and tasted fresh and delicious, the wings took a little longer than they should have and the waiter told us straight away that he would waive them off our bill because of the wait. My parents are already talking about taking their friends back to eat here!
Katherine Ann-Marie
Where do I start on how amazing the team at Mexico in Ponsonby are! I am blown away every time I come, and I am a regular visitor to the best restaurant in the CBD. The food is always fresh, delicious and paired with impeccable service from start to finish. When I have made bookings and brought family along, they always do their best to find us a table and make sure we are looked after every time. Top quality, attention to detail in every respect. This Mexico is the BEST out of all of them, and we will always be back! I could not recommend this place more for a fantastic night!
Bring The Hot Sauce
I looooove Mexican food. Like LOVE. Unfortunately Mexico Ponsonby has let me down recently. The last two times I've been they were not able to provide me with guacamole. A Mexican restaurant with no guac!!! Not ideal.<br/>Tacos and quesadillas were ok. Easy dinner out but pretty underwhelming unfortunately 😒
Titeuf
The margaritas were superb and very much worth the price!! The food was also really nice and juicy, maybe a tad expensive for the quantity of what you get though. Atmosphere and service was great - love it :)
Sakshi Chadha
I'm a fan of Mexican food, so I loved Mexico simply for the fact that it's a Mexican restaurant. I was really happy with their fast service and super-friendly staff! The food was delicious as well. I tried the Cauliflower Florets and Chimichangas. Oh, not to forget, the dips they serve with the food were just as appetising!
Miracle Roi
Been here once with my cousin just randomly decided to try this place out and left with no regrets. Lovely service very friendly aswell I think it might have been the waiter who actually got us to eat there but the food made us stay longer. The food was just exceptional, we both love spicy and was blown away with the food. Not really sure how long we waited as we were distracted by the interior. The design of the place is just beautiful, atmosphere, furniture just everything just made us feel like we were in another country including the washrooms lols. The desert was delicious aswell u think if we didn't get carried away with the mains and sides we would of finished out desert. Overall I would definitely love to go back and would definitely recommend this place to eat at.
Luke Meadowcroft
Mexico is a great affordable Mexican restaurants. The food is great and flavourful with a wide range of different meals options. I would definitely recommend the beef quesadilla
Teddy Summers
Attempted to eat at Mexico Ponsonby. After waiting approximately 4-5 minutes in clear view of staff without being acknowledged from staff that saw my partner and I enter .We left. If you want customer service don't come here as it doesn't exist. Instead we went to Ponsonby central and had Chop Chop Japanese fusion. ( This was 2pm on Friday the lunch rush had finished ) Terrible customer service! !!
Nikita Rowe Walker
Went for my partners birthday flavours weren't really fully executed (I'm a big Mexican food enthusiast) I didn't really get many flavours everything was quite bland but well presented so first impressions were good, on eating though it wasn't the most well flavoured food, it needed salt but there was no salt around and staff were too busy telling everyone it was last call for meals and drinks (we came in late and being a public holiday it was understandable) my partners meal was inedible and it was her birthday so it was even more disappointing not being able to eat, their vegetarian range was pretty average and the food was below average. Drinks were well mixed though. Staff were pretty friendly but you could tell they wanted to leave which made the whole experience a little bit uncomfortable. Ponsonby food hype has let me down once again.
Anitha Narayan
Nothing prepared us for the evening at Mexico... from the minute we walked in - the service was outstanding, food out of the world and ambience and music perfect! The only feedback I have: Reduce the amount of ice in the margaritas and perhaps spice up the pumpkin quesadilla- a tad too sweet for my liking.
Frank
We like it here so much we came back two weekends in a row :-) Sunday evenings with their free kids meals are great. The fitout here is a work of art, the location is superb on the main P Rd drag, and service is always quick and friendly. The menu can feel a bit on the small side, but the options are fantastic, especially the fish tacos! And of course every raves about the chicken! Definitely a fun place and great for meeting friends, make it your first stop of the night!
Charlene Weaver
Yummy Mexican food! I've been to Mexico and I'm yet to find authentic Mexican food in Auckland.. however this place has a really nice atmosphere and vibe to it and I definately prefer Mexico to Mexicali. <br/><br/>We ordered the 3 cheese quesadilla, pork belly taco and the chips with guacamole (free when you sign up and give them your email address). The quesadilla was really good however the sauce it came with was the highlight! The pork belly taco was also delicious, however the pork belly meat had no crispy crackling bits which was a shame, and the pork wasn't as soft as you'd expect. I did love the flavours and the apple with it though. The chips and guacamole was a perfect starter, the guacamole was spicy and tangy. <br/><br/>We also ordered a jug of sangria to share which was great! Overall a sweet spot to enjoy some Mexican food.
Ayaan
Where we always come to get out Mexican fix quesadillas so good,feelings satisfied once again thanks guys 🤓 till we meet again keep up the great work
Niyaz Noor Ali
Went there on Friday lunch. It was surprisingly crowded. We were 8 persons. <br/>Ordered quesadilla and fried chicken. Fried chicken was no special chicken. It was just like typical fast food KFC fried chicken. In fact, only 4 pieces for fried chicken were served. The quantity was too less for someone expecting a proper meal. It was like a 15$ starter which is not at all value for money. <br/>Moreover, all orders came after intervals. rather than all served together.  Will never visit here next time.
Benedict Uy
Came for lunch on the Monday and was surprised at how quiet it was. After perusing the menu we found a specials board around the back when looking around at the decor. Went with the beef mole and the crab albondigas and of course some of the fried chicken. The beef was really nice and tender but it was served with cold mash and beetroot which made it not as enjoyable to me. The albondigas was also quite good but you couldn't tell it was crab and I almost broke my teeth on what looks like really hard batter. The crisp corn masa served with the albondigas was amazing, almost like a chewy potato fritter. We tried the bunuelos special dessert and it wasn't very nice. The bunuelos themselves had the texture of raw dough. The tequila custard almost saved the dish but the salted caramel was just lumps of slight sweet salt rock hidden in the custard.<br/><br/>Although some aspects of the meal was good there were a few disappointing things which brought down the meal.
Samantha Brown
First time I have ever been to one of the Mexico restaurants as it was recommended to me by a friend. The decor is amazing, unique and makes your Mexican dining the full experience with bottles of tequila all stacked in the middle of the restaurant along with artwork expressing the Mexican culture covering all the walls. The portion sizes are very small (not your average restaurant) as they are more like entrée size so more than one should be ordered. However this means that you can therefore try more than one dish for the same price that you would normally pay for one dish at another restaurant. There is also a large selection of drinks with an onsite bar from which I had a jug of Mexican sangria. I also had some tequila shots (as pictured) and what I found very good was that there was detailed description of each of the tequila options in a book you could read through which also showed the origin and history of tequila. The waitress also comes and explains each of the shots including there ages, what's in the chasers and what sort of taste they have. The waitstaff are all very friendly however the main downside to Mexico is that it can get very busy and sometimes you have to wait hours before a table becomes available so I recommend booking in advance or going at a non peak time. Also because of the busyness this means it can be very loud and sometimes hard to hear the person who you are dining with talking.<br/>Overall I would recommend Mexico as it is unlike any restaurant I have been to before and should be experienced at least once in your life.
Amit Tripuraneni
Cool vibe but overall I'm disappointed with the service. Went after lunch rush hour and there weren't many people around. It took the wait staff 15 minutes after sitting me down to finally take the order. Food came out quick after the order. Fried chicken was good but the prawn taco was very average with dry tortilla. This is my fourth visit between Britomart and Ponsonby and the food definitely leaves you wanting for more. There are better Mexican joints in the city.
Katerina Berlova
We had a great time there with friends! Food came quickly, so as margaritas. Food is fresh and delicious as always. And their new membership deal is super! We will be back:)
Louise MacNaughton
Normally I would give Mexico a 5/5, but I've found that lately they've lowered their standards a bit. <br/><br/>Fried chicken always amazing I have to note, but I've been sent out cold and chewy food on more than one Occassion. <br/><br/>This is a great place to go for some delicious high intensity flavoured tapas. It can get quite pricy, but I would say it's worth it.
Queena
First time here. Came here with a bunch of friends and workmates for dinner. Quite busy for a Tuesday night. <br/><br/>Asked the waitress what she recommended. She recommended a few so I chose out of the ones she recommended. Got the "crumbed avocado, frijoles, queso fresco, tomato picoi de Gallo" soft shell taco ($7) and the "chicken in a Guajillo adobo, parsley, zucchini & tomatillo salsa" quesadilla ($15). <br/><br/>Was quite hungry and was expecting quite decent portions from a Mexican restaurant. But the soft shell taco was quite small.... Was a bit disappointed when that arrived. Barely a starter even. When the quesadilla arrived, there was only 4 pieces. And nothing else to it. <br/><br/>Also got a jug/carafe of "Tinto" sangria and that was pretty good! 🍹👍🏼<br/><br/>Overall, wasn't too full eating here. But I have to say that the crumbed avocado was a first and was pretty impressive. I liked it. The flavours and presentation was nice here. But portions were quite small for what they charged. <br/><br/>Few of my friends were quite disappointed with their small portions considering the price of it. Definitely room for more after dining here. Probably wouldn't come back unless there was some sort of occasion. Atmosphere was nice and service wasn't bad either.
L.E.N.S
Popped in to Mexico with a friend last Saturday just for a little nibble. Mexico hands down has such a cool vibe, with Mexican pop-art all over the walls, funky lighting and a social, open plan seating arrangement with lots of long benches. <br/><br/>The food however, for me personally, has never been anything overwhelming. You can find all the Mexican/Latin favourites - tacos, quesadillas, nachos etc here, but I find the dishes to be a little on the simple side. Nothing outstanding- a fish taco is a fish taco. The flavours are good but safe. Prices are reasonable for a tapas type menu. Unfortunately the only picture I took was of the watermelon dessert, which was pretty average. But my favourites are the prawn tacos and the calamari and I think the winners of this restaurant are the Sangrias! The red wine sangria being my ultimate favourite.<br/><br/>Overall, funky and hip place to hang out. Perhaps come for a fun night out, expecting to enjoy the atmosphere, drinks and a few nibbles and not culinary masterpieces.
Ken Morrison
Went here with a large group last night. The service was up to expectation for a busy Saturday night and the atmosphere of the place is good for a Mexican restaurant. However I found the food very disappointing which followed up on my feelings from the last time I was here several years ago. There are a few very good Mexican restaurants in Auckland - but this and the others in this chain are not. We had a quasadilla and the filling was barely noticable. The lamb special - lamb meatballs on a bready base were overcooked and as a result tough and almost unedible. The fried chicken was also tough - if you want decent fried chicken go to KFC. The soft tacos were the best part of the meal but I can cook better at home. Highlight of the night was passionfruit and lime margaritas  - very tasty but not a lot of sign of alcohol in them. I will not be going back.
Michelle Hwang
Very impressive interior design and warm-hearted services. A good place to have a drink with friends. To be honestly, I prefer the drinks to dishes here. Did I achieve 140 characters?
Adel Ani Dl
I'v always loved Mexico .... Their guacamole is the best in town !!! The spicy chicken fried is amazing ... Very tasty and it is spicy .. I love spicy !!! If you are a Mexican food lover .... You should come over here ! Worth to try !
David B
Tonight they only had tacos & starters available which we weren't told about until seated.  The waiter announced the reduced menu then said we could go somewhere else if we wanted.  We ordered 2 fish taco, 1 beef, 1 chicken, 1 vegetarian.  The tortilla on the 2 fish hadn't seen the heat and was unpleasant.  The beef was average and had a strange taste to it.  Couldn't see the chicken at all - pointed this out to the waiter and was told it was 'shaved chicken' aka 'invisible chicken'.  We returned it and took another fish taco which was totally different from the first two.  We have been to Ellerslie and Britomart and had good food.  This was a total disappointment.  When we complained to the waitress she said sorry and smiled awkwardly.  Clearly something going wrong in the kitchen.  Won't be returning.
Caffeine Addict
I came here last Saturday night for the second time in about a year. I saw their menu had been revamped so I was keen to try it again.<br/><br/>The food is pretty damn tasty. Mexican food is known for having loads of flavor and Mexico delivers on this front. I like that they keep it simple and not too hot for my western palate. <br/><br/>We started off with the melon and mint margarita. It says a carafe is enough for two but with all the ice there was barely enough liquid to fill both our glasses and I couldn't taste any alcohol. The melon and mint flavor worked well; maybe the waitress though we wanted it virgin? (she could not have been more wrong)<br/><br/>Food was an easy choice: fried chicken (duh), chicken quesadilla, pork soft taco (special) and churros of course<br/><br/>It was plenty to share, however we did get a pork taco each which was amazing! Jump on that special asap. I've had the fried chicken before and it was delicious at the time but put me in all worlds of pain within hours. I found this time that it was no where near as spicy (praise Jesus) but still gave me an upset tummy by morning. I love fried chicken but won't be taking my chances on Mexico's take ever again.<br/><br/>Staff were attentive but disconnected by not looking me in the eye ever. Turning up at 8pm I though we would wait for a table but we got seated straight away and the food was super fast. <br/><br/>Its a little bit pricey but I think that's due to the drinks. I'd advise against getting a margarita and stick to the sangria if you want value for money (in alcohol %)
Food Adventures With AnnaJ
Im a big fan of Mexico and am a bit of a regular. Went to Ponsonby Mexico for a late dinner on a Sunday. We ordered the fried chicken (of course!), the pork sandwich and the special quesadilla which was cumin rubbed prawn. I also ordered the skirt steak taco as I wad super hungry. We were promptly brought the fried chicken. While the flavours were great as usually, the portion was ridiculously small. We both agreed ot was half the size we were expecting and were used too, especially for $16. The pork sandwich had yummy flavours but was difficult to eat and I ended up losing half of the fillings. The quesadilla had great overall flavours but it had minimal prawns in it which was disappointing. Highlight for me was the beef taco. Loved the crispy onion rings and the beef was melt in your mouth. <br/>The service was great as usual and I absolutely love the styling of Mexico but the food was nowhere near the standards I was used too! Will give it a few months and i will give it another try.
Kezia Lynch
Disappointed with this one too after all the hype! We were seated outside and while the atmosphere was fun, the service was poor. <br/>I went with a friend as we shared the chicken quesadilla, some soft shell taco and Mexico fried chicken. This would be the amount you would need for 2 reasonably hungry people as portions are quite little. While the tacos and chicken were quite good, the quesadilla was average - flavour and texture just didn't hit the mark. The redeeming menu features were definitely the churros (a freebie deal for signing up to the newsletter) and the beverages. <br/>I would go again but it wouldn't be a top pick of mine.
GandR
Worst service, waited an hour for a table that was promised to us only for them to ring us and tell us they didn't have a table anymore. Didn't give any other options and didn't really seem that sorry.
Sheena
We met up here for a little work catch up dinner. There were about 8 or 9 of us and the table we were seated on was slightly too small and because I came late I squeezed in on the side! Not sure if the portion sizes were mentioned in the beginning of the meal when everyone arrived, or whether the plates were designed for sharing or not, but everyone sorta chose their own thing! So I got the Mexican fried chicken not knowing the portions were snack sized haha. The chicken was delicious though! and spicy. We also shared a non-alcoholic jug between two of us which was so nice! <br/><br/>We also had a vegan friend who managed to talk with the waiter and get a salad made vegan for her which was super cool. <br/>Not too sure how many dishes I would need to get full but at least I know now that the plates are meant to be shared haha. Service was great — we were checked on multiple times during the meal and the wait staff were friendly!
Helena Chen
Came here for a work dinner in the early evening, we sat outside and the table was a bit small for us, but we managed. We ordered an array of dishes to share, with favourites including the guacamole, fried chicken and prawn tacos (so good). The sangria was also delicious and went so well with the meal. All the dishes arrived quickly and the staff were very attentive. Everything is a little on the small side, but it's great for sharing and trying out lots of things from the menu.
Laura
Fun and eccentric interior, great for a small group gathering! The menu is delicious, could be slightly better in some recipes. Would reccomend though for the younger adults.
Taylor Compain
I love stopping in at Mexico for a fast and delicious lunch or dinner. Their guacamole with house made tortilla chips is the best! I only wish some of their specials stayed around for longer, but I guess that wouldn't make them so special :) love the atmosphere so much and it's not too hard on the wallet. The only downside is that it's so popular that the waitlist on a busy night is something that can put a hamper on your taco cravings. The upside to that is that the turnover is pretty quick so you can always get in without too much of a wait :) my advice to you is never leave without trying their specialty Fried Chicken! And their signature Margherita's are always frequenting my Friday night order!
Lucy Zee
If you love being talked to condescendingly in an offensive attempt at Spanglish, then come here! If you haven't booked a table don't even consider being allowed to eat here, unless you love people looking at you like your entire body just popped up with oozing herpe like sores. <br/>If by some miracle chance you've been allowed into their fine Warehouse Stationery print and pva decopagéd, second hand stool eatery - be prepared for someone to breathe down your neck in hot sarcastic redbull and pall mall breath until you leave even hungrier than you arrived. The best way to end this experience is not leaving a tip for the incredible service and head home hungry, sober and sexless.
Lennie L
Mexico was the location of a Friday night Girl's Night, and we were very pleased with our choice. Our food arrived in good time, there was always someone around and ready to help, and our lovely waitress was always checking in. <br/><br/>We ordered dishes to share- the guacamole, esquites and fried chicken. The guac was a bit too chunky and difficult to eat but it was fresh and flavourful. We ran out of corn chips pretty quickly but an extra bowl was brought over when we asked for more. Can't fault the fried chicken which is famous for a reason, and the esquites got our tick of approval for taste, texture and colour. The plates were quite small though. We had the eggplant and cauliflower quesadillas- may have been the drinks but from memory they were quite similar in flavour and texture. They are great to share but nothing too special.<br/><br/>The tacos were the crowd favourite. I recommend the pork belly- bit of a crisp amongst the tender, juicy meat and sauces. The only fault was that it ended and I should have ordered two! I also had the prawn taco- delicious in its own right but overshadowed by the pork. We enjoyed our sangrias and margaritas, and ended the night on a churro note. They were cooked to perfection!<br/><br/>The reminder to leave the table by a certain time before the next booking is polite and well handled. However, when we were told there was space for us outside, there wasn't, and we were left standing amongst the other seated patrons. Although there was space inside it was clear they didn't want us at the table. This situation was rather awkward and not a nice way to end the night.<br/><br/>Mexico is a really fun time, if a slightly pricy one as you can get similar food at a nicer price elsewhere. However it's a great vibe and the place has personality!
Mikayla Plaziuk
Great fast service as per usual in Mexico. We were all starving and ordered lots which all came out reasonably fast one after another. The meatballs with pork and prawn on polenta was so yum as well as the prawn taco I have everytime I go to a Mexico joint. Overall really good they keep the reputation of the name to a high standard.
Jaya
If you sit outside, you'll actually have a good view of the city, the water, and Sky Tower. Pretty cool spot. Otherwise, inside is brimming with colourful walls and framed illustration. Love their quesadillas! Great people as well.
Mike Mayers
YUMMY, TRENDY, POPULAR, AMBIANCE, SERVICE, FRIENDLY, FLAVOUR, PERFECTION, QUIRKY, COMFORTABLE, BUSY, CHOICES <br/><br/>The atmosphere is always fantastic, and the staff have smiles on their faces that really boosts the mood. The bar staff are the most positive and friendliest I have encountered (SUBLIME MARGARITAS)<br/><br/>The food was amazing, and I would really recommend either the Sopes, or one of their Quesadillas ,which was so filling (and amazing), I even asked for a doggy bag to devour the rest of it later.<br/><br/>Overall,I found the food outstanding and the service excellent and without the "hovering" that many places tend to do in Ponsonby.<br/><br/>A great dining experience and value for money.
Tom Warden
Have been to this outlet many times over its lifetime. I visited there last weekend for the first time in several months. I was extremely disappointed. While the staff continue to be friendly and well mannered, the food is abysmal. The guacamole was a solid chuck of unripe avocado smeared in actual guacamole. Had to cut it up with our knife, but it's difficult when the avocado is rock hard. The beef brisket taco hadn't had the fat removed, so an overwhelming fatty flavour carried right through. Just gross. The pork belly taco was overwhelmingly salty. <br/>Not sure what's gone wrong there, but they've certainly lost their magic and love of food. Don't recommend.
Jess Pendergrast
I have visited Mexico several times. The restaurant is decorated in all things Mexican and the atmosphere is always lively It’s a great place if you want to catch up over a drink and a couple of tapa style dishes.<br/><br/>The food is yummy but you usually need to order quite a few dishes to fill you up. I usually order the free range fried chicken ($15), guacamole with corn chips ($8) and a couple of different soft shell taco ($7). My favourite flavour at the moment is the lamb picadillo with pomegranate, coriander, cos lettuce, candied petitas and chillis. If you have a sweet tooth then try their churros ($12) which come with a chocolate and caramel sauce- delish!<br/><br/>The food delicious but quite expensive once you add up how many dishes you need to get to fill you up. The last time I visited Mexico the service was really slow and I wasn’t overly impressed. While nothing beats their fried chicken, I probably won’t be returning again unless one of my friends really wants to go.
Captain Underpants
Been here a few times now and always leave happy. The staff are great, the food is awesome, and the atmosphere is super fun. Only complaint has to be that because they don't take bookings you risk it when you go in and if you have a wait they don't have a bar to wait in and instead you have to go down the road and wait at a different bar. Not a deal breaker but a bit annoying. Otherwise I love this place!
Sylvia H
I had an extremely frustrating experience here tonight.<br/>I have a dairy allergy but live near Mexico Britomart and often dine there without it being an issue. Therefore I didn't expect it to be any different at the Ponsonby branch.<br/><br/>When I ordered I asked our waiter to check whether what I'd order had dairy in, it did, so he came back and asked me what I'd like to order. I asked what was easiest to make dairy free and he went back to the kitchen and came back with an allergy spreadsheet, meanwhile all my friends food had arrived.<br/>I ordered according to the sheet but then another waiter came back and said that what i'd ordered had dairy in.  <br/>This second waiter then went to the kitchen to ask the chef what was possible and I ordered once again, funnily many of the dishes I'd originally ordered the first time were actually dairy free.Seconds later a dairy free dish I HADN'T ORDERED appeared, I told the waiter who laughed and said 'but they've made it dairy free'.<br/>Not wanting to cause even more of a fuss I cancelled one of the dishes I had ordered and ate what they had brought me, which was $10 more expensive than my chosen meal.<br/>The taco I had actually ordered which arrived next had undercooked pumpkin which is..interesting.<br/><br/>When we went up to pay, they hadn't cancelled the dairy dishes I'd initially ordered from the bill. After that had be sorted, I mentioned to the older woman on till (perhaps the manager) that I'd been brought a dish I hadn't ordered, a complaint to which she shrugged and offered no form of apology. <br/><br/>Given that lots of Mexican food doesn't actually have dairy I don't think It outrageous to expect there to have been a few dishes I could eat without such a fuss. Frankly given my father helped start Cafe Pacifico in London which Mexico is now aping I find it outstanding that they even put dairy in the guac. <br/><br/>People save up and want to enjoy a night out, good service is about your customers not about the waiters and whether they can be assed doing their job.
Wanderlust
I have been to Mexico Ponsonby approx 5 times, and last night was my last time. <br/><br/>The staff were just flat, rude and unwelcoming. I don't wish to be petty but hosting/waitressing basics are desperately required for the 3 staff we dealt with. The previous time I visited on a Sunday afternoon<br/> and it was nearly empty, and it took over 30 minutes for someone to take our dessert order. <br/><br/>I think this was a shame because the food was amazing. We got a range of dishes, they were fresh and you can appreciate every component of the meal. I really enjoy the cocktails and Sangria. Unfortunately the waitress was more interested in correcting my pronunciation when ordering, rather than getting my order right, which resulted in the wrong beverage. <br/><br/>They lay out is brilliant, the food great, price was reasonable, atmosphere was vibrant even for a Tuesday night. However the staff let the experience down.
Taemoata Fong
Great service everytime. Food is fantastic and I am never disappointed. Highly recommend the fried chicken and the soft shell taco A+ great ambience and did is always quick to arrive
Food Hon
Went to Mexico for my friends birthday dinner. The food was great! I shared guacamole, a chicken quesadilla and ceviche with another friend and it was all delicious. But unfortunately the service was horrendously bad. We weren't given water or water glasses when we had already ordered sangria jugs, which we had to get ourselves from the serving station. I accidentally spilt my own sangria when waiting for friends trying to get out of the table as it was so close to the bench and didn't offer a top up which I hadn't even drunk from. After 25 minutes of finishing our meals our plates were still at the table, which we personally had to move to another table to make room for the cake which was brought out on a cardboard box with no candles. At 9.10 they turned the lights on to signal for us to leave. So ridiculous.
Chloe-Mae
As all my Mexico reviews I love this place :-) never had a fail yet and we have been here MANY times had one to many tequilas more the. Once the food is to die for I love meixo
Christopher Anthony Peters
I was in last Wednesday after a work function to grab a couple of bowls of Mexico's awesome fried chicken. (Which is my favourite fried chicken in New Zealand) My best friend and my girlfriend were with me, unfortunately she had just gotten over the flu and was wrestling with a sore throat. Being considerate, I suggested she should only drink warm fluids while getting over the sore throat, as cold air as well as drinks seemed to make her cough. <br/><br/>Two of the waitresses apologized as there was currently nothing on the menu that would help her so she stuck to water. Your waiter whose name is 'Daniel' attended to us and upon hearing of our situation said he would ask the kitchen to put together a hot honey and lemon. <br/><br/>5 minutes later Daniel came out with a hot honey, Lemon and Ginger which he had put together himself due to the kitchen being busy. <br/><br/>Mexico does great food, amazing cocktails and above and beyond customer service. As well as a fantastic atmosphere for couples, friends and family.
Crumpet King
Hola Mexico!<br/><br/>I went with a trio of soft shelled tacos. It was a tricky decision but I managed to narrow it down to: chicken, pork, and prawn. The Chicken; Arrrriba! The Pork was also tasty, but it had a few fat chunks in it. Maybe it was there for juicyness n flavour? Because I love seafood the prawn should have had the most game. Sadly it lacked flavour in comparison with the other two. This soft shell also comes toasted/pan fried... Wha? I guess "technically" it's still a soft shell.<br/><br/>The other gringos ordered chicken quesadillas and the beef tacos. They all raved about the Beef and shot their guns in the air. (Dammit why did I chose the prawn?)<br/><br/>Our waiter mis-heard and only brought out one quesadilla initially. We waited for a bit but the second never came so we asked the waiter who gave a swift apology and had the second out smartly. Thanks dude all forgiven. The Gringos said because it came out so fast it wasn't as good as the first. We ordered a jug of Sangria. It was just your standard sangria, but I couldn't find fault with it.<br/><br/>If you are wanting a pleasant place to have dinner on a Friday - Mexico Ponsonby is reliable. If you want more of a bustling vibe come after 9pm - the semi liquored revellers are out hunting tacos. <br/><br/>Minor mishaps but our waiter was great, so points for service. Ladies: Eye candy behind the bar and front of house. Extra 0.5 points.<br/>
David Boshier
Nothing beats the fried chicken at Mexico. It is always crisp on the outside while being juicy and moist on the inside. Service is always quickly enough for a lunch stop during the business day. I have also found the food consistent across their Auckland branches.
Foodandwinefan
Tasty and reasonably priced. Would come back for the friend chicken and the tcos, but would give the fundido a miss, overall good flavors and yummy sangria which is also important!
Lauren
As soon as you walk into the store you are engulfed in a lively and amazing atmosphere. Mexico has delicious food and cocktails accompanied by friendly staff. A great place to catch up over drinks.
Kenji
Love this place! Was introduced to the place by a Mexican friend who said it came close to the real flavors of mexico. <br/><br/>I setting inside was beautiful with the paintings, pictures and graffiti on the walls. Waiters were really nice and kept checking on us to see if we were okay. Menu can look a little foreign at first but with the help of the waiter you should be fine. <br/><br/>Please try the fried Chicken!! its the Mexican KFC version but way better. <br/><br/>Place is popular so either pop in early or be prepared to wait. They don't do bookings for tables.
Paul
In summary. Skip Mexico in Ponsonby.  The chefs in Britomart are much much betterFood - Sent back the patatas as they were completely uncooked. Good they replaced it.   The Tacos was disgusting.  Iam suprissed of the difference with the Britomart outlet. the quality is bad.  Drinks - average Service - Didnt take feedback wellI see this outlet getting less and less popular every time. Not as busy as when they first openedNot going back to this outlet for sure
Jacqui Crawley
I love the soft taco chicken here. It is light and refreshing and tastes absolutely delicious... Tastes amazing. Totally recommend to anyone.
Wils
Great atmosphere great food. very friendly staff. Ordered a tinto sangria and was not disappointed highly recommend. Great waiter 5 stars for that<br/>
Neely O'Hara
Went here a couple of times, it was really hit or miss, one time it was great, the other time, not good at all. First time had a great guacamole, and superb soft tacos, the next time, the guacamole was bland, the tacos soggy, and the margarita was all ice no flavour and WAY too expensive. Hope it was a one time thing, but can't really say.
Scott
Went there on a saturday, just me and my wife. <br/>The place was pretty busy, great decor and the staff super friendly.<br/>Food tasted great, only minor gripe was the pulled pork taco was a bland and cold, which was a shame.<br/>
Corrine Byrne
The food was good although we had asked for very mildly spiced food but despite this the food came to us very spicy I could only eat half because of the spice.. Another disadvantage is the very small inside space .. We had a group of three and they squashed us onto a table that was made for two .. Overall was a bit disappointed
Kirsty Cardy
It hurts to write this review, because Mexico do so much right, and I love the place at heart. When the original Britomart outlet opened, I was hooked, frequenting every week or two, charmed to finally have real Mexican, fresh street food style with no cheddar cheese or sour cream in sight. I'd take friends from out of town to proudly show them one of Auckland's gems. I'd go home happy, with not a bad word to say.<br/><br/>When the Ponsonby outlet opened, I was disappointed that the food was too salty, but put it down to hiccups from newly opening. <br/><br/>Back again months later and the Ponsonby outlet hasn't improved all that much.<br/><br/>The vibe, decor and service is still top notch.. Everything you'd expect from such a hyped establishment. <br/><br/>But the signature fried chicken ain't what it used to be. What happened to the freeze dried citrus powder that set it apart from KFC? Now all we received was a bowl of slightly over cooked crumbed chicken.<br/><br/>The pork taco had more mayonnaise than pork, the beef taco had chewy beef, another couple hours of slow cooking would have solved that, and the ceviche came with a hair in it.<br/><br/>To Mexico's defence, the staff, as usual, dealt with this perfectly, bringing us a new plate and wiping it off the bill. Kudos Mexico.<br/><br/>The special prawn taco was amazing and reminded me why I fell in love with Mexico in the first place. <br/><br/>There's so much these guys do right, for that I'll keep going back, hoping they'll return to their former glory. And if they don't, then I may not be amazed, but I'll still be happy having had a great time with good food.
Phil Hodai
Took my mother here for Mother's Day this year. <br/><br/>Now before I get into the food I think it's best to mention that my mother is a very hard lady to please. She loves to find something to complain about everything and everyone. Before we got to the restaurant she assured me the food was going to be horrible as Mexican food is "Farty and Fatty".<br/><br/>However numerous tapas, quesadillas and margaritas later I could hardly drag her out of the place.<br/><br/>The atmosphere was great and the staff were super friendly. All the meals were tasty and most were gluten free - which is always a bonus! <br/><br/>Awesome place to go for a few casual drinks or just a tasty dinner. Will gladly go back anytime.<br/><br/>
Andy Jones
I regular this joint and enjoy the soft shell tacos. They're allways mixing it up so you never get tired of the same old things.<br/>Great atmosphere and HEAPS of tequila.<br/>My kinda place!
Courtney @ A Food Awakening
Mexico is where you can have boisterous vibes, cocktails and cheap Mexican eats. With its popularity the stores have begun to spread to other areas of the country after starting a few in Auckland. <br/><br/>I am a bit disappointed writing this review, because I had been to Mexico a few times before the change of the new menu, and tbh I was a fan of the cheap eats, even though they weren't authentic. There were definitely hits and misses with the new menu. I think the pork taco was a great choice, the pineapple salsa gives it a fresh flavour and brings a nice texture to it. Although the polenta chips were nice, they were just far too big and too filling, and with the blue cheese milk it was just too rich, and we agreed it would be nice if it was served with a chipotle aioli maybe. <br/><br/>The biggest disappointment were the filled gorditas, although the filling was nice, the gordita itself was so oily I couldn't even finish it, it dripped in oil and was just unappetising. Also I think they were $15, which makes its quite poor value for money. The dish we enjoyed the most was the blackboard special, the prawn tostaditas, it was light and fresh and kept on par with the Mexican theme. <br/><br/>Based on this experience, I would recommend they return to their original menu, why change whats already so good. <br/><br/>Rating<br/>Food: 6.5/10<br/>Service: 7/10<br/>Value for Money: Good<br/><br/>164 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby<br/>Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-Late
Shell Dewe
Served uncooked food that was inedible. Returned it to kitchen but were told "the chef says it's cooked" & asked if we wanted the rest of the dish back - after 2 staff had fingered it. (No thanks). When we got to the counter to pay, we were told we still had to pay for that item as "it's a matter of taste, you chose not to eat it". Again: it was UNCOOKED, 2 staff touched it & half was left in the kitchen. Disgusting customer service that ruined what started off as a good night.
Tessa Hall
I love Mexico, fried chicken and quesadillas are amazing! Really cool atmosphere! Better to go with a group then you can try heaps of different dishes!
Daisy
This place is way too noisy. Been here a couple of times just to make sure. The wine is served in thimble sized tumblers, two gulps and it's all over. The wait staff are a little too cool for school for my liking. Not really my sort of idea of a nice meal but the concept looks good. Definitely need to change the music and take some of the spice out of the dishes before I could even go back.
Carla Mardell
My husband and I often dine at Mexico in Britomart and would generally recommend it. <br/>I went with a work group arriving early on Friday for drinks and nibbles. As with work groups we spent a good hour and a half socialising ordering food and drink and then when things were winding down we were asked abruptly to vacate the table as soon as we could for other groups. There was no 'thank you for your custom' (a good 300/400 spend in the quieter hours) or could you move to the bar but a haughty 'we need this table for groups.' We also had resistance from waiting staff when we declined the offer of a table tab (have you seen the queues for people sorting out bills?) in favour of ordering and paying at the bar till for food and rounds of drinks. <br/>Manners go a long way - a little please and thank you would result in a pleasant experience and punters happy to return.
Claire Hahn
I have been wanting to eat at Mexico for some time and have been left extremely disappointed by the experience. We chose a time when it was very quiet so we could enjoy a quick meal with our children in a calmer environment. We ordered and the kids meals arrived promptly however we were left waiting for another hour before it transpired that the waitress had not given our order to the kitchen so my husband and I did not get to eat.
Jackson Beale
A really great take on Mexican food. Not what I'm used to, but loved it. I've always loved a good night on the tequila too!
Louise
I had a wonderful lunch a few days ago. The special mushroom tacos were to die for as were the watermelon martinis!<br/><br/>I was incredibly impressed by the service too - everybody had a positive attitude and were super efficient!<br/><br/>Highly recommended.
Toby Jug
I had high expectations of Mexico as I've heard some really good reports about it. We arrived early, around 6.30 and immediately got a table. The VERY enthusiastic waitress must of asked us four times if we wanted to order. The food was pleasant, not amazing, very much like Spanish tapas. The portions were on the teeny winnie side (plus a bit pricey). If you like your food with a bit of a kick make sure you ask for extra chilli otherwise it will be rather bland. The drinks were good though we had to wait ages when the waitress misplaced our order. As soon as we had finished our dishes the plates were whipped away...I got the impression they want you out ASAP. And we were asked several times if we wanted more food despite ordering plenty of small plates. Some customer service training wouldn't go amiss here.
Lee V
I love the decor of this place and parking was easy to find on the various side streets. We got a whole bunch of starters and a few mains to share, plus the red sangria which everyone loved. The food was hit and miss for me. Some foods, like the fried chicken, was tasty. But others seemed like they were trying to put a twist on mexican dishes and not fully succeeding.
Amy Tanabe
I love this place and have dined here a number of times including at the one in Britomart. The food is always delicious and the vibe always up-beat. Everything is reasonably priced and often arrives promptly.
Joanna
I went in to get a table for 5 of us first and was told I need to have most people here before I could be seated. There was plenty of seats too but they said they can't let me sit around waiting. <br/>Tacos are overpriced for just one and everything else was average. Best thing was the chicken and sangria. <br/>Waiter was very keen to clean up even when we still had food on the table and I actually had to tell him to stop taking our plates away because we weren't done.
Casey Mendiola
The food and staff are WAY better at Britomart, Ponsonby was definitely disappointing. The staff are rude and unhelpful, they didn't seem like they wanted to be there at all. We waited 25 minutes for our drinks, the food was quick but then no one ever came back to see if everything was ok or offer more drinks. The quesadillas were a little bland and lacking filling (apart from the mushroom one which seems way spicier than 1 chilli rating). Both tacos (beef and broccolini) were pretty bland as well. Fried chicken and the chickpea patatas were tasty.
Bhavesh
I have been to Mexico in Britomart and have had a great experience there. The Mexico Ponsonby branch was a different story. A friend and I went to the front counter and asked the person taking the orders if there was a table free. We could see they were busy. The rude reply was a hand pointing to the queue and a simple "wait in line" Not even a hello. Manners don't cost anything. Choose to dine at another restaurant. Thanks, but no thanks Mexico
Leigh Peters
Fiancee &amp; I went for a Sunday dinner and found it pretty hit and miss, unfortunately a little more miss than hit. <br/><br/>Hits:<br/>Atmosphere - cool space and vibe.<br/>Taco's - We had the fish and the duck, both were delicious.<br/>Fried Chicken - delicious.<br/>Chorizo - the chorizo in the chorizo in the chorizo and octopus kebab thingys was great.<br/><br/>Misses:<br/>Salsa - bland with no kick.<br/>Quesadilla - we had the chicken one - it was tasteless with out much filling.<br/>Octopus - so chewy and gross, and normally I love octopus.<br/>Very Very Hot Sauce - it's not very very hot at all, it's barely hot.<br/><br/>And the biggest miss of all - the red wine - would have been pushing to be 100ml maximum per glass - pathetic.
Rick V
More style than substance, portions small for the cost and not much flavour. Waiter got order wrong and when serving up gave wrong meals to people. When we left we didn't feel we eaten much at all, even after having a few items. For the cost we could have had a tasty full meal at a decent restaurant.
Stew Donaven
I went to check Mexico out as it seemed to be packed however was greatly let down. <br/>I had a taco and a specialty. The taco is extremely small, about 3-4 bites worth, and costs $6!! For that price I was expecting something to blow my mind but instead it was a run of the mill beef taco. The specialty was also undersized and the corn fritter was dry and lifeless. <br/>Overall this place is more hype than a great dinning experience. Overpriced and poor flavours.
Bloggie Annon
Highly recommend the duck soft shell taco they are a must try would definitely be my pick on the menu with a glazed duck skin duck drenched flavour I loved with the chewy soft shell balancing out the flavour well. <br/>Would also recommend the fried chicken my 2nd pick on the menu very nice seasoned crispy thick batter on the chicken with lovely refreshing cool mayo which leaves a spicy after taste in the mouth.<br/>Service was fast and accommodating.<br/>Environment had lovely wall painting of Mexican themes and decorations a little down side was having to shout to the people you were seated with to have a conversation as it was quite loud and hard to hear also the dinning space was a little cluttered.<br/>But overall we had a lovely experiance.
Monique Seil
I have always loved Mexico Britomart and the new Ponsonby one is just as great. I am lucky enough for it to be a few minutes from my house.<br/><br/>The fried chicken is the best I have ever had and I tried the tomato and cucumber salad which is fantastic!<br/><br/>The atmosphere is awesome! Always busy and lots going on. This is not a first date, deep in convo restaurant. It is a place to enjoy great food, great tequila and great people!<br/><br/>See you again soon :)
Jim Zoller
We ordered the guacamole and received a large scoop and 4 chips......Our friend ordered the spicy tomato soup and said it was extremely "pepper" hot. Other foods we ordered were very good but very small portions.<br/><br/>The music and atmosphere was way to loud!!!!! It was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation with the person across the table from you. If it is not raining it is safer to sit outside!!!
Jason Wong
This place has only been open one week and it is always busy. I have been to the Takapuna and Britomart restaurants of the same chain, and I have to say that the Ponsonby one is the best!<br/><br/>Whilst you have to wait for a table, once seated staff were friendly, fast to take our orders for drinks and food, then the food arrived very promptly.<br/><br/>Fish soft-shell taco - AMAZING! I had two of these and wanted more..... Also had the pork rib; duck and beef soft shell tacos and fried chicken which were also delicious.<br/><br/>A little too noisy inside to hear what my friend was saying during conversation but apart from that it was an excellent casual dining experience.<br/><br/>Like the Terminator says..... I'll Be Back!
Loritaa
Mexico Britomart, Takapuna and now Ponsonby. Britomart Hospitality has really created a funky venue for the trend-setters and seekers out there. Being my first time at the Ponsonby branch, it was a fresh take on Mexico (I haven't been for a good couple of months), and I have to say, this is probably my favourite spot out of the four in Auckland (haven't checked out Ellerslie branch yet). <br/><br/>What caught the eye:<br/>The decor of a restaurant (in my opinion) hugely contributes to the ambience of the whole place. I couldn't help noticing the brilliant wall artwork - grungy yet somehow chic - and the subtly dim lighting brightened by candles in large jars (a sophisticated yet unrefined touch) which I felt allowed the place to cater for all sorts of moods people may have been after, whether that be a romantic night out, a casual social gathering, after work drinks, or a family dinner. It is one of the more spacious Mexico venues, which I liked, because the others have layouts that make me feel a little claustrophobic or as if I'm supposed to be having dinner with the people on the next "table" (all squished up on long bench-like tables).<br/><br/>The food: <br/>The food quality and standard is pretty uniform across the three (can't speak for Ellerslie) restaurants, so no surprises or different options on the menu, but that's okay because the menu is always shaken up every few months to bring new options to the table. I personally think Mexico has always creatively blended "Mexican" flavours (although we all know it's far from authentic Mexican flavours) with all sorts of ingredients - fusion-y - that many of us would never have thought of marrying together. I think this is one of the reasons why people are always going back for more! Not to mention the affordable price tag that comes with it :)<br/><br/>I tried:<br/>* Prawns in spiced yeast batter w pineapple, chipotle mayo, watercress @ $6<br/>**NB: While this was a juicy and moist blend of flavours, I found the taste a bit bang-less. Needed a bit of a kick somewhere, or even a little bit more saltiness either with seasoning or sauce. <br/>* Special Menu - Quinoa Salad (w Ricotta and Crunchy Taco pieces) @ $12 - good choice! <br/>* Paloma Cocktail @ $14 - nice and tangy, refreshing and not too sweet, the right amount of alcohol kick.<br/>* Churros w coconut sugar, dulce de leche caramel, chocolate migas @ $12 - having had tried real dulce de leche (an absolute favourite of mine), this definitely was a diluted version of it; could hardly taste it. Coconut sugar was a unique twist to the brown-sugar/cinnamon original.<br/><br/>Budget:<br/>$$ - you definitely get your bang for your buck!!<br/><br/>Recommended for: <br/>Trend-setters, Trend-seekers, Weekly Dinner Dates, Fancy Group Feeds, Tequila Lovers, Budgeters with Style, Dinner-before-town Goers.<br/><br/>Mexico Ponsonby fits right in in the Ponsonby scene and has been well-welcomed with open arms by their visitors - it took them a while to get there though! ;)
Rebecca MacDonald
Mexico is one of my favourite places to eat, I love Mexican food and I love the small plates, perfect for sharing. The restaurant is decorated with all things Mexican and has a great buzz to it. Lighting is low, music plays and the conversation buzz is loud enough that you can only just hear your companions talk.<br/><br/>They have lots of little things on the menu, so the best is to order a whole lot and share with the table. Last night we each ordered a taco (me beef and my friend pork), both which were delicious and then shared the fried chicken. The fried chicken is one of my favourite things on the menu, it is spicy and comes with two dipping sauces which are an amazing combination.<br/><br/>Other things I have had in the past which are delicious is the red rice salad, the guacamole and corn chips (seasonal) and the churros.<br/><br/>Their drinks menu covers every mexican drink you could wish for, beers, margaritas and of course sangria.<br/><br/>I definitely recommend checking it out and I can't help but keep going back.
Nom Nom Panda
We ended up at Mexico Ponsonby more by chance than by design on New Year's Day, simply because everywhere we looked at was shut (including Ponsonby Central). I generally don't expect food at a chain restaurant to be good, but the menu at Mexico is actually quite interesting, and the food generally above average. The venue also has a great casual atmosphere, with lots of knick-knacks and artwork on the walls.<br/><br/>The dishes are meant to be shared (with the exception of the tacos), but actually many of them were difficult to share because of the way they were presented. The guacamole with corn chips only came with three chips, and as the restaurant was busy, we had to ask twice before we got some extra corn chips to eat with the dip. We also had to ask for side plates.<br/><br/>The most popular dish at our table was the esquites (sweet corn, coriander, chipotle butter w tortillas). The dessert of the day, bunuelas with coconut crema, also went down a treat, as deep-fried dough balls generally do. The other items we tried were unremarkable, neither amazing nor disgusting.<br/><br/>Neat place to hang out with a group, as they offer a good range of drinks.
Two Honest Truths
Auckland has a newfound love for Mexican food it seems. Mexico is popping up everywhere (stores opening in Ellerslie and even Christchurch) and they have many competitors nowadays. This newly opened one in Ponsonby was, no surprise, fully packed even on a weekday evening.<br/><br/>We ordered the Fried Chicken, Fish Taco, Beef Taco and the Octopus and Chorizo. The former three we felt were done better elsewhere (i.e. Miss Clawdy and the Lucky Taco respectively). However the Octopus and Chorizo dish we fully enjoyed. It was flavourful, a little spicy, and paired with a delicious salsa.<br/><br/>Drinks are refreshing and tasty - both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. They also have a very extensive Tequila selection.
Acai Bowls Affogato Agnolotti Alfredo Antipasti Apple pie Arancini Bacon Sandwich Bagels Baguette Beef Beef Bourguignon Beef Cheeks Beignets Bento (Lunch Box) Bento Don buri salmon Bibimbap Bolognese Bouillabaisse Breakfast Burrito Bruschette Burger Burrito Burrito Bowl Cakes Calamares Calamari Cannelloni Cannoli Carbonara Carrot Cake Catfish Ceviche Cheeseburger Cheesecake Cheesecakes Chicken And Waffles Chicken dishes Chicken Sandwich Chicken Wings Chili Chilli Chicken Chocolate mousse Chowder Clam Chowder Clams Club Sandwich Cobb Salad Cod Confit Coq au Vin Corn dogs Corned Beef Cotoletta Crab Crab Cake Crab Legs Crawfish Creme Brulee Crepes Croque Madame Croque Monsieur Croquettes Cupcakes Curry Dim Sum Donburi (Rice Bowl) Doner Kebab Donuts Duck Duck Confit Dumplings Eclairs Eggplant Eggs Benedict Escargot Fajitas Falafel Filet Mignon Fish Fish & Chips Fish and chips Fish Soup Fish Taco Focaccia Fondue French Fries French onion soup French Toast Fried rice Galettes Garlic Prawns Gazpacho Gelato Goat cheese salad Green Curry Grilled cheese Grilled pork Gyoza Halloumi Hamburgers Hokkien Mee Hot Dog Hot Pot Hummus Ice Cream Jambalaya Juice & Smoothies Kabobs Key lime pie Kung Pao Chicken Laksa Lamb Lamb chops Lamb Shoulder Lasagne Lobster Mac and cheese Macarons Macaroons Mandarin Duck Matzo Ball Soup Meatballs Meatloaf Meringue Miso ramen Moussaka Mussels Nachos New York Style Pizza Noodle Octopus Offal Omelette Oyster Pad Thai Paella Pancakes Parfait Pasta Pastrami Sandwich Patatas Bravas Peking Duck Pesto Pho Piadina Po' Boys Polenta Pork Pork Cheeks Pork Roll Poutine Prawns Profiteroles Prosciutto Quail Quiche Ragu Ramen Raw fish Red Curry Reuben sandwich Ribs Rice pudding Risotto Roast Beef Roast Chicken Roquefort Salad Salmon Salmon Salad Saltimbocca Sandwiches Sashimi Scallops Schnitzel Seafood Paella Seafood Platters Shabu Shabu Shawarma Shellfish Shrimp Sirloin Steak Snails Souvlaki spring rolls Steak Steak Frites Steak Sandwich Steak Tartare Stracciatella Suckling Pig Sukiyaki & Shabu Shabu Surf And Turf Swordfish T-Bone Steak Tacos Tagliatelle Tandoori Chicken Tapas Tarte Tatin Tataki Tater tots Tempura Tikka Masala Tiramisu Toasts Tomato Bread Tonkatsu Tonkotsu ramen Torte Tortellini Tortelloni Tortillas Toulouse sausage Tuna Tuna Melt Turkey Sandwich Udon Udon & Soba (Wheat & Buckwheat Noodle) vegan choice Veggie Burger Waffle Fries Waffles Waffles & Crepes Wild boar Wings Yakitori (Grilled Skewers)
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