Restaurant Of The Week: El Camino Cantina

We have a very talented culinary team at El Camino Cantina, led by Urban Purveyor Group (which owns this Tex-Mex mecca) culinary director Martin Heierling and his right-hand man, corporate executive chef Damien Brassel. Both have impressive culinary credentials, having worked in Michelin starred kitchens across the globe. They’ve worked together for a very long time and have opened numerous restaurants together, including Tex-Mex ventures in the United States. Their amigo chef de cuisine Gabor Denes is a long-standing chef with the business and has travelled extensively, so brings worldwide experience to the El Camino kitchen.

Eye candy:

Melissa Collison is the interior designer behind El Camino Cantina. However, much of the inspiration came from Urban Purveyor Group CEO Thomas Pash. Tom came to Australia from the US about 18 months ago. He lived and worked in Austin, Texas for many years and is a Texan at heart! His first hospitality job at the age of 14 was in a Tex-Mex restaurant. He shipped several containers full of decorative items and accessories from the US to fit-out the restaurant, including two restored 1957 Chevy trunks, from which customers can help themselves to complimentary chips and salsa.

Flavours:

We serve gusty and flavourful Tex-Mex food (not to be mistaken with Mexican!). We’re talking chilli-fuelled classics such as tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas and burritos, as well as a ghost chilli BBQ burger and chicken wings made with the world’s hottest chillies. There’s also a child-friendly menu, including a grilled chicken burrito, crispy fish taco and a grilled Angus beef burger.

Something to start with:

All of our appetisers are lip-smackers! The jalapeño poppers are proving to be a winner, and you can’t go wrong with our nachos, ghost pepper chicken wings and queso fundido. Another highlight is the complimentary chips and salsas, all day every day.

The main course:

If you can’t decide which main to choose (and we often can’t decide ourselves), try one of our four combo meals, which include a selection of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads and carne asada (or dishes from the grill).

Room for dessert?

Our end-of-meal sugar hits include crisp churros tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with cajeta (vanilla salted caramel), and spiced dark chocolate pudding with dulce de leche.

Care for a drink?

When it comes to ordering a drink, you’ve got to make it a margarita! We serve them frozen and on the rocks, in original, strawberry and mango flavours. An upgrade to a Cadillac Margarita – with a Grand Marnier float – is a must.

Sounds:

Our resident mariachi band performs every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. A revolving lineup of rock’n’roll DJs every Friday and Saturday night promise to blow your cowboy boots right off.

Make us drool:

This mecca for Tex-Mex lovers promises to be more rowdy than a rodeo. With enough neon signs to light up the Vegas strip, El Camino Cantina is unashamedly Tex-Mex, from the food to the drinks and from the music to the décor. We have all the Tex-Mex classics, including tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas and burritos. Our freshly shaken and frozen Margaritas headline a stellar drinks list that includes imported Mexican and house-brewed craft beers, and over 200 different tequila and mezcal.

The bill comes to:

$70 (with the biggest combo meal option)

[El Camino Cantina food and beverage photos by Jane Kelly Photography / Venue photo by Kai Leishman]

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine