Michelin Guide-recommended tacos, flowing margaritas, a loud and proud mariachi band and sparkling waterfront views. Welcome to Manly Wharf’s La Mexicana Festival.
If you wandered past Manly Wharf last weekend, chances are you were swept up in a lively haze of buzzing crowds, jubilant music and the irresistible scent of sizzling street food.
Welcome to La Mexicana Festival, a double weekend fiesta headlined by Mexico City Michelin Guide-recommended taqueria El Vilsito. Whether you recognise their mouthwatering tacos from their appearance in Netflix’s Taco Chronicles, or you’ve heard stories of their iconic tacos al pastor, there’s no doubt that El Vilsito’s visit to Manly Wharf is one of the city’s foodie events of the year.
The two-weekend takeover kicked off last Thursday (March 19) and ran across the weekend until Sunday. It will enter its second weekend this Thursday and will no doubt attract even more taco lovers who are keen to try the Michelin Guide-recommended menu.
What brings El Vilsito to Manly Wharf?
The partnership between El Vilsito and Manly Wharf was born after Katie Moubarak, Brand Director of Howard Smith Wharves (owned by the same group as Manly Wharf), visited Mexico City on a culinary research trip last year and experienced El Vilsito firsthand.
“El Vilsito was one of those places that stays with you,” Moubarak said. “From the moment I stepped inside, the energy, the generosity and the food felt completely alive. Being able to bring their chefs and their way of cooking to Australia felt like a natural next step after experiencing it firsthand.”
Moubarak has since formed a close connection with Sandra Blanco, daughter of El Vilsito owner Juan Carlos Blanco, who travelled to Australia for the festival alongside the visiting chefs.
“We’ve welcomed so many Australians to El Vilsito over the years, and their love for our tacos has always stayed with us,” Blanco said.
“Our family has been making food here for nearly 40 years, so being able to bring our chefs and recipes to Australia and cook them in the same way we do at home feels incredibly special. We’re proud to share something that already means so much to so many Australians.”
The famous tacos al pastor
One of the first things that you’ll see at La Mexicana Festival is the towering spit of marinated pork, slowly rotating as it’s expertly shaved into thin slices. El Vilsito chef Abel tells me the pork weighs a whopping 60 kilograms, something that becomes very clear when it’s time to reload the spit, and three men are needed to haul the fresh slab into place.
The marinated pork from this spit is what makes their tacos al pastor so delicious. Combine it with sweet pineapple, onion, cilantro and salsa inside the crispy corn tortilla, and you have a true taste of Mexico City right on your plate. It’s no surprise that the “Tacos al pastor” episode of Taco Chronicles is the one that El Vilsito features so heavily in.
Despite the tacos al pastor being the most famous dish of El Vilsito, make sure you try the other tacos on offer at La Mexicana Festival too. Their Tostadas de Pescado combines the best of Mexico with the best of Australia: think fresh, light snapper and mahi mahi, creamy avocado and zingy limes topped on the crunchy tortilla shell. Another favourite of mine was the Tostada De Pulpo, consisting of grilled Tasmanian octopus, avocado and salsa macha, which contains chilli, cashew nuts, garlic and sesame seeds.
Try the elotes (corn on the cob), barbecued to perfection and covered with a drizzle of mayonnaise and lime juice, with a dusting of smoky chilli powder. I’ll never look at a butter-only corn on the cob the same way again.
The menu also features Taco de Pollo al Limón (lemon-braised chicken) and Taco de Bistecca (grass-fed seared beef) as well as additional snacks throughout the precinct, including pork chicharrónes, guacamole with totopos and some sweet treats to finish off. Make sure to order the churros: they’re served with a rich, thick cajeta caramel that’s easily the best I’ve ever tasted.
El Patron margs and a specially brewed cerveza
A huge part of Manly Wharf’s success is the presence of Felons Brewing Co. The popular waterfront brewery is best known for its icy cold lagers and locally-brewed beers, so what better way to celebrate La Mexicana Festival than by brewing a refreshing Cerveza, just for the occasion?
Felons Cerveza is brewed with homegrown toasted corn, making it an effortlessly smooth Mexican lager. It’s the perfect pick for a hot day, and I found myself sipping it through the peak-hour rush when I needed a moment to cool off.
There’s also an extensive margarita menu, which features everything from a classic margarita to spicy watermelon, dragonfruit, coconut and a classic Tommy’s. El Patron’s tequila is the spirit of choice, and you can also opt for a grapefruit paloma or a mangonada slushie, which uses Australian mangoes, mango nectar, yuzu and chamoy to create the thick, icy cocktail.
A real Mexican fiesta
You’re not just getting renowned tacos when you head to La Mexicana Festival, you’re also in for a full-on fiesta.
A mariachi band stands in front of the waterfront backdrop, playing songs that you’ll definitely recognise. I still have the tune ‘La Bamba’ stuck in my head.
This is what makes La Mexicana Festival extra special. After you’ve feasted on delicious tacos, you’ll be able to dance along to the live music, with a margarita or a beer in hand. Guests go up to the band and request songs (which obviously includes ‘Macarena’), and at one point, a Conga line begins, snaking around the terrace.
It’s a joyful celebration of Mexican culture, music and food, and I’ve never seen such an enthusiastic crowd pack out Manly Wharf.
Are the prices worth it?
Entry to La Mexicana Festival is completely free, so you can enjoy the mariachi band and join the conga line without paying a cent. That being said, if you want to try the famous tacos, expect to pay between $20-$30 for one.
The tacos al pastor cost $22 per taco, with added-on salsa costing $3. It may seem expensive; however, the tacos are generously topped, and the chefs are not at all stingy when adding the protein. I think two to three tacos, plus some snacks, is the perfect amount. The corn on the cob (elote) costs $14, and although it’s expensive, it was one of my favourite snacks, so I’d highly recommend treating yourself.
Churros cost $14 if you want a sweet treat to finish, and I’d advise sharing them, especially if you’ve got a belly full of tacos!
Margaritas, slushies and palomas are priced between $20 to $24, though you can opt to buy a jug of Tommy’s Margarita for $70, which will serve four people.
Overall, while the prices are on the higher side, however the exceptional quality of the food, its delicious flavours and its complete authenticity make every dish completely worth it. It’s not every day that a world-famous street taqueria from Mexico City pops up at Manly Wharf, and Sydney isn’t exactly known for its incredible Mexican food, so if you have the chance, make sure to head down to the waterfront fiesta this weekend.
To find out more about La Mexicana Festival at Manly Wharf, or to RSVP for week two, click here.
