Great little spot tucked away in a plaza. The food was pretty dang good for Mexican food 7,500 mile away from Mexico but the service here definitely goes that extra mile (km) here to make you feel right at home. The service is a 11/10 and I can't recommend more, especially if you're a solo traveler looking to make good conversation. Will definitely be back. read more

TINY BUT TASTY!!!! You must go!! Get there BEFORE they open to assure you get in. Literally 5 small tables inside & 4 maybe 5 2 tips out on the Corso walkway. We ordered a couple things for a full sampling. The brisket tostada, serves one and possibly the BEST TOSTADA I have EVER eaten ~ GOD IT WAS GOOD!! The tortilla chips salsa & Guac was OUTTA SITE!!!! Cerviche fresh & tasty, salmon tacos equally DELISH as was the chicken taco. Only slight observation ~ all good could have been hotter and I don't mean spicy ~ all the spice was PERFECT, didn't blow my head off!! The dessert is OK, real sweet with Carmel, brown sugar & cinnamon ~ OH! FABULOUS margaritas too. The regular margarita is tart I ordered the coconut/lime and it was SPECTACULAR! read more

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This place is a short walk from the Manly Ferry dock. A hidden gem for sure. Cute decor, rustic. They serve a limited menu for lunch burritos and salads with different meats. I ordered the Chicken Tinga it included black beans, rice, Pico de Gallo and cheese. It was good needed a bit more flavor. However, the habanero salsa was exactly what it needed. Also, ordered the Cochinita Pibil burrito. It was excellent. Very fresh ingredients. It was a good Mexican fix. I would definitely want to come back for dinner and drinks. read more

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This super cute little gem was recommended to us by a local. It was hard to find (located down a hallway of a strip mall). There is very limited seating so come early. Decor 10/10 Taste 12/10 Portion size 5/10 The food was SUPER delicious. I got the swordfish tostada, and holy moly flavor like I've never had. My friend got the hamburger tacos and rates them as the best tacos he has ever had. Our really only complaint is that the portions were super small. Would be great for date night. read more

Came here around 5.30pm but it was still close for dinner. So decided to wait till 6pm till it opens. Before its opening hours, quite a number of people started forming queues. I was the third in line as I had a toilet break. Was given a choice to sit on the bars, indoor or outdoor seating. I decided to do an indoor seating where I am able to the whole view of the restaurant. The restaurant is dimly lit during dinner hours and it was pretty squeezy in terms of the seating arrangements. Before I entered the restaurant, I was able to have a peek at the menu. Chimichanga was looking good but the server told me that the portion was small so I decided to go for Yelpers' reviews on the carne asada fries (steak, guacamole, cheese and salsa) since there's no burrito at night. For the drink, decided to give the mock-tail a try (orange, lime and watermelon). The combination sounds awkward and tasted quite alright. I think you are supposed to stir the sugar syrup at the bottom to make it less sour (realized that too late). For the fries, it was definitely the bomb. The cheese was stringy and the guacamole was fresh. The small cubes of steak was chewy too and they put some seasoning on top of the fries to make it saltier. Definitely a good call - thanks for the recommendation Yelpers :) I finished my meal within 30 minutes as I decided to leave as more people waiting for the seat. I realized that one of the waitress actually offered my seat (talking to one of them and pointing towards my direction) to a couple who were sitting outside and as they were talking, one of the couple gave a quick glance which caught my eyes. Another waitress came over to provide me my bill and quickly cleaned up my wooden board which was used for the fries. Definitely 1 star deducted from this experience as I felt rushed off while eating some Mexican food which I was craving for two days (the other day I was told that it was closed around 5.30pm and wasn't given a time on when it will be back for business). I could say at least I've tried it. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Mock-tail - watermelon, lime, orange - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

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this place is pretty dope. Chica Bonita is a small little Mexican joint located in Manly. i've only had the lunch here as i've heard the menu changes at dinner. so burritos are on the menu for lunch while tacos are on the menu for dinner. i had the monster California Burrito which had carne asada, tons of FRESH guacamole and best of all....FRIES! it was pretty darn delicious and we also shared the Carne Asada Fries. this is a MUST if you stop by here for sure. the food is pretty great here all around. the service though? staff is super friendly, but much like how Manly is...slow. it's super laid back here so expect a decent wait to sit down (since they're always busy) and for food. this place would easily have a 5 if you didn't have to wait so long. worth the wait though...seriously. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - California Burrito + Carne Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

Best Mexican food this side of the Pacific Ocean! Do not think twice about this restaurant, but make sure you make a reservation before you go. read more

Spread across two sides of an alley, this little Mexican joint is the real deal. We arrived on a busy Sunday night but were seated immediately at 7:30. The next people to arrive were not so lucky! Despite how busy it was service is prompt and attentive. We had the veggie fries, loaded with black beans, cheese and guacamole, which were excellent. The fries were on the salty side, but went well with the guac. Chicken and fish tacos were delicious - the fish tacos in particular come with a Baja sauce that's creamy, spicy and full of coriander, just wonderful. The prawn tostada could have done with a little more coriander for my taste, but was otherwise great. Finished off with churros - full of cinnamon and delicious hints of lime - perfect way to end the meal. Great little place if you're visiting Manly and craving Mexican food - just be sure to get there early!! read more

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When I heard there was a place that did carne asada fries I went like this: http://i.imgur.com/g7csg.gif Chica Bonita is a relatively new joint that does all types of Mexican goodness. This place gets packed quick...and when it gets packed, don't expect to get seated or served for at least 45 minutes. The place seats about 20, and if they're flat out then they are flat out. One thing to note is that their lunch and dinner menus are different; they server tacos and corn cob during dinner but not during lunch. For lunch you get burritos and the reason I went, carne asada fries! The place is funky and fresh and the staff is friendly and quick (if you have a seat that is.) The carne asada fries were gooooooood! If you've had carne asada fries from San Diego or LA they're slightly different, especially compared to San Diego's but these were good and will hit the spot nonetheless. My friend got a burrito, it was pretty good...definitely one of the better ones I've had out here. Tips: Show up early for dinner if you want a seat...the first time I went for dinner (around 6:20) the wait was 2 hours... I'll have to come back to try their other burritos and their tacos...but you should definitely hit this place up. read more

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Tacos, beer, location. Very cool place. Just a short walk from the wharf side of Manly, Chica Bonita is dimly lit with a funky vibe. The fish tacos are excellent, crispy battered fish topped with some slaw and creamy sauce. The pulled pork ones are quite nice too, especially with the slice of grilled pineapple. Also had the carne fries, which is pretty much nachos with hot chips instead of corn chips. The drinks selection seems pretty good too. Would be great for chill drinks with mates. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Carne fries - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

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I don't know whether my friend planned for us to have our lunch here but I'm glad she listened around. It really holds its reputation around the area. First of all just walking around the place you can tell the level of customer service the employees have, easy to talk to and very comforting. Short and simple menu forces you to be quick with the order allowing you to converse with your food mate. To the food, amazing simple display and although only tried two dishes (shared with my friend) it was an amazing experience, fries were crispy and seasoned beautifully until the last bite, guac was fresh and rich. With every bite you can that it was freshly made. Although I wished for more meat, the cheese really closed the deal for me. My only concern is the lack of guacamole given to chips and guac (I forget what the dish was called). We werent able to portion the chips to the amount of guac other than everything was amazing. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Beautiful. - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

I had chips and beef burrito Carne Asada. It tastes great and is really fresh. Price is a bit more expensive than others ($13) but it worth. The place is quite small so you may have to wait during peak hours. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Their main menu - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

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Nice food and friendly staff. Food is yummy but price a bit higher than others. Carne Asada with yummy shoestring fries and melted cheese and avocado. This fries will let you want more after you finished. The only thing is the beef is really only few pieces. Burrito is healthy with rice and black bean. But it is expensive ($13) Been here twice and will try to go back for fish taco (only for dinner time). read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

Had high hopes for this place, given reviews and personal recommendations... but alas, just average. Another "not quite there" Mexican place in Australia. Much more of a bar first, restaurant second spot. Really busy. Kinda hipster. Decent music. Small portions. Couldn't find a single "main" on the [dinner] menu. (Does that make this a "Mexican tapas bar"?) Ordered: -Pina-popcorn mocktail - A for creativity and presentation, C- for taste -Baja fish taco - swing and a miss (C) -Chimichanga - decent taste, but more like "chimi-bites", and too much sauce, or just the wrong sauce (C+) -Cajeta chimichanga (dessert) - CARAMEL OVERLOAD! ...but mostly in a good way (B) If you're in Manly and looking for a cool place to grab drinks with friends, this isn't a bad spot. Just don't come expecting amazing Mexican food. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Fish taco, chimichanga, pina-popcorn - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

Didn't care much for the burritos... I had a more classic version and it wasn't a warm burrito and it didn't have a distinct flavor either. My fiancé had the one with the French fried which was the better choice but it wasn't overwhelming. Average meal choice. read more

This place comes recommended and Im glad it was. Though not 'really' Mexican style food, none-the-less, its worth. Cool vibe and the waitress was a delight;). The food was p r e t t y g o o d but I think whats missing most, is the chili, the spicy food which Australians seem to have taken a liking to over the years. Ill try dinner next time. Thanks guys. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - And the crew behind the scene. - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

Best Mexican in Sydney!!!!! The food is packed filled with flavour, and there not a bad item on the menu! Awesome service, but I prefer the atmosphere at dinner, as there is generally better music, and a better environment. Be aware that it is very loud, but the music reflects the taste of the food so I do not have a problem with that! Highlights of the menu: Carne asada fries Chimichangas Chips and guacamole Chicken taco Conchita pybil pork taco Dessert chimichangas read more

AMAZING food !! My goodness I was blown away! Best Mexican I have ever had it my life, but very hard to get a table. I would recommend starting a take out business. I would definitely buy the food more if there was a take out option, because I always have to wait in line for a lot of the time, or I have to walk around manly for 30 mins ( which is actually quite pleasant ). Great service and seriously breath taking food. Although last time I went to Chica Bonita, and poor baby fell off the chair and hit its head so hard it has a huge bruise and bump. Not very pleasant for the baby and the people watching, so maybe getting safer seats and benches. Delicious fries, my favourite! Amazing burritos, I seriously need to go again. Overall I would strongly recommend for anyone going to this restaurant. It has an awesome atmosphere, and a seriously nice staff. I love Chica Bonita - and please give it a try. read more

This is a new little Mexican place in Manly, has been around for a couple of months. The facts: - no proper website (yet) - no bookings (too small) - no bathroom (too small) - does takeaway and eat in - does lunch and dinner So I came here with my friend for lunch one Saturday. We found a nice seat in the sun and took it. One of the staff then promptly asked us to move because they had a group coming in (hello, if you can't book isn't it first in best dressed?). We were asked to sit at the bar and the only seats available were next to the cash register. I ordered a vegetarian burrito, I believe it was called a California burrito or something to that effect. It was quite cheap and pretty decent tasting, it had french fries in it (nice touch). I liked the food but not sitting at the bar. I had to listen to the bar staffs' loud and obnoxious conversation between the till, the kitchen and their friend eating at the bar. If I'd been able to sit at a seat I'd be much more content. Anyway the food is pretty good. I didn't like the casual lunchtime service attitude because you shouldn't be too smug until you have survived in Manly for a year or so (then you can feel a bit more comfortable). I'd been interested in trying the place out at night because they look like they have some good margaritas and the right lighting. I'd be concerned having to use the council toilets after dark. I can't blame them for the lack of bathroom or bookings, it really is a hole in the wall and they've done well for the space. I'd say this is the place to go if you fancy Mexican for lunch (as opposed to Mexico via Manly on the beach front). It is much cheaper and better. I wish them well, the small popups in Manly have given the area some maturity and street cred. Still though...be nice to all your customers and not just your mates (remember they will probably still come anyway). read more

This place looks great. Love the feel of the place. Waited an hour for a table but that was fine. Just put your name down and go have a drink and come back at the prescribed time. The nachos were a bit different to the standard but were pretty good. Most the food was reasonable but not outstanding. Tacos were a bit on the bland side. The service was a bit all over the place. One waitress with a lot of tatts had no idea of customer service, the other staff were very good though. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

So. Good. Lunch, dinner, cocktails, beer- whatever your Mexican desires are this is the place to get it in Manly. Simple menu- tacos, burritos and loaded fries. Carne fries ($13) are the tits. Shoestring fries loaded with steak, cheese, avocado, salsa and served with the option of 3 sauces going from mild to hot. Wash that down with a crusty beer ($5)- a beer can lined with a spice chilli rub on the rim. You've got yourself a good day there amigo. read more

Best Mexican in Australia, probably because the owner is from Southern California. I love everything I've had here. The fish tacos are great, all the margaritas are delicious, especially the lagerita which is a beer flipped upside down in a margarita. The only downside is that it is always packed so you have to show up right when the doors open to get a table. read more

Love, love, love. Once we found the place, that locals didn't seem to know, it was love at first sight. Tiled tables, the hearts, the crucifixes . . .there was enough to give the vibe without seeming cheesey. And all the waiters were fabulous. Helpful, friendly and accommodating. They explained the menu items for newbies like my group, willingly suffered our jokes about the wine & were genuinely great hipster guys. The food was delicious and the wine was great. We started chatting to the patrons at tables either side. There's not too much room, but it's the sort of place where everyone is relaxed ready for a good night. One local couple had been trying for ages to get here for ages but it is always full. Perhaps the rain did us a favour! The only post script involved my new brolly. I'd asked my friends if u could borrow a brolly. I promptly broke it when I tried to use it. Bought a cheapie & it got left behind at Chica Bonita. When we returned to collect it , our newfound 'friends' had found it useful as they left. Made the night even funnier! read more

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Best food and best service I've had since I've been in Australia! Whoever thought of putting fries on a burrito is genius! I had the California burrito; steak, fries, guacamole, and beans. I asked the waitress if I could have sour cream and Pico, she replied "hell yeah" and I knew I picked the right place for lunch. The food was delicious and they have a different menu for dinner. Great Mexican food, and as a person whose lives in LA and Texas I know good Mexican food! The watermelon magarita is a treat ,goes great with any meal! The place has a hipsterish beach God feel to it lol close to the beach but no water view but they have outside seating so you can soak up some sun! This place might be small but it packs on the deliciousness and hospitality! You will not be disappointed! read more

This is just what Manly needs some little pop up places to give it some style and variety form the larger cookie cutter tourist traps and cafes. I had heard rumours there was a new mexican in Manly and since our honeymoon in Mexico I was dying to get my hands on some decent authentic Mexican. So we sat down when there were a few tables left and within 10 minutes there was a que of people waiting...lucky! We ordered our favourite from Mexico which was Baja style fish tacos. Now for people that have not had fish tacos before they sound disgusting like some kind of fish stew crammed in an old el paso taco shell. Not true, it is a beautiful piece of crispy battered or crumbed (apparently) fish in a soft tortilla with some crispy lettuce and tasty white sauce. Once you eat one you will find it hard to stop. So we ordered 2 x tacos each and I had a beer with chilli around the edge (awesomeness) and the wife had a wine. We sat expectantly hoping and praying memories of sun drenched beaches and turquoise green water stretching as far as the eye can see punctuated only by cheap but delicious frech cocktails and baja fish cocktails would return. It was close, oh so close, and they would have got 5 stars for breaking Manly's boredom but why do they crumb the fish instead of battering it. I will defiantly be back but will be suggesting battering over crumbing. read more

Great vibes , delicious food and awesome staff. What more can you ask for? Was in town for the day and was told to go here by a local- so glad I did. Their lunch burritos are filling and fast... didn't have any of their drinks but looked great. Love that you can get the burrito in a bowl format! A+ read more

Really awesome authentic Mexican restaurant. We sat at the bar and had lunch and drinks. The barman was friendly, the food and drinks were quick. The general vibe is relaxed and intimate. The food was spot on couldn't fault it. 5 stars. Awesome place!! read more

Chica Bonita has a very cute location with a fun atmosphere and they play fun music!! It's not real Mexican food, or Tex-Mex, or Southwestern. Think more like tapas style ordering. None of the food is served with rice & beans, they don't put chips & salsa on the tables either. The drinks sound amazing and look pretty but they're very weak! A margarita should be very large with lots of flavor that hits you on that first sip like you're in Mexico!! Opt for some Mezcal if you want to feel some slight effects from your drink. The tacos were pretty decent. The fish tacos are with fried fish which is odd but they taste good. The brisket taco surprisingly was pretty good. The chicken tinga was the worst chicken tinga I've ever had, it was bland. I did try the chips & guacamole; I've never seen so much tomato served with the guac. I will return though because it's pretty decent compared to the others in town. What the heck is a burger taco?! read more

Great cocktails, super friendly staff, great food. I had the veggie burrito but was able to get it over a bed of romaine lettuce rather than the burrito (which is an option for any of the burritos). read more

4.25 Stars. The tacos here are really good, as are the burritos, and this is coming from a native Texan who loves his Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine. I appreciated the creative twists on their tacos, and I was kinda tripped out by how loaded their burritos were (which is a good thing if you like Texas sized servings). The vibe permeates everything here, it's funky and hipster, and the food reflects that, too. If you're young and looking for a cool spot in Manly to have some delicious tacos, stop by and have a couple... you'll be glad you did! Just know, it's usually very busy, as it's quite small, so try to get there on the earlier side if you can if you don't want to wait. read more

Cool atmosphere and generally good food. However the experience was marred by completely inedible 'pepper poppers'... The chef didn't grill them fully or remove the pith/seeds. This made them so hot that they effectively spoilt the end of our meal. We sent them back and the waitress apologised, explaining they had a new chef. They offered us a free dish which we declined as our mouths were burning and we were pretty full. We suggested a free drink, but after checking with the manager the waitress said they'd only give us a round half price. A real shame as it is a nice place. But the peppers spoilt the meal and their action afterwards felt a little cheap and insufficient. read more

Chica Bonita Manly - Happy customers! - Mexican Near Me - Manly, NSW

If you've had trouble finding good Mexican cuisine in the Sydney area, look no further! Chica Bonita in Manly serves Mexican-style burritos and salads with a California twist. I had the veggie burrito as a salad which came with quinoa, pumpkin, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, and a yummy chipotle sauce. Should I go back, I would have either asked for less sour cream or on the side though as I found it a bit overwhelming. They also have great margaritas as well, I had the jalapeno one that was a good level of spice without being too hot. Service was friendly and fast as well. Great location as well, perfect for grabbing nice quality but casual food after a day at the beach or wandering around Manly! read more

This place is dope! Chicharron covered prawns (add the habanero sauce)! Like wahhh! They are amazing. Next Crusty beer almost like a Michelada without the tomato juice. Seasonal beer: Taco Beer, delicious. Margarita: very good, classic taste. Mexicali beer: from Mexico but I have never seen it there, almost like a better Pacifico (I didn't know such wonders existed). Shout out to the best bartender Josh, like the other post said you definitely need to visit him! I was dining alone (traveling on business) and he made it a much better experience, friendly and hilarious! All the other staff was really great and very friendly as well! Ended up staying there until 10pm when it closed, the place was full and lively until the end. Also good music and some wicked decorations. Felt like I walked into Mexico. Frida and Oakland art! read more

-BEST RESTAURANT IN MANLY- Not only is the good amazingly good it's amazingly good value. The carne fries are great to share or to have as a meal and are definitely my favourite item on the menu. The other highlight for me is the fish taco with is incredible. Crusty beer is a must - it's like a poor mans margarita with a can of beer dusted with chilli salt around the rim, imagine eating a chilli fry every time you take a sip, it's awesome. Staff are all super friendly and attentive! Love it! read more

This place is the best! It's our new fave when in the Sydney area. We got there around 6 on a Saturday and were seated right away. The service was excellent; the staff was so attentive that there was never a moment that we didn't have a drink/food on the table throughout the whole meal. The food was fast and absolutely delicious. It is by far the best Mexican we've had in Australia in the five years that we've lived here. We sampled pretty much everything on the menu and could not fault anything that came to the table. Our recommendations are the fish tacos, cauliflower and chickpea tacos (even the meat lover raved about these), the chips and guac, the chimichangas, and the margaritas (especially the watermelon and the jalapeno and citrus). Be sure to make the trip. You will not be disappointed! Enjoy! read more

Great little place. The menu is limited but what they do they do well. Take a bunch appetisers and share. The desert, a caramel, lime and cinnamon delight. The margaritas are well done and don't taste like run of the mill marguarita mix. Get there early or late, the place is constantly packed +/- 25 AUD per person excluding drinks read more

First off, I'm extremely critical when it comes to food and I don't let others sway my opinion. Secondly, I've tried many Mexican places in Australia, they are all overpriced, fancy, low quality, and tasteless. So when I heard that there was a great Mexican place in Manly, I had my doubts. I kept an open mind though. We got there at opening for dinner ten minutes past 6pm and were told they couldn't fit us in until 8pm. Well that sucks but ok, might be worth it. So we waited. While waiting, we noticed many open tables sitting vacant that they could've rearranged to fit in more people, but instead they just left them vacant until a more convenient appeared or a smaller party came. Poor restaurant management. After receiving much attitude from the owner that they told us they couldn't fit us in until 8pm (even though there were tables available they could push together), they finally got us in early, at 7:55pm. Great, thanks. As for the food, dry, low quality meats, bland, tasteless. Too much lime or too much sauce to cover up the fact that the quality was so poor. Servings were way too small to accompany the prices. The margaritas - little to no tequila in them, definitely not homemade, just tasted like Jose Cuervo margarita mix. However, half a star to the watermelon rita, as I believe it was actual watermelon crushed in it and was quite tasty (though still no tequila). Then one star to the carne asada fries. Shoestring fries meets heaps of cheese and acceptable guacamole and steak. They were good, and the only thing with taste on the menu...but anything with that amount of cheese is going to be delicious, it's hard to f that up. Not worth 1.5hrs wait though. Overall, this place is just like every other Mexican restaurant in Australia, if not worse. Just save yourself the time and expense and go to Mad Mex. That's what Mexican is supposed to be. read more

Fun, quirky decor ( we are talking skull candles and some serious leftover Halloween decoration!), good food, and almost impossible to get a table at. Be prepared to wait for 30 mins on an average as they are always packed. The food is freshly prepared with street food Mexican flair.. Their baja fish tacos are delicious , and I love their corn chips too.. They also do a taco with pork crackling on top and it's mouth watering crunchy deliciousness ..the Mexican fare is toned down to suit Aussie tastes.. And did I mention that their prices don't burn a hole in your pocket.. The drinks albeit a little watered down.. They stock some Mexican beers and serve one version with chilli crusted rim! Try that at your own risk . read more

Wow!! Vegi burrito in a salad + Carne Fries + Honey Ginger Margarita = Flawless lunch!!! read more

The chicken burrito bowl was awesome!!! The marinade on the meat was so flavorful. Made us SF folks feel like we were back in the mission. Regretfully didn't get to try one of their delicious looking margaritas due to my preggo booty but they looked fantastic. read more