THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPERT RIP-OFF ARTISTS! It is criminal when a service you expect in accordance to…read moreyour verbal order is not met when served on your plate. Today I came into Mexicali Fresh on Ponsonby to order a burrito with chicken. What I literally got served was a burrito deceptively stuffed with cabbage. I don't know what sort of unethical and deliberate procedure these employees are expected to follow, but serving someone a wrap full of cheap filler instead of the protein they paid for is a blatant scam. When I attempted to rectify this daylight robbery, the coward who dealt with my feedback hid in the back kitchen, sending out a female clerk to handle his dirty work and refuse a simple refund. She meandered and deflected in her excuse not to refund me. This isn't just bad service; it's a total lack of integrity and honesty. As an authentic Mexican, I find this place an absolute insult to my culture. To call this "Mexican" food is a lie; to serve it with such deceptive business practices is a disgrace with little regard to honesty and integrity. They are banking on the public's ignorance to push sub-par, "cunningly" assembled filler while hiding behind a counter when called out. If you value your money--and your palate--stay far away from this trap. They don't sell food; they sell deception. Zero stars. Unethical, unauthentic, and utterly pathetic.

best burrito , good and friendly staff, veggie nachos was good too, good ambiance.read more

I happened upon this place on a whim as it seemed like every other eatery near our hotel had closed…read morefor the day. I went with a chicken burrito. It was delicious. No complaints. The chicken actually tasted like a curry Indian chicken. Amazing flavor. It was filling and price was reasonable. Also great service. Would definitely come here again.

First meal in Auckland and my husband chooses Mexican. Stumbled upon this place and for "fast…read morefood", it was pretty good. Considering it was very busy during the late afternoon hours, the menu had a nice variety yet not overwhelming, we figured this was a good option. The food was good. I think it looked better than it tasted (5 star presentation, 3.5-4 start flavor). Location is what stood out. There isn't much seating as it is designed as a take-away place, but we got lucky and found a spot right outside on the pedestrian street. The views and ambiance of the street made our lunch a little better.

I had a couple of tacos here the other day, and they were pretty good. It could have been a better…read moreend to my Saturday night out, but then it could have been the drive-through at McDonald's, which is way worse. I liked the fact that you could order a single taco from as little as $6, or that if you had your munch on you could get bigger portion sizes. I went for two tacos when one would have probably done, and they were yum and tasty. My friend also gave her number to a man we later dubbed Taco Tom, so perhaps this is the new pick-up joint in Ponsonby as well.

Zambrero had fast become a favourite lunch break destination for myself and my workmates due to the…read moregenerous portions, (once) vibrant atmosphere and ethical endeavours. Zambrero is a fresh spin on the old Cali burrito craze, but manages to improve on those familiar themes. I often opt for the quesadillas with tangy verde sauce, but the burritos and salad bowls are also great. In addition to being tasty, many of the menu items are part of a 'Plate 4 Plate' initiative where each purchase also donates a plate of food to a child in need. Update: since coming under new management, the service here has become absolutely dreadful. One day I went in to order and could hear staff laughing and watching videos out back while people were waiting in line for service. I had to call out for assistance to get their attention so that one staff member came out to start making orders. She was followed by another staff member who leant on the counter and continued watching her video while laughing obnoxiously and ignoring customers. The food is still alright but I never stay longer than is strictly necessary because the whole atmosphere of the place is dreadful.

If you, like me, have noticed that there's suddenly been a huge explosion of "build your own" style…read moreMexican chains in the city this summer, you'll have noticed that one name in particular keeps popping up over Auckland everywhere: Zambrero. Whilst the concept is hardly original (think Mexicali) and the menu not exactly wild (think quesadillas, burritos and tacos) the actual flavours and portion sizes of the dishes on offer are commendable, and relatively healthy compared to alternatives! Featured below is their Black Rice Power Bowl with Lamb and Guacamole. Definitely not bad for a somewhat guilt free lunch when you're out and about. I rate it.

I came here on a Saturday with a friend for her birthday. We are both from California and really…read moremiss good Mexican food, and we'd heard that this place was pretty good. Walking in to this restaurant reminded me of walking in to a Chevy's - it's a similar atmosphere. They have a menu that is filled with half drinks and half food. I ordered a classic margarita and a veggie burrito without cheese and without sour cream (I'm vegan). They were really accommodating on my order and it all came out correctly. My friend ordered the veggie fajitas and hers looked so good. My boyfriend, who was with us, ordered a chicken quesadilla, and he liked it. We had asked for chips and salsa when we ordered, but the waiter forgot to bring them out until after our food. The food came out super quick, so it wasn't a problem. When I ate one of the chips, I realized we were not in California any more. They tasted like packaged chips and the salsa tasted like Pace salsa. Not quite what I'm used to, but after some travel abroad I've come to realize that we are spoiled for Mexican food in California. The drinks were mediocre. I could barely taste alcohol in mine, which was surprising as I rarely drink hard alcohol so I thought I would be able to taste it right away. Maybe I'm just used to strong drinks ;) I wasn't particularly impressed with anything about this place but I was very happy to be in a Mexican restaurant that offered burritos and real Mexican food. The food came out as we ordered it and the burrito was good. I ate the whole thing! All in all, it wasn't a particularly memorable experience, but the food was good and came out quick.

Located at the beautiful Mission Bay this place is great! It's always busy especially when the…read moreMariachi (Mexican band) are playing live music. They have a huge range of very delicious drinks, and if you go there a tip for the girls order the El Torero margarita :P (picture below) Their $16 nachos are huge but not so much the best I've had, they add too much jalapenos in my opinion but everyone has their own different taste buds. If you like spicy then it's definitely for you! ;) As for my favourite dish it's the Eye Fillet with sweet (Kumra) potatoe and salsa from the Grill Menu. The atmosphere is amazing! They have amazing lizards in a tank which is a must see, especially when they wear lil sombrero hats! And if you have children they will let them hold the lizards, very cute! Hahaha! Speaking of sombreros they have a variety of beautifully designed sombreros which they let you to wear, just don't be afraid to ask the staff if they could give them to you. They're very fun and awesome for photos! Makes the atmosphere even better :D Only critique that I do have is that due to how overly busy they are, and always trying to fit everyone in, it feels like a rush to eat and leave. Especially during night times. The last time me and my boyfriend went there, we didn't even finish our meals and they took our plates away in such a rush that it was quite surprising. It all happened so quickly neither of us had the time to act. It was disapointing because the meal was so delicious we didn't have time to enjoy it or finish it :( But definitely try it out, and before you go make sure you make a booking otherwise it will get chaotic!

On vacation in Auckland walking along Quay Street and spotted Taco Medic. Had a couple the tacos,…read moreceviche, and churros. Food was wonderful. Lots of gluten free options.

What a treat to order a taco, and get a meal! Depending upon where you're from, you might think of…read moretacos as mostly tortilla with a little bit of meat and flavor inside. Not here! Taco medic serves the most gorgeous flavorful taco. The flavors are interesting, warm, and just right. You can eat inside or outside if the weather is good, which it was on the day that I was there. The chips are quite different. They too hard for my taste, but I can see some people really liking them.

Great dining addition to Sylvia Park. Awesome colourful and funky mexican decor and a simple, yet…read moreeffective menu. Great if your keen to sit and enjoy a beer but also perfect for a quick lunch stop in. 2 for $10 tacos during the week is a great deal!

There were 8 of us from work sampling the delights of this local. Between us we tried the…read moreTostaditas (pork), Pollo pibil (Chicken), Camarones (Prawns), De arrachera (Beef), Pescado (Fish) dishes. Everybody enjoyed themselves, the dishes we just the right size. All the dishes could have done with more of the main ingredient though. The cocktails were flowing nicely too. My favourite was Cave Creek Chilli beer, it had a nice bite to it, and yes they do add a chilli as well. Pity I was the driver. Good excuse for another visit. The staff were very friendly and responded quickly to clear our spillages Beware of the cocktail glasses, they are easily knocked over. We achieved 3 knock overs. Can you beat us !!! !

Mexican food outside of North America is a tough nut to crack. The tacos are pretty good, but the…read moreguacamole felt overpriced for a small serving. There are some unique flavors that work well, and sidewalk cafe feel along with Dia de Los Muertos classy kitch (if that's possible).

Mexico is where you can have boisterous vibes, cocktails and cheap Mexican eats. With its…read morepopularity the stores have begun to spread to other areas of the country after starting a few in Auckland. 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. 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. Based on this experience, I would recommend they return to their original menu, why change whats already so good. Rating Food: 6.5/10 Service: 7/10 Value for Money: Good 164 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-Late