12 Aug Mamasita, Melbourne CBD

The entrance to Mamasita is a very discreet door next to a 7-Eleven, with the actual restaurant located on the floor above it. I arrived about 5 minutes before 12pm so I joined the short queue out the front. When the doors opened everyone was seated quickly; I got a seat at the bar, very close to the open kitchen. Having browsed the menu beforehand I already knew what I wanted, so I ordered the famous elotes callejeros (“Street Style” chargrilled corn, queso, chipotle mayo & lime, $4.9) and de Lengua y Cachete (braised ox tongue & cheek, pickled veg & ghost chilli mayo, $6)

I was provided with 2 bottles of hot sauce – one with tomato and one without – and a small dish of salsa verde, which were recommended for the tacos.

The corn had been coated in cheese just before being served so after a few minutes the cheese had melted into a nice layer. There was also a line of paprika-based spice mix sprinkled on one side. Curiously, the dollop of chipotle mayo was only on the end of the core and I didn’t actually notice it there until I was half-finished. The corn was sweet and the flavours tasty, but it wasn’t as good as I expected.

The ox taco, on the other hand, was better than I thought it would be. The taco was crisp but still soft and not oily or soggily overladen with sauce. The flavours were simple but satisfying and it went well with the salsa verde. The tongue had been thinly sliced and had a very tender and delicate texture – a little bit like nicely cooked duck, but finer.

After I’d finished I thought I may as well order another taco since I was there and not overly full. The weather had also turned rather ugly and I didn’t want to be walking around outside. I got de Pescado (grilled fish, lime, achiote paste, red onion salsa & chipotle mayo, $6). The flavours were light and fresh, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the braised ox taco.

All together, the total came to around the same price as a typical brunch dish. I look forward to coming back to try some of the tostaditas, though those will require company if I wish to try more than one flavour.

Mamasita
Level 1, 11 Collins St
Melbourne, VIC, 3000
(03) 9650 3821
http://www.mamasita.com.au/