‘Hi mate!’ ‘G’day mate!’ ‘Welcome to Lucha Loco, mate!’ cheered a procession of wait staff with antipodean accents as we entered the restaurant – not quite the Mexican welcome we were expecting from this new Duxton Hill establishment, which has taken over the space formerly used by the Irish pub garden The Toucan (sadly, the grassy outdoor space no longer seems to be utilised). To be honest, we weren’t quite sure what to expect from Lucha Loco’s claim to be inspired by the masked brand of Mexican wrestling they’re named after, though short of a couple of pictures of fighters and a bust above the bar, the sleek, wood-furnished restaurant doesn’t seem to be overplaying its theme or gimmicks too much. A wise move.
Munch on a range of tacos (from $10) that include slow-braised lamb and marinated tiger prawns, as well as more unique options like the chorizo and beef brisket taco or a vegetarian taco stuffed with juicy, grilled lion’s mane mushrooms. Equally striking are the quesadillas (418), where you can choose between chicken, beef, or the more interesting caramelised hibiscus and jackfruit filling. If you aren’t too stuffed yet, you have to try the crowd-favourite crab tostada ($18) that features fresh blue swimmer crab with a zesty pickled jalapeño for an extra kick. And don’t think twice about desserts – the blue corn cake ($14) with sweetcorn, creme fraiche, berry compote and vanilla ice cream is a mainstay on the menu, and not without reason.
