Maiz y Cacao

13.5/20Critics' PickUpdated October 12, 2026,first published October 27, 2025This venue is included in Good Food’s 100 Essential Restaurants list.The tacos are good. But this is a place to come and try something new, something you may not have seen before in Australia, or have been longing for since that trip you took to Mexico or Los Angeles. Molotes are crunchy torpedoes of plantain dough stuffed with smoked cheese and served in a pool of Oaxacan-style mole that’s bitter, sweet and complex.Elegant enchiladas are no oxymoron. Filled with chicken and drenched in tomatillo salsa that’s almost fluffy in texture, they’re much closer to what you’d get in Mexico. Counter them with the magnificent mess of a pambazo sandwich: layers of chorizo, potato, sour cream and fire engine-red chilli sauce that’s ready to ruin white T-shirts and first dates.Colourful trinkets and murals lift the room while Tommy’s margaritas, spicy mezcal cocktails and well-made horchata raise the mood, aided by proud, happy staff.Best for: Dinner with a group of good friends – food is easily shared and strawberry margaritas get the fun started.Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upLast visited: August 2026More:MelbourneMaiz y CacaoMexicanAccepts bookingsGood for groupsLicensedBreakfastTakeawayVegetarian-friendlyGluten-free optionsWheelchair accessOutdoor diningPet-friendlyAccommodationPre- or post-theatreRestaurantReviewsGood Food Guide100 Essential RestaurantsCritics’ PickFrom our partners