By Audrey Riddell
Melbourne’s offering of Mexican food ranges from some pretty banal Tex-Mex to the delectable upscale offerings from the likes of Mesa Verde and Mamasita. Having recently eaten our way through parts of Mexico, my travel partner and I were on the lookout for venues where we could reminisce and recall the flavours of our varied culinary adventure. I’d been googling some of my favourite dishes and came across a spot not too far from home.
Superchido is a bustling little restaurant at the southern end of the Seddon shopping precinct, run by restaurateur Daniel Pineda. The vibe is fun and funky and fun. While the décor of the main restaurant is a little sparse, the courtyard out back is adorned with colourful murals and is comfortably heated (important for those returning from the 40-degree heat of Yucatan to the tail end of a Melbourne winter).
Part of the appeal of Superchido is its specials, and it’s not just the typical Taco Tuesday. If the cost of living is getting you down, you can get a decent deal here most nights. We decided to live it up though, with five courses of delectable dishes, accompanied with appropriately Mexican drinks. Guacamole, elote, queso fundido and two types of tacos were complemented perfectly with a paloma, a margarita and Tecate beers. Finally, the birria de res (slow cooked beef in a picante sauce) was washed down with a smoky mezcal.
At some stage over the course of the meal, we realise that our food was being brought out by Pineda himself, who sparks up a chat. His enthusiasm for Mexico and its cuisine is clear. He tells us he spent six years in the country and infuses that experience into his menu. When my partner privately laments the lack of sauces, Pineda seems to read our mind and comes past with a salsa macha and another spicy little number that make our chilorio tacos really pop. He also tells us about future plans for the menu, giving the people of the West a taste of regional Mexican delicacies. We’re salivating, despite our happily full bellies.
It’s also pretty exciting to hear that they have a sister shop in the city; CDMX, shorthand for Mexico City, focusing on tacos. I’m determined to also give that one a try, but only once (or thrice) I’ve been back to the Seddon store’s Margarita Thursday.
Superchido is definitely achieving its goal of bringing a little bit of Mexico home. Do yourself a favour and swing past some time.
We had:
Elote – Corn that’s been char grilled and served with finely grated cheese.
Queso Fundido – Hot cheese melted over succulent meat (I think it was pork). Very nice.
Birria de res – Tender beef cooked with onions and spices.
Chilorio Tacos – Braised pulled pork from the Mexican region of Sinaloa, served in a taco with onion.
Guacamole to start and some fish tacos somewhere along the way!
