3.5/5 but rounded up for Zomato. With an abundance of Mexican restaurants in Melbourne it’s hard for one to stand out. El Sabor is not the best Mexican I’ve been to but by no way the worst. Good quality food with tacos fairly priced.
Nice neighbours, gave us a tomatillo can once for a pot plant. Can here them playing Nothing Compares 2 U by sinead O’Connor and mazzy star in the kitchen, so a little worried, please go here.
An amazingly authentic Mexican restaurant! Came here with some friends for dinner on a Monday night and we were not disappointed. The ambience is funky yet cosy. The service is prompt and attentive. And the food was amazing - great portions, delicious flavours and very affordable. I really enjoyed my grilled quesadillas with cheese, onion and mushrooms. Would highly recommend this place and would definitely return to try out some of the other menu items in the future.
I have been to El Sabor twice over the last twelve months and haven’t been disappointed at all! The food is always fresh and am keen to go back soon!
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Came here for dinner when en route to a play in the neighbourhood. I booked via Zomato which was quick and easy to do after looking at well rated restaurants in the area. Looked forward to trying the tacos after hearing that the Tortillas are hand pressed on site- making this an authentic destination to try Mexican fare in Melbourne. Staff were friendly and greeted us immediately as we walked in. Helpful with explaining the menu to us as it was our first time dining here, and were able to make our tine there comfortable.
We decided to have a drink or two whilst sharing a ceviche and some grilled corn. Both of these dishes came quickly after we ordered them and were delicious. Loved how fresh the ceviche was- just would have loved the tortilla crisps to have been more in tact as they were hard to handle and scoop the ceviche with. We then got 3 tacos each (which were on special with a margarita for $24). I decided on trying the el pastor, carnitas (both Pork) and a pollo (chicken) taco. My partner tried a carnitas, pollo and Baja (battered fish) taco. These took a little longer to be served but were delicious and very flavoursome although smaller than I thought they would be (just slightly bigger than my palm, each). I had just been in America which set the bar high for Mexican food for me and this place came close. I’d definitely come back!
Really liked this place. Food was really nice and tasty. Ordered the fajitas, nachos and tacos. Tacos were my least favorite but still ok. I felt like the beef for the fajita should have come out sizzling but it was just warm. Overall a real nice night and will definitely give it another go
Has a cute Mexican interior setting with 2 floors.
Staff was friendly and helpful.
I ordered vege chimichanga based on staff’s recommendation and was absolutely satisfied. It was delish - skin was perfectly deep fried crispy and the filling was so tasty. It came in a decent portion with guac and sour cream too so I didn’t quite feel the need of ordering more.
My friends ordered pescado, tinga de res and carnitas. Food was good overall but the serving was pretty small.
I found the flan just average though.
Stumbled upon this Mexican place in North Melbourne. Haven't had nachos in a while so I thought I'd get my nachos fix. I also tried green salsa for the first time with nachos and it was delicious! Loved everything about this meal from the crispy totopos (hate when they are soggy) to the pulled beef, the black beans, the cheese, the guacamole and the sour cream. Big portion too (I had to take some away) and reasonably priced. The service is also excellent. The lady who served me was very nice and helpful.
Thoroughly enjoyed our meal here - it’s authentic Mexican food - not fast food as some may expect.
The only disappointing thing is that they don’t have tamales anymore :(
They do, however, have a vast range of impressive tequilas.
Also, the service needs to be ramped up a bit with people with better communication skills and assertiveness - aside from this, it was very delicious 💖
In general we had a good time. We ordered some tacos, enchiladas and a quesadilla. The tacos and enchiladas were fabulous however, the quesadilla didn't have any flavour :'(. In overall, I recommend the place, friendly staff and good food.
loved the food! service was friendly and atmosphere was casual and cozy :) 10/10 ordered a bit too much though and couldn't finish it all and had to take some back home ahaha
Absolutely stunning and authentic mexican food so far.. the nachos super good.. alambres was beautiful. And the churros is the best!! Thanks
Thursday night Margarita and three tacos for $15. Pretty good deal! The tacos were definitely nice, but not amazing. Tried the beef, pulled pork and vegan tacos. Small restaurant, I recommend booking if you’re coming with more than a couple of people.
This place is great. I had to give them a 5 - I booked dinner for a joint birthday celebration and they provided us with free fiery tequila shots!
There was a bit of confusion regarding the booking, but it worked out alright in the end. Small stuff.
But actually.. the food is excellent. I'm not expert on Mexican - I can't say if this is authentic. But it is really, really delicious. My vegetarian friends were really happy. Meat eater me was happy. I don't know how many more ways I can say it's delicious.
Fajitas are yum and the wines are nice! The decor is very homey downstairs and I've always found the staff to be friendly but they are under the pump sometimes when it gets busy. Worth a go in North Melbourne for a cheap mid week eat.
Chance encounter with this cute little spot.
Relaxed atmosphere and seating. Knowledgeable and attentive staff!
Food: had the Pescado (Fish) and Gringa (Meat) Tacos, Chorizo Quesadilla, Ensalada and a Flan to finish off. Tacos and Quesadillas were flavourful and reasonably priced :D Flan was a bit heavy, but I don't order flan frequently to have a baseline comparison.
They also sell mexican sauces etc in their mini grocery region which look fun too :)
Great food and service. Authentic Mexican food. Can't wait to go back and try other plates. We had the fajitas for 2... plenty of food! Wish we could have had some dessert too... next time!
Generous serves of nachos at reasonable prices. The beef was seasoned perfectly and I loved the cheesiness of the nachos (and how they added guac at NO CHARGE). The burritos were pretty good too.
Such a great restaurant! Authentic Mexican food in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. Great beer selection, really good vegetarian options and amazing service. All the staff were lovely. Will definitely be back!
Amazing authentic mexican food, the service was awesome. The waiters where really knowledgeable and you could they cared and where passionate about their food. Next time im driving so i can get stuck into the beers and tequila!
Like It!
Not fine dining, but that's fine and well worth the $$$, as the food is GREAT!
Sat upstairs, the mood and vibe was good. Plenty of table rotation and good atmosphere.
The food was very flavorsome, authentic and very fresh.
We sampled a lot off the menu and could not fault anything.
Staff were very obliging, knew their menu very well and were more than happy to accommodate dietary requests.
Its about the food here and a good fun night out and this place delivers.
Will return....soon.
Second visit
Dinner and I must say, as good as the first. Plenty off the menu sampled again and everything was terrific. The service started off a bit slow, but that's OK, given the relaxed vibe of the place. Could El Sabor be in danger of becoming one of our favourites?
An instant favourite.
Great ambience, a bit more of a casual bar vibe downstairs, and a larger room with more seating upstairs - both great spaces.
Great, authentic food - good mix of Mexican street food, and more traditional home-cooked style meals. All with house made tortiallas, mole & salsas - sooo good.
Good selection of Mexican beers, tequilas and mezcal - the waiter actually recommended a cheaper mezcal than the one I ordered, which he rated more highly. This kind of honesty (not upselling) was very refreshing. The mezcal was verrryy good. Also my girlfriend had "the best margarita of her life" - they know their drinks.
Highlight is the staff. All very friendly, fast and super helpful - and despite it being extremely busy, we never felt neglected or rushed.
Loved it, highly recommend!
Came here yesterday for dinner , bookings were easily made via zomato. Cute small restaurant with an upstairs dining area and friendly staff.
We ordered the mole and red chicken enchiladas, elote/corn, fajitas and a chicken quesadilla.
I enjoyed the corn on the cob, their tortillas are soft and delicious and the accompanied sauces added extra flavour to our dishes. Everything else was ok.
I've been here twice now, once with my friend Laura Bartholomeusz and other with my partner. This place is definitely great value for money. I always get the beef, pork belly and fish tacos, they are delicious. I also recommend the Margarita's, they were too tasty.. I had at least 4 the first time I went!
Found this little Mexican gem whilst looking for a place to eat before heading to the comic's lounge. The venue is quite small and cute, with a beautiful little upstairs area accompanied by a bar.
Our waiter was super helpful with suggestions too!
I tried a Smokey Coconut cocktail, a Mexican take on a piña colada made with a smokey tequila-like drink.
The marinated beef taco was beautiful and the perfect size, and the mushroom quesadilla was subtle and delicious... definitely going back for a pre-show meal and drink in the near future :)
First time visit to El Sabor. All in all the food was good, the deep fried enchilada stood out the most as delicious, but the rest of the food was good, not amazing. Two people a bill of $75 I thought was on the pricy side for standard Mexican food. Thinking I could spend the same amount and eat somewhere like Hellenic Republic Bruwnswick or Thai Thonglor 55.. I think is be choosing the other places in future. Decor was authentic and staff were nice, would recommend a visit.
An increasing number of Mexican joints are now popping up left and right in Melbourne, but none are more traditional and authentic than El Sabor. Overall it tops it as the best authentic Mexican cuisine we’ve sampled to date, and we attribute that to it’s superbly executed corn tortilla base.
The word “authentic" springs to mind when we’re visiting El Sabor.
It’s a cosy venue in North Melbourne with two levels to enjoy some of their authentic Mexican recipes. We went early in the evening but could imagine that this place would be quite busy around 7PM.
Our favourites of the night were the nachos (omg the chips were so good) the chicken drumsticks/wings and the street corn, super tasty.
You can definitely taste the reason why they supply tortillas to venues all over Australia. If we’re in North Melbourne, we’d definitely come back again. (Staff are really helpful, paid parking around the area)
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Most amazing mexican! So many different flavours.... just a taste explosion...
first time trying mole with a Spanish guy by my side; his opinion said it all about authenticity!
I will definitely return to this establishment A++++
Such friendly staff- makes the dining experience all that much better!
QB👸🏼
El Sabor by El Cielo is an authentic Mexican restaurant owned and operated by the El Cielo brand. El Sabor translates to ‘flavour” or “taste” in Spanish, which accurately represents the main attraction at this restaurant: everything is full of flavour. They have been around for a while but have recently revamped their concept, aiming to offer the most authentic Mexican experience in Melbourne.
Found this place last minute because other restaurants were either full or closed on Good Friday. Staffs were really friendly, the bartender gave us a warm welcome and told us a little bit about the place. Because of this i said yes to the margarita which he said was made fresh and nothing was frozen. The drinks were indeed really refreshing. For the food my favourite was the mushroom quesadilla, full of flavours!! And their nachos were delicious too, get the extra spicy potato because it gave a little extra kick to the dish. Highly Recommended!!
El Sabor by El Cielo, located on Victoria St, North Melbourne, specializes in authentic and traditional Mexican style comfort food in an upscale setting. The fact that the restaurant has Executive Chef Dhi (a two time winner of Restaurant & Catering award for Best Corporate Caterer (Victoria) 2012 & 2013) at its helm speaks a lot in terms of the quality of food served here.
Great food if you want the real deal! They don't cut corners, the ingredients are fresh and authentic. Nice place with very friendly staff. Best Mexican I've had here in Melbourne.
Just tried the new breakfast menu huevos Rancho - best I've ever had! I'll be back to try the rest of the menu. The staff are also super friendly and told me all about the food in Mexico and when it's traditionally eaten. Was a really enjoyable meal
My favourite mexican restaurant in melbourne! I feel like I'm in mexico every time I come here! Great service, delicious food and wonderful atmosphere.
Gracias! I'll be back!
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+4
El Cielo (“the heaven”) has combined with North Melbourne’s El Sabor (“the taste”) bringing Mexican street food and home style flavours to the table. Executive chef Israel Meza (ex-Honkytonks, ACT) was born in Mexico city, and has previously served as head chef of the Mexican Embassy in Canberra. Also in the kitchen is head chef Luz Meza, who has worked with chefs like Enrique Olivera, Daniel Ovadia, and Edgar Nunez.
The best authentic Mexican food I've tried in Melbourne. Great service and good selection of food and beer! I'm looking forward to going back and trying the lunch menu
A delicious meal with lovely, attentive staff.
I think they encapsulated traditional Mexican food perfectly, not a superficial or overpowering use of the common Mexican ingredients like some other places in Melbourne do. It's clear the restaurant and its menu is carefully and thoughtfully considered.
Thanks! I'll be back
They let us sample a range of their menu, including the Pescado tacos, a baji battered fish, served with chipotle mayo, red cabbage and lime, and the carnitas, a taco with Michoacan styled slow cooked pork belly.
A must try is the Elotes, grilled corn smeared with chipotle mayo and cotija cheese and the enchiladas.
To finish off, we had both the churros and corn cake for dessert. Strongly recommend both!
El Sabor is on the western end of Victoria Street in North Melbourne. Their chef has come from a previous role at the Mexican Embassy so is well versed in bringing authentic Mexican falvours to their meals.
An absolute must try.
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I enjoyed our experience here.
The service was good. Informative and friendly without being pushy. The Mexican lager was surprisingly nice.
The Sopes and the special Cactus salad were the winners of the night. Delicious!!
The vegan tacos were very nice. The potato meat replacement is very yummy. I'd like a liiittle more chilli to come with the vegan tacos. I would've added some chilli sauce but the ones on the table are a bit too hot for me to handle.
The vegan tacos are nice and full with filling and lettuce. The bill will be a bit expensive if you eat until you're full but remember- this isn't a fast food Mexican place. It's a proper restaurant and it isn't cheap.
To the owner: I recommend that you never reply to negative reviews or comments. It will make you look desperate grovelling to unhappy people. Some people will dislike your restaurant and that's fine. Some people will complain to try to scam you into giving them a refund or free next meal. Forget about it. Your restaurant will be good enough to succeed without them. Don't waste your time.
We had a really enjoyable meal at El Sabor - the chicken enchilada was my favourite dish (that mole!) and we will be going back sometime soon to try the mole degustation. The staff were friendly and attentive but they were very busy. Our margaritas were spot-on (and reasonably priced).
Delicious, and clean Mexican - really enjoyed it. Serving felt a tiny bit small but would dine here again a heartbeat! The sangria was very good too.
Great authentic Mexican food & brilliant service!
The 'antojitos mexicanos' share plate is delicious if you're not sure what to choose.
Definitely worth a try if you are in the area :)
Good food, friendly staff and great cocktails. I especially recommend their paloma. Conveniently right near the tram and a car park across the road. Recently had a make-over and is looking good.
The homemade corn chips took us back to our recent month long trip in Mexico! Chunky with a creamy Guac and green salsa the perfect kick start to the meal. Followed it up with the elotes with mayo and grated cheese which was pretty good, could have done with a touch more mayo maybe. Fish tacos were super tasty and the pastor tacos (pork) were a touch on the dry side. Fantastic enfrijoladas covered in a super yummy black (bean?) sauce and a side of rice. Finished off nicely with a deliciously warm corn cake and a complimentary shot of a creamy tequila cocktail. Service was very personable. Happy to come back again and sample more drinks and dishes!
Mexican Restaurant taken over by new owners only 4 weeks ago. Although a very tasty Margarita at $15 a pop the presentation needs to be worked on. It was obvious the lemons we freshly squeezed and amount of tequila spot on. The Nachos were sensational with home made corns chips which were thick, crisp and fresh; some of the best I have had. The seasoned corn on cob was different and a must. I then had a 1 beef and 1 chicken quesadillas which were very tasty, crispy and filled with cheese and cream. I chose to add guacomole which made them even better. An extra waiter downstairs would have been very beneficial. My only complaint is the take away customers crowding the middle of the restaurant and around the bar area. All staff very pleasant. I will definately go back
Have wanted to try authentic Mexican food for a long time and we were delighted with this place. Soft corn tortillas with fresh sides and salads along with amazingly cooked proteins. I wouldn't recommend the pork taco as the sides had a bit of a funky taste but some people are into that. Enchiladas, Mexican rice, tequila, tacos, wings and quesadillas were all amazing and I would definitely recommend this place
Dined here on a Friday night and it was pretty packed. Downstairs was quite small, not too sure about the space upstairs. There was a lot to choose from on the menu, there were 6 of us and we had tacos (pulled beef & slow cooked pork), chorizo quesadillas, chicken fajitas, the calamari, bbq chicken wings and enchilada. We waited around 40 mins for our food and by then we were pretty hungry. Overall I really enjoyed everything we had, the pulled beef and pork was really soft, the quesadilla didn't really have much chorizo flavour but was still nice and the fajitas was very filling. Would come back another time.
Whilst the Mexican food trend is 'so yesterday', to me, a good Mexican restaurant will never go out of fashion. El Sabor, a Mexican Cantina located in North Melbourne, is one such restaurant. Reservations at El Sabor are possible, but definitely not necessary - for a Thursday night the restaurant was practically empty. This, of course, was a concern at first - I mean, if this place was any good, where were all the people?? But luckily the food didn't disappoint.
Went here for the 6 course meal ! Well as cheesy as it sounds ! I was a bit disappointed about the quantity of food offered ! But the food was delicious ! Over weekends the place is quite packed and since it's a bit cramped, it tends to get a bit noisy ! If you crave for Mexican in North Melbourne, look no further
Awesome food, ordered the beef nachos & beef burrito, delicious & very tasty. The servings are very generous & the staff were great, awesome food, awesome place, def recommend 👍🏽
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EveLovelle was invited to dine as guest at El Sabor Mexican feast at El Sabor, a hidden gem situated at North Melbourne along Victoria Street. There aren't too many Mexican restaurants in this area, so if you live around this region, this place should be under your must visit list. Dhi, the current director of El Sabor had prepared a storm for us tonight. Most of the main dishes served at El Sabor are gluten free, and this place is pretty much heaven for those on a gluten free diet. Tortillas used are corn tortillas, and fried batters are also made with corn flour. Even if you are not on a gluten free diet, everything was made out great and taste was not compromised with all these gluten free substitutes. Sangria El Sabor To start Jan got a jug of Sangria that can pretty much fill up two glasses. It had a distinct red wine taste with a little bit of brandy. The cut out apples on the glass made the drink sweeter and Jan said it tasted pretty damn amazing. Alitas These drumlets and wings used up 12 different kinds of spices grilled to perfection, from paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne and many more. Our first instinct was how it reminded us of good old aromatic satays. We especially loved how the skin absorbed all of the spices making it a hundred times better than normal wings. Calamares Fritos The calamari frites was one of the best I have ever eaten. The cornstarch batter and various spices made it unique. It was served with calamari capers and salsa brava on top. Calamari and guacamole, two of my favourite things! Hence dipping the fritos with guacamole and lemon aioli was absolutely phenomenal. Sopes Dhi let us try the more exotic Mexican dishes that we wouldn't usually order when coming to a Mexican restaurant. I was so used to ordering tacos, burritos, quesadillas, ensaladas, and we would usually circle around these variation. Tonight was something else, and we got to try a more traditional Mexican dishes we have never tried before. Sopes is like bruschetta
A taco is a taco right? Wrong. And as it turns out, those crispy yellow things I’ve been calling tacos all this time are actually an American invention. El Sabor Restaurant in North Melbourne focuses on quality modern Mexican food. Don’t worry, you will still get your guacamole fix but with elegant flavour combinations and plenty of style. Executive Chef Dhi explained that they wanted to bring affordable Mexican food to the area with some creative flair whilst keeping the classics and doing them well. The other big thing I have to mention is that almost everything on the menu is gluten free. This is coeliac heaven. The churros (which I will get to) are not gluten free and they have their very own deep fryer, no cross contamination.
The fingers of pastry were briefly fried for a crisp exterior and a gooey centre, but their full potential was not unleashed until it was dipped into the chocolate sauce. Consisting of a mix of Mexican chocolate, dark chocolate, and a slick of cream, the sauce tasted of nothing but sugar for a second or two, before the soft explosion of cocoa hit. It was a perfect balance of sweet and bitter, its creamy richness heated by the coating of powdered cinnamon on the churros.
Lovely service and yummy food! I'd recommend this place to others. The dishes all came out fresh and hot which I really liked and the owner kept refilling everyone's glasses of water.
Great Mexican!. We bought a groupon deal and were really impressed! They were very accommodating for my vegetarian diet and everything was delicious! (apart from the sangria) Love the little corn kernel salad. Recommend :)
Went using a groupon voucher - food was yummy, but not amazing, but for the price it was fair. Service a bit slow to start, but good once the dishes started coming out. A pleasant restaurant and we weren't rushed.
Went here last night with a groupon deal and it was great. Perfect level of spice, comforting tasty food, lots of food, and delicious Churros! Thanks guys.
There are only good things you can say about El Sabor. From the lovely and attentive staff to the delicious fresh dishes, this is the perfect restaurant for any occasion. I have to commend the staff and owner Eddie as they have created a very warm and friendly environment. I can see this fast becoming one of our favourite restaurants in Melbourne. Definitely the best Mexican I've had in a while.
Great food. Great service. Everything you want in a restaurant. will be back.
Melbourne's best nachos. As I work close by, El Sabor is a favourite local haunt to head for lunch. Not only are the staff exceptionally attentive and friendly but the authentic Mexcian cuisine is simply to die for. The vegetarian nachoes are the best I have ever sampled in Melbourne and are an absolute bargain at just $9.00 (as part of the lunchtime special).
The place was buzzing on Saturday night when we came. Tacos are great and moorish. The tangy sauce drizzled over the grilled corn is an easy win for me. The sauces they have on most of the dishes are really good but there are some cuts of the beef that are tough or dry. Service is also very quick and efficient.
Food - 7
Service - 9
Vibe - 7
Price - $$$
Super tasty, fair pricing. Nachos are really the bomb here and the grilled corn is lovely. Vegan Tacos could use a little work. Maybe more sauce? Unsure, they we're a little bit bland. A few beers available and lovely Mexican cola. Corona ofc here - could consider some local craft beer in cans to add to the collection. Really enjoyed it. Staff were really friendly and fast too.
Really tasty wings and fajita platter. Kitchen was a bit slow to prepare food. Friendly polite service staff. Small venue, make sure to book ahead. Well priced.
Great food and service, highly recommended.
Enchiladas serving size was a bit small though.
Fish taco 🌮 was amazing!
The share plates for two, $40, are so filling! You don't need entrees. Chicken or beer, lots of fillings. Wish there was more guac but there is plenty of everything else.
The margs are delicious, frozen ones top, spicy marg has some kick which is so good.
Cute little place, would definitely recommend booking the booth downstairs for a vibe.
We sat upstairs in the restaurant. The service was lovely, we had a new staff member that was doing their best. The food was very fresh with lots of ingredients and colour. Most was midly spiced, but there were red and green sauces on the table to add flavour with a kick. It was fairly busy with most tables booked.
Excellent margaritas (seriously good)! Service was prompt and friendly and the team knew their stuff. The classic Mexican food was really well prepared, authentic and very, very tasty. For such a small place this place has everything you need. A great little place.
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