Barrio Chino

Great food, we had the mid range set menu and it had a lot of small portions that added up to a massive meal. They told me they're closing/transforming into a burger bar in the near future which is unfortunate. It's be good to double check if you're planning on going there for dinner - I'd be thrilled if they change their minds, I think the lockout rules have had a significant business impact.

Came on a Sunday during an event so the place was buzzing with energy. Lovely crowd and the place is beautifully decorated. There was a bit of a queue at the bar but then again that was understandable since I went during an event, so I suspect that wont be the case on a normal day. The food was delicious with a large variety of mexican dishes and the prices were good. Definitely visiting this place again!

Went there for a fashion launch event and the vibe was cool. I've passed by it several times but have never really stepped food into it. When I finally did, it was different from what I had imagined it to be, but still enjoyable nonetheless. This place is well known for its upmarket-goers, and the people who frequent this place are usually part of the fashion scene (or semi celebrities).

I'm hesitant to write a review for this place - once enough people find out about it I won't be able to get a seat anymore. But in the interests of sharing here you are looking at my 5 star review for Barrio Chino... The sopa was enough to make a non-soup lover state that it was the best soup he had ever tasted. I certainly thought it was up there next to the best tex-mex style soups I have encountered. The tacos were enough to make us pine for time spent in the US. We had most of the taco menu and all were excellent - minimalist, quality tortillas and accompanied by some great sauces. We agreed that these little tacos were better than most if not all we had ever eaten. The meatballs - well you've probably had many of them at every tapas joint in town, but these were the perfect combination of hefty substance and lightness (the sauce). The decor was a little strange to start with - it's very pared back and full of private nooks - we felt like we were going on a three way date; after a while we appreciated that it was quiet (what a change in Sydney!) and we could just chat away in peace. Service was very attentive. The drinks - well I have a gripe against Australian cocktail prices (and strengths) in general and this place didn't buck the trend but we were happy with the beer selection and liked the margaritas. In summary you can get away with a Sydney miracle: an excellent and cheap meal here if you keep it cool on the drinks and you can muster up the courage to mix it with the KX shiny people.