Restaurants & Cafés

Everybody likes a taco, there’s just something about them. Maybe it's the way you can hold it in one hand, or the way they can be stacked with the perfect balance of flavours. While not all tacos are created equal, we’re willing to bet the new pop-up restaurant launching Thursday, October 1, at the Marly in Newtown is dishing out some of the best you’ll find on this side of the globe. Hashtag Burgers, the name behind the infamous Nameless Bar and Sydney’s OTT burger festival Burgapalooza, has teamed up with Mexican-born chef Juan Carlos to create Cabrones Taqueria. Carlos knows his way around crafting a menu: he was the head chef behind the modern Mexican menu at Sonora in Potts Point, and has held the position of sous chef at the highly regarded Three Blue Ducks in Rosebery. The selections at Cabrones Taqueria will combine Carlos’s authentic flair with western twists to create the ultimate pub grub.  There are five base tacos on the menu, featuring a mix of authentic flavours – like barbacoa lamb, slow cooked in five chilies – and less authentic flavours – like southern fried chicken served with sweet and spicy morita mayo, or beer battered fish served with cucumber, fennel and mint pico de gallo, and hot tamarind sauce. Hashtag Burgers will also be putting a distinctive twist on the weekly specials, with taco flavours coming up inspired by meat lover’s pizza and the big mac. Pick and mix your favourite flavours, there two for $15 or three for $20. While tacos are the star of the show, they’re not the only things on the menu. There’s also loaded nachos and fries with chilli con carne or chilli con ‘veg’ and housemade blue corn chips; huge, deep-fried bullhorn poppers stuffed with three cheeses; and whole cobs of chargrilled corn to sink your teeth into. There’ll be new additions to the menu over the coming weeks too, so look out for spicy chicken wings and chimichangas. The Marly is celebrating the fiesta by adding frozen Margaritas to its already enormous drinks offering – bottoms up. Cabrones Taqueria is popping up six days a week for six weeks, with room to hang around a little longer if the demand is there. You can get down for your taco fix on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5-10pm, and from Thursday to Sunday between the hours of noon-3pm and 5-10pm. 

You'd be forgiven for forgetting that the festive season is just around the corner, it's been a corker of a year. This year's restrictions though, have given us all more of a reason to make sure your office, family or friend group's Christmas and end of year celebrations are extra special. Casual Chinese eatery and cocktail bar Jin's Teahouse know what's up with their call out for early-bird organisers to get in touch. They're offering delicious banquet menus, chef specials and a private dining room to group bookings made this month so you can secure your spot now and enjoy a rambunctious Chrissie party later without any stress or worries. Jin's Teahouse has a variety of delicious banquet menus available for groups of four and over. For $39pp you could be grazing on zingy tornado cucumber and smoked duck breast for starters, followed by generous serves of steaming dumplings like rainbow pork xiao long bao and crystal mushroom. For mains tuck into plates of moreish kung pao chicken, salt and pepper ribs, wok-fried green beans with diced Wagyu beef and Jin's signature tea fragrant king prawns prepared with coriander and Tieguanyin tea. For a little extra at $49pp you'll also receive some special dishes like Laphroaig 10 chicken, chunky Wagyu pot stickers and more delicious mains like crispy eggplant and pan seared lamb cutlets. Both banquets also come with mustard duck fried rice and Jin's go-to dessert called "magic balls", a sweet treat made of glutinous rice flour, white chocolate and coconut. Go all out with the gold banquet for $59pp and you'll upgrade to king crab fried rice and a mango and coconut platter alongside some extra luxe dishes like Jin's specialty take on Glacier 51 Toothfish. Book your Chrissie party during October and you could nab the restaurants private dining room and get a complimentary chef's special dish thrown in for good measure. The private room can accomodate up to ten people and will have dedicated floor staff making sure your festivities are well looked after. Usually reserved for high-rollers, Jin's is offering this private room experience to any groups that take advantage of this supremely organised early-bird offer. So hop on the phone or email the friendly folks at Jin's Teahouse and impress your boss, mother-in-law, best frenemy or whomever you're planning to celebrate with with this hassle-free, quality dining Christmas party option.