The contents of this blog are matters of opinion formed over one more visits. There has been some artistry applied and metaphors and similes should not necessarily be taken literally.
My partner and I live in constant and recurrent disappointment at birria tacos, which often look so good but taste only not bad. Our recent trip to a market day in Wentworth Point in Sydney’s “expanded inner-west” found us queuing up at yet another food stall for yet another serving of birria tacos. Maru’s Kitchen, originally from the kitchen of a Mexican grandmother four and a half hours inland from Sydney proper, do regular pop ups and market stalls around Sydney. Though possibly the best tacos in Wagga Wagga, how would they hold up in the decidedly more cosmopolitan big smoke? Would they be good? Would they be better than the other offerings around? The bar was low.
The answer was surprisingly, yes.
The Birria Tacos (3 for $20) at Maru’s Kitchen were probably the best we’ve had to date. The filling was tasty but not over-tasty, cheesy but not over oily. Quite remarkably and importantly in our experience, the consome was quite good and drinkable, with a mix of spices and flavours rather than just saltiness (looking at you, Chololo). Finally, birria tacos that I’d entertain the idea of having again.
Maru’s Kitchen Lake Albert and Wagga Wagga, NSW Various market stalls around Sydney 0407 083 047
As Western Sydney locals but relative strangers to the South West, it took a couple of laps around the block for us to realise that the neon-lit Chololo made famous across social media was actually situated within the somewhat dingy and run down food court of the Fairfield Chase shopping centre. The initial surprise that someone chose to open a new diner in such a place faded quickly however, as we ordered and settled in for our special Taco Tuesday meal.
Our main order was the Birria Ramen Pack with 3 beef tacos ($21). This pack is differentiated from their regular birria pack through the addition of instant noodles and pulled beef into the dipping soup.
The standard taco itself wasn’t bad, but also wasn’t a standout. The beef inside was reasonably moist, the filling to tortilla ratio was good, and the finely diced green vegetables inside were most welcome. Despite this I just didn’t get the vibe that they were very special, that is until I had them with the excellent chilli sauce, which was so fresh and fruity with just the right amount of spice. Dipping the tacos into the provided consommé, in this case an instant noodle soup, didn’t really enhance the experience as much as I had expected. It simply made the taco a bit more salty and a bit more soggy.
I don’t profess to be an instant noodle guru, though I have had many in my day. I found the noodles and the overall “ramen” experience of the birria ramen to be a bit lacking, and contrary to other online reviewers who enjoyed layering the noodles into the tacos I didn’t feel like this added anything. The noodles simply didn’t have enough of a non-salt flavour to add to the tacos, and if I were to go back I’d be choosing the standard birria pack rather than pay the premium for noodles that I did not enjoy.
Despite my lukewarm response to everything so far, the keto tacos ($4 each) were surprisingly good. We visited, by providence, on a Taco Tuesday as well, which meant that additional tacos were $2 each with any purchase of a birria or ramen pack. These keto tacos had the same general fillings as Chololo’s standard tacos, except that the carb-laden tortilla was replaced by a fat-laden crisp of grilled cheese. The cheese “tortilla” on these tacos were extremely crispy, crunchy, and tasty, while the fresh vegetables within and supplied limes to squeeze helped to balance out the oiliness. We had both the chicken and beef keto tacos, and both were quite delicious to the mouth, if repulsive when you actually start to think about how bad they are for you.
COMMENTS If I were a man in a state of extreme unintentional calorie deficit and catabolism I would come back on a Tuesday and gobble up those delicious $2 keto tacos with their excellent chilli sauce. As I am hoping not to have a CABG in the next decade however I think I will probably not come back.
Chololo Fairfield Fairfield Chase Shopping Centre, 34 Council Ln, Fairfield NSW 2165 0413 675 536
