Mexico Christchurch brings the national restaurant group's colourful, street-food-inspired approach to Manchester Street in the central city. The kitchen aims for layered flavours across dishes that are easy to pass around, and the menu changes during the year as ingredients shift. Daily service from noon until late makes the restaurant flexible: it can handle a quick taco stop, a shared lunch or a longer evening meal without forcing diners into a fixed sequence of courses.
Tacos are the clearest way to explore the menu's range. Chicken is paired with pepita pesto, pickled red slaw and pumpkin seeds, while halloumi al pastor brings grilled pineapple, kūmara mayo and aji verde. Fish appears fried with tomatillo salsa, papas and lime-sumac mayo; pork belly adds chipotle mayo and crisp chicharrón. Mushroom and cactus provide a vegan option with jalapeño mayo, and drenched beef birria layers queso, pico de gallo and broth around a richer filling.
The menu is not confined to tacos. Mexico fried chicken is one of the house staples, and sharing plates such as birria beef empanadas, cheesy patatas bravas and guacamole give a group several textures to combine. Loaded nachos and a burrito offer more substantial choices, while quesadillas extend the meal in another direction. Meat, seafood, cheese and plant-based combinations are distributed across those sections, so a table can create variety without each diner needing a separate main course.
The best way to approach Mexico Christchurch is to think in rounds: start with a shared plate, add contrasting tacos, then decide whether the table needs a larger speciality or dessert. That format turns choice into part of the experience and works especially well for diners who want to taste several chilli levels, sauces and textures in one visit. Because the kitchen changes the menu with the seasons, repeat meals need not follow exactly the same path, while the late daily hours leave room to settle in rather than rush the final plate.
Address: 203 Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Mexico Christchurch Menu
Sharing Plates
Dúo de salsas
two house-made salsas, served with corn chips
Guacamole
fresh chilli, lime, salsa, coriander, served with totopos
Lamb meatball sopes
corn masa cups topped with tomato salsa, halloumi, red pepper crema, queso, spring onions
Queso fundido “melted cheese” dip
charred corn, grilled chorizo, parsley, drizzled with Apostle chilli oil, served with crunchy corn chips
Birria beef empanadas
slow cooked beef, jalapeños, queso, served with romesco crema (TWO PIECES)
Leek & mushroom chimichangas
braised leek, fennel & onion, sour cream, cheese and cactus, wrapped in tortillas, lightly fried, served with tomatillo salsa topped with cripsy leeks (TWO PIECES)
Fried cauliflower
chipotle mayo, jalapeño mayo, chilli powder, coriander
Mexico fried chicken
chipotle mayo, jalapeño mayo, chilli powder
Tacos
Shared price $9.50
Salsa macha agave chicken
pepita pesto, pickled red slaw, crispy onions, crunchy pumpkin seeds
Halloumi al pastor
kūmara mayo, slaw, grilled pineapple, pickled onions, aji verde sauce
Mexico fried fish
tomatillo salsa, papas, slaw, lime & sumac mayo, citrus onions, candied lemon
Pork belly con cola
chipotle mayo, slaw, green onion, chicharrón
Crispy mushroom & cactus
Salsa fresca, lettuce, crispy chickpeas, jalapeño mayo, cowboy candy
Drenched beef birria
queso, pico de gallo, birria broth, crispy papas
‘Feed Me’ Set Menu
$45pp. Min. 2 guests. Includes: Mexico fried chicken, guacamole, empanadas or chimichangas, choice of taco (pp), choice of quesadilla, churros.
Mexico fried chicken
Guacamole
Empanadas or chimichangas
Choice of taco (pp)
Choice of quesadilla
Churros
Specialities
Mexico ceviche
market fish, al pastor salsa, red onion chilli jam, hibiscus & lime agua, pepita pesto, seasonal fruit, chilli, corn shards
Loaded nachos
guacamole, queso, sour cream, frijoles, salsa, citrus onion, chilli, served with choice of slow cooked beef or grilled chicken
Mexico burrito
rice rojo, frijoles, guacamole, salsa, patatas, queso, crema, served with your choice of slow cooked beef or grilled chicken
Pork belly bites
al pastor glaze, chicharrón, pineapple salsa, al pastor crema, chilli, micro greens
Beef brisket birria burger
nacho cheese sauce, pickled slaw & onions, crispy tostada, pico de gallo, served with birria dipping sauce
Quesadillas
Slow cooked beef
roasted kūmara, whipped feta, chickpeas, red peppers, pickled red slaw, drizzled with hot agave, served with chipotle mayo
Macha agave chicken
queso, ancho spiced kūmara, citrus onions, charred corn, pepitas, served with pimiento crema
Guajillo mushroom & halloumi
charred corn, queso, capsicum, spiced chickpeas, citrus onions & frijoles, served with tomatillo salsa
Sides
Aztec salad
ancho kūmara, broccoli, quinoa, pepitas, whipped feta, beetroot, citrus onions, hibiscus & lime dressing
Cheesy patatas bravas
garlic & queso crema, queso, sour cream, cheese sauce, chilli powder
Desserts
Cinnamon spiced churros
dulce de leche, candied almond crumb (SIX PIECES)
Brownie empanadas
crispy sweet pastry filled with chocolate brownie, chocolate ganache, dusted with cinnamon sugar, served with ice cream (TWO PIECES)
Lunch Favourites Board
Available until 4pm. Choose any taco + guacamole + totopos + fried chicken (or cauliflower) + a 0% Soda or soft drink. Or upgrade to a margarita for $10.
Lunch Favourites Board
Choose any taco + guacamole + totopos + fried chicken (or cauliflower) + a 0% Soda or soft drink. Or upgrade to a margarita for $10.
Kids Eats
V Vegetarian; ✿ Vegan friendly; * GF ingredients; (V) Vegetarian ON REQUEST; (✿) Vegan friendly ON REQUEST; (*) GF ingredients ON REQUEST; ▯ Dairy present; ▼ Soy allergen; ● Nut allergen; ◖ Spice present
Guacamole
with yellow corn chips ✿ *
Pork belly taco
mayo, slaw (✿) ▼
Vegetarian taco
patatas bravas, mayo, slaw ✿ (*)
Fish taco
mayo, slaw (*)
Cheesy patatas bravas
queso sauce, parmesan cheese ✿ ▯ *
Chicken & cheese quesadilla
served with mayo (*) ▯ ◖
Cheese quesadilla
served with mayo (*) ▯
Kids Treats
V Vegetarian; ✿ Vegan friendly; * GF ingredients; (V) Vegetarian ON REQUEST; (✿) Vegan friendly ON REQUEST; (*) GF ingredients ON REQUEST; ▯ Dairy present; ▼ Soy allergen; ● Nut allergen; ◖ Spice present
Cinnamon churros
vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce V ▯
Chocolate ice cream
caramel sauce, chocolate sauce V * ▼
Beer
Corona
Modelo
Emerson’s Pilsner
Panhead Supercharger APA
Craft Beer
Sangria
Virgin Sangria (NON-ALC)
Tinto Sangria (RED WINE)
Blanco Sangria (WHITE WINE)
Wine
Canti Prosecco (200ML) ITALY
Da Luca Prosecco ITALY
Lake Chalice The Falcon Chardonnay NEW ZEALAND
Duck Hunter Sauvignon Blanc NEW ZEALAND
Arrogant Frog Rosé FRANCE
Tequila Flights
A trio of our finest spirit sippers paired with signature sangritas
el Jimador ORIGINAL TEQUILA TASTING EXPERIENCE
Gracias a Dios SMOKY MEZCAL EXPERIENCE
Herradura EXQUISITE TEQUILA EXPERIENCE
House-Made Soda
These are Mexico’s own bespoke zero alcohol recipes
Mexico White Cola
Tropical Guava
Pineapple Watermelon
Mojito
Pink Lemonade (SUGAR FREE)
Specialities (Drinks)
Horchata
sweet & spicy rice drink with cinnamon
Kids Juices
Apple
Pineapple
Orange
Cranberry
Frida’s Margaritas
$18 or $30 for a carafe
THE ORIGINAL MEXICO CITY
salt rim, lime garnish | sugar free available
STRAWBERRY & GUAVA
vanilla sugar rim, mint garnish
BLACK PLUM & CINNAMON
cinnamon sugar rim, cinnamon quill garnish
BLUEBERRY LEMONADE
sugar rim, lemon garnish