Chilpa by La Tortilleria

This place used to be awesome!: (Prices have gone through the roof and serving sizes have halved. Sorry, we won’t be back as often as we used to. Say goodbye to the locals!

Really delicious vegetarian and vegan options and everything is gluten free! I found it was really tasty and a bit more interesting and authentic than what I see on a regular Aussie Mexican dining menu. Definitely eating here again!

This is proper authentic Mexican! My partner and I had the Alambre de Asada it was so damned good, with plenty of meat and good quality melted cheese, with a slight smokey chargrilled flavour, so so tasty. We also loved the tacos. We washed it all down with some mezcals. The restaurant had a great warm and chill vibe, and we are so glad that there is finally some REAL quality Mexican in the area. I loved the tortillas so much that I bought a pack for home!

Nice service, food disappointing to be honest. Found the tacos very bland.and soggy. I understand the gluten free vibe but it means soggy shells. Also all meat no salad. Cocktails ordinary for the cost.

Loved Chilpa! Staff are very friendly and helpful. Food comes out fast, so fresh and tasty! Drinks were delish (especially the mojito and horchata). Great vegetarian options. Would definitely return!

Bean dip is disgusting, the food has lost its flavour not to sure what happen to the old owner but to the new owner if your going to make Mexican food can you please do it the Latin way?

I was very disappointed, especially as I used to come to Hot Lips (previous mexican restaurant here) all the time. The food portions were small, unexciting, and the menu was not creative (veg options were mostly Fable and mushy beans). The wine list was incorrect, stating the wines were from 2015 and 2016 when in fact they were much newer. The decorations are much more bland and less festive than previously. Service was very good on the other hand. Overall lacking imagination.

Beautiful restaurant with a great vibe. The semi outside area is a great section to sit. The food was fresh and very tasty, the staff were friendly and helpful and the cocktails were yummy. The menu is great because you get to taste a wide selection of food rather than just 1 meal. This is definitely my favourite Mexican restaurant and will be back again and again.

Vegetarian/vegan review - Really nice food and drinks and great for opening I hope you guys elaborate and evolve your menu as you go. Just a couple things put me off - Unfortunately most of the vegetarian food options were frijoles and fable meat (the tostada was really nice) would be nice if there was a couple more options. I think the menu was missing élote or esquites (some more variety for shared/starters). The drinks were nice. Was a bit put off when we ordered tequila and sangrita which kinda just tasted like V8 and unfortunately the spicy marg didn’t really have any of a kick to it - I think if the habanero or jalapeño is infused with the tequila (or mezcal) for 24-48 hours it gives it a really nice flavour and spice level. I’d recommend combining the Mezcal and the spicy marg together tbh and adding a coconut marg or another variety. All up though, really nice and excited to see where you guys go with this! Really nice service and staff thanks for having us!

Happy to have such a good option added locally. It's a fun atmosphere and the food is tasty. I really liked the outdoor area too which gets the sun.

Food wise we had the chilaquiles (aka nachos) - ill probably order my very own serve as to not share again, and a variety of tacos (I really enjoyed the al pastor pork and the fish taco). We had the flan for dessert also which was great and they have a sweet rice milk drink called horchata which is super refreshing.

I noticed some low reviews on here which made me think twice, but everyone (even low reviews) seem to rate the food highly so I gave it a go. It was funny to read some of the quibbles being about random things like how you pay and booking issues? Im not sure what people were expecting for $6.5 a taco, this isn't going to be vue de mond service, but the food is really tasty and you can walk out of there spending about $40pp including a drink and a full belly.

Amazing Mexican food, as close to the food I had in Mexico I've seen in Melbourne - not Tex Mex at all!

Great drinks too

Recommend the Pork Al Pastor
And beer 'Michelada style'

5 years ago this would pass as good Mexican but I think it needs more flavour and spice now. Staff were great but still waiting for good Mexican food. I reckon they should do more cocktails and focus on a smaller menu.

So so happy LT is now easy to get to in the South East, food is absolutely delicious, unbelieveably fresh.

Only downside is they didnt allow us to have the Birthday Cake we brought, which was odd.

Not sure why this place is so highly rated, food was average, service couldn’t wait to take your plates away from under you, kick you, take your glasses while you still have a cocktail in it!

Margarita cocktail was fab - it gave me tingles. Food came out so quickly and was really delicious. Was seated pretty quickly on a Saturday without a booking. Will be going again.

Really disappointing. Made table booking weeks in advance and on arrival the only option they would give us was a bar stool outside. Even with my wife being heavily pregnant, they still would not budge.
Thankfully, the Italian place across the railway line was a lot more accommodating. Definitely won't be going back to Chilpa.

I was really looking forward to a new operator in Highett for great Mexican food after Hot Lips lost their way and eventually went under. Unfortunately in my opinion, this establishment does not know their food, portions and understanding their customer’s need for a great time. I hope over time that this place improves.

I ordered takeaway nachos during opening weekend and I ordered “all” the protein extras for this dish. Now, you would think common sense would prevail that spending $60+ on a dish would be conducive to an appropriate portion of serving. But no, instead of 4 servings of protein which I paid for, I received 1 portion of protein divided by 4! So I should have just chosen 1 protein and saved my money! This is stupidity on the highest level after I made an effort to engage with the waitress to clarify what would be included with my order.

Adios amigos!

Disgusting
Food served cold and drinks were not at all pleasant except wine from the bottle!
Service from one gentleman was great.others lost the plot and avoided us.until it was tine to move on and another waitress asked us to prepare ho leave. Grrrrr

Service was good, food was great BUT how do you take an 8pm dinner booking for 7 people and then close the bar at 9pm and ask patrons to finish their drinks by 9: 45 because you want to wash the glasses? Horrible hospitality.

Was bit disappointed with options available. Chilakiles were good. But, the rest of them all were meat tasting. I would prefer to have some vegetarian options which taste like vegetarian instead of meat.