The Happy Mexican

When Sid suggests food you order it he is awesome, the food is amazing here! And yeh vibe is awesome Highly recommended

Have now been here 4 times in the last few weeks. Tuesday is $3 taco night. Authentic, filling and delicious. You'll be pushing to get through 3. Especially loved the pork. Fun decor too.

If I had to rate just the food I'd give 4.5 stars - it was really tasty and delicious. It was the other parts that brought the score down. Called up early in the day to see if I needed a booking and was told they only take bookings for 8+ but that it shouldn't be a long wait. Arrived at 19: 30 and had a 45 min wait time. Then it took multiple attempts to get someone to serve us our drinks - often asking three times. If you don't mind long waits for food and drinks it's great. The noise is also really loud - at times I wasn't able to hear from friend sitting opposite. Not a cosy or intimate place. Staff were polite, just seemed run off their feet.

Takeaway- arrive early for dinner or expect long waits for a table and drinks. Food is really good.

So rubbish. Meat in tacos dried out and old. 'Guacamole' grey and from a tub (sighted). Nothing tasted like it could have been freshly prepared. Really disappointing meal.

Awesome Mexican food in a no fuss venue. The owner is wonderful and completely up front and honest about capacity etc.

Food here is pretty decent and their michelada is one of the better ones around Melbourne. They used to do tortas here (one of only 2 places in Melbourne to do so) but have taken them off the menu. Bring them back and you'll get your fifth star.

Came to the Happy Mexican in no state to make rational food decisions. Thankfully Kelly and her partner took care of us. Tacos and tequila were! 11/10 would come back.

Great Mexican food at a very affordable price point. However, the entire venue smells like piss which is very off putting, which makes me wonder about their hygiene practices. Furthermore, service staff seems very inexperience and was slow. Overall, an okay experience.

We definitely over did it with the ordering. Awesome authentic mexican, great food, very nice friendly staff! Muchas Gracias asta pronto!

I'd leave no stars if I could. Read the broardsheet review of this new restaurant and was impressed. Even more so that it was walking distance from home. Wow, how wrong they were. Where do I start, maybe with the staff that didn't really know their menu, the beverages that were for sale but not listed for us to choose, lack of attention from waitresses that saw us having to ask to order drinks and food rather than being approached like normal. However the breaking point was having the food we ordered arrive as if the chef had just decided to ignore what was on the docket and just send out what he was feeling. Absolutely disgusting, left without eating wouldn't go back if you paid me. Save yourself the disappointment and try somewhere else.

The food here is fantastic, it’s no surprise it is so popular and busy on most nights. They have a great selection of tacos and generous servings. However it was the experience that brought the score down. Staff appeared to be in excess and disorganised, multiple waiters asking for our orders when it had already been taken. We also had to prompt staff of our drinks order as it seemed it had been forgotten. The space is small however well used, a cheerful yellow room decorated with folk art and Sombrero hats. Would come back for a feed however in no rush.

So far the best Mexican joint in town. Great atmosphere, quick service, great host. Obviously the flavors and intensity have been toned down for the Australian diner, but considering other Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, The Happy Mexican has nailed it better. Definitely try the tacos. They're piled generously and you'd wish there was a second tortilla. We ordered one of each and the standouts were the fish and the lengua. The other pulled meat varieties were a bit on the dry side and the vegetarian options weren't half bad but sort of cheated with onions making up the bulk of the filling. The prawn tostada is their signature for a reason-sweet, sour, salty, well-balanced flavors on top of a crisp tortilla. Order a stiff cocktail to go with your meal or a nice cold Mexican beer. Two minor gripes: 1.the staff could be more attentive (I guess they'll get better over time), and 2.do the customers really have to ask for limes to squeeze over their tacos? Those things are supposed to be automatic. Otherwise, great dining experience, will definitely come back.

Tiny authentic Mexican restaurant on Hoddle Strreet. Tasty food, very nice margaritas and great value for money

Eaasily the besst Mexican in Melbourne. Absolutely heaving but worth the wait. Recommend to get there extra early as they don't take bookings.

Food was good, but not exceptional (but I hear melbourne doesn't do a lot of good mexican food). Pork and ox tongue tacos were yummy, but the mushroom taco filling was too wet, making the tortilla soggy. Service was extremely slow and disorganized. Understanding of the menu was poor - servers didn't know the names of the dishes/ had to be reminded to bring out the guacamole/salsa that is supposed to come with the dish. Kept coming to our table with the wrong order and took ~50min for 6 tacos. Probably why they make you pay first.so that you don't walk out on them for the poor service.

Cute decor and good food. Needs to work on service/organization/ supply management (many of the things on the menu were out)

Great food, but unfortunately we were charged wrong on taco Tuesday and it left a sour taste at the end of a delicious meal (we left before I worked out it didn't all add up).

Staff are pleasant and friendly. New business I am happy to support whilst they get on their feet.

Went to The Happy Mexican for the first time yesterday and ordered the nachos. Service was great the girl was really nice but I was extremely disappointed that the cheese on the nachos was liquid cheese. Really bad. Please let me know if you decide to start using real cheese because otherwise I will not be returning.

Was pretty quiet when we went but couldn’t fault the awesome food, friendly staff and reasonably priced drinks

Wow amazing! Super friendly service we asked if we could order some more food after the kitchen was closed and they happily served us more Tacos very friendly very accommodating and amazingly tasty! Proper Mexican food