Lucky Lupitas is amazingly popular, even on a weeknight! While the neighbouring restaurants barely had any customers, there were people lining up to get a seat at this place. A tip for those who come here when it’s busy; go inside and put your name down for the waiting list. There are benches outside that you can sit at while you wait for customers to vacate. A staff member will call you when a table is available, only when your entire group is present. This place doesn’t take bookings so don’t even bother!

The restaurant is small, but very cosy, with seating for about 20-25. The décor is traditional but basic. The cute little wooden tables, the mish mash of knick knacks on the shelves along the walls, the dim lighting and the Latin music playing the background, really create a warm atmosphere. The aroma coming from the open kitchen is enough to make your mouth water. The staff are friendly and inviting, and the service is pretty good.

Tonight, I ordered the Lucky Ribs with Chimichurri Sauce. The ribs were so tender and succulent, the meat just fell off the bone. The ribs were just slow cooked to perfection and the smoky flavour in the meat was a gastronomical delight. The rice was perfectly cooked with nice firm whole pieces. The slaw was a nice variation to what I would normally have as the dressing was subtly tangy. The chimichurri sauce was unlike what I have at Argentinian restaurants, but just as good.

This place is real hidden gem in the southern suburbs. The food here is of a high quality and probably one of the most authentic Mexican places you’ll find in Adelaide. It’s a shame there is limited parking here. They really need to move to bigger premises.

WHERE: 1/4 Rupert Ave, Bedford Park