Vandal

Newtown appears to be the home of low-key vegan Mexican restaurants serving cheap and cheery set menus and good time margaritas. Since my visit to Calle Rey, I have found another restaurant cut from the same cloth. So, let them battle it out, shall we? 

Within walking distance from one another (but not so close as to be breathing down each others' necks), both Calle Rey and Vandal serve $30 set menus filled with guac, tacos, corn and all the good stuff one expects at a casual Mexican restaurant. Except everything is vegan - not that those restaurants shout it from the rooftop. Both are what I'm calling "sneaky vegan restaurants" - the kind where the strong flavours and sauces disguise, rather than advertise, the fact that none of what you eat came from an animal. 

Is a Mexican meal even complete without guac? Always a crowd-pleaser, this is a simple and refreshing way to start the meal. 

Spicy and juicy, with a generous shaving of vegan shredded mozzarella (I'm guessing), the grilled corn is awkward to eat but worth every messy bite. 

"Tuna" cerviche bites, nature of tuna unknown. I think it is konjac of some sort, it goes some way to replicate the texture and slight sourness of real tuna. I don't think I would want to eat big bites of these, but as a little mouthful of flavour, it is quite good. 

Mushrooms, flavourful, juicy, satisfying, umami mushrooms. Very simply cooked, effectively hitting the spot. 

"Spring rolls" in the style of "cheese burger", I must admit I have forgotten what was inside, except the flavours are just what you'd imagine a vegan big mac to be. 

One got to choose a taco from the menu - these feature jack fruit "pulled pork". The highlight, for me, were the sweetly tart pickles, which cut right through the salty "meat". 

And, of course, margaritas. 

Score: 2.5/5
Price: $30pp + drinks
Address: 403 King Street, Newtown
Website: https://www.vandalsydney.com.au/