Mad Mex Flinders Lane - Melbourne

Mad Mex is so mind-blowingly delicious it's threatening to turn me obese. I'm not normally so excited by fast food, but Mexican food in general has a strange power over me, so when it's done well (and cheap) it gets me a little excited. Mad Mex offers a basic Tex Mex menu of soft and hard shell tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas, with an option of various meats or vegetarian. Where vegetarians are concerned, I would maybe stick to Trippy Taco in Fitzroy (as the vegetable mix on offer is a little underwhelming and a little too watery for my tastes), but the slow cooked marinated meats (chicken, beef, pork) are all amazing! Meals are all around the $10 mark, but rest assured that you will leave full and oh so satisfied. Note: all of the foods on offer are super messy to eat...not date food!

There are many Mexican restaurants in Melbourne, and this particular brand is just one of several fast food chain Mexican eateries. My review of Mad Mex is not specific to this particular location, but rather to the brand as a whole, as I have dined at multiple locations throughout Melbourne. Whenever I visit a Mexican fast food restaurant, I always order a pork burrito. I find that this brand does it the worst - the pork is too dry and lacks flavor compared to its competitors within the same brand.

I'm not a big fan of this restaurant, but sometimes, when I'm really hungover and need a burrito, I'll go to Mad Mex. The burritos here aren't amazing with bland white rice, grated cheddar cheese, and overly salty meat. However, I do enjoy the guacamole and salsa fresca, and the small burrito is reasonably priced at 8 dollars. It's a good option for a budget-friendly lunch at Melbourne Central, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here unless I was really craving a burrito. It happens sometimes.

Ok for a quick bite if in a hurry. I've tried the pork burrito twice and I'm not impressed. The pork is overly salted but otherwise bland. The rice and black beans are no better. However it's reasonably priced. Do serve coronas which is a plus.

Fans of the US chain Chipotle will feel right at home here. Fresh as Mexican food tacos, burritos, quesadillas and even margaritas is served up fast and to your order, with a choice of different garnishes and hot sauces. Great vegetarian options, too. One of my favourite places for a quick bite when I'm in the CBD.