A vibey modern Mexican spot full of personality, featuring vibrant Mexican artwork that brings colour and culture to the space. The blend of rustic textures and urban design creates a laid-back yet energetic atmosphere, perfect for a fun night out. With some delicious drinks we enjoyed during our meal.
White Sangria, bursting with fresh fruit and summer vibes
Taco night at Calle Rey stands out for its top-quality offerings and great value, especially with their $5 Taco Tuesdays. With a wide range of creative vegan taco options, we made the most of it by sampling several dishes from the menu. Since then, the original owners have moved on to a new venue and restaurant called VANDAL, where they now offer tacos for just $4 on Tuesdays—an incredible deal! Please note that Calle Rey is now under new ownership, and the menu has changed to include non-vegan options. Some of the original tacos are no longer available, and prices are generally higher.
Menu Highlights
Share Plates
BBQ cauliflower wings
BBQ Cauliflower Wings with Smokey BBQ, garlic confit aioli, chives – $24
I was a bit worried it might be too sweet, but thankfully it wasn’t at all! The amazing combo with aioli and the nice, crispy batter made it so delicious, so yum!
Spicy Salmon
Rice Cracker, Konjac Salmon, spicy mayo, togarashi, chives (2p) – $18
It was very spicy with plenty of salmon on top, a flavourful and generous serving!
Watermelon tuna tartare
Slow Baked Watermelon, Cucumber, Avocado, Sesame Seeds, Corn Chips – $21
It was a bit salty, and I could taste some Chinese five spice which isn’t my favourite because it’s a bit overpowering.
$5 per Taco! (All vegan and gluten free!)
Eggplant taco, Mushroom Adobo Taco, Smoked chicken taco
(First) Eggplant, tonkatsu, pickled ginger cabbage, wasabi mayo, sesame seeds.
Katsu is always delicious with Japanese katsu sauce. However, the gari, sweet ginger pickles, was a bit too much. Less would be perfect for me.
(Second) Plant sour cream. Iceberg lettuce, mixed mushroom adobo, onion, coriander.
Really meaty mushrooms with a spicy kick. Love it!
(Third) Salsa verde, habanero pico de gallo, jackfruit smoked ‘chicken’, tartare sauce.
Slightly sweet and sour with a spicy kick!
Fables Carnita Taco, Fried Calamari Taco, California Roll Taco
(First) Crispy ‘Prawn’, avocado, cream ‘cheese’, cucumber, teriyaki, wasabi mayo, sesame seeds.
The prawn is seasoned with a teriyaki sauce that’s not too sweet. Thumbs up!
(Second) Guacamole, salsa verde, fried ‘calamari’, classic aioli, cabbage, togarashi, chives.
I always love vegan calamari made from konnyaku. It comes with a very generous amount of red cabbage and is so good!
(Third) Guacamole, salsa verde, fable carnitas, chilli mayo, onion, coriander.
It is very light and has a nice tangy flavour. Yum!
I was too full for dessert.
My Experience
We had a fantastic experience and absolutely loved the creative vegan tacos and share plates. However, since the original Calle Rey owners moved on (I believe they sold the business), I haven’t been as impressed with the new management.
With the old owners going to VANDAL their menu has stayed fully plant-based, only including a few dishes that contain gluten. Which is understandable given the challenges of the current economy.
If you’re looking for plant-based dining experience at great prices, I still highly recommend checking out VANDAL. The venue was previously home to Kimusabi Sushi (I loooove this place!!), one of my all-time favourite spots. While the menu has changed and only a few original items remain, the new offerings at VANDAL look incredible. With genuinely delicious food at very affordable prices. I’m definitely planning to visit soon!
Check out my Instagram here for my experience!
VANDAL
Address: 59 Enmore Road, Newtown, 2042
Social media: Instagram (link = https://www.instagram.com/vandal_sydney/?hl=en)
Website: https://www.vandalsydney.com.au
**The previous address King Street is still Calle Rey but under different ownership. Vandal has some of the same menu items, but others are gone. So, if you want to try dishes from the original menu you can visit Calle Rey at 62-64 King Street Newtown. **
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