United Latino Cocina

Fresh tasty mexican! Disappointing cheese laden mounds of mincemeat and rice are nowhere to be found. The nachos, corn and chicken quesadilla were my favourites. Make sure you get a little bottle of hot sauce to annoint your dishes if you like it spicy! Atmosphere was understated but cool — sitting outside gave me the opportunity to enjoy my street food on the street!
Tacos are fresh with good quality meat and tasty saladey pickly things on the side. Good selection of drinks, great menu with a bunch of options for having a small or larger meal. Didn’t try the dessert — next time (oh yes there will be a next time!).

What? When? How? Huh? Did you know that United Latino Cocina is the sister restaurant of Lucky Lupitas. My beloved Lupitas!
I had heard of the restaurant earlier, but did not know they were associated with Lucky Lupitas until I got there as saw a business card. Well, that definitely made me curious.
United Latino Cocina is a little more modern styled and less eclectic than it’s sister. Which I am fine with. It makes it a more attractive place for the business mob and office dwellers to go have lunch meetings there.
We chose a nice spot near a window with a good view of the chef. I love how there is a trend with open kitchens in the last 5 or so years. I love watching my food being created.
The restaurant was busy with groups and all very happy customers munching down on their Latino delights. This is really a great space for groups.
I started with the cocktail special, a rockmelon martini. Which was an amazing choice and super refreshing and not too sweet on a really hot day. Great start to the meal.
I was so very hungry. I had not eaten since breakfast, and I always order like a crazy person when I am famished. I must have everything! So, we ordered fish tacos, chicken wings, beef brisket styled taco and elote. Yup, it was too much food. However, it was really amazing and filled my starved lil belly.
The tortillas used for the tacos were nice and fresh. The fish taco was really light and served with very complimentary sauce and fresh veggies. The beef taco was awesomely slow cooked, fell apart and full of flavour. The elote was seasoned well, great amount of mayonnaise and cheese. Oh elote, how I wish I could eat you everyday.
My only disappointment was the chicken wings. They were cooked perfect, deep fried and well seasoned. But they were very heavily sauced with a thick strong sauce. The way to improve this dish is just to hold back a little or serve the sauce on the side. Then they would be perfect!
Overall, I don’t think United Latino Cocina is as good as her sister. But you know that the eldest always knows better. I will however return for many tacos!

ULC is an amazing find tucked away in the heart of the city.
This is truly authentic Latino style food as well as products imported to really take you to central America.
Service is casual, friendly and quick which makes it the perfect spot for a satisfying quick lunch and break from work.
ULC is great for dates or group meals as well. Just make sure you get in before 12.15 as they don’t take bookings and that is peak time!
Definitely try the sangria if you can. It’s super sweet and refreshing.
Try the traffic light dish if you’re super hungry (lots of rice and egg) or the chicken tostada or salad for something lighter.
And the tacos. Definitely grab a taco on the side!
They also have hot dogs and a selection of sandwich style options for lunch on the go.
Enjoy the food and atmosphere it’s a lovely fresh new place the any locals in town know and love!

This place is well hidden from the Mall masses and has a nice ambiance. Open kitchen, long tables, high ceilings.
Food is ok, almost as far from Mexican cuisine as Mexico is from Australia, but still enjoyable. «A» for effort though as getting the ingredients and know-​how is not easy in this side of the world.
However, it is expensive for what you are getting. Not sure if it is the exotic tax or the Rundle Mall tax.

You could walk past and think it was the back entrance to a kitchen of something inside Rundle Place. ALAS! You would be wrong — so open that front door and walk in!
Cool tiles, huge open-​so-​big-​you-​cant-​help-​but-​watch-​them-​cook-​your-​food kitchen, small in seating area but big on space to swing a cat!
AND. EXCELLENT. FOOD.
Move on from your sad santa for lunch, walk yourself up the schwanky alley way that also gets you into the City Library — intact — go just a bit further past the Library entrance and its on your left.
Great hispanic (?) style food, food with passion and flavour that sends your tastebuds into a party. Fun chilled foreign overseas style drinks, or grab yourself a steamy hot mug of your favourite caffeinated beverage.
There’s outside seating for when the weather is great, and expect a line up during the madness of CBD lunchtime grub hunting — but the wait is SO worth it!

Disappointed! Came here based on the reviews, plus I love Mexican food. The food was good but I wouldn’t say it was great or amazing.

After meaning to try this place for ages, we finally made it down the laneway and into this industrially fitted-​out nook for some lunchtime Latino action.
The dining space inside is quite small and since there was only space at a communal table left (mi no gusta!) we chose a table outside in the warm Spring sun and perused the menu.
There were lots of tasty-​sounding options and I settled on the Empanada con Pollo while my dining companion, a Texan well-​versed in Tex-​Mex cuisine, went with the quesadillas. I wasn’t able to modify my meal to exclude jalepenos and black beans but I went ahead with it anyway. The seasoned chips I saw on other tables looked tempting, as did the freshly baked corn chips chilling behind the counter. Considering I blew off the gym to have lunch instead, I thought best to try and keep it contained.
Served quickly, the meals were tasty and not having to pay extra for guacamole was a welcome change. The included jalapenos and black beans were inoffensive. The price reflects the quality — if you want bargain basement, you’ll need to go to one of the food courts but the flavours will be on par with the pricing.
I’d probably still prefer Zapata’s if I were in the market for a more formal restaurant-​style dinner but for a quick and tasty lunch, I’m down with UTC (yeah, you know me!)

Yummo!!!
Definitely like to thanks the other Unilocalers for their reviews persuading me to get the chicken tostada!
My life wasn’t complete until I tried this. If you’re reading this — get here ASAP!
Tucked away in quiet little street off Rundle Mall — but I doubt this place knows the definitely of quiet over lunch time. Super busy which reflects how delicious it is.

I’ve visited twice, lunch and dinner. Both great but very different styles of service. Mid week Lunch is casual and quick. Dinner is slower paced but attentive. Delicious food and really great small eats style menu.

Wow… The food here is amazing.
I always seem to struggle with what to eat when in working/​shopping in the city. Until today. I have to admit my experience in Mexican food normally starts and ends with homemade taco packs (which I love btw) so I’ll have to make a point about getting to some other places, mind you I will find it hard to go anywhere else after eating here for lunch today.
We rocked in around 1pm and managed to find a nice table outside it ease despite the eatery being pretty busy. After a quick look at the menu I ordered some corn chips with salsa to start, which was great. I then ordered some pulled pork dish, I can’t remember the name but WOW… It blew my socks off. The taste was great, the serving size was very acceptable and the food come out super fast.
I don’t really know what else to say other then I will be back, many times, from now one and I look forward to trying everything else on the menu. Unilocalers of Adelaide will flock to this little gem!

Wow, best chicken tostada since leaving California 17 years ago. Will definitely be going back. It’s located in an alley/​street just next to Rundle Place. If you like Latino/​Mexican foot, I suggest you try this place. Reasonably priced as well.

Get the chicken tostada.
My subconscious wanted the chicken tostada so much it fooled my brain into thinking I hadn’t eaten it the first time I dined here, so I ordered and ate it all over again on the second time and still thought «dang, this is the best chicken tostada I’ve ever had!» I’m not a meat person either, but the chili, cheese, beans and other spices seems to conceal the fact you’re eating tender pulled chicken.
Call me an ignorant gringo, but I would like more tostada with my chicken though. I love how at Zapata’s you can finish your meal just addictively breaking off the left over corn chip and eating it until you realise you’re so full you’re going to puke.
The coffee was surprisingly good here too — but what weirdo gets a soy latte when then eat Mexican for lunch? *cough*
Meals start from $ 6.90 (and no that’s not an entrée) and are surprisingly cheap for the industrial chique CBD location, quick service and great quality ingredients.
I think I’ll have to return for breakfast so my brain doesn’t fool me again.

A nice addition to the Rundle Mall Precinct for some very authentic Latin Cuisine but with a Diner/​Café Atmosphere.
There’s Bench seating indoors and out, plus a few tables.
The menu is compact but varied for meat eaters and the vege lovers as well.
From Tacos to Tostadas it’s all there. even the ULC Hot Dog (Chorizo with Black Beans etc)
Well worth giving it a go if you are shopping in the mall. Something different from the usual Food Court offerings.

Try their breakfast burritos, tasty treat for an early morning.

Lets be honest, I would change my ethnicity to Mexican in a flash if it was at all possible. I’ve tried many many Mexican eateries all over this globe and damn this one is good. Not as authentic as say downtown Mexico City or Los Angeles, but the flavours are amazing!
I had the ULC dog which was so so good and real spicy.
Definitely coming back for breakfast.

This place deserves 5 stars. Menu is fantastic, make sure you get the snapper taco and ULC dog.

You wouldn’t even know this place was called United Latino Cocina as their sign says ULC, if you can find it. They need a better one. Luckily though it’s the only restaurant down Francis St. The ambience of this sister to Lucky Lupitas is not the same. It doesn’t feel as cozy and welcoming. It is more like a warehouse. It does play the same cool latino music though. I really think one of them needs a dance floor. I had the devine swine sandwich with pulled pork, which was pretty good. I had an interesting spicy mexican apple soda as well. I enjoy the complimentary mexican drinks. It is a good little place, that will hopefully improve over time.

Only stopped in for a quick taco and tamarind soda. but I’m a fan.
Central location, next to the new Rundle Place, this is a cool and classy restaurant. but has a friendly and relaxed vibe to it. A fun atmosphere, with artsy murals and lighting, indoor olive trees and funky seating, but also somewhere you could take someone on a business lunch or meeting.