Maldito Mendez

Loved this place! I went here with a large group in December. The staff were really helpful from word go with my booking, quite last minute and approx. 16 people close to Christmas had its challenges!
We had a room to ourself, dimply lit and beautifully laid out. We did have to ask them to turn the music down however as it was near impossible to enjoy a conversation at the beginning. The only other downfall was our seating, we were all positioned on stools — so not very child or elderly friendly.
The food was fresh, well cooked and presented, using high quality ingredients and many tasty hot sauces on offer to accompany the meal. Although the meals are not large, they were delicious!
Maldito Mendez is a fun place to eat out, with a great atmosphere and location. Overall the best thing going for this place is the high quality food, totally worth a visit for.

It was alright, very delicious and flavorful. however, the portions were very small and not worth how much it cost. When I eat, I want to be full. and the waiter was very slow.

Amazing amazing food. Space is reasonably small but it’s «cozy». I’ve been here on dates, with friends & with family it’s just so good… must try the smoked steak!

Back after that awful celery phase!
Firstly you need to understand I hate celery. It’s not an allergy, it’s a childhood fear and the thought of Mum’s vegetable soup laden with the stuff still haunts me today. Sorry Mum.
Maldito Mendez was our first favourite eating spot when Ponsonby Central opened. We used to eat out several times a month there but that all came to a screaming halt when they changed the chef and suddenly every dish on the menu except the fries and the deserts seemed to have celery in it. Order it without the celery you say! Not that easy. It was all through the preprepared salad mix that went on the tacos. It was in the black beans. It was even in my egg dish at brunch! Our visits finally stopped.
Anyway flash forward… After a delightful Unilocal event at The Shelter we were seeking dinner. Let’s try Maldito again said Ryan. To my delight the celery flogging chef had departed and all was back to normal.
There were some welcoming familiar faces still there and the new waiter was sympathetic to my celery story, almost approving. I’ve long given up trying to shorten the story by simply telling waiters that I’m allergic to celery as Ryan always exclaims «no you’re not» and awkwardness ensues…
Anyway enough about that vile weed. The menu looked great and we saw some favourites there. We both chose the same thing — the Pulled Pork Taco.
It arrived fairly smartly and was simply amazing! Served on a single decent sized flour tortilla, the pork was tender, smokey and still chunky in parts, nestled among fresh greens, leafy coriander, jalapeños, gently pickled red onion rings and fried plantains. Guacamole, a type of sour cream and a lime wedge completed the plate. It all just worked, tastes, textures, everything. I tucked in to mine with a knife and fork but Ryan’s from Motueka and gleefully picked his up and demolished it! It was perfectly sized for the price — around $ 15 i think.
The taco went very well with a glass of rose wine. Ryan had a Stoke lager and the whole bill came to $ 49.
We’ll be back again, and often.

Great fresh food. Not your ordinary mushy rubbish that is found in other South American joints. Great service. Great value helpings very generous.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Amazing food. Great Latin American vibe. Good music. I never thought I would travel to the South Pacific to try Mexican street corn for the first time. And their version was really astounding. I am tempted to go back to all my other restaurant reviews in NZ and reduce them by a star because this place is a true 5 star. Well done!

Came to Malditos for the first time after hearing much praise about this place. Had brunch & my partner & I both ordered a meal with duck (can’t recall proper name!!). O.m.g I was in heaven! The duck was kind of ragu’d & was complemented with greens & other exotic items (like blood orange segments). Would rush back to eat again but would also love to try some other savoury dishes too. After a few exotic margaritas (cherry, chilli ginger, hibiscus etc…) we went for the chilli choc Churros which blew our minds (proper pronunciation — chu-​dos!). We’ll be back amigos!

This is probably my favourite spot in ponsonby central, I just can’t go past Mexican food! The cerviche is beautiful, it never fails during a warm summer night. But during this cold cold winter I would recommend the coconut chicken tacos to warm you up. The service is always friendly and the set up is very cute.

A fun little place that really transports you to another time and place when you walk through the door. We stopped in for a quick glass of wine and the allure of the empanadas we could not resist. Served with a smokey paprika laced sauce and a dish of heavenly aioli, we declared they were excellent drinking food.
The beverage list offered both local and international options, with the wine list leaning more to South American styles. I had a Kiwi Albariño and it was lovely.
I really liked the fitout here, with vintage tables and a chalkboard filled with specials. I can imagine this turns in to a fun and buzzy place as the night wears on.

Best crispy chicken tacos in town and great wine list!
A little cosy (as per the Ponsonby Central vibe) but still good for groups of 4 – 5.
I will be coming back again :)

Came here for an early Christmas dinner with the Unilocal team. Place was a bit hard to find. It doesn’t say the name anywhere unless you walk right up to the door and look at their menu, so look for the canopy covered in «Moritz» beer logos.
The highlights for me for me were
1) the Mandioca Chips; A quick googles says that Mandioca is another name for Cassava. They were similar to your typical potato hot chips but with a slightly juicier, more full texture which I enoyed, and is served with a chipotle dip.
2) the Hibiscus Margarita, which is $ 12 on Margarita Mondays, full of flavour, perfect for those with a sweet tooth, garnished hibiscus flowers (?) that are pretty yummy to eat!
My main, braised beef tortilla, was nice, smaller portion than I anticipated. The beef was great but the tortilla was a slightly soft/​soggy. Don’t forget to add hot sauce to your meal!
Churros were a bit doughy and weren’t crunchy… undercooked? But the chocolate dip that went with it was good so I couldn’t help but stuff it all down.
Service was great, our water was always topped up, waiters were patient when dealing with a group of around 15 people.
Not sure if it’s a place I’d come back to eat, but possible Monday arvo drinks?

Came in here tonight for the first time and I think this is my new favourite place in Ponsonby Central. It is friendly, accessible with an unpretentious menu. The prices are quite reasonable and there is a good range of food from light snacks and salads to more hearty meals. To top it off there are plenty of seating options with indoors and outdoors to suit the weather and your mood. Had the small serving size of the Confit Duck mole and it was absolutely delicious. The selection of beer and wines is reasonable and the service was good. To top it off the churros were excellent! I can’t wait to come back and try the tacos next time… and, oh yes, I will be back. Gracias!

After acquainting this unassuming bar/​restaurant for the last few months, I thought it might be time to review.
To be honest, I am still yet to dine here:)
The wine menu is bursting with a great selection of North and South American wine. Priced from $ 9-​$ 14 per glass.
You can sit outside and take in ‘Ponsonby Central’ ambience and/​or inside for an intimate conversation.
My Unilocaler friends have told me the food is sensational, so you are on my hit list!
Thanks Jordan for the outstanding, attentive and personable service! :)

Great setting to stop in for your Mexican fix. This place seems to be one of the most vibrant spots in Ponsonby Central and for good reason. Good service and excellent burritos! Look forward to coming back soon.

Food was wonderful. Steak was especially good and the fries interestingly delicious. Generous pourings of Jack Daniels. Churros fantastic too. Definitely go for the warm chocolate dipping sauce over the salted caramel.
Service was patchy. Layout quite uncomfortable. Was seated at bar to dine. Was banged into (mainly by staff with little apology) around 30 times. Very drafty.
Would return, in better weather and maybe wearing some protective clothing in case I end up sitting at bar (was unable to book a table as they won’t take reservations for anything other than large groups).

Nestled in the back corner of Ponsonby Central you will find Maldito Mendez, a great Latin American inspired cantina that is fast becoming my go to for a casual dinner and/​or a glass of delicious Spanish wine (the Verdejo is my current fav).
One of the many things I love about Maldito Mendez is that, although it’s a small space they have cleverly created a few different areas, each with it’s own vibe; There’s a large table tucked away down the back, perfect for bigger/​rowdier groups or a cosy corner seat covered in bright, striped upholstery and cushions that is ideal for that romantic dinner date. There is even an semi-​enclosed outdoor area for those who like cigarettes with their wine.
As for the food, it’s all deliciously fresh and full of flavour. The taco’s are a lot larger than what I am used to but nonetheless are v.tasty. The cerviche is absolutely devine. It’s fresh and light, and flavours are perfectly balanced. They also serve empanadas, South American’s equivalent of the meat pie, which are mouthwateringly good.
If you haven’t already this place is definitely worth checking out!

Really enjoyed the beef taco but the chicken and fish weren’t as tasty. i’m told the menu changes regularly, which is a shame because the slaw and greens were delish! Mojitos were yummy. Really generous portions so we ordered too much, which is nice for a change. And we were treated to some churros, which always goes down well :-) Try it.

Maldito Mendez is tucked in to new multi-​food joint and marketplace, Ponsonby Central. Mismatched furniture, boxes of stacked vegetables and hand written menus give the restaurant a rustic feel, and those who have travelled South America will feel right at home. The menu, a mix of South American and Latin offerings, is small but punchy and offers a variety of fresh options from soups and ceviche, through to tacos, empanadas and more substantial mains. The fish tacos are a real menu stand-​out. Perfectly seasoned market fresh fish is piled in to a soft, homemade taco together with fresh coleslaw, salsa and a spicy chipotle mayo. The are the perfect light meal and pair nicely with one of the many mexican and south american beers on offer. The shredded beef with guacamole and goats cheese taco and refried bean and queso fresco taco both deserve special mentions too.
Maldito Mendez is the perfect place to stop, grab a snack and a beer and watch the world of Ponsonby Central go by. The menu items are slightly pricer than I would have expected but are made up for with superb presentation and stella service.

Aribaaaaaaaa! Is that Mexican? I dunno, I don’t care, Maldito Mendez is the business baby. As part of the new and very cool Ponsonby Central development it’s arguably the most popular in a hand-​picked group of epic establishments.
I love Mexican. And I have been a fan of the Mexico restaurants since they opened, but I think I like Maldito Mendez better. The layout, with the super small tables, outdoor seating, simple décor, makes it seem a little more authentic and the food does the same.
The flavours in every dish are so amazing; fresh, strong and surprising but perfectly complimentary.
The drinks and desserts are just as tasty if not more so. I’m not usually a big dessert person, but I can’t turn down the chocolate chili combo. If you’re there as a group, order a bunch of dishes and share them, your tastebuds will be in heaven.
It’s a great restaurant in a very hip part of town. Stay awhile, drink a bit and let the good times roll.

Auckland is catching on to the overseas trends of eating and drinking «precincts» and in November 2012 the long awaited Ponsonby Central opened Stage 1 of its dining and retail development. Maldito Mendez has fast proved the biggest hit with its loud, colourful vibe and yummy «Cantina Latina» street-​inspired food. While it’s categorised here on Unilocal!as Mexican, it’s really South American.
Some of the tables are tiny and you might have to share but the service is fast, friendly and attentive. The South American inspired menu has tacos, empanadas, guacamole etc but for me the salads stole the show with the unexpected combinations of fresh flavours (black bean and corn with coriander, and another involving mango that blew my mind so much I can’t remember the other ingredients).
The Sangria is perhaps the best I’ve ever had and even the desserts are killer. The small plates make you feel like maybe you haven’t been as bad as you have and the casual style is a welcome addition to Auckland’s dining options. At the moment it is just a bit painfully cool, but this will pass soon enough and while other establishmentsmay come and go in Ponsonby Central, I don’t doubt Maldito Mendez is here to stay. I really hope to see them foodtrucking it at events around Auckland as well. Yum!