$$ Average Joe
We’d been hanging out for this one and with sky-high expectations, SoCal had a lot to live up to.
On a cold, grey winter’s day, stepping into SoCal felt like teleporting to sunny California, complete with warm vibes, killer comfort food, and that laid-back charm you only get from a proper beachside cantina.
Tucked away like a secret you only tell your best mates, this place has that hidden oasis feel. Blink and you’d miss it… unless, like us, you were on a mission. The menu is all-out Mexican, but the vibe? Pure West Coast chill.
First up, drinks. We kicked things off with a couple of classic sodas and, true to form, a mocktail (because what’s a visit without one?). This time we went for a Piña Colada, and let’s just say… wow. Silky smooth, with zesty hits of lime and pineapple balanced by the creamy dreaminess of coconut, it was like sunshine in a glass. We’ve had our fair share of mocktails, and this wasn’t one of those thrown-together syrup-and-soda jobs. This was a legit, carefully crafted, signature-style Piña Colada. And yes, it was absolutely delicious.
One thing we loved about SoCal? The food rolls out as it’s ready, no waiting around for everything to land at once. It meant we got to savour each dish on its own, and first up were the Jalapeño Dynamites. And yep, they lived up to the name. Wrapped in a whisper-thin, golden crunch, the filling was a spicy, tangy mix of jalapeño and refried beans that packed serious flavour. But the real game changer? That avocado verde dipping sauce. Creamy, zesty, and totally addictive, it tied the whole dish together like a mic drop. We were so tempted to order another round, but we had a feast ahead… Don’t skip this one. It’s unforgettable.
Next up: the Popcorn Chicken with crispy pickled jalapeños and coriander mayo. And OMG, let’s talk about that mayo. We weren’t expecting much (coriander in a mayo? Hmm…) but wow, were we wrong. It was punchy, herbaceous, and absolutely packed with flavour. As for the chicken? Don’t worry, it didn’t play second fiddle. Each piece was perfectly tender on the inside, with a crunchy, spiced coating that brought the heat without going overboard. The whole dish just worked, fresh, fiery, and dangerously moreish. Safe to say, this one disappeared fast.
You’d think by this point we’d be slowing down… but nope, we were just getting started. Enter the Red Chorizo Quesadilla, and honestly, it might’ve been the surprise favourite of the day. Quesadillas can often feel like an afterthought, bland, boring, forgettable, but not here. This one was a total showstopper. The Oaxacan cheese was perfectly melty, the crumbled red chorizo brought a bold, smoky flavour, and the pickled jalapeños delivered just the right amount of zingy heat. Oh, and the jalapeño mayo? Another sauce win. Creamy, spicy, and seriously scoopable. If you’re only ordering one thing (but really, why would you?), make it this.
And then… came the tacos.
Let’s just say we ate more than our fair share. We originally ordered ten, but thanks to a little mix-up in the kitchen, we somehow ended up with double the amount. Did we complain? Not for a second. We happily made room, and then some.
We tried four kinds, and each one brought its own little flavour party:
🌮 Baja Fish – Piping hot, golden-crisp fish wrapped in a spiced batter, topped with crunchy cabbage, jalapeños, and a generous splash of avocado verde. Absolute bliss.
🌮 El Paso Chicken – Tender, juicy chicken paired with silky sour cream and crisp iceberg lettuce. Simple, fresh, and so satisfying. A must-try.
🌮 Pork Belly – Crispy, crunchy pork belly with sweet, tangy pineapple and a spicy jalapeño kick. Add in the fresh cabbage crunch? Game over. This one was a hit.
🌮 Rodriguez Chorizo – Like the quesadilla’s bold cousin, packed with flavourful chorizo and topped with a punchy red chilli salsa. Spicy, rich, and ridiculously tasty.
Of course we weren’t done. (Are you judging us? Because honestly, we are okay with that.)
We rounded things out with a couple of sides: regular potato fries and sweet potato fries. Both were everything fries should be, crispy and golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. No soggy chips here, thank you very much. And true to SoCal style, they came with not one, but two knockout dipping sauces: the ever-faithful jalapeño mayo and a creamy arbol chilli sauce (that’s a special kind of spicy little pepper, for those playing at home). On a cold, blustery day? These were the warm, salty, crunchy comfort we didn’t know we needed.
And finally, the last savoury dish of the day… and what a way to go out with a bang. The corn. Ohhh, the corn. Charred, sweet, and perfectly crunchy, it came smothered in a creamy sour cream mayo that clung to every kernel like a dream. But the real magic? That glorious dusting of snow cheese… salty, tangy, and the perfect contrast to the smoky sweetness of the corn. We were seriously nearing capacity at this point, but there was no way we were leaving this behind. One of the last things to hit our table… and hands-down one of the best.
Now, here’s the thing, parking in the area can be a bit of a nightmare. So, just as we finished the last of our savouries, the dreaded parking countdown hit zero and we had to make a mad dash back to the car. But… the Peach and Mango Pie was calling. And we’re not the type to ignore dessert destiny.
So, we grabbed it to go and wow, are we glad we did. It might not look like much in the photo (plastic takeaway boxes aren’t exactly food-blog friendly) but trust us… this was one of the best pies we’ve ever had! The filling was rich, warm, and bursting with peachy mango goodness, while the crust was thin, buttery, and perfectly crisp. We ate it in the car, windows down, grinning like little children. Honestly? We’d go back to SoCal just for this. Home run.
Not only did the taco mix-up leave us with double the deliciousness (no complaints here!), but the team at SoCal even threw in a round of drinks to say sorry. Honestly, the service was just as memorable as the food. Our waitress was an absolute gem, friendly, helpful, full of great recommendations, and happy to have a chat with us between bites.
From the laid-back vibes to the knockout flavours and the standout service, SoCal ticked every box.
Signing off with full bellies and serious California dreams,
Two Curly Noodles
The Curly Noodles Munch Factor Rating:
| Taco Overload Score We ordered ten… we got twenty. No regrets. Every bite was a win. | 🍜 🍜 🍜 🍜 🍜 |
| Service With A Side Of Awesome! From surprise drinks to friendly chats, the staff made the experience even better. | 🍜 🍜 🍜 🍜 🍜 |
| Dessert Dropkick A surprise takeaway pie that stole the show—peach, mango, and a perfect golden crunch. | 🍜 🍜 🍜 🍜🍜 |
📍 SoCal Sydney is located at 1 Young St, Neutral Bay NSW 2089
two curly noodles 
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