Words by: Mikyla Gilbert
Image credit: Dylan Minchenberg
Many years ago, there stood a Tex-Mex inspired restaurant that went against the grain of the traditional German flavour of Hahndorf.
Gone but not forgotten, locals are now singing the praises of a young couple tackling the cuisine, tequila cocktails and the dining experience of the Tex-Mex frontier again…
El Camino is a casual taqueria just opened by Kat Romeo and Jon Di Pinto, who’s also behind the Hahndorf Main Street business Walden’s General Store.
It sits opposite the world-famous German Arms hotel – a place that shows their love for all things ‘made in America’…think the wild west, log cabins and the expansive southwest and Mexican landscapes.
El Camino will serve Mexican street food cooked on coals including tacos (three kinds rotating chicken, beef and vegan), nachos and grilled corn.
It will be simple, fresh and authentic, alongside a range of tequila cocktails. They even make the most delicious tequila espresso martini and a Bloody Maria!
The open-air venue with traditionally rendered walls and seating will only open on days with no rain Friday-Sunday, midday to dusk. With live music at the venue every Sunday 1-4pm.
No stranger to the challenges of opening bars and venues, Jon also owns Cry Baby, Shotgun Willie’s and Memphis Slim’s in Adelaide. So, he was excited by Kat’s idea of setting up taqueria and cocktail bar in the Hills.
“We both fell in love with Hahndorf and the Hills after spending many days driving our 1966 Dodge Charger to the Main Street to walk and enjoy the food on offer in the village,” Jon says.
“We love the Spanish restaurant Comida and the crew from Geppetto’s Italian and thought what we could offer would slip in nicely with the ever-expanding multicultural offering in Hahndorf.”
“We think Hahndorf is one of the coolest places in South Australia to open up a shop and a bar and are really pumped to see more younger people popping up the hill to see what many of us are doing up here.”
Kat and Jon love the Hills so much that they have also bought a PYO cherry orchard in Ashton now becoming part of the fabric of food producers that make up this region.
But… to become a true local Jon is going to dust off his old footy boots this season. “I’ll see how I go having a run around with the boys up at the Hahndorf club,” he chuckles.
“Since we opened a few of lads have dropped in for tacos and frozen margaritas and they seem like a lively bunch so my bar Cry Baby has offered the Club some sponsorship too. It’s important to Kat and I that we are part of the community.”
El Camino is looking forward to cementing itself as a new favourite in Hahndorf for locals and visitors alike.
El Camino taqueria and bar
Where: 84 Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf SA 5245
When: Open Friday – Sunday 12pm – 8pm
Book: Walk-ins only, but you can DM their Instagram for larger bookings
More info: Head to their Instagram page here
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