Chido Cantina

Chido Cantina is a family-owned, surf-style Mexican cantina at 1/62 Ballina Street, Lennox Head, split between a bar side and a family side, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables. It runs a dinner-focused week: open Wednesday to Thursday from 5pm to 8pm and Friday to Saturday until 8:30pm, closed Sunday to Tuesday, which makes it a treat-night venue rather than an every-night local.

The dog setup

Dogs sit with you in the outdoor seating on lead, and diners regularly mention how easily the staff accommodate them. There is no published dog menu or water-bowl notice, so bring a bowl for a warm evening. The outdoor tables are limited and the venue is popular with locals, so booking ahead and asking for an outside table is the reliable way to bring the dog; walk-ins may end up inside, where pets are not allowed.

The menu and the vibe

The kitchen works with fresh local ingredients across modern Mexican plates: signature nachos, chimichangas, prawn tostadas, charred corn and crispy fish or cauliflower tacos, with calamari and brisket among the items guests single out. The drinks list is the other drawcard: classic and frozen margaritas, daiquiris and a deep tequila selection, plus happy hour on drinks and select bites. The pace is lively, beach-town casual rather than formal dining.

Getting there and parking

Ballina Street is Lennox Head's main strip, with street parking nearby that tightens at dinner time. The dog-friendly sand at Seven Mile Beach is a short walk east, so a sunset beach run before tacos is the obvious pairing. The Point Cafe covers the morning coffee with the dog, and Seven Mile Brewing Co at Ballina is the laid-back dog-friendly backup if Chido is booked out.

More venues are on the Lennox Head destination page and in the NSW restaurants index.