Gringa

Gringa is a casual Mexican taco kitchen at 2/81 Meadow St in Tarrawanna, and its ace is next door: the venue shares a covered outdoor beer garden with the Reub Goldberg Brewing Machine brewery. Order your tacos at the Gringa counter, carry them through with a craft beer, and settle into the courtyard with the dog. It is a genuinely good lunch or early-dinner formula, and the northern Illawarra beaches are minutes away for a walk after.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the covered outdoor area shared with the brewery, on a lead and settled beside your table. The brewery's house rules ask for well-behaved dogs that are comfortable around crowds and other dogs, and ask that toilet breaks happen off-property. No confirmed water bowls on site, so pack a portable bowl. The courtyard gets busy, especially on weekends, which is worth considering for a nervous dog.

Worth knowing

The menu is authentic Mexican street tacos on a rotating basis, with vegetarian and vegan options that get their own billing, and gluten-free choices available. Beef birria, black bean and broccoli tacos have all made appearances, and the pairing with RGBM's beer lineup is the whole point. Hours run from midday Wednesday to Friday, later into Friday evening, and from 7am on weekends for a breakfast taco run; Monday and Tuesday are closed.

Getting there and parking

Free street parking is usually available nearby but tightens up on Friday evenings and weekends. Arrive early or mid-afternoon on a weekend to dodge the heaviest crowds and give your dog space to settle.

Close by with the dogs

Bellambi Beach is a short drive for a post-taco stroll, and the cafes along the Corrimal strip cover the coffee side of things. Culture Cafe Corrimal and Bellambi Olives are both worth knowing for a separate morning run. More options sit on the Tarrawanna destination page.

Gringa is part of our NSW restaurant guide for dog-friendly eating across the state.