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Restaurant

Pancho

213 Mair St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia

Recommended by 72 people

Updated

Find Pancho

213 Mair St, Ballarat Central VIC 3350, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5309 3070
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Pancho

Pancho serves genuine South American flavours and craft cocktails in a lively Ballarat dining room. Regulars bypass standard taco fare for scratch-made Venezuelan pabellón criollo, fresh ceviche, and crisp empanadas. Tables come set with house-bottled hot sauce, while groups lean into the multi-course Tengo Hambre feast alongside balanced pisco sours. Charred elote arrives hot from the kitchen, topped with cheese and smoky seasoning.

  • Pan-South American menu: Regional staples span Venezuelan pabellón criollo and tequeños to Peruvian ceviche and Argentine empanadas.
  • Tasting feasts: Structured group dining with the multi-course Tengo Hambre chef tasting menu and dessert.
  • House table hot sauce: Proprietary hot sauce sits on every table and is available to purchase by the bottle.
RestaurantRestaurant

What's On at Pancho

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Pancho

Discover why diners celebrate Pancho's scratch-made South American feasts, custom hot sauces, and vibrant dining room.

  • Broad Pan-South American Regional Specialties

    Diners experience authentic Latin flavours with regional specialities from Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina made from scratch with fresh ingredients.

    The gastronomic offering was very extensive, covering various dishes from South American countries

    Matías Belmartino

  • Verified Authentic Ceviche and Craft Cocktails

    Peruvian guests and visitors confirm regional classics like ceviche and pisco sours are prepared authentically with balanced, fresh ingredients.

    As a Peruvian, I find the ceviche and pisco sour quite authentic and made with fresh ingredients.

    Astrid Lázaro Cabrejos

  • Intimate Bar Seating for Couples' Date Nights

    Whether sitting at the bar for an intimate evening or sharing plates together, couples enjoy warm attentiveness and romantic ambiance.

    my partner and I had a date night here. We sat at the bar area and it was super intimate!

    Lucy Casson

  • Generous Multi-Course Group Feast Menus

    Groups can opt for multi-course feasts such as the 'Tengo Hambre' set menu, delivering generous progression from savoury plates to desserts.

    We decided to order the 'Tengo Hambre' for 6 which consisted of 8 dishes plus desserts.

    Jessica & David Campbell

  • House-Bottled Signature Table Hot Sauce

    Diners can personalise their meal heat using Pancho's proprietary bottled hot sauce stationed directly on each dining table.

    They also have a bottle of their own “very hot” hot sauce on each table. It was so good that we had to buy a bottle to take home.

    Josephine Jacklin

  • Vibrant Decor and Immersive Latin Atmosphere

    Immersive Latin music, thoughtful decor, and punchy scratch cooking transport guests into an authentic, energetic dining outing.

    The Mexican music at the door, the double door entry, the cool decor and interior, the delicious menu - dining at panchos is an immersive experience

    Jupinder Kaur

Scratch-made regional South American dishes and crowd favourites

  • Ceviche

    Food-wise, the ceviche was fresh and zesty with just the right amount of heat

    Amilliah

  • Elote

    It is hard to find a place that does Elote well, and this place does an amazing job

    Josephine Jacklin

  • Pabellón Criollo

    I ordered the Pabellon Criollo in the vegan option and it was one of the best meals I’ve had!

    Laiken Webb

  • Empanadas

    We tried the empanadas, the "Corte del día", the Provoleta, the Papas, the Elote and the Alfajor. All of them are authentic and of good quality, full of flavours that take you back to South America!

    Matías Belmartino

Other favorites

Traditional Latin American sweets and specialty craft cocktails

  • Alfajor

    We tried the empanadas, the "Corte del día", the Provoleta, the Papas, the Elote and the Alfajor. All of them are authentic and of good quality, full of flavours that take you back to South America!

    Matías Belmartino

  • Pisco sour

    As a Peruvian, I find the ceviche and pisco sour quite authentic and made with fresh ingredients.

    Astrid Lázaro Cabrejos

  • Piña Colada

    And the ONLY real Pina Colada I've had here. An absolute MUST.

    Chris Hayward

  • Margarita

    Their margarita was really, really good. I mean EXCELLENT!

    Jessica & David Campbell

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful culinary details and hospitable touches that elevate your dining experience

  • Bottled Proprietary Hot Sauce at Every Table

    Each table features a bottle of Pancho's own very spicy house-made hot sauce, which diners can also purchase to take home.

  • Structured 'Tengo Hambre' Multi-Course Feasts

    The venue welcomes groups with multi-course feast options like 'Tengo Hambre' and chef menus featuring 7 to 8 shared dishes followed by desserts.

  • Thoughtful Dietary Accommodations

    Guests dining for special occasions find flexible menu accommodations, including a dedicated vegan preparation of traditional Venezuelan Pabellón Criollo.

  • Owner Chats & Extended Dessert Hospitality

    The dining experience extends with warm hospitality, from the owner connecting directly with diners to team members guiding guests to sister venues for churros.

Before you head over

Practical advice on reservations, tasting options, and signature table additions for your visit.

  • Book Ahead for Popular Evenings

    With popularity creating a packed house and high table demand, reserving ahead secures your table and guarantees you won't miss out on multi-course sharing or dessert.

  • Come Hungry for the Set Feasts

    Opting for multi-course setups like the 'Tengo Hambre' or $65pp chef's feed-me feast delivers 7 to 8 generous dishes and dessert, making it best approached with an empty stomach.

  • Sample and Take Home Table Hot Sauce

    Every table features Pancho's own proprietary very hot sauce to season dishes to taste, and bottles are available to purchase directly to take home.

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