James Street’s LOS Bar Is Getting A New Mexican-Thai Food Identity
whole new flavour
By Victoria Lewis | 1st May 2026It’s the famed mainstay of Ada Lane, Land of Smiles, or better known as LOS, and it’s about to take on a whole new flavour with a reimagined menu bringing Mexican-Thai cuisine to its leafy balconies.
Known for the uniquely bold energy it brings to the James Street precinct, you’ve more than likely spent one or more evenings soaking in the atmosphere and sinking one or more Anyday Spritzes at LOS. Well, say goodbye to those Anyday Spritzes and hello to Anyday Margs, because this new menu is embracing the vibrance of Mexican cuisine, while staying true to the Thai influence from the bar’s downstairs neighbour, sAme SAme.
Signalling a natural shift towards the venue’s broader identity, here are all the details about LOS’s new menu.
Behind the menu
Under the direction of Anyday’s Culinary Director Ben Williamson, sAme sAme Head Chef Arté Assavakavinvong has focused on bringing bold, complex flavours to the new LOS food offering, while in keeping with its relaxed bar-style dining. He says the goal was to understand the history of each cuisine and embrace the natural similarities between the two: “acidity, heat, herbs, and freshness.”
The result? Vibrant, unexpected flavour combinations that build on the sAme sAme reputation while better aligning with LOS’s position as the cheekier sibling upstairs, leaning into its extensive drinks offering and fun atmosphere.
Menu highlights
Let’s get into the good stuff, shall we? On the menu will be an array of unusual twists on Mexican entrees (snake bean and taro guac and chips or corn ribs with nahm him butter, for instance), alongside a hearty selection of tacos. Included in the mix are beef barbacoa tacos with LOS curry mole, coconut crema and Xni’ Pek, as well as a new LOS staple, the pork jowel taco, concocted by Chef Assavakavinvong after a trip to London.
Inspired by the Sonoran and Chihuahuan regions of North Mexico, dishes will mix Mexican culinary tradition with Thai sensibility, all amplified by the fiery flavours of the charcoal grill. Every flavour is carefully paired, blending innovation and tradition in true Anyday fashion with dishes like Thai fish cake Bandarillas or churros wth Thai tea dulce de leche for dessert.
The new drinks list
Of course, it wouldn’t be a reimagined menu without shaking up the cocktail list. Backed by LOS’s extensive agave collection, here, creative combinations of acidity, spice, and fresh aromas take centre stage, continuing the Mexican-Thai influences on the food menu.
Standouts include the Bananarama Mezcal Colada, Jalapeno Business, and the Holy Mole, which incorporates the new LOS mole created for the beef barbacoa tacos, combined with agave, hibiscus and chocolate for a rich but easily sinkable flavour.
A natural energy shift
It’s not so much a culinary shift as an atmosphere-driven one, drawing out the undeniable sense of fun that LOS evokes into the food and drinks menu, even down to the music.
When coming up with the new LOS audio profile – sounds grounded in Latin music with aspects of European nightlife and underground sounds tied in – Anyday Creative Director of Music, Graz Mulcahy, says, “Los has a very specific feel. It always comes back to that idea, how it feels over what it is.”
Since its inception seven years ago, LOS has been all about the vibe – a unique energy and sense of fun that are now closely reflected in the menu. Anyday Co-Founder Tyron Simon describes the ineffable energy of LOS best: “We have always imagined LOS as a Mexican fiesta in the back of a tuk tuk, a space that feels energetic, a little unexpected, and full of personality.”
To view the full menu and book your table ASAP, head to the LOS website here. Or, if you’re keen to hear what other foodie news Brisbane is dishing up, we’ve got all your openings and insider info covered here.
Imagery: Supplied (Dean Swindall, Ethan Smart, Jessie Prince)
