Now Open: The Tortas and Tacos Are Better Than Ever As Frankie’s Goes From Food Stand to Full-Blown Taqueria

Despite the bare-bones location, Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos could pull a crowd to its Smith Street food stand, rain or shine.

With its new iteration on Johnston Street, it’s been able to flesh out the initial concept, upgrading the Mexican-inspired taqueria with a kitschy fit-out and an extended menu.

“It was always on the cards to do a bricks-and-mortar store,” says Stuart Morton. He owns Frankie’s with Todd Vanneste whose other business, Weekdays Design Studio, is responsible for the shop’s distinctive branding and sizeable range of merch.

The new location is in a former burger shop, freshened up with white tiles and a red- and white-speckled bar. The kitchen has remained largely untouched, though – the flat-top grill an ideal vessel for crisping up chicken, mushrooms or al pastor (spiced pork).

The proteins are served in tacos – layered on La Tortilleria corn tortillas – or stuffed into tortas, Mexican-style sandwiches served on hefty bread rolls along with shredded lettuce, hot sauce or salsa, and pickled red onion.

Billy van Creamy has been brought on board to provide a Choco Taco look-alike, filled with either chocolate-cinnamon or caramel and guajillo chilli ice-cream. Also find new house-made hard seltzers flavoured like Palomas or tepache (a sweet drink made with fermented pineapple rind). On Wednesday through Friday, from 3pm to 6pm, they’re half-price along with tap beer, house wine, and house tequila or mezcal.

Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos
30 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

Hours:
Wed & Thu 11am–10pm
Fri & Sat 11am–11pm
Sun 11am–8pm

tortasandtacos.com.au