Trippy Taco

LOCATION
Near the corner of Smith Street and Gertrude Street, Collingwood.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
It’s a happy day for vegetarians when they can find a place like this, but even lovers of meat won’t feel anything’s missing from their experience at Trippy Taco. It’s a happy, funky little place that grew from a food stall at music festivals and now offers Collingwood locals some truly fresh and tasty Mexican food. Get up close and personal with the Smith Street inhabitants at the outside tables or squeeze inside among the Mexican wrestler masks and colourful posters. There are several versions of tacos, taquitos, quesadillas, burritos and nachos available, with (late) breakfast options aplenty, such as the breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, salsa and cheese in a soft corn tortilla) or huevos rancheros – a satisfying serve of fresh homemade corn tortillas topped with fried eggs, delicious black beans, ranchero sauce, cheese and avocado with extra tortillas and chipotle chilli on the side.

All the dishes here are stuffed chock-full of fresh ingredients and if they run out of something, they will more than make it up to you. There are many vegan and gluten-free options available, with the menu offering a handy guide for when you need to ask for soy cheese or a dairy-free Nutella substitute. There’s also a wide variety of fiery chilli condiments on hand to add a bit of zest to your day, and now that Trippy Taco is fully licensed, you can cool down with a Sol beer. The dessert special also deserves a mention. The sweet corn tamale with banana, cinnamon, maple syrup and ice-cream is studded with real corn kernels and is warm, doughy, salty, cold and sweet all at once. Hopefully this comfort food item will find a place on the permanent menu.

Angela Costanzo