New Mexican hot spot Juan’s Torta Cantina has brought the flavours, culture and welcoming vibes to Bowden lunchtimes since its opening back in September. Now owner and operator Jon, an experienced chef and Mexico enthusiast, is proud to be serving up delicious margaritas, Mexican brews and spritzes alongside his tortas and snacks to keep the fiesta going well into the Summer nights.
Now fully licenced, Jon and the team at Juan’s Torta Cantina are excited to be expanding their offering, opening in the evenings for dinner until late from Thursday through to Saturday and mixing up a range of cocktails for visitors to enjoy.
‘We’ve got authentic Margaritas, Palomas, and Agua Frescas which are traditional Mexican street sodas that are known to be super refreshing and can be spiked with tequila or gin for an extra kick’, says Jon. ‘And as of Thursday this week, we’ll also be offering Micheladas—a Mexican cocktail made with beer, tomato juice, fresh lime and assorted sauces, spices and chilli—along with Happy Hour every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4-6 pm with $7 beers and wines.’
After travelling throughout Mexico in 2018, Jon’s love for Mexican food and culture only grew, and it was something he wanted to bring back to Australia. ‘For every taco stand you saw on the street, there was a torta store too,’ says Jon. ‘Tortas are sandwiches that are really simple but full of flavour—made with heavily marinated meats, fresh salads and a really good homemade sauce—and since Aussies love a good sandwich, I thought, why not give them a taste of a Mexico-style sandwich?’
‘We’re serving up Mexican street food but from a different angle,’ says Jon. ‘People are familiar with tacos—they’re a Mexican institution—but I want to introduce South Australians to tortas, which are a traditional Mexican style sandwich.’
Juan’s exclusive Tortas include the Torta de Carne Asada made with marinated scotch fillet, the spicy Torta de Tinga de Pollo (featuring marinated chicken in chipotle sauce), the Torta de Jamon with local ham and grilled cheese, and the Torta de Champignon that’s vegan-friendly and comes with marinated mushrooms, there’s an amazing selection available for sandwich lovers.
‘Thursday to Saturday, we also often do torta specials that have included both a Garfish and Prawn Torta, as well as specialty snack options like the favourite Kingfish Ceviche’, says Jon. ‘And for those who prefer gluten-free options, all of our tortas can be transformed into a delicious Mexican rice bowl instead of the traditional white bread roll.’
With both indoor and outdoor seating that’s been transformed since taking over from Hawker Street Cafe, the space delivers those chilled Latin cantina vibes on a plate.
‘The response so far has been amazing with fantastic support from the locals’, says Jon. ‘What has been most heartwarming is the feedback we’ve received from the Mexican community. I’ve had a lot of Mexicans come by who have been told to visit, with many saying our Tortas and even my homemade salsas are just like they are back home—that’s a big win for me!’
‘I’m not looking to do my take on Mexican food—I want to stay true to authentic Mexican flavours and keep everything simple and traditional. I want to educate and introduce South Australians to a side of Mexican food that many people don’t know about.’
Where: Juan’s Torta Cantina, 22 Hawker St, Bowden, SA 5007.
When:Â Monday to Wednesday, 10 am-3 pm. Thursday to Friday, 10 am-late, Saturday, 12 noon-late.
For more info, click here.
