Just Open: Gorilla Grill, Maribyrnong

After two years slinging Korean tacos and barbecue ribs from his Asian­-American food truck Gorilla Grill, owner Jayda Dinh is happy to be behind the wheel at a stationary site, which opened in Maribyrnong last week.

The 20-­seater might not be going anywhere but it's still riffing a street vibe with a mural painted by brother-­in-­law and artist John Lam that's a nod to Dinh's inspiration: New York City, Roy Choi's Kogi truck and mates Beatbox and Mr Burger.

The shop also sports an enviable display of Nike Air Jordans ... right foot only. "I'm keeping the left ones somewhere safe," says Dinh.

A bigger space equals a longer menu including new burgers: think double beef, double cheese, barbecue sauce and a coming­-soon chicken and waffle number that's the closest thing to dessert.

Signature tacos will follow in a week or two (they're still soft launching); expect corn tortillas topped with crispy bulgogi pork, cabbage 'slaw and jalapenos.

There are fried chicken ribs, too, the same recipe Dinh grew up eating at his parents' Footscray restaurant Bun Ta, and kim­cheese fries: chips loaded with spicy ground pork, a salsa made from pureed kim-chi and gochujang and monterey jack and cheddar melted with a blowtorch (a little trick learned from his pals from the Brulee Cart.)

Open Mon-­Wed 5pm-9pm; Thu 5pm-­10pm; Fri­-Sat noon-­10pm; Sun noon-­10pm.

36 Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong, gorillagrill.com.au