I heard a lot of great things about this place and was very excited to try. I got a sandwich and tacos. They were both just okay. Maybe the hype was just too much or the $16 price tag for three tacos was too high, but this place was just mid. I have a difficult time recommending this place. I paid over $40 for 3 tacos and a sandwich. I know that’s a typical Philly restaurant experience, and sometimes the food is way worse, but I thought this place would be different. Very unfortunate!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
carlene Kirkpatrick
Our second visit on 9/18/2025. We were celebrating my birthday and I’m glad I chose to come. The food was delicious and our byob of choice was Tequila. Margaritas were made and did not disappoint us. Noelia our server was amazing. Very kind and friendly as well as accommodating at all times with a smile. She even saw us leaving and made sure to say goodbye and so did the hostess. We were also happy to get to see the Mgr before she got off for the night and she remembered us from our very first visit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timothy Berger
If you’re looking for conventional, commercial Mexican, El Chingon is not for you. However, if you’re looking for an adventure into Mexican cuisine with wonderful flavors, this restaurant is a must-visit. We sat a table in the sidewalk on balmy late summer evening. The remolacha was the highlight of the meal - goat cheese crema, a puree of pepitas with spices that was a little coarser grind than hummus topped with slices of avocado and caramelized sesame seeds. The broccoli and avocado includes red quinoa in a vinaigrette, but is not as adventurous. The hongos al ajillo tacos were juicy mushrooms cooked in spices that included a little bit of heat. We finished with a Mexican rice pudding with a brûlée and sliced strawberries on top, and tres leches underneath.
El Chingon is a BYO. If you have a tequila, they offer several creative cocktail mixes, and several nonalcoholic options.
Although there is no parking lot, we found a space on the street a block away.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Husayn Siddiqui
Great consistently good food and the service is always great. Everytime I’m there the food is perfect and the staff treat me and everyone I’m with so well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
PETER ORYBKIEWICZ
Another great night there. Food is delicious, owner and all staff is very nice and friendly. We will come back.
Midnight Seven
When you expect to have Mexican food, but you realize it’s a different kind of having Mexican food experience. A good surprise to me. Attentive service, cozy and clean environment. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emanuel Ayers
The outdoor seating area made the dining experience really enjoyable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monika Paciorek
Omg this place is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, everything felt so warm and welcoming. The restaurant is spotless (like seriously pristine) and the little details in the décor made it feel cozy yet festive.The food? Out of this world! Every bite was fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully plated (yes, even the guac looked too pretty to eat ). Service was beyond sweet —everyone had a smile and made us feel like family. 10/10 would recommend for date nights, family dinners, or just treating yourself to happiness on a plate. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew Corson
Been following their socials for a long time due to recommendations without stopping in, but had a chance to swing by and found parking on the blcok which was amazing.
Staff were 100% the best - friendly, helpful, gave great suggestions and kept my water glass full (something 80% of places can't be bothered with, and I know many people dont care but I appreciate it.) The staff were nice and kind even when we came in closer to closing that would be ideal.
The horchatta they brought was 2x the size of what I should have had but was delicious, and the specials we ordered made me adamant that I need to come back and try the regular menu. The taco portions were very generous and I legit regretted letting my fork go with the app plate.
I'm looking forward to going back and trying their other location, this is truly bang for your buck yet high quality food with unbeatable service, thank you so much for being in our community and offering us this amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nip D
Authentic and delicious. Great atmosphere and service. Highly recommended.
Unique options as well as classics, all very delicious. Quick and friendly service too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carlene
This was our first visit and was greeted with a warm welcome. The menu and specials was explained with excellence. The atmosphere is amazing and the food was superb. Little did we know the Manager Paulina was our waitress. She has such a sweet spirit. We will definitely return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jacob Stephens
Ate here July 5 2024 with my sister and mom. Great!
Sonya M. Sumner
El Chingon is doing something special with its food and flavor profiles. The aguachile ahumado was a true standout: smoky, vibrant, and unlike anything I have had recently. The ceviche tropical was another hit, super fresh and beautifully balanced, with a leche de tigre that was bright, citrusy, and drinkably delicious. We also really enjoyed the elote, al pastor tradicional tacos, and pollo taco, all well executed, flavorful, and satisfying.
One of the highlights of the night was the cocktail mix that you can pair with your own BYO mezcal or tequila. We went with the tradicional extra spicy version, which was bold and beautifully balanced. The slight effervescence from the Topo Chico gave it a refreshing, crisp lift that made it even more enjoyable.
There were a couple of misses. The charred crab tostadas leaned too fishy for my taste, and the Mexican sweet bread dessert was unremarkable and did not feel like it measured up to the creativity or quality of the rest of the menu.
The biggest letdown, though, was the service. While every staff member we encountered was kind and well intentioned, the overall experience did not flow well. We ordered everything up front (which many places request), but the pacing was rushed and awkward. Three large dishes, elote, ceviche, and aguachile, were dropped all at once, overwhelming our small table. I asked the kitchen to slow it down, but the crab tostadas came out immediately after, clearly already prepped, and there was literally nowhere to put them. We ended up asking our server to hold the dish.
There was a nice pause before our tacos arrived, which we appreciated. But once we finished, no one cleared our plates or checked in. Since we were on a date night, we did not mind lingering, but when we tried to order dessert and coffee (an espressonada) around 9:20, we were told the kitchen had closed at 9:00 and the coffee machine had already been cleaned. No one gave us a heads up, no one came by for a final check in, and that lack of communication left us disappointed.
The food is easily an 8 out of 10. But the service, though sweet, was more of a 4 or 5 out of 10. Having worked in hospitality and dined out often, I know how much timing and communication impact the experience. El Chingon has serious potential and a talented kitchen. If the service can match the quality coming out of the back, this place could easily be a go to.
I heard a lot of great things about this place and was very excited to try. I got a sandwich and tacos. They were both just okay. Maybe the hype was just too much or the $16 price tag for three tacos was too high, but this place was just mid. I have a difficult time recommending this place. I paid over $40 for 3 tacos and a sandwich. I know that’s a typical Philly restaurant experience, and sometimes the food is way worse, but I thought this place would be different. Very unfortunate!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Our second visit on 9/18/2025. We were celebrating my birthday and I’m glad I chose to come. The food was delicious and our byob of choice was Tequila. Margaritas were made and did not disappoint us. Noelia our server was amazing. Very kind and friendly as well as accommodating at all times with a smile. She even saw us leaving and made sure to say goodbye and so did the hostess. We were also happy to get to see the Mgr before she got off for the night and she remembered us from our very first visit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you’re looking for conventional, commercial Mexican, El Chingon is not for you. However, if you’re looking for an adventure into Mexican cuisine with wonderful flavors, this restaurant is a must-visit. We sat a table in the sidewalk on balmy late summer evening. The remolacha was the highlight of the meal - goat cheese crema, a puree of pepitas with spices that was a little coarser grind than hummus topped with slices of avocado and caramelized sesame seeds. The broccoli and avocado includes red quinoa in a vinaigrette, but is not as adventurous. The hongos al ajillo tacos were juicy mushrooms cooked in spices that included a little bit of heat. We finished with a Mexican rice pudding with a brûlée and sliced strawberries on top, and tres leches underneath.
El Chingon is a BYO. If you have a tequila, they offer several creative cocktail mixes, and several nonalcoholic options.
Although there is no parking lot, we found a space on the street a block away.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great consistently good food and the service is always great. Everytime I’m there the food is perfect and the staff treat me and everyone I’m with so well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Another great night there. Food is delicious, owner and all staff is very nice and friendly. We will come back.
When you expect to have Mexican food, but you realize it’s a different kind of having Mexican food experience. A good surprise to me. Attentive service, cozy and clean environment. Will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The outdoor seating area made the dining experience really enjoyable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Omg this place is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, everything felt so warm and welcoming. The restaurant is spotless (like seriously pristine) and the little details in the décor made it feel cozy yet festive.The food? Out of this world! Every bite was fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully plated (yes, even the guac looked too pretty to eat ). Service was beyond sweet —everyone had a smile and made us feel like family. 10/10 would recommend for date nights, family dinners, or just treating yourself to happiness on a plate. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been following their socials for a long time due to recommendations without stopping in, but had a chance to swing by and found parking on the blcok which was amazing.
Staff were 100% the best - friendly, helpful, gave great suggestions and kept my water glass full (something 80% of places can't be bothered with, and I know many people dont care but I appreciate it.) The staff were nice and kind even when we came in closer to closing that would be ideal.
The horchatta they brought was 2x the size of what I should have had but was delicious, and the specials we ordered made me adamant that I need to come back and try the regular menu. The taco portions were very generous and I legit regretted letting my fork go with the app plate.
I'm looking forward to going back and trying their other location, this is truly bang for your buck yet high quality food with unbeatable service, thank you so much for being in our community and offering us this amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Authentic and delicious. Great atmosphere and service. Highly recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great! Don’t need to say more, because sometimes somethings are just great.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tacos, Cemita Clasica Pollo
Unique options as well as classics, all very delicious. Quick and friendly service too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was our first visit and was greeted with a warm welcome. The menu and specials was explained with excellence. The atmosphere is amazing and the food was superb. Little did we know the Manager Paulina was our waitress. She has such a sweet spirit. We will definitely return
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ate here July 5 2024 with my sister and mom. Great!
El Chingon is doing something special with its food and flavor profiles. The aguachile ahumado was a true standout: smoky, vibrant, and unlike anything I have had recently. The ceviche tropical was another hit, super fresh and beautifully balanced, with a leche de tigre that was bright, citrusy, and drinkably delicious. We also really enjoyed the elote, al pastor tradicional tacos, and pollo taco, all well executed, flavorful, and satisfying.
One of the highlights of the night was the cocktail mix that you can pair with your own BYO mezcal or tequila. We went with the tradicional extra spicy version, which was bold and beautifully balanced. The slight effervescence from the Topo Chico gave it a refreshing, crisp lift that made it even more enjoyable.
There were a couple of misses. The charred crab tostadas leaned too fishy for my taste, and the Mexican sweet bread dessert was unremarkable and did not feel like it measured up to the creativity or quality of the rest of the menu.
The biggest letdown, though, was the service. While every staff member we encountered was kind and well intentioned, the overall experience did not flow well. We ordered everything up front (which many places request), but the pacing was rushed and awkward. Three large dishes, elote, ceviche, and aguachile, were dropped all at once, overwhelming our small table. I asked the kitchen to slow it down, but the crab tostadas came out immediately after, clearly already prepped, and there was literally nowhere to put them. We ended up asking our server to hold the dish.
There was a nice pause before our tacos arrived, which we appreciated. But once we finished, no one cleared our plates or checked in. Since we were on a date night, we did not mind lingering, but when we tried to order dessert and coffee (an espressonada) around 9:20, we were told the kitchen had closed at 9:00 and the coffee machine had already been cleaned. No one gave us a heads up, no one came by for a final check in, and that lack of communication left us disappointed.
The food is easily an 8 out of 10. But the service, though sweet, was more of a 4 or 5 out of 10. Having worked in hospitality and dined out often, I know how much timing and communication impact the experience. El Chingon has serious potential and a talented kitchen. If the service can match the quality coming out of the back, this place could easily be a go to.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
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