PHLReview
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
El Chingon
Included In
Philadelphia, as you may know, has a ton of fantastic sandwiches. A lesser known fact is that we also have a wealth of excellent Mexican food (and anyone who says otherwise is probably from LA, so they don't count). What we don’t have enough of are Mexican sandwiches.
Luckily, El Chingon has arrived.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
The cozy all-day café and restaurant in East Passyunk is impossible to miss. From the blazing blue-and-white nameplate and the lemon-yellow overhead lamps to the colorful spray-painted signs, it doesn’t look like anything else in the otherwise muted residential neighborhood.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
The inviting atmosphere continues inside, where you’ll be greeted by a wall of plants, a pastry case, and a friendly server posted up behind the long counter. In the morning, neighborhood regulars grab coffee and conchas, but come dinner time, couples and small groups pack the dining room for the main event.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
This place specializes in cemitas—enormous Pueblan-style sandwiches stacked with things like housemade pork chorizo, crispy chicken milanese, or juicy beef birria, all on freshly baked bread (Chingon’s chef/owner started the bread program at Parc, so you know those buns are good). But the whole menu is worth exploring, so plan to cover your table or counter space with aguachiles and tostadas, too. If you’re interested in larger plates, the tacos are (almost) as good as the cemitas, and much easier to share.
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Since the restaurant is open all day (10am-9pm during the week, 10am-10pm on the weekends), it’s always a good time to go. If you’re not in the mood for a cemita, first, get yourself checked out, and then try brunch on the weekends (when they serve more traditional breakfast options like huevos rancheros). It’s a tight space, so don’t plan to show up with more than a few other people, or just dine solo. When you’re having the best Mexican sandwich in Philly, you won’t want to share with anyone anyway.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Elote
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Aguachiles Alhumado Del Dia
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Cemita Clásica
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Cemita Birria
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Pescado Tacos
photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo
Concha Rellena