El Chingon

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

This grilled corn on the cob is slathered in a creamy, tangy black garlic mayo and cotija cheese. The tajin mixed in adds a touch of heat, all balanced by a splash of lime. Delicious.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Aguachiles Alhumado Del Dia

This dish is extremely flavorful and well-balanced from the blend of chilis, cucumbers, onions, and cilantro. But the real wow here is how incredibly fresh and tender the smoked shrimp and calamari are. It’s a great starter to share.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Cemita Clásica

As Rihanna once said, “baby, this is what you came for.” Perfectly crisp, golden-fried chicken (though beef is an option, too) is topped with avocado, onions, chipotle peppers, salty quesillo cheese, and papalo aioli. It’s juicy (but never greasy), incredibly fresh and flavorful, and enormous. It doesn’t get much better than this.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Cemita Birria

How do you make beef birria even better? Slap it on warm, housemade buns. The beef is covered in cheese and is served with an onion-y, rich consomme for dipping.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Pescado Tacos

Like the chicken in the Cemita Clásica, this mahi mahi is fried perfectly—golden in color, no sign of grease. They’re topped with cabbage, zucchini salsa, and lime, making it one of the lighter dishes when you need a meat break.

photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo

Concha Rellena

These conchas—sort of like a hybrid between a sweet bread and a crumbly, doughy cookie—are topped with a thick layer of nutella and sliced strawberries. They are even more satisfying than they look. Pro-tip: They hold up well, so if you need a break after dinner, take them to go and eat them on the couch.