This is another highly reviewed Philly restaurant that lived up to the hype. It’s a small restaurant located near the Italian Market (Exploring Mexican South Philly/Italian Market), owned by a chef who’s spent time in some of Philly’s best known restaurants. El Chingon is his take on food from the Mexican region of Puebla where he grew up.

There are interesting starters and the familiar tacos, but the real stars are the aguachiles (on our list for a return visit!) and cemitas. The cemitas (sandwiches) are served on soft and chewy house-made rolls and come with a variety of fillings – ours was the choriqueso with house-made pork chorizo, refriend beans, mashed avocado, melted cheese. My next visit will definitely include the birria version with consomé.

Our starter of the soup of the day (tortilla) was fabulous (and, spicy!), and is the first official entry on our best foods of 2024 list.

The desert of arroz con tres leches is also going on the list – a layer of tres leches cake topped with rice pudding, then bruléd and topped with cinnamon. My dream dessert.

The restaurant is cute, but small. Not crowded for our Friday lunch visit, but I’m sure it fills up quickly in the evening.