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El Chingon
Puebla-style Mexican
The cemitas, Puebla-style sandwiches on sesame-seeded buns baked in-house, are what anchor this colorful South Philly Mexican restaurant. Bring friends and a strategy, because the menu rewards sharing, and skipping the lacy griddled flour tortillas would be a regrettable act of self-sabotage. The chef earned a James Beard semifinalist nod and a Michelin Bib Gourmand, plus a spot on the New York Times restaurant list, which is a lot of hardware for a tight little room.
Nine honors, in evidence:
The record strongest first
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- The New York Times The Restaurant List
- The Philadelphia Inquirer Top 10
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Magazine #28 · 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia
- The Philadelphia Inquirer The 76
- The Philadelphia Inquirer Poblano Bee Pollen Helado · The best dishes Craig LaBan ate
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic · Juan Carlos Aparicio
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic · Carlos Aparicio
One number, weighted & current 85
How we scoreThe dishes from the writeups
- Rabbit tinga tostadas Michelin Guide
- Cemitas Michelin Guide
Nearby in the record closest first
- Messina Social Club Eat · 44
- Mish Mish Mediterranean Eat · 82
- Esposito's Porchetta Eat · 28
- Supérette Eat · 60
- River Twice New American Eat · 83
- Laurel American French Eat · 82
- Musi Eat · 4
- Termini Brothers Eat · 28
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