Don Chingon
“My group all enjoyed our meal- then right afterward we walked two blocks to the Barclay Center for our event.”
“This place has changed the way I look at guacamole, and in the best way possible.”
“The salsas are fantastic and taste so fresh you'd think they were made just prior to arriving at the table (maybe they are, I dunno).”
Don Chingon
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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We were heading to the Barclays center and wanted to do a quick happy hour before hand a bar/restaurant near by so I searched "happy hour" on Yelp like I usually do. I called the day before and was informed their happy hours runs from 4-7pm but when we got there at 6:05 we were denied any happy hour specials. The waiter said happy hour ended at 6 and I explained that I called and asked that specific question so he could have given us our margaritas for a discounted price but no.
None the less, dinner was great. Our drinks were over priced for the amount of tequila we got but they were really tasty. I had the sweet and sour margarita which had smoked salt on the rim. The food was the reason this small little Mexican joint goes from 3 to 4 stars for me.
We started with the chips and salsa trio which was a perfect appetizer to share while we sip on our drinks. Our favorite salsa was the tomatillo salsa for sure. Our two taco platters came out next; one carnitas and one pollo. I personally liked the chicken better but one thing for sure is the taco shells themselves were amazing! Not sure if they make their own or where they get them from but amazing corn soft tortillas. Both platters come with rice and beans and is a great bang for your buck. I finished everything, it was that good.
We had two beers during dinner considering we didn't feel a think from our initial drinks. The waiter, probably being apologetic for the happy hour confusion brought out two shots of tequila on the house. The shots tasted a little weak too so maybe they water down their tequila or maybe my mouths were just confused by all the hot sauce I used. Really good place, especially for your money but next time we are coming before 6.
I came in last night for dinner around 5:30. This morning, I woke up still satisfied.
When I came in at 5:30, it was empty. It was just me, a waiter and a bartender (my friend hadn't arrived yet). A little awkward, but it makes for good service, right? The I put in an order for some appetizers to start, and it came out less than 5 minutes later. The waiter was friendly and attentive. At first, I thought it was just because he was bored and was eager to do something – but he was the same way throughout the whole meal, even when the dinner rush hit. The tables are pretty small, but they did a good job or clearing out our plates to make sure we had room for everything.
In hindsight, we may have gotten a little too excited about the food.
– Elote ($4 each): not the biggest, but they were tasty! It had a pretty even distribution of spices and cheese on the whole cob
– Guac & Chips ($11): a pretty generous serving of chips and guacamole. The chips came out warm, which I appreciate. I ordered without really reading the description on the menu, so the pomegranate and sliced grapes were a nice surprise!
– Steak Quesadilla ($15): pretty darn good. You get a hearty quesadilla, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, rice, and beans – all on one plate. I had the toughest time finishing everything
This spot wasn't exactly an immediate gem when we walked in: on a Wednesday night, it was already kind of packed and the service was slow and frazzled. But then the food and the drinks came and it was fire.
We ordered guac and chips, and there is something so incredible about nontraditional guac. There were pomegranate seeds and sliced grape halves along with some exquisite seasoning, and the chips were warm and crunchy. What a great pre-meal appetizer. My friend and I shared the carnitas tacos, which were a great choice for sure – oftentimes, chicken and beef can be a little too dry to put in tacos but this crispy pork was slightly moist and delicious.
We ordered the house margaritas, which were actually perfect. I'm very averse to tequila (many a night filled with many a regret) but the drinks were made relatively well so that I could only slightly taste the tequila and subsequently, 2 margaritas were had in an hour period without me immediately dropping dead on the spot. So kudos.
We came in one night before the nets game to get some drinks and food. It was about 6:00 when we got in and we were immediately sat. It's a very small place but cozy and I just love a place with an open kitchen – which looked small too so I assume the wait for food on a busy night could get pretty long.
Thankfully there weren't too many people in the place so we got our drinks and food out for game time. My boyfriend called the day before asking about their happy hour and he was told it ended at 7. However, we were informed that it ended at 6 when we tried to order the happy hour. So that was a little annoying. Anyways we ordered our drinks saying whatevs. The drinks were delicious! I had the strawberry and mint margarita and my boyfriend ordered the sweet and spicy margarita. Both were tasty and refreshing! BUT – if you're looking to get a little buzz from these drinks just order a couple of beers since they were light on the tequila and very pricy for the size and what little was in it.
We started off with the trio of salas which were all packed with flavor. It was between the tomatillo and pineapple salas for my favorite I could have eaten them all night. But since I couldn't I ordered the carnitas tacos. I had been craving tacos all week and what a way to satisfy it! It was soft shell tortillas and I was relieved it wasn't a cheap flour tortilla. The corn tortillas add so much more flavor. I also loved the avocado salsa slathered on the tacos – creamy and spicy!! And the carnitas had some nice crispy pieces of chicharron in them which was a nice surprise. There are many taco options to choose from but I wish they had a sample option so you could try some out.
I think our server felt bad about the happy hour thing so we were given 2 shots of the house tequila which was fine by me! All in all, cute place, good food and okay drinks, nice service. Next time I come back here I'm definitely getting a quesadilla. Those things looks AMAZING.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
This place has changed the way I look at guacamole, and in the best way possible. I'll tell you more in a bit. Honestly, got the full 5 stars because of it.
We came in for an early dinner, so it was nice and bright in there thanks to the big windows. There's a bar area, a dining area, and the an open kitchen space so you can smell the deliciousness as they whip it up in the kitchen.
Food!
-Elotes!
Cotija, crema, & a house blend spice on a whole corn on the cob. It was also served with the husks pulled back so that it can be used as a handle. No dirty fingers up in here! (Okay, maybe a little.) Very much appreciated Don Chingon.
-GUACAMOLE!!
Like I said earlier, these things changed my life! Unlike their Elote, they remixed this traditional Latin dish by replacing the tomatoes with grapes and adding pomegranate seeds! They also went light on the cilantro. Now this may seem a little peculiar, but it works. Adds a nice sweetness to the tang and saltiness of the rest of the guac. Not to mention the extra crunch when you get pieces of grape and pomegranate! My girlfriend and I only make guac this way now (but with red grapes). I also really appreciated the warm batch of tortilla chips.
-Tacos! Comes w/ 3 Tacos and Rice & Beans. (Unfortunately only allowed to choose one meat)
We went with the carne asada tacos, and they were absolutely delicious. Tortillas were warm, soft, and held together well. Each taco was filled with stuff, so they did NOT skimp at all! The rice that was given on the side kind of tasted like it was cooked in a shrimp broth. YUM!
Service was good! We were almost the only people in there, and our waitress was excited to serve us. Waters were never empty and she was attentive the entire time; always checking to see if we needed anything, but without having to ask us.
P.S. I apologize for not having the PRICE$ of each dish on here. I forgot and the online menu doesn't display it. Sorry again!
I'm not sure if a restaurant can accurately be judged on a chorizo quesadilla lunch special, but if it can, I can find no fault with Don Chingon.
I came, I sat in the window and looked at the weird modular tower growing behind the Barclays Center, I ate a deliciously greasy* chorizo quesadilla, I chatted with Jose, my very accommodating waiter, and I left. (Oh, I guess I paid $10 + tax and tip before I left too, cause I wouldn't want to be rude to Jose.)
And I would do it again anytime. Hell, I'd do it right now, if I wasn't sitting at home in my underwear, too many long, cold blocks away from Don Chingon. You should do it though, if you're dressed.
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*Chorizo is greasy. It's part of what makes it delicious.
I usually come here for my Mexican take out. It's never over crowded and is typically a short wait. I really enjoy their rice and black beans. Idk what it is, but I've never had white rice that was so flavorful! The quesadillas are okay, nothing extraordinary. Also, the bartender who gets my to go orders ready is also nice and helpful.
Came for a quiet weekday lunch with Hubby and our one year old kid. (They have high chairs, score!) Solid mexican food (especially the beans and rice!They know how to excel at the staples). We enjoyed our meal and will be back to try the corn!