Chilango Islington for Burrito and Beer
My ex-girlfriend’s guacamole aside, Mexican food has never taken my fancy and certainly fails to feature in my top 11 favourite cuisines of all time. Yes, I have such a thing. So Chilango on Upper Street had its work cut out if it was to place Mexican in my now proverbial honours list. So how did it fare? Oh my gosh…
Excuse my unruly use of the English language but Chilango is shit hot. Or hot shit. Whichever configuration of ‘hot’ and ‘shit’ you prefer it matters not; I’m a big fan. As though Armageddon were an actuality, I felt compelled to hurriedly reveal exactly why this colourful little Mexican haunt is well worth frequenting. Brace yourselves.
Burritos, tacos or tortilla chips – it’s impossible to choose badly. If you’re hungry, go burrito, if you’re starving go burrito and tortilla chips, and if you’re just happy to be there tacos will suffice. On to fillings; pork, chicken or steak I’d rate in that order (there’s a herbivore option too). Marinated in a secret blend of chipotle chillies and spices, the chicken is good but it’s not the one…that accolade goes to the pork, or more correctly: the cochinito. Tasty. Pile on the pinto beans, slap on some chilango salsa if you’re man enough, and then with a dollop of guacamole –unfortunately not quite to the standard of the aforementioned one –and you’re in the money, officially hitting the big time.
All the ingredients are so wonderfully fresh and the meat so well cooked. This food is seriously moreish leaving you nicely full but not bloated. Now how often can you say that about a fast food restaurant? And to wash down the spices, options aplenty, I’d recommend a bottle of Pacifico Clara beer, but if you’re off the sauce the pomegranate ‘agua fresca’ works a treat.
So courtesy of Chilango, has Mexican made it into the top 11? Si. Dishier than Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal, this place suits either the casual diner or someone in need of a quick fix bite to eat on the way home. I’ll be going again, that’s for sure.
Chilango
27 Upper Street
Islington
N1 0PN
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I loooove Chilango. So good. I’m from the US and am just so happy with this yummy mexican place!
If you don’t like Mexican food, why did you want to review it then? Anything for a free meal?
Little description and little knowledge of the food .
Ooooh, spicy MsMarmiteLover. I will spring to Mike’s defence and say not only did I enjoy the review but it left me salivating…a good test of food writing.
But yeah, anyway, bring the ruckus, nothing like a good scuffle to generate interest :)
i think ‘shit hot’s’ a pretty good food description actually…
I’m going to have lunch with the guy that owns Chilango’s soon. We discussed the irritation that chefs feel when food writers hardly talk about the food.
One chef told me that when A.A.Gill reviewed his restaurant, it was all about his girlfriend. At the end he added something like oh and the food wasn’t bad too.
I’m not backing down on this though.
What kind of salsa was it? Asado? fresh? cooked?
What was in the guacamole?
What were the Margaritas like?
I could go on….
But yes a little controversy is always good.
Chilango’s reminds me of the kind of food you can get literally everywhere in California, but that is almost impossible to get in Europe. Simple, fresh and good. Is it high gastronomy? Absolutely not. Could I get an infinitely better burrito at half the price in Los Angeles? Yes. But if you’re craving a real burrito in London, it’s worth the line and they have real Mexican beer (Modelo). Mexicans don’t drink Corona, we just export it.