Chilango

oogywawa

Speedy service, good fresh food - spot on... 26th December 2008

2 found this helpful

When a company fulfills a mission statement then that's good for me. Fresh, fast food is what they boast and when I popped into their Fleet Street eatery for a takeaway Chicken Burrito that is exactly what I got.

A soft supple warm tortilla was swiftly dispatched through seemingly more sets of hands than "that" Barbarians try against the All Blacks. Each added an ingredient - be it "Hot Chicken", "Black Beans", "Sour Cream", "Cheese", "Rice", "Salsa"...try in the corner by Gareth Edwards - er no - where was I...!

This Burrito was the size of a loose head prop and what better manner to devour it than watching a lunchtime concert in the tranquil surroundings St Dunstan's Church just 100 yds away. Bliss.

mazphd at 27/12/08

'This Burrito was the size of a loose head prop' - the mind boogles at the potential of a 'tight head prop'... or what that might be...

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bellaphon

No gracias 18th December 2008

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I offer no apologia to the polemical write-up of Chilango on my blog. I accept that my rant has (or will do soon) infuriated and insulted some Trusted Placers. Lynching imminent I suppose.

Came back here for lunch today just to uphold my first experience. The burrito filled with cochinito (shredded pork) and black beans tasted exactly as the first time, bland and remarkably ‘what’s all the fuss?’ except that on this occasion the wrap was given some livening up with some addition of hot chilango sauce. Oh the messy episode involving the spilling of the contents was once again noted. £6 for a portion of street food is a lot of money.

NB To be just, this place was teeming with eager diners today, in fact I even eavesdropped on a guy telling a girl that he comes here everyday. All right for some (or the majority) but certainly not for me.

a_female

Only one problem with Chilango 8th December 2008

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I love the idea of Mexican food but I can't say I would make an effort to seek it out. Well, that's until i tried Chilango. Ever since my first visit I've had a craving for their Tacos. Only one problem. I have to travel to Fleet street to get my Taco hit! Please open in West London.

mnavin

The Best Burrito in London! 13th November 2008

2 found this helpful

My partner hails from California and was always complaining that you can't get decent Mexican food in London. Chilango put an end to that- surprisingly quick service by a friendly team creating deliciously fresh burritos! Chilango makes an excellent choice for lunch or a quick (but incredibly filling) bite before hitting the town- and it's healthy too.

cgraham44

Essential Eating 13th November 2008

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Originally from San Francisco, the home of the best Mexican food outside Mexico, I have spent the last 8 years living in London on a desperate quest for a good burrito. My quest is now at an end. This is a place that is not only doing Mexican food right, they have actually managed to make me feel less homesick.

From the black refried beans and excellent salsa to the fact that they stuff the burritos to the limit, they far surpass the tons of other wannabe taquerias in London that all manage to somehow do a seriously half-assed job of it.

Looking forward to the next store!!

Lacrimosa

Arriba! 10th November 2008

4 found this helpful

I too attended the Trusted Places Halloween party at this new Fleet Street eatery, lured by the prospect of delicious Mexican tuck and the opportunity to wear a pair of sequinned cat's ears.

The first thing to remember here is that your food is prepared very quickly and efficiently in a sort of smiley human production line:

STEP 1. Burrito, tacos or salad?

STEP 2. Chicken, pork, steak or vegetables?

STEP 3. Cheese or sour cream?

And so on, through about six or seven steps involving rice, refried beans, salad, salsa, guaccamole... it's all there, minus the sombrero. This proves a great way of providing choice while, at the same time, steering all us foolish amigos away from the temptation to have a little bit of everything (a phenomenon I like to call 'Buffet Syndrome'). Incidentally I chose a gargantuan pork burrito and the 'medium' spicy salsa, which I found to be pretty darn spicy!

The second thing to remember about Chilango is that, while it has the look and feel of an upmarket fast food restaurant, it can still furnish you with a chilled Mexican beer. Woo hoo!

The third thing to remember is the opening hours. Like many eateries in the City area, Chilango focuses on the weekday lunchtime and early evening crowd (Monday to Friday, 11am to 9pm) and is closed at weekends.

Ultimately a very positive, upbeat experience with fresh, tasty food. I might try a pork salad next time. Mmmm...

sue at 10/11/08

Loved those cat's ears!

Niamheen at 11/11/08

Almost as much as the pork :-)

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foxie

Very yum! 4th November 2008

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Very really pleased to be able to come along to the opening 'do last week and must say was pleasantly surprised by the food on offer. Not only was it extremely tasty (the pork in particular!), but the portions were ample and the prices posted extremely reasonable. Definitely added to my list of regular places for lunch!

Niamheen at 04/11/08

I am jealous that you are close enough to lunch there! :-)

Niamheen at 04/11/08

I am jealous that you are close enough to lunch there! :-)

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walid

Simply Great 4th November 2008

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I love this place for so many reasons. The venue is funky, well laid out, and clean. The staff, are friendly, efficient and great to practice my Spanish with ;-)

Now as for the food, well so many places claim to offer authentic burritos, but too often they end up to be tasteless and soggy. The burritos at Chilango's are definitely tasty, fresh, and have a great texture. Without a doubt they are some of the best ones I've eaten in London.

It's amazing what the co-founders of Chilango have done, I'm really happy that we celebrated our "Day of the Dead" Party at Chilango and can't wait to go back there for my favourite burritos.

hollowlegs

Good burritos 3rd November 2008

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There certainly has been a recent insurgence on the burrito front; near where I work, 2 small cafes and a burrito van, within 2 mins walk of each other, get themselves a tidy queue every lunchtime.

I usually use two factors to judge a good burrito. One, is whether the server has big hands (in order to get myself a big 'un). Two, is whether my burrito leaks. Leaking burritos are not great and they make whatever you have left to eat fall apart. Chilango's burritos passed on both of these tests. It was a beast, and filled to the brim with pork, beans, rice and salad. The pork (is there any better filling, really?) was deliciously tender and there was no leakage. They were a bit mean with the extra hot salsa though.

DanWilkinson

Excellent lunch venue! 3rd November 2008

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I think we're right on the cusp of a bit of an explosion of Mexican food in London, and Chilango's well-placed to lead the charge here. Expertly-cooked ingredients are compiled to your preferences by people who really seem to know what they're doing, and the results transcend the usual lunchtime fayre by a country mile.

Sadly, I've come to know Mexican food in the usual Brit incarnation - think stodgy beans, overcooked chicken, unmemorable at best. My burrito from Chilango was spectacularly different: fresh, tasty, filling, great value and amazingly remained intact throughout, something for which both I and my shirt were grateful.

All in all, a welcome change from the careworn cheese 'n' pickle, Markies-style.