Chingón Cantina Y Taqueria

I’d give 4 stars if it wasn’t for their terrible, terrible business practice.
So the food: it’s good. Very reasonable in terms of price, quality, portions etc. The fish taco is good, but certainly not the best in Melbourne. But it’s good! The variety of salsas and guacamole are super delicious. Menu is simple and focuses on doing only a few things really well. It’s a great meal.
Service is sloppy when it’s busy.
Great food, affordable and the bean salsa is to die for… BUT…
Who the heck runs a 60+ seater restaurant without a credit facility? Cash only is fine for the first few months but really? Sort that shit out guys. Not cool.
And apparently there is a beer garden that’s amazing? I just found that out today. I’ve eaten here at least 3 or 4 times and as a regular (ish) punter, if I don’t know about that, they need some lessons in marketing 101.
Sort out the basics and I’ll be happy to bump this up to 4 stars.

I love the feel if this place almost as much as I love the tasty guac. The tacos are pretty good — especially the fish, but not amazing. The corn is cheesy (as it should be) and the cocktails are tasty! Note that food is served on paper plates. I like it here, and will be back.

It’s no longer BYO! What a great place for tacos, and so close to our friend’s apartment where we stayed for a few nights. It was easy to find and the food was excellent. The four tacos were just enough for all of us, and all of the options tasted great. And the guac was tasty, too:)

I love love love this place. I am calling it — best tacos in Richmond.
If you’re after a casual dinner with mates and you dig Mexican, recommend this place. For $ 23 you get four tacos (highly recommend the pork/​pineapple and prawn/​avo ones) which will fill you up nicely. You must not go past the corn dish — its grilled corn mixed in with feta and chipotle sauce and is divine. And the guac made me cry a little. Served with handmade chips, it was hard to beat.
All the good is served from a taco truck so it’s fresh and authentic.
The one thing I would say is they don’t offer desserts. After eating all the savoury food, you may want to counter balance it with a flan (ala La Tortiliera style) but that’s a minor detail.
Go now and eat all the tacos. Be prepared to roll home.

Went with friends and stayed long enough to try 5 of the 6 tacos. Amazing! Full of flavour. The prawn and pork taxis were my fave. Perfect for a chill evening with friends to share a light meal and some good quality Mexican. Recommends for sure!

Where to begin?
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area we know Mexican food. Unfortunately, in this city it’s hard to find anything similar. I was so happy to discover this place literally a block a way from home! THIS is Mexican food, simple menu with a lot of flavour, delicious drinks, friendly staff and all together great vibe. For those of you that haven’t been able to try the deliciousness of Mexican food overseas. this place is the closet you will get. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! :)

It is NOT going too far to say that this was the best Mexican I’ve ever had. That includes burritos in San Francisco (I know).
We sat outside on the rooftop, the fairy lights twinkling above us, and drank Mexican beers (my partner had his with chilli and lime — phenomenal) while we waited for our tacos to appear. The place has a really laid-​back vibe, which is inkeeping with their «street food» theme. It felt moody and mysterious, with a warren of doorways and stairways, eclectic furniture and adornments; while the service was bubbly, friendly, and über helpful. The tacos are $ 6 a pop, which is steep, but totally worth it in my opinion. The flavours were… amazing. I’ve never had such a flavoursome vegetarian taco in all my life. We tried the chicken, pork, fish, prawns, and vegetarian, and were impressed by all. We also had the tortilla chips with black bean salsa, which was perfection in its simplicity.
They have a nice little list of tequila-​based cocktails which I’d love to try, and an interesting corn-​off-​the-​cob dish which I’m dying to order next time we go. We’ll definitely be returning!

This place was not what I was expecting. It wasn’t as vibrant as I thought it would be. I t was a cold night too and they could have turned up the heating. They only had about three different things to choose from the menu. The main attraction was the soft shell tacos, where you could choose 4 for $ 23. They were pretty small with not much filling in them, so it’s expensive to me. I ordered two and then something which was just corn and cheese in a paper cup. Not very nice.

When Chingon first opened we visited many times and really enjoyed it!
But the last two times we have been, we haven’t had the best of times.
Yes, the prices are a little expensive for what you get ($ 10 for guacamole & $ 23 for 4 tacos), but the food is actually quite delicious.
You can request to have only 3 tacos if you prefer (I personally can’t fit in 4) and they now also have their liquor licence and therefore serve quite a few tequila based cocktails. The main downside is that they serve these, and all other drinks, in disposable cups. Oh and the tacos are also served on little disposable «boats» instead of plates.
The ambience of the place is pretty cool with lots of candles and a cool terrace upstairs. The food is cooked in a «food truck» towed by a super shiny old school car that is parked out the back which is also cool to have a squiz at.
The main bug bear on our last two visits is that we noticed that the food seemed to take FOREVER to come out. On these two occasions the place wasn’t packed by any means so it was puzzling as to why it was taking so long… it never used to be like that when they first opened (or on times we had been when it was much busier)!
If you aren’t in a rush (or starving) and don’t mind putting up with the disposable cups and plates, give it a go (they do take bookings and aren’t as crazy busy as Fonda can be). It’s pretty tasty!

$ 23 for 4 tacos seems just a little bit too steep if you ask me. I know it’s all getting served from a food truck, but would it be too much to get the food served on real plates? Or at least the cocktails in a proper glass? When I’m paying $ 16 and over for a drink, drinking it out of a paper cup seems pretty shoddy.
That said, the tacos are great, the guac and salsas are really tasty, and that corn dish… well you can’t go here and NOT order it. It’s seriously good.

If you’re a taco lover, there is no better place in Melbourne!
Not one I have come across.
Perfect of any occasion. And the food is sooooo delicious!

I love Mexican food. I also love good food in the quietest places possible. Chingon satisfies my appetite for a delicious, simple meal without having to line up for a table (takes reservations!!) or be shoulder-​to-​shoulder with other patrons.
Now that they have their liquor licence, you can sip on a quality selection of cocktails (my favourite being La Paloma) and beers to perfectly complements the street food fare. My only downside is the lack of desserts — I had a serious craving for something with cajeta/​dulce de leche to round off my Chingon experience. With all the pluses of Chingon, however, this is forgivable.

To be fair there have been a lot of mexican restaurants popping up in Melbourne so it would be perfectly understandable if you gave Chingon the once over and decided that it was too far out and too cliché to be worth going to. I did. Fortunately a friend corrected me and dragged me along, almost kicking and screaming one day, this is the mark of a good friend!
The restaurant is definitely reminiscent of a cantina you would find in mexico, which is what the two owners have gone for and achieved remarkably well. There is a focus on quality of food here that is not seen across many other mexicana pop ups that we have seen in the last five years. You get to choose from only 6 tacos and a handful of dips and corn chips. Really it doesn’t matter what you choose, everything is great.
It is a simple fare but done to perfection, there is always just enough in the 4 tacos that make up a main meal to fill you and yet there are none of the usual scatterings of taco filling that you have with lesser venues. The tortilla that they use is traditionally baked and each one seems to be made with a level of focus that you would expect of a croquembouche!
The only down side is the lack of liquor licence, although they are BYO and there is a little liquor store around the corner that you can run to while you wait for your food to come out.
All in all it’s a really great experience and I find myself fortunate that my friends won’t take no for an answer!
PS — If you can’t decide I am a big fan of the beef and chicken tacos

Another week and another Mexican restaurant. They seem to pop up in Melbourne faster than I can frequent them these days. OK, that is a bit of an exaggeration as Chingón Cantina y Taqueria on Swan Street in Richmond has been open for around six months now. I first inspected it on the same day that I ate a queer tasting kangaroo burrito at Fonda, which is in the same neighbourhood. I held out with a formal blog post on Chingón (loosely translated as using the «F» word emphatically, like Lleyton Hewitt would use the word after winning a hard fought set, but not in the same way that David Warner uses the word toward the match umpires) as I was waiting for them to secure a liquor license. How can one turn up and have «authentic» Mexican street food and not be able to enjoy a bottle of beer or a shot of tequila? I will have to wait even longer for the pleasure it would seem as they still have not secured it.
My patience wore out and despite seeing the application for the liquor license affixed to their front window, we made ourselves known and took a seat at one of the tables. I took pause and looked around thinking that you could find this hole in the wall in Mexico with the erratic fit-​out, faux exposed brick, exposed pipes and the smoke alarm on the ceiling that has no cover or battery, but also because I thought the place was dirty. The alligator clips that affixed the paper on top of the table cloth had some dried salsa on them (not just the table I was sitting at) and after looking at the long bench against the perimeter wall, I noticed food on it too. Still, fitting in with the whole Mexican theme it works, as that is what you find in Mexico.
As there is no list of tasty alcoholic beverages to choose from, water was served in branded paper cups. I can’t say that I am the biggest environmentalist but in this day and age where everyone is carrying on about recycling, I would have thought that others would have demonised the restaurant long before me for serving water in paper cups. The taqueria also tries to deceive you as they do have a bar but it is stocked with empty bottles of liquor.
The menu is short. You have six tacos to choose from (4 tacos for $ 20) and three types of dips ($ 10 each) so I opted for the guacamole to start. When you order you are advised that they only accept cash so we dug in our pockets and found a total of $ 60 in reserve so decided to enjoy eight tacos and that single order of guacamole.
Despite being anxious and all signs up until then when the guacamole being served demonstrated that I was going to be disappointed and sullen, it turned out to be really nice. There was a fair amount of warm chips provided and the guacamole had a bit of a creamy zing. The tacos later came out on a bastardised plate that was made out of bamboo and you are provided a small oblong piece of bamboo with some shredded cabbage to use as your personal drip plate to consume the tacos. First off, the tortillas were just awesome. Nothing like I have tasted before and obviously pressed on-​site as they are so unique. Very light yet robust and they did not crack or fall apart when I manhandled any of my targets. The salsa that is provided in a bottle resembled what I make at home but was just less spicy, so when added the to first fish (pescado) taco, it went down my gob like a charm. My biggest irritant when it comes to Mexican food, especially tacos, is that the tortilla can not handle excessive amounts of ingredients, especially juices from meat and fish. Although the fish was a little dry, I would rather have that instead of juicy fish that would have dripped all over my hand and destroyed the taco. The remaining tacos, had a unique charcoal flavour which I can never achieve properly at home and frankly, haven’t had the pleasure of coming across anywhere else in Melbourne. I really liked the pollo (chicken) taco especially because there was a hint of guacamole, the asada (beef) taco also was charcoaled well and once again did not destroy the tortilla and finally, my favourite, the tacos al carbon with the primary taste of pineapple was fantastic.
I am torn about this place. Sure, it does look like a place you would come across in Mexico, however some of the drawbacks are inherent with that style more indirectly. $ 50 for eight tacos and guacamole is a bit much but then again the quality was very good and I enjoyed everything that I ate. Sadly, I wasn’t able to consume any alcohol and enjoy the experience at a heightened level but if I had, I would have wanted to pay with a credit card. They do BYO ($ 5 corkage) so perhaps next time around I will bring in a Rioja (spanish wine or even a six pack of Tecate) and appreciate it for what it is — good street food.

So street even the waitress was Mexican… Awesome tacos, great vibe

I love Mexican food, spicy, smoky flavours work.
Chingon has picked a niche which is growing in Melbourne and given it a nice twist. The décor is interesting with lots of candles, butchers paper and distressed wood. It can be a little loud, we were 1 of two tables and it was a little echoy. The music helps to set the mood but isn’t too overpowering.
Chingon is BYO only at the moment while awaiting a liquor license as well as being cash only.
They are now open for lunch as of 17/​10/​2012
The menu is super simple. 6 tacos flavours, 3 salsa flavour and 4 drinks.
We tried two of the salsas and 5 of the available taco flavours along with a drink.
The drink… was what I consider a whole lot overpriced for what it was, muddled strawberries with ice and milk (I asked for the simple syrup to be held). The serving was small due to the ice and paper cup, the flavour was okay but not $ 7 worth, maybe if the whole punnet of strawberries was in there.
The Fire roasted Salsa Mexicana and the Guacamole were great. Served with the house chilli. really nice smoky flavours with a good bite from the chilli. Everything was served mild so you can spice up as you like.
The tacos are served with a side of crispy shredded fresh cabbage, we had a go of the Pork, Beef, Chicken, Fish and Prawn.
I thought I would love the pork taco but in hindsight my favourite was the Chicken which was served with some guac in the shell and pieces of chicken on top. The Fish was next, nicely cooked with a good crisp outside and soft but solid inside.
The prawn was also good. Although I like the Pork and Beef I though they were a little dry and the flavour was quite plain in the pork one particularly. The beef was a little over powered but also saved by the fire roasted bean salsa.
All in all I really enjoyed the meal. At $ 20 for 4 tacos I think for contents and such they’re a bit too expensive. No plates, no glasses, everything is served on disposable plates, wooden disposable cutlery. The serves either need to be bigger or the price needs to come down a bit, the drinks are far overpriced.
Repeatability is a bit limited due to the small menu. I would eat here again for the novelty, or for an event but I don’t think it will become a regular place.
The cash only aspect is a bit of a pain considering the price, fine for two, might be annoying for a group. There is an ATM around the corner.
I was very happy to not see a single piece of yellow cheese the whole night though.

I LOVE tacos and Chingon did not let me down.
At the moment they’re BYO until they sort their liquor license, which makes for a very cheap evening. Tacos are $ 20 for 4 which is great value and allows you to try lots of flavours without breaking the budget.
Their house made salsas and guacamole are just as fresh and tasty as the tacos.
The web site takes bookings and they will email you back with an available time.
Apparently they have just opened their terrace and will be serving booze soon. Count me in!

The Mexican revolution continues to grow! Seems as though every few months I end up at a new Mexican establishment, and with each occasion it’s getting better and better. Chingon keeps their menu simple, but the variety and flavours are perfectly executed, and pretty close to what one could find in Mexico. From the flattering rustic fit out to the authentic soundtrack, it seems as though they’ve managed to get it all just right. It is BYO, but with a bottleshop just around the corner, I had no issues. The taco’s are a bit small, and from my time in Mexico, quite expensive in comparison, but that is what’s expected this far south I reckon.
Favourites were the prawn, grilled fish, and achiote pork and pineapple!

Chingon whispers promises of another world late on a cold winter night in Melbourne. Dripping candles, concrete rendered walls, sounds from another land… the ambience is most certainly there.
But…there was confusion with the booking, we rang to confirm no one called back. The waiter, über enthusiastic ‘so do I need to tell you about everything we’ve got going on here’ ‘yes’ ‘well it’s tacos and that’s about it’. Oh but it could be so much more.
Having travelled extensively through Mexico this place made me happy (quick confession that I haven’t made it to Fonda yet, although Mamasita is a regular), it’s simple, it’s good food, but…(again) it’s very expensive for what you get.
I will go back, but give it some to settle, I think it’s going to be a good one.

I’ve been told that Chingon has only been open for a couple of weeks. In my book, that’s no excuse; you’re either ready to go, or you’re not.
So what do you get at Chingon? Um, not a whole lot, really. Want a drink? There’s water, or BYO (we saw someone bring their own bottle of Coke!). Want atmosphere? Try Fonda down the road.
And the food? Well, it wasn’t bad … it just wasn’t exactly great, either. The servings are small, the flavours are okay … there’s just nothing to write home about here, folks.