Best Mexican Food in Madrid, Chilango

CHILANGO

Hours:    Weekdays – Lunch: 1:30-4:00,
Dinner: 9:00-12:00; Saturday – Lunch:  Closed,
Dinner: 9:00-12:30; Sunday – Closed

Reservations:  Recommended for weekends.
Address:  Calle Manuela Malasana 12
Metro:  San Bernardo or Bilbao

Chilango advertises itself as providing “Alta cocina callejera” which loosely translated means fine dining street-food.  As you walk in the fine dining aspect is apparent, with a small well lit modern dining area; however, along with the upscale feel comes street food and pictures of proverbial masked Mexican wrestlers. This is truly “Alta cocina Callejera”.      

Starting with the drinks you know that the place is going to stick to its roots; not only do they serve the classic margarita (available in pitchers for groups), but also they provide a selection of Mexican beers (Corona, Dos Equis, Pacifico, Negra Modelo) and they even have a tequila menu.  The starter menu gets things going with nachos, guacamole and a variety of quesadillas.  The guacamole is creamy, smooth and extremely tasty, which makes it a perfect way to whet your appetite for a hearty dose of Mexican food.  

Continuing on, they offer a few salads as well as queso in many different combinations.  Next, the menu moves on to the standard bearers for all Mexican food; the taco and the enchilada.  The enchiladas come with the option of cheese, chicken or vegetable and are topped with authentic sauces such as salsa verde (a spicy mixture of fresh tomatillos and cilantro) and mole (a self-proclaimed mixture of 33 different ingredients).  However, what comes to mind most when one thinks of Mexican food…the taco, naturally.  All tacos come out in a perfect presentation: each choice is accompanied by a small helping of beans, guacamole and salsa.  For the main attraction you can choose between many different meat options, like the Pastor (pork in a pineapple sauce) or the Marlyn (chopped fish in a red sauce).  The latter is a nice option if you’re looking for something a bit lighter.  One of the best parts for me was that all tacos come with a basket of authentic corn (as opposed to the less flavorful four) tortilla skins allowing you to construct the tacos in any way you see fit.  The menu also offers some nice specialty dishes including tamales and huaraches.  

Usually when you´re thinking of mexican food, you don´t think of fine dining.  However, Chilango realizes that if you put in a little extra effort, traditional mexican food can be transformed into an incredibly delicious meal appropriate for any dining experience.  Chilango manages to perfectly carry the balance of its theme, bringing you simple well prepared dishes in an unexpected environment.  

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By Coleman File