Food
To get authentic Mexican cuisine right is no easy feat, but Chile Chicos manages to go above and beyond with its take on some Mexican household favorites. The only one of its kind in JSEC this year, Chile Chicos is a labor of love for flavor and familiarity—both of which you’re sure to find in this gem of a stall.
Taste
Served in a soft tortilla shell with fresh vegetables and homemade sauces, Chile Chicos’ loaded tacos come in three bases: Pork, chicken, and beef. The Pork Carnitas boasts of nine-hour slow roast pulled pork evened out by a dash of citrus; the Pollo Taco, on the other hand, brings chicken to another level with a signature spice mix.
The Pork Carnitas and Pollo Taco could definitely still work on their blend of flavors. These options, unfortunately, lack harmony with Chile Chicos’ choices of spices and condiments. The balance between pico de gallo salsa, sour cream, and pork or chicken is still off-kilter, leaving less of an impact.
Worth noting, however, is their beef taco: The El Primo. With succulent beef slathered in savory spices and a rich tomato blend, the El Primo—Chile Chicos’ love letter to the Filipino flavors of tangy tomato and smoky sisig—has the perfect amount of zest. This unique offering is strikingly reminiscent of local favorites, making it the stall’s undeniable standout.
Though Chile Chicos will always first and foremost be a taco stall, the most recent addition to its menu is a strong contender for crowd favorite. The Luchador brings together cantina rice—stirred in a mixture of lime and cilantro—and any of the three meats. The result is filling and savory, generous in its portions and piquancy.
To cap it all off, the stall also offers two sides: The Patatas Mexicana, which are spice-blended fried potatoes, and the Corn Elotes, which is a mix of grilled corn in mayonnaise and paprika. Both are well-thought-of in line with the Mexican theme, but prove to be nothing particularly special taste-wise.
Concept
The stall’s honest-to-goodness pursuit of good taste is amped by the heart put into its concept. Chile Chicos manages to make its small corner of JSEC completely its own with an inspired, vibrant mural and a promise to satisfy your Mexican cravings any day. Much of this charm lies in the dedication of its owners: Despite uncertainty in the success of Mexican cuisine amid typical JSEC offerings, Chile Chicos’ owners share an aspiration to bring the Mexican staples that their own families have adapted closer to the students of Ateneo.
Value for money
Without skimping on quality, Chile Chicos manages to be one of the more affordable JSEC options for the year. Two of any taco base will cost you Php 80, while a combo will set you back Php 100. One could opt to order three tacos of one meat for Php 100. While the portions of their tacos are plentiful, they’re purposely structured to be more of a heavy snack than a meal. However, if you’re in need of something more filling, you should look no further than the Luchador; it costs Php 100 on its own with an additional Php 20 for a side and a drink—and it’s certainly worth every peso.
Final verdict
While all stalls eventually come and go, some are bound to be missed a little more than others—and without much contention, Chile Chicos is in the running to be one of them. This Mexican stall gives JSEC much of the variety it needs, leaving us asking for more, por favor.
Rating: 4.5/5
Editors’ Note: In the interest of fairness, Vantage writers only reviewed food that was offered by the stalls during their respective taste tests.
Photos by Paulina Singh
