One of the best things I love about working at Makati is that you don't have to go far and wide within the city to satisfy whatever crazy craving you're currently having. The city is bustling with life and color every night. You just have to look at the proper nooks and crannies. :)
One of those "crazy cravings" struck me last Tuesday: I wanted Mexican food. And not just any fast-food type-super-commercialized Mexican food. I want something closely authentic. Of course, I couldn't tell "authentic" from the other because I haven't been to Mexico to actually set a standard for an authentic Mex food. But as I usually assume in this kind of situation is: if I'm looking for authenticity, look behind the front line. Authenticity often hides behind tacky curtains. For example, if you're looking for an authentic Filipino food, you wouldn't go for the ever-famous favorite Filipino fast food chain like Jollibee, right? (Hey, I'm not hating on Jollibee. I love it as much as the next kid, but they don't really serve any of our traditional authentic Pinoy food) Or you wouldn't go looking for longganisa at a 7-eleven store in the Philippines, right? (Unlike a certain "I-would-rather-go-hungry-Polish-blogger" we've all learned to scoff at.)
Being so unbelievably tech-savvy, I googled a few keywords. :P I came across the growing increasingly popular "El Chupacabra." The name itself sounded daunting, doesn't it? It translates to "goat-sucker" in Spanish and is a legendary creature whose first sightings and killings made it to TV, books, and now, to restaurants. :)
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| El Chupacabra (conceptualized and founded by Mexicali Food Corp.'s Dixie Mabanta) |
It is located along Felipe Street. A few blocks away into Jupiter; almost a few ways off the bars and the, uh..."red lights." The area around the place is relatively quite, considering its neighbors. As a landmark, in front of El Chupacabra is the Heckle and Jeckle (H&J) Sports Bar.
Along the quiet street of Felipe, El Chupacabra will be more than noticeable due to its booming crowd of casual eaters all clamoring for more beer and a laid-back vibe.
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| El Chupacabra |
We got there at around half-past nine at a Tuesday night. It was pretty crowded and we had to wait for a few minutes for a table. And the table we were given was far off to the right side of the place. This wasn't unusual at all. You see, the place is small. A few tables can only fit inside and the rest are scattered to the sidewalk and almost on the street. People don't seem to mind this at all. In fact, a lot enjoy it.
We were given the menu and I just had to try their street tacos. Because I'm a lovely dainty lady, I ordered three (3) different tacos. I wanted to order another one, but I'm afraid it'll be too much to handle. Borgy, on the other hand, ordered their Grilled Chicken Dinner Plate.
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| El Chupacabra |
(Sorry, I'm not using fancy camera and we went there at night so I had to super enhance the photos so we can actually see the food.)
Their menu does not comprise of just tacos and dinner plates, there are a lot to choose from, but since it's already 9 PM, we've decide to hold back (kind of) on the food.
Their Grilled Chicken Dinner Plate (P248) is good for one and consists of a side salad, rice, and a generous amount of chicken. The chicken was good. A bit dry, but still good. It's consistency is like that of a kebab. I wasn't really in a mood for rice since I had my sights set on the tacos.
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| Grilled Chicken Dinner Plate (P248) |
Street Taco #1: Carne Asada (P95). This is their best-seller. Honestly, I didn't like it that much. It tasted dry and a bit too chewy for my liking. The only consolation is that the flavor comes out when you put a lot of their organic Garlic Sauce on the taco.
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| Street Taco: Carne Asada (P95) |
Street Taco #2: San Francisco-Style Lean Pork Sisig (P95)--another one of their best-sellers. This one satisfied me more than the first. It was gloriously tasty and packed with a lot flavor. If you have foreigner friends who are craving Mexican food, but still want it to taste uniquely Filipino, this taco is a must-try.
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| Street Taco: SF-style Lean Pork Sisig (P95) |
Street Taco #3: Chicharrones en Salsa Verde (P95). This taco is my absolute favorite. If I have to eat Mexican food for the rest of my life, I'd gladly choose this (and well, chili). As the name suggests, this is chicharon (pork cracklings) with their special green sauce. The chicharon does not crackle anymore, of course, because it was stewed and gives you a soggy consistency. One bite gives you a soft chewy and a hot mix of gustatory pleasure. It was a gift from the gods. I do not understand why this isn't exactly their bestseller, it was the highlight of my Taco Tuesday.
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| Street Taco: Chicharrones en Salsa Verde (P95) |
Their menu has a wide array of street tacos to choose from. I wanted to try more, but even though one taco is served in small portions, the meat will make you full. Aside from tacos, they have nachos, chili, barbecue skewers, burritos, and the whole Mexican she-bang!
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| El Chupacabra's Street Tacos |
The place is a perfect venue for a laid-back night with friends, office-mates, or even your significant other. You can order a (cheap?) beer or two to set a casual mood and talk endlessly about your screw-ups at work or how your boss praised you. You don't have to dress up (or even dress down). It's a come-as-you-go place with a crew that won't judge you having dressed so casually or glamorously. Don't act like a primadonna here, though. Like I said, people come here for the tacos, beer, and the jovial surrounding. People come to this loud place to have good eats and a good time.
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| El Chupacabra |
Cheers to El Chupacabra for gradually becoming a notorious beast at conquering Manila's Mexican food joints! At this point, your success can no longer be subdued!
Guys, seriously, spend your unhurried Taco Tuesdays here! :)
5782 Felipe Street cor. Polaris Street
Bel-Air, Makati City
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