Restaurant Opening: Chilango

I, like most of the world, love a burrito.

And today sees the opening of another on the Oxford Road corridor, Chilango – which will accompany the already steadily busy Chango’s Burritos and the slightly hidden, but delicious Pancho’s Burritos.

Today they’re not only officially opening, but they’re offering free burritos to everyone that visits. Yes, you read that right, everybody.

I visited on the night of the press launch to chat burritos, lageritas and to wonder – do we really need another burrito bar?

Once upon a time, two men with a passion for Mexican food began working together in London. Discovering their shared passion, they also discovered a shared problem. They discovered a lack of Mexican restaurants in London.

In 2007 they decided to fix it themselves. Quitting their jobs in the tech industry, they set up Chilango, and now they’ve opened their first site outside London, up here in Manchester.

Their keyword is ‘Vibrancy’ and from the food that’s evident. Mexican food is full of vibrancy in both colour and taste – chillies, avocado, tomatoes, coriander. Chilango would argue that it too comes from the staff they employ – their enthusiasm and excitement for both the food and customer service. 

The menu is as you’d expect – burritos, tacos, salads and nachos, matched to frozen margaritas, beers and if you’re sharing, a rather large lagerita offering (mixing beer with lime and tequila into something refreshingly special). 

On the evening itself, we were invited to make our perfect burrito. I was accompanied by Head Chef of the group, Carlos, who proceeding to talk me through all the flavours, textures and tastes on offer, whilst helping/encouraging/enabling me to make quite honestly the largest burrito I’ve ever seen, let alone eaten.

Alongside a vegetarian option there is chicken, steak, prawn, or pork – the latter including chicharrons – crispy pieces of pork skin (think lighter, crispier pork scratchings) that add extra texture to your wrap.  

The salsas are varied. Along with the classic pico de gallo (something we’d recognise as a fresh tomato salsa), there is also verde – a green soft textured fiery salsa that has a delicious astringency, and asada – medium in heat, but with roasted tomatoes that gives it a deeper umami flavour.

Of course, egged on by Carlos, I had pork with chicharrons, two kinds of salsa and, because I cannot resist well made guacamole, a whole heap of the green stuff. Thankfully, having Carlos on hand meant I didn’t really have to wrap my own, as I’d have been hard pressed to do so (as I was hard pressed to finish it too, and had to eat it with a fork). 

Overall, I’m a lover of independents and one one level, I wanted to dislike Chilango. I’ve long been a customer of Pancho’s (it’s a little closer to work), and I will fight for the indie over a chain.

But, it was good. Really good. And not just because I had a giant burrito. The variation in flavours was great (not least in the salsas), and not something every venue does, the enthusiasm from the staff and the team behind them is visible. And I do love a lagerita. 

I’m a little torn. I can’t give up Pancho’s and I doubt that Chilango would want me to – they’re a fan of authentic Mexican too. But I think it’s a cut above some others offering quick and easy food in the city, and dammit it’s really convenient for my bus home from the gym.

I’m just going to suggest that if you can, pop by today and give them a go – let me know what you think. After all today, it’s not going to cost you anything.