Chungas al Pastor

Did you know anyone in high school who was really obsessed with one band or artist in particular? These were the people who would constantly wear t-shirts with Soul Asylum or Dave Matthews Band album cover art, who would spend hundreds of dollars of their parents' money to go to a concert, and who would insist on their songs being played at school dances, no matter how inappropriate the tempo was for dancing. The oddest thing about these people was the fierce loyalty they felt toward their band. If you asked them about some new song, they would say something like, "Yeah, they're all right, but Chumbawumba is so much better." Or something even fiercer, like narrowing their eyes and saying, "The Smashing Pumpkins suck! Linkin Park rules!"

This is what I thought of Nathaniel's friend when he recommended a Mexican place on Freedom Boulevard. Apparently, he was telling everyone he got the chance to tell that Chunga's, in the strip mall just north of Ozz, was a Mexican restaurant worthy of beatification. I love a good restaurant as much as the next person, but I am more the type to suggest a place if I'm going out with some friends and leave it at that.

One fateful day, Nathaniel was cleaning out his old credit card pile and found a gift certificate for Einstein's Bagels. We jumped in the car and went, only to find that the one on Center Street was closed. He wanted to go to Octavio's instead, but was too embarrassed to be seen with me in my hoodie and batter-splattered sweats (rude!). So we got in the car, lamenting our failed attempt at spontaneity, when he yelled, "The taco place!"

So, we went to Chunga's. He ordered the enchiladas with pork (al pastor), and I ordered the chicken quesadilla. (Nathaniel typing now, Dorothy got tired of it). Perhaps I (Nathaniel) should mention that Dorothy, as a rule, does not eat the pork (the 'unclean' meat). Well, after I took a bite of this pineapple-soaked, spit-roasted, pork enchilada, I made Dorothy take a bite. She loved it! Dorothy loved the unclean meat! Needless to say, I loved it too. Dorothy's chicken quesadilla also left absolutely nothing to be desired. Hands down, this is the best Mexican food in the Valley. The service was also exceptional. Though they don't refill your drinks (which means you don't have to tip:)), they do ask you how you're liking you're meal more than once. The people there are genuinely happy to be there--and you can tell that they're not just smiling because their managers taught them how to have a permasmile (like McDonald's).

So, to tie Dorothy's intro in to my ending, if you were to tell us that Cafe Rio has some decent food, we'd tell you to crawl out of your moldy cave of crappy Mexican food and try some real Mexican food. Nobody has anything on Chungas! We've now become the culinary equivalents of those kids who worshiped just one band in high school....and we're proud of it.

You've got to give this place a shot. The pork is incredible and if you're as lucky as us, they'll give you free-taco coupons when you leave.

Since neither Dorothy nor myself are professional reviewers, we'd like to point you to what the Daily Herald has to say about our new favorite restaurant. Just click here.