El Chupacabra: A hole-in-the-wall gem

MANILA, Philippines - After reading the reviews here, I went Sunday lunch time to try it out. First, it took a while to figure out the location, as it was located in a small back alley in Polaris St. It took several turns until I found Felipe St.

The back alley really feels like a small barrio. There was a sari sari store nearby which was filled with tambays crowding around a small TV which was showing a live Donaire boxing match. There was a sorbetero cart selling cheap dirty ice cream. And there were tambays with shirts off setting up their small makeshift tables in the street, and going for an early afternoon drinking session. I wasn't sure if I wanted to proceed, but WTH, a foodie has got to try these tacos

After finding my parking which was not easy, and after backing up and down this one way street, I headed to El Chupacabra, a bright red building you surely wouldn't miss.

It was around 12:30 p.m., and upon entering, the waiters and managers were still cleaning the place. They told me El Chupacabra was still closed, and opens only at 2 p.m. But they said they could serve me the menu of Mexicali. Apparently, this restaurant is Mexicali for lunch time, and after 2 p.m. it becomes El Chupacabra until the wee hours of the morning. I don't know the logic behind this, but let us leave it at that. But suggest, next time, go after 2 p.m. It doesn't feel right eating while the place is still being cleaned.

I wanted to try the famous Mexican street tacos. So I ordered one pollo asado (grilled chicken) and the ground pork. There were more options for the filling after 2 p.m.

OMG, I have to say the best tacos I have tasted. They were wrapped in soft corn tacos they make themselves, and filled generously with meat. They also serve it with calamansi, which you squeeze into the tacos.

I also ordered a burrito karne asado (grilled steak). It was also good, but I have to say the tacos were the reason you drive all the way here. I would order two sets of tacos next time (two pieces per set for lunch).

The place was hot though (no aircon), and I have to tell the waiter to have the ceiling fans switched on. Service was friendly, but quite laid back.

The decors were also very colorful and it feels like being in a small Mexican restaurant in the back alley of Mexico.

By the way it also serves cheap beer- P35 for a bottle and P200 for a bucket of six.

On its big overhead menu board, it says: "Our food is an experience that chalk is unable to convey." Indeed, glad to have found another hole-in-the-wall gem.

Original review written on April 14, 2013. Read more customer reviews about El Chupacabra on looloo.