Chilangos Mexican Snacks are certainly not new to the Taipei food scene, having begun their journey in the popular Eastern Area of the city, before opening up their most recent restaurant in Yonghe. Chilangos is a bold and buzzing taquería bringing Mexico City street food vibes to Yonghe. Found less than 10 mins away from Dingxi MRT Station in the popular area not far from Le Hua Night Market, Chilangos Mexican Snacks is quickly growing a presence in the area, known for their real-deal Mexican flavours.
At Chilangos Mexican Snacks, expect a no-fuss, full-flavour experience: salsas, slow-cooked meats, and soft, golden tortillas come together in perfect harmony on the plate, all washed down with a nice beer or glass of Horchata. But what I often look for in Mexican food is the tacos. It’s such a simple concept – meat and veg sandwiched in between a delicious vessel that brings it all to my mouth.
These handheld treasures burst with layered textures and punchy flavours: think tender meats, onions, fresh herbs, and that hit of lime to tie it all together. I’m here for them, the nachos, and anything else Mexican that I can inhale along the way. Check out what we ordered below.
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Simplicity is everything at Chilangos. As far as I know, this is one of the first Yonghe Mexican food restaurants in the area, as most Mexican food in Taipei stays in Taipei, rather than branching out to New Taipei City. I, for one, and very happy for that. As a long standing Yonghe resident, I am always keen to get more delicious food without leaving the area around my house and venturing into the city.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Chilangos Mexican Snacks, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at Chilangos Mexican Snacks
I like how they keep it simple and to the point with the menu here. You can get all the classics - burritos, chimichangas, gorditas, tostadas, nachos, quesadillas and, of course, tacos. You can then decide which choice of protein you want with it, and pair it with a soda, beer, or either tamarind juice or horchata. What more could you ask for from a mexican restaurant?
Mexican Nachos - Chicken
We had to get nachos, and opted for chicken. Served in a basket packed with tortilla chips and scattered with chopped onions, kidney beans, jalapenos, melted cheese, and chicken, it looked good. I like to get my hands dirty when it comes to nachos, so I plunged in and got a bit of everything on those crispy tortilla chips. They were great. Spicy, cheesy, a crunch of onion every now and then, and all carried to your mouth atop a crunchy tortilla chip.
The addition of paprika-spiced chicken gave an extra decadence to the meal and was everything I wanted from a plate of nachos. Yum!
Mexican Taco Combo
Tacos can be quite divisive. I will say that most of my experience of eating tacos is in Taiwan, with the odd experience here and there off the island. While I have not travelled to Mexico city and tried the most authentic tacos available, I do feel like I have an ability to know if a taco is well-balanced, fresh, and homemade.
Beef Taco
These beef tacos were juicy, there was plenty of beef flavour, and when topped with that chopped onion and cilantro/corriander, encased in the soft-shell corn taco, they were inhaled in just a few bites. They were well balanced between salty, fresh-flavoured, and had plenty of pockets of punchy flavours.
Chicken Taco
Flavoured with paprika and other spices, the chicken somewhat resembled pulled pork in consistency. Contrary to the picture perhaps looking so, it wasn't at all dry. Pockets of tender spiced chicken were generously portioned throughout the taco, and everything went down a treat from this Yonghe Mexican food joint.
Pork Taco
Minced pork was mixed with tomato to avoid it becoming too dry. I was impressed with the flavours and the freshness of everything. But none more so than the soft-shell corn tacos. They tasted homemade, in that there was just enough flexibility in the shell, but still plenty of flavour, too.
Burrito
It would have been rude to stop at just the nachos and tacos, so we went for the burrito as well. I was surprised to see the burrito served with 3 accompaniments - a spicy sauce (top), a more fragrant sauce (middle), and finally an onion cilantro/coriander mix. The pork inside the burrito had lots of flavour, and the toasted element of the outside gave everything a lovely added texture.
When I think about Mexican food in Taipei, and I specifically think about burritos, I think of El Sabroso. So far, I have found them to be the tastiest, best-valued burrito in the city. But, in terms of New Taipei City, and specifically Yonghe Mexican food restaurants, I think Chilangos Mexican Snacks has taken top spot with this.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? If you're outside of Taipei, then I encourage you to check it out. It's reasonably priced, tasty, Mexican food.
What is the best dish? The tacos were great, especially when compared to other tacos outside of Taipei, but it can even compete with some of the ones praised for their authenticity in the capital, too!
Are there other places like this? There is an increasing amount of Mexican food in Taipei year on year, with some of my favourites listed below:
Taipei Restaurant – Authentic Mexican Food in Tianmu: Eddy’s Cantina Celebrates Local Ingredients
Taipei Restaurant – FONDA MÉXICO 豐富墨西哥菜 Has Some Deliciously Authentic Mexican Food