El Chingon, the East Passyunk Mexican BYOB that built a following for its Puebla-style cemitas and brunch, is opening a second location in Fishtown this spring.
Signs for the restaurant recently went up at Frankford and Marlborough’s former Heffe Tacos space, confirming what many had suspected. The spot, which includes a 1,000-square-foot outdoor seating area, housed Heffe for nearly a decade before it shut down in January. Now, it will welcome one of the most anticipated Fishtown restaurants this year.
Chef Carlos Aparicio, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic, opened El Chingon in 2022, and it didn’t take long for the restaurant to gain national attention.
Within a year, The New York Times named it one of the best restaurants in the country, recognizing its scratch-made Puebla-style dishes, house-baked cemita bread, and brunch menu.
El Chingon is best known for its cemitas, crispy, sesame-seed-covered sandwiches stacked with meat, avocado, chipotle, and Oaxacan cheese.
Aparicio’s huevos rancheros became a brunch favorite after it was added to the menu, and the restaurant’s tacos árabes and choriqueso have been menu staples from the start.
Given the larger size of the Fishtown location, it could easily expand on the brunch service that helped define the original spot.
Aparicio, who grew up in Puebla, made a name for himself in Philly’s food scene long before El Chingon, running the bread program at Parc before opening his own restaurant.
His focus on technique and fresh ingredients sets El Chingon apart in a city full of great taco spots.
Fishtown already has an established late-night taco crowd, and with its outdoor space and walk-up-friendly setup, El Chingon is a natural fit.
Aparicio hasn’t confirmed whether the full menu will carry over or if there will be changes, but the demand is already there.
Not to mention, other big restaurant moves are happening across the city.
Over in East Passyunk, DaVinci & Yu has taken over the old Flannel space with an Italian-Asian fusion menu featuring black cod dumplings and arancini-inspired sushi.
In Rittenhouse, Dear Daphni just launched a new happy hour with Turkish lamb dumplings and harissa salmon tartare for under $7.
Outside of Philly, Mangia Mobile has rebranded as Nicky’s & Ant’s, opening a permanent location at High Street Terminal in Pottstown after years as a food truck.
El Chingon hasn’t announced an exact opening date yet, but given the excitement around the original, it’s only a matter of time before Fishtown gets a taste.
