New taco restaurant has popped up near St. Joseph hospital serving the flavors of Jalisco
A new taco restaurant has popped up in Wichita, and it’s getting a lot of buzz for its unique and tasty menu.
It’s called Taqueria La Chona, and it opened last week in the former Poblano Mexican Grill space at 3415 E. Harry, right across the street from St. Joseph hospital.
The owners specialize in the flavors of Jalisco, the Mexican state that includes Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. They previously had a little taco truck that they would set up in the parking lot of Carniceria El Guero, the Mexican market at 2920 W. Central.
The new restaurant, though, is full service. Diners come in, take a seat, and a waiters take their orders at colorfully covered tables. Diners have a full view of cooks working in the kitchen.
The menu boasts several of the dishes that Jalisco is famous for, and they’re not all that common in Wichita. For example, the Taqueria La Chona menu features tortas ahogadas, which is a Mexican sandwich that’s drowned in a spicy salsa.
Taqueria La Chona also sells street tacos, mini quesadilla and drinks like aquas frescas and tejuino, a fermented corn drink. Beer is also served, and there’s a dessert menu with flan and other Mexican custards. (You can see the full menu below.)
I stopped by to check it out earlier this week. and the food I tried was quite good — especially a shrimp taco that I ordered. It was served on delicate corn tortillas with a spread of melty, grilled cheese, and it practically melted in my mouth.
But the service is a bit of a mess still — not unusual for a new restaurant — and I spent more than an hour there over lunch. During that time, I got only one thing I actually ordered — the shrimp taco.
The people sitting next to me gave me the fish taco they ordered on corn tortillas but got on flour, and it was also excellent, as was the fish taco on corn I was eventually given, later realizing that it was the replacement taco meant for my poor neighbor.
The service will no doubt get better as the restaurant and its staff get more experience. I intend to return, though I’ll give it several weeks.
The hours at Taqueria La Chona are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Taqueria La Chona menu
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 5:01 AM.
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