El Chino

jx2 · 07-05-2005

Located on Calle 4 between 10th and 15th. We had our best meal in Playa there again. We had the largest margarita and the best shrimp there. Prices have went up since our last visit, but it was still very good. I had yacatecan style pork chops that would melt in your mouth and my wife had the shrimp in garlic sauce, with two huge margaritas the bill came to $23usd. You have to walk right up to it as it isnt very visible. Right across the street is a german(i think)restaraunt.

MWC · 07-06-2005

We liked it, too, and the service is very professional and friendly. We tend to like to eat cheap, so this is a little high for us, but if I had to make a recommendation for someone as a sure-fire winner, El Chino would definitely be on the list.

cajundiver · 07-06-2005

That sounds like a good place, We will check it out.

Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle.

Sol · 07-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jx2

Located on Calle 4 between 10th and 15th. We had our best meal in Playa there again. We had the largest margarita and the best shrimp there. Prices have went up since our last visit, but it was still very good. I had yacatecan style pork chops that would melt in your mouth and my wife had the shrimp in garlic sauce, with two huge margaritas the bill came to $23usd. You have to walk right up to it as it isnt very visible. Right across the street is a german(i think)restaraunt.

It is across the street from Manne's Biergarten. Manne's is very fun... friendly place, excellent roast pork and mashers.

iapx · 07-07-2005

Yikes: that place across from the castle is called "Agua" and it is AWEFULL !!! The service SUCKS and the food made us SICK on *2* occasions. I highly recommend NEVER going there.

Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle.

[/quote]

jx2 · 07-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by iapx

Yikes: that place across from the castle is called "Agua" and it is AWEFULL !!! The service SUCKS and the food made us SICK on *2* occasions. I highly recommend NEVER going there.

Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle.

[/quote]
We at there also. It's name is "Ajua" we got hooked off of 5th by a guy who led us there. It was fine for us, but seemed a little too touristy with all the games and jokes and pictures going on while you eat. It was fun, and the food was good, but nothing that stood out as outstanding.
El Chino's prices went up aprrox 70 percent since last year

There was a guy who had some inside info about a fish that was very hard to find in Playa, but you could get it at El Chino's. While we were there he asked for this fish and they brought it out to him to show him what size it was. It turned out it was way to big, as he was by himself, so he ended up havinf the shrimp and was very impressed. One more thing that was weird was that one night are Marg was huge and a few nights later our marg was half the size. Not quite sure what the deal was on that??

iapx · 07-08-2005

Ooops, thanks for fixing my spelling mistake. Hey, we have eaten at El-Cino's many many times. I recall that special fish you are mentioning is called "Bochenetti" (probably mis-spelled as well

) It is awesome, but yes, quite a large dish. Great food at El-Cino's, but yes the prices have gone up AND the bathrooms are ALWAYS disgustingly dirty !!

maya · 07-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by iapx

Ooops, thanks for fixing my spelling mistake. Hey, we have eaten at El-Cino's many many times. I recall that special fish you are mentioning is called "Bochenetti" (probably mis-spelled as well

) It is awesome, but yes, quite a large dish. Great food at El-Cino's, but yes the prices have gone up AND the bathrooms are ALWAYS disgustingly dirty !!

when we first started going to Playa, there was few choices for restaurants. ElChino was one of them. I was not impressed. The service was always horrible, the food was just okay and the bathrooms were disgustingly dirty back then. I think we decided to try them out about 5 years ago thinking things have had to change-NOT! I am really surprised they have stayed in business this many years.

jx2 · 07-09-2005

It's funny how people can have such different experiences at the same places

My wife said the b-rooms have gotten alot better. Me, being a guy has never had a problem with their b-rooms, as I can pee in a pig trough as long as the odor doesnt knock me out.

Of the two times we visited El Chino in June we had a noticeable change, but nothing to turn us off of the place. In 2003 we paid 45 pesos for a huge fajita and last month they were 70 pesos. In 2003 our total bill was 125 pesos for two, this year it was 235.

Stormin · 09-27-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by iapx

Yikes: that place across from the castle is called "Agua" and it is AWEFULL !!! The service SUCKS and the food made us SICK on *2* occasions. I highly recommend NEVER going there.

Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle.

[/quote]

Stormin · 09-27-2005

I believe that the little restaurant might be the Las Brisas restaurant rather than Ajua. Pretty reasonable prices. Thought the food was just okay. They could have cooked our shrimp a little more as it was not quite done. Was very cheap and very Mexican as a chicken walked through the restaurant as we ate. I'm sure that chicken was glad we had shrimp.

rosecohen · 10-19-2005

El Chino is awsome! I have been going there for many years and have always loved it. They have amazing chicken fajitas, enchiladas, pescado and camarones covered in garlic. They put great pico and black beans with chips on the table to start. This is a great place to bring a big group who wants to be loud and have a long dinner. It is pricy for local, but cheap compared to most places on 5th.

cmsitaly · 11-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosecohen

El Chino is awsome! I have been going there for many years and have always loved it. They have amazing chicken fajitas, enchiladas, pescado and camarones covered in garlic. They put great pico and black beans with chips on the table to start. This is a great place to bring a big group who wants to be loud and have a long dinner. It is pricy for local, but cheap compared to most places on 5th.

We also had a good experience there. We had chicken pibil and sopa de lima. Both were excellent. Bummer the prices have gone up, will probably still give it a go in Feb.

07-05-2005	#1 (permalink)
jx2 añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pac. NW. Posts: 3,940	El Chino Located on Calle 4 between 10th and 15th. We had our best meal in Playa there again. We had the largest margarita and the best shrimp there. Prices have went up since our last visit, but it was still very good. I had yacatecan style pork chops that would melt in your mouth and my wife had the shrimp in garlic sauce, with two huge margaritas the bill came to $23usd. You have to walk right up to it as it isnt very visible. Right across the street is a german(i think)restaraunt.

07-06-2005	#3 (permalink)
cajundiver into ruins Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 78	Thanks That sounds like a good place, We will check it out. Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle.

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07-06-2005	#2 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,653	We liked it, too, and the service is very professional and friendly. We tend to like to eat cheap, so this is a little high for us, but if I had to make a recommendation for someone as a sure-fire winner, El Chino would definitely be on the list.

07-07-2005	#5 (permalink)
iapx sandflea Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5	Yikes: that place across from the castle is called "Agua" and it is AWEFULL !!! The service SUCKS and the food made us SICK on 2 occasions. I highly recommend NEVER going there. Last year we found a little place to eat I don't remember exactly where it was at but I know it was between 5th and 10th around 4 or 6. It was one of the best we found. I can tell you this (in case someone else knows) it was across the street from a place that was closed down that looked like an old castle. [/quote]

07-08-2005	#7 (permalink)
iapx sandflea Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 5	Ooops, thanks for fixing my spelling mistake. Hey, we have eaten at El-Cino's many many times. I recall that special fish you are mentioning is called "Bochenetti" (probably mis-spelled as well ) It is awesome, but yes, quite a large dish. Great food at El-Cino's, but yes the prices have gone up AND the bathrooms are ALWAYS disgustingly dirty !!

07-09-2005	#9 (permalink)
jx2 añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pac. NW. Posts: 3,940	It's funny how people can have such different experiences at the same places My wife said the b-rooms have gotten alot better. Me, being a guy has never had a problem with their b-rooms, as I can pee in a pig trough as long as the odor doesnt knock me out. Of the two times we visited El Chino in June we had a noticeable change, but nothing to turn us off of the place. In 2003 we paid 45 pesos for a huge fajita and last month they were 70 pesos. In 2003 our total bill was 125 pesos for two, this year it was 235.

09-27-2005	#11 (permalink)
Stormin way into it Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 184	I believe that the little restaurant might be the Las Brisas restaurant rather than Ajua. Pretty reasonable prices. Thought the food was just okay. They could have cooked our shrimp a little more as it was not quite done. Was very cheap and very Mexican as a chicken walked through the restaurant as we ate. I'm sure that chicken was glad we had shrimp.

10-19-2005	#12 (permalink)
rosecohen into ruins Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 67	El Chino is awsome! I have been going there for many years and have always loved it. They have amazing chicken fajitas, enchiladas, pescado and camarones covered in garlic. They put great pico and black beans with chips on the table to start. This is a great place to bring a big group who wants to be loud and have a long dinner. It is pricy for local, but cheap compared to most places on 5th.

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