El Latino, 1020 Chile Ave. (near 390,) 

Phone: 235-3116, 235-3110. 

Map: El Latino 

Hours: are 10 AM – 9 PM (to 8:30 PM on Mon. and 8 PM on Sun.) 

Owners: Tony and Clari have been in business for 5-1/2 years now, since Oct. ’07, originally starting out in a smaller location on Thurston Rd., where they began acquiring followers for their Spanish cuisine. 

Comments:  El Latino also offer catering.  The menu is now huge, as are portions.  In addition to items served daily, including stewed chicken, stewed beef, baked chicken, roast pork, you get rice and beans with a small serving; rice, beans and salad or cabbage with medium; the same with large with choice of any two meats.  The small for $5.50 would be a filling lunch.  The medium can provide lunch and dinner for the following day for $8!  The large is $10.

My favorite is the roast pork.  Tony told me all the food is popular, even things you can order from the back that people don’t even know about.  Tony said they have grown tremendously with their move, due to location, the larger space, and it is easy to park off street there.   Customers come from all over, some due to ethnic background and the food served.  When waiting briefly in line to order at the counter, I spoke with the enthusiastic woman behind me, who said “I come here every day!”  This truly is a place you must try.  Eat in or take out.     

As you come in to the 19th Ward from the west on chili, El Latino is o the north side of the street just after you pass under the rail-road bridge.  There is ample parking on the east side of the building  and more parking out back.

There is ample room inside to sit down and eat after picking up your food at the counter.   It's location also make it very handy to stop and pick up something for supper for residents returning home from the west.

You can click on the menu to see it full size.  Service is fast since Just about everything is prepared and waiting to be spooned onto the plate.  Because they get so much customer traffic, the food is fresh and tasty.

Anthony D'Alessandro (Left) and his friend (Center) joined Mark and me for lunch when we tried El Latino on May 4th.  Afterward, Anthony took Mark and me on a tour of the Frank N Steins and  Deli Sandros locations which are still under development.  Anthony and his friend got the large orders and were smart enough to get them in take out containers.  They got to take half of it home for supper.  Mark got the medium and got through less than half before asking for a container to take the rest home in.

I was starving and and got through about 1/3 of my medium order before remembering to take the picture above left.   It was delicious.  I did finish my order but was really stuffed. 

In the above right picture, you see the owners of El Latinos, Tony and Clari, with Mark who is is asking questions and jotting down information about El Latino.

After Mark and I finished Walking PAC-TAC that afternoon I went back by El Latino to pick up a large order for Marian and I to have for supper.