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Some restaurants draw you in with a vibe while others win you over with pure creativity. La Chinesca does both. Inspired by the Chinatown of Mexicali, Mexico, this spot fuses Mexican and Chinese flavors into something that feels new yet comfortingly familiar. For us, it made the perfect pre-show dinner before a concert at Union Transfer next door.
The setting alone makes La Chinesca worth a visit. Housed in a former Jiffy Lube service station, the space has been transformed into a retro-industrial hangout with plenty of personality.
A front patio with picnic tables and a back deck provide outdoor seating, while the interior is bold and playful. Red, pink, and turquoise décor set the scene alongside a sign reminding you that, “our margs are made with an extra shot of GO BIRDS.” Even the bathrooms nod to the building’s past, covered in collages of car parts and dragsters clipped from old magazines.
The drinks menu leans just as eclectic. We tried the house margarita (“Fill It, Regular”) and the Pink Pony—a gin cocktail with strawberry rhubarb and lemon that reminded us of a lightly fruity riff on a French 75. Both were refreshing companions for what was to come, though getting them was a little bumpier than expected. The bar was out of their well gin, and instead of simply swapping in another gin, the only option we were offered was a $3 upcharge. Not a dealbreaker, but not exactly a warm first impression either.
Unfortunately, service and timing were a mixed bag throughout our Sunday night visit. We were told multiple times that the kitchen was backed up. Our dishes arrived without too much delay, but we watched as the table next to us sat without food for at least 45 minutes. Service was fine, but not especially warm or attentive, and we suspect the slow kitchen had everyone a bit stressed. Add to that a water glass with lingering soap, and the evening was a bit rocky.
The food, however, redeemed the experience. Chorizo and shrimp egg rolls with corn and roasted poblanos were packed with flavor and came with spicy mustard and duck sauce to balance the heat. Even if a little over-fried, they were a great way to start off the meal.
The pork dumplings were crispy and topped with crunchy macha salsa. The black vinegar dipping sauce that they came with balanced the fat of the dumpling perfectly. They were easily one of the best bites of the night (I seriously would have drunk that sauce, if I could have).
For tacos, the char siu chicken stood out as a delicious example of the restaurant’s fusion concept: hoisin-marinated chicken and scallions represented classic Chinese flavors and were layered with roasted asada salsa and on a corn tortilla for the Mexican component. Carne asada vampiros tacos were nearly as good with grilled flank steak and avocado salsa sandwiched in a fried tortilla along with queso blanco seared just right.
La Chinesca has an energy that matches its menu—playful, bold, and unafraid to be different. But on our visit, uneven service and timing issues kept it from being as enjoyable as it could have been. Overall, we really liked the food, but we wouldn’t necessarily go out of our way to return unless we were already headed to a show next door.
La Chinesca is located at 1036 Spring Garden St.