Family-Owned Mexican Restaurant Opens In Washington Heights

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A family owned, authentic Mexican restaurant opened its doors in Washington Heights last week.

L Chingon is now welcoming customers at 400 Audubon Ave. at West 185th Street.

"I love the community here," owner Leonardo Marquez told Patch about why he opened in Washington Heights. "It is clean and I love the diversity of the culture in the area."

Marquez has gone about the opening in what he called the "old fashioned way," handing out menus and fliers in the nearby area and setting up the restaurant's social media presence.

The eatery serves up tortas, tostadas, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, flautas, and Mexican plates that come heaping with a choice of meat, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos served with rice, beans and corn tortillas.

Brianne, an Upper Manhattan resident, recently took to a community Facebook group to sing the praises of the Al Pastor tacos and the side of chips and guacamole.

Marquez runs the restaurant with his two daughters Victoria and Valeria, who both also attend school in the nearby area.

Victoria explained to Patch that the name of the restaurant Chingon is a Spanish slang word, specifically used in Mexico that refers to someone who is powerful and skilled, and generally succeeds at their endeavors. The L is an ode to the first letter of Leonardo's name.

The Mexican's eatery opening also serves as the solution to the long-shuttered 400 Audubon Ave storefront it now calls home. A business hasn't been at the address since before 2011, when there was an Alabama Beauty Center at the location.

A 16 Handles opens briefly at the adjacent storefront in 2018, but also recently shuttered.

You can find out more about L Chingon on its Instagram.