Chingona is a word you can expect to see on social media because it describes the most bad@ss Latina in the world. So when I learned of the business named Tortas Chingonas, I had to check them out.
Tortas Chingonas is located in the city of Paramount just southeast where the 105 and 710 freeways meet. The neighborhood is well landscaped and largely residential and I didn’t expect to see a business operating there.
Due to the recent orders from Gov. Newsom, they operated only as a “to-go” restaurant. The first page of the menu lists their tortas. I had to practice what I could remember from my high school Spanish classes. Jamon – ham, Milanesa de Res – breaded beef, Queso Fundido – melted cheese. The reverse side lists tacos, burritos, appetizers, and combinations with rice and beans.
It’s one thing to see the Tortas Chingonas on Instagram and another to actually unwrap this massive beast. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the sliced hot dogs inside. Next, you see the slices of bacon, ham, jalapeños, breaded beef, and pork. Finally, shredded lettuce, onions, and mayo complete La Chingona ($17).
Eating the Torta La Chingona wasn’t easy. Because of its size, you really can’t hold the sandwich like a burger and eat it. I ended up slicing the sandwich in quarters so that it was easier to handle. I was quite happy with the taste as I expected this to be nothing but a gimmick. They included just enough mayo to make the sandwich moist and the jalapeños added some welcome heat.
The tacos are extremely affordable ranging from $1.75 to $3. Only 75 cents extra allowed me to supersize each one “grande”. The tacos were packed as a kit with the onions and cilantro in a separate bag. Tasty green and red hot sauces nicely complemented the taste.
If you visit, make sure you bring cash. Unfortunately, they do not accept credit cards and I didn’t see an ATM machine inside.
Tortas Chingonas, 7015 Somerset Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723; 562.408.2840
restaurantji.com/ca/paramount/tortas-chingonas-/