Midtown Lunch

As I mentioned last week, I am in exploration mode, focusing on Northeast Philly with a different post ever Wednesday for the next few weeks. This week, it is a crazy little Latin American food shack where I may have had the best roast pork in Philly.

Finding “El Fogon, El Rey de los Pinchos” was a matter of driving around maybe not the nicest of neighborhoods (across the street was a functional elliptical machine facing the street next to a trailer home) and yelling “STOP! That place looks like it could be awesome.” I wanted those pinchos.

Curbside, two grills were set up with chicken skewers, but that didn’t really tempt me. The narrow shack has a glass window and a counter inside displaying its wares.  Inside, the space was shockingly cleanly. Behind the counter was Barbie, who referred to me as “mami” and let me know they have been open for about 8 months.

A skewer of plantains and fried pork was a nice greasy snack, but the best was yet to come.

I had several empanada choices, and I am glad I picked the cheesesteak. Why have a plain beef empanada when you can have one with cheese added?

And this, my good friends, is a secret that I thought about keeping to myself. 3 dollars and 50 cents to swine heaven; basically, pigs dream of tasting like this. This type of pork, to me, is the elusive kind I am always seeking out, where the pork tastes like pure salty pig and the fat and collagen are melted and sticky and there are crisp bits stuck on all the ends.  The paper bag the container of pork was placed in was completely saturated in grease, so that may give you some idea about how great this is for your body.

And to wash it all down, they make fresh tropical fruit juice.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Holy Grail of pork
• Fresh fruit juice

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• No indoor seating

El Fogon, @ B and Venango St, 267 237 0153