"In 2020, chef and former NFL player Lawrence “L.T.” Smith and his fiancée, Aseret Arroyo, started Chilte as a Mexican street food stand at farmers markets across Phoenix. Fast-forward three years and their beloved pop-up—which gained a following for its carnitas tacos—has moved from its small tent to a brick-and-mortar space. Chilte is now housed in the recently reopened Egyptian Motor Hotel, a mid-century space reimagined as a hub for live entertainment and nightlife. Smith and Arroyo make use of thrift shop finds and colorful wall art from Mexican makers to bring a quirkiness to their new ’50s-era home. In the daytime, Chilte serves pastries and coffee from local providers like Sugarloaf Lane Bakery and Provision Coffee Roasters. On the weekends, there are “big papa” tacos and a mollete mariposa (an open-faced chorizo sandwich on local telera bread). The dinner menu is a short but impressive roster of dishes from Chilte’s pop-up days, plus newcomers like a mole flight with a charred rack of lamb and fresh corn tortillas, and an elote cheesecake with salsa macha." - ByKate Kassin
