Ariel W.
Yelp
This review is another entry in my tour of the places in Florida Guy Fieri has eaten at with his show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. I have a Yelp collection if you want to follow along with my adventures. The show first aired in 2006 and it is on its 47th season of Guy's road trips across America where he highlights some of America's most underrated and delicious local eats.
Guy Fieri visited Cholo Soy Cocina for the episode Pasta, Potatoes, and Pescatarian which aired in April 2021 when Vanilla Ice brought Guy to try his favorite ceviche.
Cholo Soy Cocina is located on Antique Row in a building formerly occupied by Arthur Roberts Barber Shop. It was opened in 2016 by chef Clay Carnes, the former executive chef at The Grille steakhouse in Wellington and Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen champ.
The tiny, street-food eatery is a cozy spot that serves what Carnes calls "neo-Andean, Ecuadorean" bites that was inspired by his time as a hotel chef in Cuenca, Ecuador. The name of the restaurant comes from an Ecuadorian slang term for the country's indigenous people, Cholo means mixed or ghetto. Specials are posted on a board when you walk in. The menu is comprised of tacos and Latin street food made with locally grown produce and top quality meat and ingredients. Signature dishes include tacos, yucca fries, ceviche, churros, and a short rib rice bowl. House made hot sauce is kept in a bowl at the counter. They also serve dessert churros, craft beers on draft, and house made margaritas.
I was at a nearby museum and decided to come by for a snack when I finished. There are a few tables inside that were occupied but they have a cute courtyard with tables and colorful graffiti style murals behind the restaurant and it was the perfect day for sitting outside. After ordering and paying at the counter they brought my food outside to me when it was ready. I had a delicious steak taco made with grilled sliced steak, chimichurri aioli, pickled peppers, queso fresco served on a handmade white corn tortilla. With amazing flavors and great prices it is easy to see why this has become such a local favorite.