Foodie dreams come true
In Mexican slang, a chingona is a boss woman who does not play by the rules and lives life on her own terms. On Sint Maarten, La Chingona is the name of a Mexican-themed, street style taco truck. It is run by a young couple making up their own rules as they go. If the name sounds familiar to you, that’s because it should. Although they opened only one month before lockdown, La Chingona was eager to open up and serve up great food for an even better cause. As soon as they were able to open after lockdown, La Chingona was for a time stationed at the hospital and provided free food for the frontline workers.
We rely on food trucks to nourish us at festivals, to broaden our lunch horizons and to cater our parties. What we don’t realise is that the food truck life isn’t for the faint of heart. If chefs choose the confines of a tiny, fickle kitchen to share the food, they have to love to cook. The brainchild of owners Jasmine and Kyle – the two friendly faces you can expect to see when you visit the truck – La Chingona food truck comes from humble, organic beginnings. The owners chose to forego much of the partying and fun associated with youth, in favour of working toward their dreams. The clear pride they have in La Chingona is as contagious as their wonderful spirits. You’re going to come for the tacos, but stay for the great energy.
While many food trucks are known for traveling from place to place, La Chingona has a stationary home. These days, you can find them parked close to the Simpson Bay Bridge, across from Diamond Resorts, next to Nowhere Special. The shiny, grey truck is noticeable, like an outstanding beacon of deliciousness.
Most of the menu features authentic Mexican flavours and processes, mixed with a sprinkle of local. If you are looking for the real taste of a Mexican taco, why not try one from La Chingona? Their sauces and ingredients are all made in-house, poured over the deliciously seasoned fillings after they’ve been wrapped with love in homemade tortillas made from Mexican sourced flour. Their motto of people over profit rings through the food. You can feel the love and care it took to make every taco by just taking a bite, so don’t just read about it, make sure you try one!
If you’re interested in more than just tacos, there are also burritos and tortas. The fillings are carnitas, pollo tinga, carne asada and vegetarian options. The newest highlight on the menu is the tortas! They’re sandwiches, served hot, on an oblong white sandwich roll, derived from the heart. You may want to try some extras, like their chicken taquitos, maybe the chips and salsa, or get them all! While the menu is small in options, the delivery is expert. Don’t forget to ask for delicious add-ons like pickled jalapenos, guacamole, crema, queso fresco, rice or refried beans!
Of course, with the increasing vegan and vegetarian community, there’s always a question of if there are veggie-friendly options, and La Chingona delivers. Just let them know if you have a special diet and they can serve you up something for everyone in your party. The tacos at La Chingona are not just delicious and accessible, but they’re also pocket-friendly. The prices are great every day, but especially so on Tuesday, when you can get them for $2 a piece all day, for any meat of vegetable filling.
Another way Jasmine and Kyle are sharing the love is with the Bridge Taco! Everyone hates getting stuck behind the bridge, but if you’re lucky enough to be stuck directly in front of La Chingona while the bridge is up, you can get a free taco and be featured on their social media.
If you’re someone who likes to take a drink while you’re enjoying your food, La Chingona tacos are also available with water, soft drinks or Horchata. Horchata, or orxata, is a name given to various kinds of plant milk beverages of similar taste and appearance. If you like peanut punch, you’ll definitely want to try it for yourself. Another great drink they serve is hibiscus juice. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and sometimes there will be locally-sourced flavours, like mango, coconut water or whatever is in season, so it’s never the same twice.
Closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, La Chingona is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On Tuesdays, you can find them open from noon to 10:00pm. Thursdays they operate from 5:00pm to midnight. Friday and Saturday, you can stop by anytime from 5:00pm to 2:00am; and you can stop by on Sundays after a nice trip to the beach and feed the family a great meal.
If you’re in a rush, feel free to call or WhatsApp +1 721 520 1465 to order ahead of time. Who knows, you might stop by at the right time and get a Bridge Taco! Check out the Instagram page, like, share and tag them at @lachingonasxm. Make sure to use the hashtag #comercomofamilia to have your posts featured on their page!
