El Chapin — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

This use to be a very nice place to go for lunch. A nice change from the ordinary fast-food establishment in the area. I personally would go at least twice a week. The last three times I went there for lunch the meals were slowly going downhill. Which started being very odd, because other coworkers would also head to this wagon for lunch. I started noticing that whether I went alone, or with other individuals as a group, my meals we're always progressively getting worse. I'm the type of person who will always order the same meal once I find a place that serves that meal, figuring, hey, I can't go wrong. Now don't get me wrong, everyone has a bad or off day. And you can't get everything perfect, but at least consistency shouldn't be too big of a problem. I had to start to wonder if it was me? If I was becoming too picky or if I had personally done something to the cook, who is also the owner. And nothing came to mind. So I tried it again last Friday, I went with a coworker to the wagon, while my coworker, went to Captain D's, right across the street. I get my order, then get in my coworker's vehicle in the drive-up of the restaurant and start to eat. Boy was I even more surprised that I was unable to pick up the tacos because they were so greasy that they were soggy and taste totally like **. With all the grease and just the way the meal looked, even my co-worker became disgusted by the way the food looked. Needless to say, it was a waste of money and I couldn't even eat lunch. So with all of this, I will not go to that wagon again. The funny thing about it, I can only come up with two possible reasons why I might have been targeted. 1) The young girl who takes the orders was very nice and we had a pleasant conversation and she handed me a complimentary dish of chips. Which I received an odd look. 2) For two consecutive weeks, I inquired about the shrimp tacos and every time the cook would give me a dirty look. So what the...

El Chapin food truck is one of two food trucks just behind Ranch Foods Direct on Fillmore. They use the same ground beef from Ranch Foods Direct, hence the extra appeal.

There is minimal umbrella patio seating. We got 4 burgers for us, 2 kids, and a baby. The meal was what I imagine McDonalds could be, but isn't. El Chapin fulfilled my expectations for a simple, slightly greasy fast-food burger.

The patties are thin, so bulk is not the boast here. What works very well is the flavor and presentation. Though this isn't a luxury hamburger, it is a well made inexpensive one.

Did you ever see The Founder with Michael Keaton? Remember the scene where he orders a McDonald's hamburger for the first time and is completely blown away by its taste and simplicity?

Remember The Menu, where Margot asks the chef to make her a cheeseburger, and he says it will taste like the first cheeseburger she ever had in her life?

This is that burger.

I kept thinking to myself, how did a nitwit like me find a burger so tasteful?

The patty is noticeably less meat than what I have been getting at previous establishments. The thin patty also reminded me of what makes a good quick burger.

The bun held up well and is superior to a cheap bland bun. Raw julienned white onion also worked well and is preferable to browned on this burger. Fries were seasoned with the right amount of salt, and still had some grease to them. Overall this was a lightly greasy meal, which ended up being quite satisfying.

Next time I would consider a double patty burger for a completely full belly. Or possibly another single burger. If you're in the neighborhood, this is like re-experiencing your childhood. If you're not in the neighborhood, they also offer Door Dash.

Note that my 10 year old son said that these were not his favorite fries. He also said this was his second favorite burger, behind the ones I make at home.

For the price, El Chapin is an...

Ok, I have to edit my review now. We have been here several times since they opened and most of the time, it's all good. BUT, this is the 2nd time I ordered burgers that I had to throw away when I got home to eat it. This is NOT OK when I spent $28 for 2 burgers. The first time I let it go and didn't edit my review but this time I felt it was necessary.

I ordered no sauce for my daughters. Usually, they add NO sauce. Today, the man slathered it in Ketchup, that one went in the trash, she won't eat it. Her fries were also burned.

My burger was so overcooked that it was inedible. I don't want to spend this kind of money to have a burned, dry, hard burger. My fries are also not good. The onions, which we asked to be grilled, were still pretty raw.

This is the 2nd time in the last month that this has happened. So disappointed.

Love the new burger addition. Just tried it today! The buns from Sourdough Boulangerie are AMAZING! This will be our go-to for burgers from now on! I loved the...