El Chin Chin — Restaurant in McAllen

El Chin Chin is located in a busy area, but we went around noon and it was perfect—no rush hour crowd! The décor is unique with an urban, warm atmosphere that immediately feels inviting. The staff is friendly, and the menu has a good variety of options.

Pedro was our waiter and he was both attentive and professional. He recommended several dishes, and let me tell you—the guy did not miss! We loved everything we ordered.

Salmon Sashimi – Fresh and flavorful. I’d definitely order it again. Las Vitolas – Corn tortilla flautas filled with shrimp machaca and potato, served with avocado, crema, and vegetables. I loved these! Guacamole – served with veggies and tuna carnitas. It was tasty, though I would’ve preferred it hotter and crispier.

We ended our meal with dessert and wow: The Guava Cheesecake was absolutely delicious, and the Colorín Colorado—a vanilla ice cream treat with Fruity Pebbles and marshmallow chunks—was more than amazing. Super fun and super tasty.

Even though the restaurant isn’t equipped with a proper coffee setup, Pedro still managed to whip up an espresso for me, and served it in a regular glass—he did what he could with what he had, and I truly appreciated the effort. That’s the kind of service that sticks with you. Just a little encouragement—maybe keep a few espresso cups on hand for coffee lovers like me. There’s something special about enjoying dessert with a nice, black espresso—no sugar or cream needed, at least in my opinion.

I recommend El Chin Chin,...

I really enjoyed the food and drinks at the restaurant, there’s no denying it’s good eating and drinking. However, my issue with the place was the way a little mistake was handled. Our waiter brought out an appetizer which we mistakenly understood as being on the house as it was called “dip de la casa”. When we went to ask and it was clarified that it was a mistake by them, I thought about asking the waiter that mistakenly brought the item to us if he would get in trouble for the mistake, since the mood of our servers changed after the mixup. As I spoke to the waiter who brought out the item about paying for it to avoid him getting in trouble, a (possible) manager stepped into the conversation and instead of assuring us that this was not an issue, we were met with an awkward silence and a lack of answers. After receiving the bill, I was surprised that we were actually charged for the appetizer. I understand that the offer to pay was there, but on a principal of a good business I believe we should have not been charged. This left a really bad taste in my mouth which is unfortunate because we were fans of the restaurant but won’t be returning due to how...

I hosted my birthday celebration here and while the food and drinks were exceptional, the service and management fell far short of expectations. During my celebration, a guest shared constructive feedback with the manager, who reacted unprofessionally and nearly escalated it into a verbal altercation. Highly unprofessional and disappointing, especially for a restaurant that positions itself as a premium establishment. Despite this, I returned because of the excellent food.

On another visit, I came for drinks and, after three rounds, asked for a cocktail recommendation. The drink was overly sweet, and when I requested a replacement, the same manager refused with a hostile attitude, insisting the drink was made correctly. I paid for the untouched drink, but the situation was once again poorly handled. It’s disappointing that they prioritize avoiding a $12 loss over providing a positive customer experience. Exceptional customer service not only enhances loyalty but also encourages additional spending, a principle this management fails...