I knew about this place through doing GrubHub or DoorDash many years ago, but haven't ever dined here. I decided, since it's nearby, I would check out the food. It seems like it was popular. It's cash only, which I happened to see as a pop-up box on the website. So it wasn't adverts enough for my friend to have known this. I was disappointed about my eggs because I asked for them to be over hard. They were runny. I might as well stick to scrambled eggs at this point. Other than that, the food was mediocre at best. My friend said her hash browns were hard. The orange juice was the best thing I had. Service was okay. I wasn't really anything spectacular and it took a while for the server to come over in the first place. It's pretty inside but it was cold. It's winter time--I could use a little more heat! read more

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Went back here for the 2nd time and was not at all disappointed. One of my all-time breakfast spots. read more

Chef Vargas - Barbacoa Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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I've been to this restaurant quite a few times! Each time has been enjoyable experience. The atmosphere was calm and homey. The customer service is always superb. You can tell the food is made with care. I can say the entrance is not handicapped accessible unless there's another way to get into the building (restaurant is located inside an apartment building). read more

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This place needs to stay hidden. They have hidden charges for menu items ordered on the weekend, these charges are not on the menu nor explained by the server. If they charge extra for a menu item on the weekend it should be clearly stated, put a asterisk next to it, include an insert explaining the upcharge for weekends, heck have the servers use their mouths and say something to the patrons. My $60 meal was close to $100 after the hidden charges and 20% gratuity for a server that didn't deserve 20%. There is no incentive for good service if they already know they are getting 20%. We ordered the plaintain hash and the food was greasy, eggs were burnt, potatoes were undercooked. Lets just say $12 for a hot chocolate is insane. I will not be back and I highly recommend you skip this place or at the very least don't go on the weekend. HORRIBLE!!!! read more

Chef Vargas, the unbeknownst, little hidden gem in Elkins Park, is worth a visit. My friend suggested we go to Chef Vargas, she lives in Elkins Park and has been there many times. It was my first visit. She told me she usually gets the grits to start, then has the main dish, Fried Chicken and Waffles. Sounded like a great duo; and it was! The grits had a rich corn flavor and were cooked perfectly, with a decadent silky texture. The Fried Chicken and Waffles were excellent! The large boneless chicken breast was perfectly fried and tender, with a crispy flavorful crust! The waffles were delicious and buttery, slightly crisp outside and soft on the inside! It was a breakfast treat! read more

Chef Vargas - Fried Chicken and Waffle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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This hidden restaurant is located in a residential building. It's very small and clean, with efficient staff. The food was very good. I ordered the chicken birria tacos, which came three to order. My husband had the chicken salad, which was also delicious. I can't wait to return to try something different on the menu. read more

Chef Vargas - Chicken birria tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

I was visiting a friend and we said we were in the mood for brunch and the main thing we both wanted was GREAT FOOD (& not necessarily brunch mimosas or cocktails) and to not drive into the city so we decided to roll the dice and give Chef Vargas a try .... JACKPOT !!! This food was OUT OF THIS WORLD! We decided to split the Cinnamon Roll French Toast which was one of the October Specials and every single element of this dish was pure perfection! I got the Chillaquilles because I had a hunch given Chef Vargas' background that there had the potential to be the best I've ever had and wouldn't you know that I was 100% RIGHT!!??!! Hands down the BEST I've ever had and I've had them in Mexico and in 5 star restaurants ... I literally couldn't stop eating them. My friend had the Chicken and Cheddar Waffles and she left not a single morsel ... DELICIOUS !!! Now that I've shared just how special the food is, I can also share that the location and ambiance is also pretty as well. The restaurant is located in what appears to be a residential apartment building yet when you walk in it truly has a vibe and style of its own. Service was also nice as the servers allowed you to have time to review the menu and to enjoy your food without feeling overbearing. Oh, it's also worth noting that the restaurant is cash only and is also BYOB. Chef Vargas' is definitely a hidden gem and we're already planning our next visit where we will try lunch, specifically the variety of tacos that are featured because our spidey senses are telling us they will be absolutely BOMB! read more

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Food was excellent definitely my new go to breakfast spot. French toast was so good didn't need syrup and the chicken was really good read more

Chef Vargas - Creeme Brulee French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Was a bit of a challenge to find as it's part of an apartment complex. It's off to the side from the front entrance to the building. Small place but cozy. Loved the menu and had to try a different type of Benedict with plantains as the base and the pork is tender. Very tasty. A must try. Pulse it's cash only and atm is near the entrance to the restaurant. read more

Chef Vargas - Caribbean Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Came here today with my kid and have to say this was one of the best French toast i ever had. Food was hot and fast My kid pancake was nice and fluffy the eggs was to perfection the only reason for the 4 star is a only cash place i wish they accept cards read more

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Very delicious. Very much a hidden brunch gem. There were a good amount of people on a Saturday afternoon, so there has to be a little buzz apparently. I knew where to find the building as a friend lives here, but the location itself is a bit tucked away. The omelet I had was so hearty and made for the perfect size. I also actually quite liked my berry lemonade, even being a little skeptical of drinks possibly sweetened with syrup (Is it just me or do some places overdo the syrup?) The waitress was friendly and the inside of the restaurant was cute. I'll even forgive the chairs that I hate that pinch your hips. Looking forward to returning with family. read more

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Cher Vargas is the definition of a hidden gem, heavy on the "hidden". I pulled up to this apartment building confused and would've never have known this spot existed. Cute little brunch & tacos joint with Mexican roots. Apparently at night it's a BYOB dinner situation-- I'll certainly be back. I tried the Caribbean eggs benedict because one thing about me-- I'mma get an eggs benny. Plantain, roasted pork, and a garlic tomato hollandaise sauce. Absolutely delicious! read more

Chef Vargas - Caribbean Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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I've likely been here 5 times in the past year. Each time I've had something different, each of which I'd order again, which is unusual (even at GOOD restaurants I often get something that doesn't impress that I wouldn't order again). Each time I've visited this small cafe, there's only one person, the Chef, preparing food, which likely accounts for the consistently high quality. I usually order one of the monthly specials & always choose the Puerto Rican dish, which never failed to impress me. I highly recommend this spot. Today I got Guajillo-Barbacoa Fried Quesadillas = Crispy quesadillas filled with cheese and barbacoa. Topped with salsa ranchera, crema, cabbage salsa, and queso fresco. Shown in photo. read more

Chef Vargas - Guajillo-Barbacoa Fried Quesadillas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Just moved to this area and by FAR my favorite brunch place. It's always busy on the weekends but service doesn't take too long. The menu has Mexican inspired breakfast and a hot sauce bar that has me in a choke hold read more

Chef Vargas - Eggs Barbacoa Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

We always have a great experience here. It is our go to place for a great meal that is consistently delicious and service that is consistently excellent. My favorite server is Teri. If you can ask for one of her tables. read more

Service and atmosphere, amazing for a small venue. The Farmers Omelette was tasty. It's a large portion- shared with my husband.

Cute little breakfast/brunch spot tucked away inside of the Elkins Park Apartments. Great vibes and super friendly staff. I had the chicken and waffles, food was just okay for me but I'll definitely be back to try other menu options. read more

Chef Vargas - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Was looking an awesome brunch in the burbs because I didn't feel like dealing with parking or crazy waits. Fellow yelpers, thank you!!! This place was sooo worth it! Nondescript, attached to an apartment complex with no sign outside the door but some signs to help guide you. I love little hidden gems like this - Geesh probably not so hidden soon I realize lol. The restaurant was cute, service was excellent and friendly and chef was walking around the place. 2 of us for brunch. 3 entrees, guess who was the greedy one? Lol, yep this yelper had to do the research for y'all. See how much I care! Lol! My friend got the savory chilaquiles. I got the specials of the day, a NY strip steak with an herb butter, eggs and potatoes and the strawberry cheesecake waffle! Worth every single calorie!! Coffee was also excellent! Highly recommend! read more

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Not to put too much of a damper on this 5-star review, but I was in Philadelphia for a funeral unfortunately. I say this cause it's integral to the story - so stay with me. My father asked me to look around the area where the cemetery was to see if I could find a place that some of our family could go after the service. Two requirements: 1) It could host a large group and 2) Had options for someone who was a pescatarian. So I got to Yelping, and I Yelped hard - let me tell you that. Typically after a Jewish funeral, you might end up at a Deli of some sort. Or maybe a higher end restaurant (at least in my experience). I stumbled across a few delis, but none of them looked like they had a ton of seating and/or a ton of options for someone who just ate fish (outside of lox of course lol). I did stumble across a higher end restaurant, which I actually threw into my suggestions... but it actually didn't open till later that day. So we ended up choosing Chef Vargas. I had never been there, but after the funeral, I drove up to the address and my stomach sort of dropped a bit. Chef Vargas is located in what appears to be some sort of apartment building I believe. And I had been to one of these types of restaurants in College Park... and well let's just say, great food - but the ambiance was not somewhere where I would want to take extended family after a funeral. I entered through the back door which has sparse signage and was somewhat difficult to find, and I get into the restaurant and all of that stomach drop just melted away. The cozy restaurant located at the back of this apartment complex(?) is REALLY cute. It has ample seating with tables that could easily move to accommodate our party of 9. And don't even get started on the food. Oh, you wanna get me started on the food? Man was the food was just excellent. Not to mention that the service was some of the friendliest most accommodating service I've had east of the Mississippi. I went with something fairly light as I usually don't eat breakfast/ brunch. But I had also been up since 5:30 cause I had to drive from DC to Philly to be at the service at 10am. I got their strawberry salad which is served LITERALLY in one of the large Ikea bowls that I purchased for my own salads at home. It's big... cause I enjoy big salads #JustLikeElaine. The salad was filled with grilled sauced chicken, a ton of strawberries, cojita cheese I believe, and wonderfully fresh veg. One of the our party got the creme brulee french toast which I had a bite of and was absolutely heavenly. The menu is filled with various dishes with many leaning toward the breakfast/brunch side of things and almost all have a Latin flare. One of our party across from me had the large quesadilla and was thoroughly happy with it. She couldn't finish it it either cause it was legit big. Someone else in our party got the fish tacos which he said were excellent. Everybody was raving about the food. Some of my relatives who live close to Chef Vargas vowed to be back, even one mentioning that she had to take her friend there now, and that she had heard of it and had been wanting to visit. The coffee never stopped flowing - and almost all of us were drinking it. I mean... what more can I say. Total don't judge a book by it's cover sort of place. Total hidden gem. I LOVE the Yelp Community, cause they KNOW where it's at. This place slaps, and slaps hard, and if you can get past the lack of curb appeal, you will be handsomely rewarded inside. read more

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I enjoyed my first visit for a quick fix of some French toast! Which exceeding my expectations. I will easily and gladly come back again. The service was perfect. I wouldn't change a single thing with how my visit went. I definitely will go back for some tacos. The resturant was extremely clean. It has a very comfortable atmosphere with nice ambient music. It's also cash only. If you dine in a 20% tip is already included. Highly recommend going to grab a bite here. read more

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Quaint little place! My husband ordered chicken and waffles and I had the barbecue Benedict. We actually ordered take out via phone and then decided to eat in when we went to pick the order up. I guess the place was so inviting we could help ourselves. So we were invited to sit down and eat, we ordered beverages. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The brisket was so tender, the eggs perfectly cooked, the potatoes, guacamole and salsa were all very tasty. My husband finished his meal leaving nothing. Not a place to request hot syrup or hand a fancy beverage but good old tasty brunch, they've got it! We will return. read more

Chef Vargas - Table sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

This place has great food, friendly service, a Los Angeles vibe (to me anyway), and a surprisingly low bill!! 1. The water is so refreshing!! They bring the water to your table in a chilled sealed bottle. They filter the water and it's completely particle free!!!! 2. I ordered the chicken and waffles and side order of scrambled eggs with the homemade ranchero sauce - everything was quite good! The coffee was decent too! 3. Cash only - it was worth the $2 ATM fee. My whole meal was under $50!!!!!!! 4. The place is clean, cool, and calm - not overly crowded or loud. At first when you come to this place, you see it's the bottom floor of an apt. building - am I sure I want to eat here? Just go in and check it out for yourself! 100% LEGIT!!!!!!!! read more

Fresh food. Tasty! Good service. Clean. Will be coming back. My husband had steak n eggs and I had farmers omelet. Took some tacos home too. Lol read more

Great food and service! The space is somewhat hidden inside of a condo building but worth finding lol. The breakfast food is great and each taco I've had to date has been amazing. One of my favorite spots for a delicious budget meal. Cash only and I believe the location is a BYOB. read more

Very nice small and quaint family ran restaurant. We were seated right away. The food and coffee were fresh and delicious. This was not my first visit and honestly they consistently have fresh great food. We will definitely be back. read more

Chef Vargas - Carribean Caribbean Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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An actual hidden gem! It's not the easiest to find, but I kind of like that about this place. You'll enter a parking lot for a commercial building complex (looks like apartments and the tiny sign out front can be hard to miss which makes it tricky to spot). Once you're inside, it's a small but cute space and the staff are really welcoming. The food was excellent and the service was great, too. I highly recommend the eggs rancheros skillet. I need to visit again to try the Creme brûlée French toast and churro pancakes. It looked delicious, but I was in more a savory mood when we went. It is cash only, but they do have an ATM on premises. read more

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This was a cute spot! It was difficult to find but once we found it the food was delicious and so was the coffee. We both made our own breakfast sweet, I did French toast with bananas and Nutella and my boyfriend did the same but with pancakes! It is cash only but they do have an ATM. read more

Chef Vargas - a jar of iced coffee on a table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

The food, service and inside were great. The decor is nice. It's small but they are fast and efficient. My food was hot and fresh. The waitress was very informed about each dish and attentive. Chef Vargas is now one of my favorite restaurants. It is cash only. read more

Chef Vargas - Rancheros Empanadas and plantains. Iced coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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Went for taco family night with a group of friends. It was $25 for pork/chicken tacos, rice, beans, chips and salsa. A few strayed from the special but I split the tacos with a willing and able partner. They have all kinds of tacos but you must order pork or chicken only for the special. The place wasn't very crowded and the food seemed to roll out untimely and not together as a table. A friend ordered the French toast and that looked amazing! The tacos were street style but honestly weren't the best. The pork was better than the chicken. The rice and beans were a small portion to split. I wish we had snapped a photo. We were told we could one free refill of chips and salsa but that was not brought after asking a few times. Let's talk about the salsa! It maybe something special where the chef is from but to us it had an odd texture and needed a lot of added seasoning. I opted to skip it Looking around, the breakfast options really seem to be something this place does well. If I return I'd definitely go that route! A few other things to keep in mind. Sodas come in small cups I use for juices and they only allow one refill. Chips also get one refill. I was told this is how the chef prefers to limit but I didn't see posted anywhere. Also a 2% fee is automatically added to your bill for using a cc if you opt to pay cash you get the 2% back. I think asking the customer cash or credit before printing the receipt would be a better option, but that's just my opinion! Also, I think a clear list of policy's like one refill of chips, one soda refill, no substations for the family meal, should all be clearly stated on the wall. There were lots of other signs but our waitress didn't really explain much and when we asked for a rule list she told us it's really just chefs preference. I didn't like that! One last thing. This place is located in the Elks Road Apartments. We had to go up a lot of steps. I have a foot injury and would have liked to known there were steps or if i could have used a different entrance to get in. The company website was down so maybe that was listed there. Just important for people who medical issues who might not make it up. If I'm in the area I might gift breakfast a shot but I would not return based on service, portions, and lack of a more traditional salsa. read more

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Its located right in an apartment complex. I actually got lost coming here. I drove to the right side of the building walked and talked to the security guard and he directed me the righr way. It's located on the left (when looking at the apartments main entrance). There's a tiny sign located at the bottom of the stairs of the door you enter in at. The door has no glass. Just looks like an emergency exit type door. Anyway, onto the food. Came with a party of 6 (3 adults and 3 kids). We got to try some pancakes, chicken n waffles, empanadas, fish tacos, and the Caribbean Benedict. The Benedict was my meal and it was quite delicious. I wasn't too fond of the hollandaise sauce though, as it was too thick, but the plantains and pork were perfect. The pulled pork on it was so flavorful and tender My daughter ordered a plain pancake, but when she had a bite of my cousins empanadas, she no longer wanted her own food. She loved the empanadas. Although ever flavorful, I felt it to be lacking in stuffing. Chicken and waffles- the waffles was nice n fluffy while the chicken was crispy yet moist. I can see why it's one of their top sellers. Fish tacos - it was just ok. I felt like it was a bit on the blander side and just a tad too much dough, but my party seemed to enjoy it. FYI - this place is a cash only place now, so don't make my mistake and not bring any. Luckily someone from my party had a debit card to go to the ATM. I don't even own a debit card... eeeekk.. read more

The place is def hidden.. seems like a regular condo unit turning into a restaurant on the first floor. Super convenient for the community. Ambiance is pretty casual and chill, although I have to say that there seems to be minimal ventilation since the kitchen is right there and there's a small window at the back. The food were pretty solid home made style, nothing fancy, service is good and quick. Most likely will come back when we don't bother to cook and want something quick. read more

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They don't have any vegetarian or vegan options. No fresh fruit or salad options. I'm sure their food is great. I eat to stay out of the doctors office. I can't rate them because I only looked at the menu. read more

The good: this place is 5 minutes away from my house. The bad: This place is 5 minutes away from my house I had a challenging time decided what I wanted to try but ultimately decided on the Chicken and Waffles Benedict (a special for the day). The brownie batter pancakes also had my interest percolating but alas that will have to wait until another time. Waffle was solid. Chicken was crisp, tender and tasty, egg was cooked right. I enjoyed it with a coke (served via can). A tip (20%) is automatically added into your service charge and location is cash only. I'll definitely be back down the road to try more items. read more

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I'm not gonna lie the food was delicious and great customer service for my first time there I was amazed read more

Chef Vargas - I'm not gonna lie the food was delicious and great customer service - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Great food! Only downside is that it's cash-only. I've been here a few times and I would definitely go back again.

Came here for lunch and we were alittle confused on how to find it, it's located up a flight of stairs on the side by a yard sign with the restaurants name. Inside we were warmly welcomed by the host who sat us immediately. They have a nice menu and we chose the lox Benedict , chicken and waffles , and plain pancakes . My hand enjoyed the lox Benedict but was not a fan of the spread on the toast he said it messed up the flavor of the Benedict sauce and wasn't a great pairing. The chicken and waffles were good but not great. The chicken is soo hot and fresh out it burns the waffles underneath to the Point you cannot cut them our eat them entirely. Also the chicken breast didn't have the best flavor it kind of tasted unclean. The pancakes were great with crispy edges like my son likes & paired well with butter and jelly. All in all i would return and order something different like tacos. read more

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This place is such a hidden gem. It may take some time to find it, but once you do it's well worth it. The atmosphere was great and the food was amazing. I'm looking forward to going back and trying the rest of the menu, despite absolutely loving what I had. We went at 10:30 on a Sunday and no wait. It did pick up by 11:00 but still no wait when we left. read more

Chef Vargas - Barbacoa Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

I wanted to like this place more. The service was A1. I had the chicken and waffles. It looked a lot better than it tasted. My chicken was rubbery and the waffles were dry as the desert. They should really put butter on the waffles or on the side. My waffle was also overcooked to the point I couldn't eat it because it was hard as a rock. Thank goodness I ordered an extra waffle. My husband ordered the chicken birra tacos and he said they were really good. He also had the empanadas and said they were delicious. I would like to try this place again. I think maybe it was just an off day because they have really good reviews. read more

Chef Vargas - Fried Chicken and Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

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The only reason that I did not give it a 5-star was the use of the microwave in plain view of the patrons. I know from experience that they are a necessary evil. Maybe put it off to the side. That said, the food was spot on, and the place and ambiance were clean and friendly. read more

A little hidden gem! Very hard to find. It's inside of the apt building on the left side of building. CASH ONLY! I didn't know that. There's an ATM machine that charges $2. Had fish tempora taco, chicken taco and empanadas. All 3 very good. Loved the spicy salsa. The side salad on empanadas was also very good! A must try for this area. read more