For some strange reason, I have always found it hard to find good, legit Mexican food. I was excited to hear of this new place called El Chupacabra on Polaris street. I was looking for a nice restaurant but was surprised to see an open-aired restaurant in the middle of the street.. like if a car passed by, you can touch it if you were to sit in the outer-most seats. I honestly felt quite uncomfortable (and rather annoyed that my friend didn't warn me it would be that way), but decided to just carry on with the real reason why we went there --- to eat real Mexican food. And so my annoyance at the heat and the cars passing by quickly disappeared when I tried their absolutely delicious Carne Asada burrito.. it reminded me so much of the burritos I had in Miami. I also enjoyed their Baja California Fish Taco which was also superb! Their food was real -- not pretences and no added fillers. I was sad that I was so full that I couldn't try their other dishes. Oooh how I would love to eat there again! Maybe when the summer is over so it's not to warm! read more

Oh man, this is a great story. But since I don't have a lot of space or time to write it, I'll make it short and sweet. Some time ago, after a late capoeira class I was supposed to hitch a ride back to Parañaque with the super cute boy I used to train with. We went to El Chupacabra to find the boy's dad...who was in the middle of his friend's birthday party. Hashtag AWKWARD. I was assimilated into a group of drunk 40-something strangers. They were all very nice, always offering me and my friend cake, tacos, barbecue, or liquor. We passed on the drinks, but enjoyed everything else, especially the soft shell tacos. I say enjoy, but it's honestly hard to focus on your food when your crush's dad is introducing you to everybody as his son's girlfriend. (I was brought home after a few hours of shy embarrassment, don't worry.) The vibe of this hole in the wall bar was definitely very cool. I'd love to come back soon for a fun dinner and chill drinking session. The idea of sitting under the Makati lights on a side street, people-watching and talking the night away greatly appeals to the humanist in me. Preferably, however, I want to go with people who are my age and I actually know. read more

It's true that when things aren't planned it is most likely to happen. That's when I had a random trip to El Chups. My boyfriend and I had been planning long ago to visit this place since he's bragging about how the food served here were really delicious. When we arrived at the place, the line is long and we waited for like 20 minutes to get a seat. I've seen that other people who just came later were the ones prioritized by the waiting staff. I got disappointed at first but I just let it pass until we got a seat and decided to order immediately. We got carne asada burrito and chicken skewers. I didn't eat much because I was still full from our pre-dinner meal. I'd say the chicken skewers were really tasty but won't really recommend this place because the place is so small and you'll spend a lot of time waiting than staying inside the place. Service also needs improvement. read more

If you're a fan of freshly cooked bar chow, like I am, then El Chups is for you. You'll find this restaurant tucked away on Polaris St., across Heckle and Jeckle, and off the corner where Handlebar is. It has become quite the destination in such a short span of time, and for good reason. You'll find tables occupied by both foreigners and locals alike. The main attraction is clearly their outdoor barbecue/grill situation. Beers are pretty cheap here (P45 for a San Miguel Pale), so feel free to order one while you wait for the main event (or in my case, events). The staff is pretty friendly, but remember that they're attending to many other patrons. If you want to get seated pronto, one word of advice, make friends with them. They make special consideration for you if you're nice enough to them ;) What I normally order: -Grilled Bonless Chicken Skewers: These babies take at least 15 minutes to grill, but the taste is well worth the wait. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and grilled to perfection. Once you bite into the juicy flesh, you just... know. Dip into a little vinegar, and you're solved. -Chunchullos : Or to us, ISAW. As a rule, I do not eat isaw, but because of and only at El Chups will I make an exception. There is no hint of "lansa" here, and again, once you take your first, juicy bite, you will "know." It's just too good, especially with beer. -Street Tacos: You really can't go wrong with these. Each plate comes with two tortillas, for you to split the filling between. My personal favorite is the Baja California Fish Taco. The white fish is lightly breaded and fried and goes well with the cabbage and mayonnaise sauce. If you're more of the meat-eating type, the Carne Asada (grilled steak) and Carnitas (Mexican style roast pork) will not disappoint. Safe to say, you will probably not stop at one order of any of these. read more

Fall in love with same person thrice? Nah. Maybe try falling in love with the same restaurant everytime! It was 2 years ago when I found this hole-in-the-wall Mexican heaven for a small Christmas party gathering with some colleagues from the office and it was love at first sight. It reminded me of that Mexican party they had in From Prada to Nada. I was all set to go loco ala Camilla Belle! But then food was served and I was in cloud nine! Try their best-selling Carne Asada or if you're looking to fill your tummy with Mexican goodness, then go for their combo meals which combines all of your favorites in one festive plate--tacos, burritos, quesadillas, gimme all! If it's not yet Friday and you still need to be in the office tomorrow, maybe go easy on the tequila or just order an ice-cold Horchata (my favourite), a popular Mexican drink made from rice. Still wondering why I love this place? Go visit and experience it for yourself! read more

A friend recommended this place a few years back when it had just opened and I've been coming back ever since because of their reasonably priced food and drinks, and unpretentious atmosphere. The front area is partly outdoor and partly indoor. There is no aircon here but if you want a cooler dining experience there's always the back room which is air-conditioned and decorated differently from the outside. It's almost like another restaurant. I usually order the street tacos which, I think, are the best in the city. There are different fillings you can choose from such as shrimp, carnitas, chorizo and chicken. You can finish them off in three or four bites so be sure to order more than one! Service can be a bit slow at times when it's full, which is around dinnertime, so I advise that you arrive just before dinner time - around 6 or 7. The food is definitely worth the wait though. read more

There is really a lot of hype that surrounds this restaurant. It's really popular with foreigners and tourists - as it is in virtually every Manila guide book. It's probably because of the vibe. It's a small, restaurant in a busy neighborhood that spills out into the streets. It's a young and energetic place to be and it serves up casual street Mexican grub. There is almost always a line, so make sure to have either an early or late dinner. The menu is pretty good. They have quesidillas, burritos, and tacos (soft and hard). Now, this food isn't the most authentic. But for Manila standards it's pretty decent. Plus the prices remain pretty affordable. Drinks-wise there are the go-to drinks like bottles of beer, margaritas, and horchata - a surprising and delicious and very welcomed item on the menu! read more

The food is fantastic. I've traveled Mexico many times. The flavors were damn close to traditional Mexican food. The only negative was the service. One server and She would get lost in the back for extended periods. If your not in s hurry this is a great place to eat. read more

Excited to try this place out based on the solid reviews. Unfortunately, the food has been subpar each time we visited. The nachos are nasty, the tacos are average, and the queso is pretty terrible. Would only visit for drinks and the atmosphere. read more

Very decent Mexican food,fish tacos are delicious,al pastor very flavorful and carne asada ...it's ok ,enjoy the ambience surrounding but can do better in service to be more attentive read more

I've been to Mexico & have had authentic tacos... But, the fish taco here is TO DIE FOR! We loved it so much we came back the next day! Definitely worth the traffic to Makati! Employees were nice. Actually, everything was so good! read more

El Chupacabra is a fantastic watering hole for a casual night out. Located in the Poblacion area, it's in an area that's both easy to get to, and out of the way. On one side, it's pretty close to a seedy area of Makati. On the other side, that keeps costs low so it's fairly affordable! Their outdoor dining is great for a street party vibe, but if you're looking for an escape from the Manila heat, or prefer a little more quiet for your meals, they have a spacious and well designed interior area. El Chups has pretty decent food and drink at decent prices. They have Mexican staples, alongside some more interesting dishes and drinks. Try their beer with chili powder, if you're feeling adventurous. Grab a few drinks, enjoy the great food, and let the spirit of the Chupacabra take over you. Just kidding. read more

A good Mexican meal is not an easy find in the Philippines. But Chupacabra comes very close. I tried their tacos and salsa. Definitely worth a visit for those alone. Price range is about 120 PHP for 1 small 'street' taco. I've heard not so good things about some of their other items, but tacos are fresh and a sure bet. NOTE: The popularity vibe that surrounds Chupacabra is mainly from its ambiance, and because it is a lively spot in a lively part of Manila (in the red light, basically). But, understand that in Asia the quality of a meal such as Mexican will usually not exceed expectations of those individuals who have tried real Mexican food in the States or, say, Mexico. read more

This was my go-to place for tacos! Great price, huge variety, friendly staff and muchos strong margaritas! It could be easily missed if you are just strolling by, but once you know about it, YOU KNOW. read more

I gotta say, I like that this place is open late, and after a few beers most anything will taste great, but the flavor was just off to me. I really like the al pastor, but the sisig was just weird to me. I don't know. Something about it didn't fit. Its honestly more of a fusion place, so don't expect true authenticity. Now, that all being said, it is a cool place to hang out and have some beers and tacos but if you're a hard core foodie like myself, its not on your list of regulars. read more

Best Mexican food that I've had in Manila. 2 blocks off of Burgos street across from H&J. Great margaritas and very attentive staff. Fish tacos are first rate and prices are extremely reasonable. Go early because it gets crowded. read more

my suggestion to you is as well as having bar BQ on a stick why not try it with CHIPATOLE and as well with your burrito use sour cream, beans Spanish rice, quacamole, green onion and cilantro. carnitas (roasted pork) Asada beef thin cuts or chicken.. cooked in red salsa... then once you roll it put it on a plate and pour salsa on top of it, garnished with sour cream green diced green onion and cilantro and call it a wet burrito look up authentic Mexican soups.. tostada's flat corn tortia wit meat cheese ect. chicken enchiladas or beef.. Mexican sea foods from Mazatlan Sinaloa state fish, shrimp crab Mexican dishes read more

Went out one night and ended up here. I love the fish tacos here! They are spicy for me (I have a low tolerance) but I don't care I still enjoy it with a burning mouth. We were seated outside pretty fast. It is usually busy here. I got take out the first time I went here. The food was also served quickly and there was 8 of us. The area is great. There are other bars around as well. I have only gotten the tacos...maybe next time I'll try their other dishes. :) read more

Like that place. Good food and better drinks. Cheap and friendly. Awesome music! Marcos, the waiter is so kind, he knows about the hood and can recommend u where to go after a full meal in El Chupacabra. There's also A/C and smoking area. Great place! read more

Cool atmosphere and good food.

Fantastic little Mexican inspired restaurant in makati Manila. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal here with the pork skewers being the standout. Highly recommend the tacos as well,in a great neighbourhood for exploring bars and restaurants here in Manila. read more

I am sorry but they had a very bad service.... We waited for the food to arrive more than 30 mins. We even had to repeat our orders to the waiter. Best to go here during weekdays. Food was better in silantro fil-mex read more

Overpriced and the food lacks quality and authentic Mexican flavor. It was a quite afternoon and took a while to take attention from the servers. I unfortunately can't recommend this place. read more

Good Mexican Restaurant in the heart if Makati. plan ahead as getting here can be a crawl...if you can walk it...do it.... Lengua Tacos was what i had and they were good read more

Good margarita, fast service and tacos to die for (carnitas and al pastor as top choices)!

finally got a chance to try this place! it's the mexican-restaurant-talk of the town. i really loved the food. we had the shrimp tacos & baja california tacos. both delicious. however, baja was unbearably spicy. worst tummy ache of my life. some suggestions: we were seated in the back area near the kitchen and my eyes were KILLING me. get some ventilation in there! seriously, everyone was patting their eyes down because of all the smoke. other than that, this place is bomb. it's tucked away off a tiny street, so it might be hard to find at first. you'll know you're in the right place when you see a bunch of strip clubs around the area (seriously). read more

El Chupacabra is known to be a place where people hang out after work, or even later at night. It's nice to chill here for cheap eats. But to be honest, I find the food just to be okay. I also feel that you spend a lot to be full. The serving size is really small. You really need to order more than one to feel you're actually eating. I'd go for the jumbo barbecue sticks. I don't get a wow factor with these because I can easily buy this elsewhere. I would get this more because of the convenience. For the soft tacos, I would usually go for the Carne asada. They say the sisig one is good, I disagree. I find it too fatty. Out of all flavors, your safe bet is the Carne Asada. The nachos here are okay, nothing spectacular. I really think the reason why a lot go here is cause of the convenience and the location. read more

Arguably the most popular hole-in-the-wall resto for Mexican food, El Chupacabra is one of those must-try places along the Burgos area in Makati Avenue. I go for their street tacos and burritos, which are relatively affordable. They also have a sweet rice milk drink, which counters some of the Mexican spices. (I keep forgetting the name, but I always end up ordering two when I'm here.) Since it's usually still alive and kicking in the wee hours of the morning, El Chupa has also become the place to go when everyone's tipsy from the night's drinks and gets a little hungry. If you go during their peak hours (around dinner time to 11pm), you might have a hard time getting a table - I've never seen El Chupa empty. You'll probably have to wait a while on the side of the street, but I'm part of the crowd that says it's worth it! :) read more

ok, i'm originally from makati, but i've resided in california now for 40 years, so it's fair to say i've had 1 or 2 tacos in my time. my mexican friend and i were vacationing in the philippines last august and decided to stop by el chupacabra for tacos after a night of drinking on burgos street. we ordered a pitcher of margarita and 2 carne asada tacos each. well, the tacos did not taste anything like we were use to back home. the meat was fine, but we both agreed it was the tortillas that were giving the tacos a different taste. it seemed the tortillas were made in-house and not imported. tacos are the default food after a night of drinking for anyone in the southwestern states, so i was looking forward to eating here after hearing about this place from several websites giving the tacos pretty good reviews. we were coming from burgos street after all and the tacos here killed my viagra induced woody. yes, i was that disappointed. would i come back...i guess i would, but i'd try something different on the menu. the maragarita was good though. read more

Strong flavor with low prices with good margaritas flowing. Outdoor seating available in a pretty cool area of Makati. If in the area have a meal for certain. read more

A taco joint that would be right at home in LA or San Francisco! Meaning not quite authentic, but tasty in a hipster-y fashion (soy rizo taco's anyone?), with a pleasing upscale dining room. You'll pay a bit to enjoy Mexican street food in Manila, but well worth it if that's your craving an ocean away from Mexico. Impressive variety, with tripe, chicharron and a few Filipino fusion types of taco's served. read more

I had such high expectations of El Chupacabra going in. I've only heard great reviews from it and I was so excited to experience the unique atmosphere it had. I mean, it is the establishment that made Poblacion street such a bustling hot spot for late nights. El Chupacabra had that street, Mexican appeal to it with a hint of danger, just because of how narrow Poblacion street is. El Chupacabra is dark, bustling with energy, and you can feel how busy it is. It was pretty exciting. The problem is that El Chupacabra didn't reach my expectations. Their street tacos are a lot more expensive than I thought. The Carne Asada was just okay, it didn't taste as great as I expected it to be. Their Baja Fish Taco is actually pretty good, the secret sauce especially complimentary to the fish, giving it that tangy taste. Moving on to drinks, we ordered their Sangria. Now, it might look like a good sangria but once we tasted it, the only flavor we could taste was the gin. The fruity flavor was completely missing. I'm sure El Chupacabra will still be a hole-in-the-wall favorite and it really has its charm, but it just didn't meet my own expectations. read more

My family and I wanted to try authentic Mexican food and sadly there aren't much of those in the Metro as there should be. We settled upon trying El Chupacabra because of its popularity in online reviews. The place is tiny, cramped, and hot. Very street vibes, very drinking place sort of joint. The food is simple and straightforward. Nothing fancy, just good at your face flavors. The food at this place is also really cheap, which is great paired with beer or their cocktails. We ordered their nachos and we got two tacos each and a pitcher of Margarita. The nachos were GIANT and I mean wow this was gigantic. The flavor was alright, I wasn't as blown away as I thought I would be. It isn't something I'd order again to be honest. The tacos are simple with meat, a bit of onion and cilantro and lettuce shreds. The sauce is garlic-y or spicy if that's what you prefer. They have different meat selections with various marinades for each. The tacos were tiny but we're really good. The meat was flavorful and tastes like how meat should. This place is definitely better to go with with friends. read more