It's been barely a couple of months since Mecha Uma's Bruce Ricketts opened a tiny taqueria down south to get his hands dirty on his first food love: Mexican. In BF Homes, he is back at his homecourt, and his La Chinesca is just a few steps away from his old haunt called Sensei Sushi. La Chinesca is a family affair, the chef running the hole in the wall with his fiancée Jae Pickrell; his brother Brandon was even in the kitchen during our visit one evening. At the restaurant, it's all about the art of taco, and the obsession of making the best possible interpretation of tacos their way — corn tortillas made from scratch, down-home hearty fillings, served in a busy spot bustling with hungry diners seeking soul-comforting grub.
While tacos are clearly the main act at La Chinesca, there are a couple of scene stealers here that people fawn over–they're off-menu stuff and pop up every so often during Sundays, when Ricketts himself is usually found at the kitchen. There's this awesome fresh guacamole that's a must to kick off your meal; then there's this seafood tostada that's an explosion of flavors, one messy, crunchy bite at a time.
If you're lucky and head down south on a Sunday for a La Chinesca taco night, this tostada loaded with sea urchin might just be the special of the day. The slippery and silky pieces of uni meet the loud crunch of the fresh tostada; squeeze a little lime juice on top for a citrusy finish that renders each bite even more unforgettable.
The freshness of the uni shines through and through, and the vibrant addition of chopped salsa rounds up everything well. The sweet and briny Japanese favorite sits oh so well with this Mexican street treat. If you love uni, then a feast of Chinesca's Uni Tostadas paired with their killer tacos is so worth the toll fee and long drive.
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The Dish: Uni Tostada, an off-menu special
Where to Find it: La Chinesca (the off-menu dish is not always available but pops every so often during the weekend — keep tabs by stalking their social media)
Visit La Chinesca at 248-C Aguirre Street, BF Homes, Parañaque. Like La Chinesca on Facebook (/lachinesca) and follow on Instagram (@lachinesca). #LaChinesca