Chilte

Chilte continues to garner praise. With humble beginnings as a food truck to opening its brick-and-mortar in the revamped Egyptian Motor Hotel on Grand Avenue in 2023, the modern Mexican restaurant helmed by couple Lawrence "LT" Smith and Aseret Arroyo has captured the attention — and appetites — of local foodies. Try the birria, which is stuffed into hand-pressed squid ink tortillas or a Benny Blanco flour tortilla and served alongside a savory miso consommé, as well as the mole de la casa and quesadilla with grasshoppers. Chilte also has generated lots of buzz outside of the Valley, with accolades from Esquire and Bon Appetit magazines — and in fall 2024, Food and Wine named Smith one of the best new chefs in America. Contrary to the restaurant’s mantra of “Me vale madre,” the care and attention the team brings to their food is evident. Chilte’s menu changes seasonally, and the owners often host collaboration events with other chefs, making it worth a visit, and a revisit, regularly.