Getting your mouth around a chivito is like a choreographed exercise routine. Step one: hold it firmly between the fingers of both hands. Step two: squeeze a little to flatten. Step three: say aaah. Step four: bring into the mouth and bite. It’s no wonder. The chivito, a Uruguayan sandwich, is made up of a thin strip of steak — contrary to what its name, which translates into “little goat,” indicates — topped with ham, cheese, a fried egg, lettuce, tomato, onions, roasted peppers and mayonnaise, all which stack up to make it a pretty fat sandwich.
On Friday, we took some friends to try one at El Rey del Chivito, on 69th and Collins, before we headed to the North Beach Bandshell to dance to the rhythms of Sidestepper. And how we needed the dancing after that meal!
Each bite of this sandwich unleashes an amalgam of flavors and textures that make eating it an experience. As soon as you bite, the juices of the tender steak flood your mouth, and as you begin to chew, they blend in with the crunchy lettuce and bacon; more juices from the ham, tomatoes and roasted red peppers seep in; the cheese warms your mouth and the mayonnaise coats it. Eating it fills me with guilt, but that very guilt adds to the joy of consuming it. Did I mention they serve it with a huge pile of fries? Factor in the two Quilmes we each drank that night and you’ve got your caloric intake for the day — if not more.
El Rey del Chivito’s menu is not for the health conscious. It offers mostly a selection of other fast foods like fried eggs with ham over fries, hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. But I don’t see why one would go for something other than the chivitos. I’ve had it al plato, on the plate, which is everything in the chivito minus the bread, served on a heap of fries, and al pan, with the bread. I favor the latter. The bread adds another layer of flavor, texture — and more calories. Oh, but it’s worth it. Just make sure to space your visits with several months in between and everything should be fine.
El Rey del Chivito
6987 Collins Ave.
305-864-5566
I actually went to a new branch they opened in Sunny Isle on Saturday and they have one in Doral. The Sunny Isle on is on Collins, in the plaza in fron of the Trump Hotel.
They have the same great food and right on the table cloth you can read the story on where the Chivito comes from. Interesting way of waiting for your food. It was a traveler that had been in Cordoba, Argentina and then went to Uruguay. She went to this restaurant called “El Mejillon” in Punta del Este and asked if they had the same goat (chivo) meat that she had eaten in Argentina. The owner didn’t have it, but invented a sandwich right there with some steak he had left… and called it (what else) the Chivito!
My heart stopped for a little bit when I took that first, greasy bite, I think as much for love as for the greasy intake immediately clogging it. But it was delicious. The Little Death I call it – Muertesito.
Hola Paula muy chevere tu blog, no puedo creer que se consiga chivito por alla, aca en el sur no se consigue nada, lo que mas extraño de mi pais es la comida.
Absolutely the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten and it’s a great excuse to get your groove on (you’ve got to burn those calories somehow). I can’t think of better way to spend a Friday night — Quilmes, chivitos and dancing!