LA's Historic Olvera Street Adds Pre-Hispanic Mexican Restaurant

There’s a new player on the ground at Olvera Street, the touristy historic lane just north of Union Station near Chinatown. Chiguacle touts the "ancestral flavors of Mexico," and promises to work a strong, comforting menu of pre-Hispanic favorites for locals and tourists alike.

Long considered to be a founding boulevard for the City of Los Angeles, Olvera Street is filled with vendors and restaurants large and small. Some are more historically significant than others (see also: Cielito Lindo and their 1934-era taquitos), but all have a place as part of the fascinating fabric of the area. Now Chiguacle will help to add to that flavor, working a menu distinct to Southern Mexico. And because this concept comes from the Alonso Arelleno, co-owner or Rocio’s Mole de los Dioses in Sun Valley, expect lots of pre-Hispanic menu items and, hopefully, plenty of mole to go around.

The space itself promises to be rather interesting too. As the restaurant’s Facebook page notes, the building used to be a Bank of America ages ago, which means there are lots of cool details still to be found on site, from an actual panic button to an old heavy bank vault not unlike what you’ll find at the recently-opened Kettle Black in Silver Lake.

The company has been hiring up for the past few days, which means an official opening could be coming rather soon. That’s certainly good news for fans of the Rocio’s Mole restaurant in Sun Valley, which is still been in the process of revival ever since an arsonist burned the place to the ground last year. Back in March, the arsonist was apparently caught by police.

Expect Chiguacle to open sometime in early September, with lunch through dinner hours daily. Eater reached out to find out specifically if Rocio Camacho will be spending time on site cooking, but so far hasn't heard back. Family members for Rocio Camacho reached out to Eater, saying that she is not involved with this project.

Chiguacle
103 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, CA