The late Gloria Nunez and her grandson, David Lopez, opened the original El Chingon in a strip mall in Arvada in 2010 before moving to a small space in Berkeley. In 2022, Gloria’s son, Lorenzo Nunez Jr., closed the restaurant in order to better accommodate the many fans of its Mexico City-inspired fare. A year later, El Chingon is back in LoHi, with more space but just as much heart. That El Chingon is a family affair gives every dish just a little more soul and a little more flavor, whether it’s a favorite like carne asada or soft chile rellenos, or a more upscale offering such as scallop crudo.