When you think of your ideal place to grab a beachy bite, what comes to mind? Is it a breezy patio with views of the beach? Or somewhere that is dog and kid friendly? Or do you focus more on finding a restaurant with fresh flavors that mimic what you may find in an exotic beach town alongside drinks to refresh and liven your spirits? Live music? Somewhere within walking distance that’s just off the beaten path to the beach? Well, we’ve got great news for you. Chiringo will check all of these boxes and so many more, and we have a hunch that it just may be your new go-to spot here in good old Grayton Beach.
Chiringo opened up just about two years ago after its owners were inspired by a trip they had taken to southern Spain. A “chiringo” is a small enterprise, usually on a beach, that sells drinks and tapas. The bright and lively decor, color palette, and open air concept are all nods to the “chiringos” that the owners visited during their trip, while the food is inspired by beach towns across the globe. This two-level restaurant features a bar and outdoor hangout area below perfect for people watching and an open-air second deck that offers views perfect for beach watching.
Whether you are stopping in for a drink after a hot day on the beach, ready for lunch after exploring the town, or coming in for dinner and live music, Chiringo has something on the menu for everybody.
Here are the dishes we think you definitely need to try:
- Hickory smoked snapper dip in a cajun cream cheese mayo blend: Because you’re at the beach and you should eat something that tastes as it came right out of the Gulf.
- Fried grouper tacos topped with lettuce, cabbage, pickled onions, and chipotle crema: The crisp crunch of the fried fish and the red cabbage, the tang of the pickled onions, the slight heat from the chipotle crema...are you drooling yet?
- Blackened shrimp tacos topped with jalapeno aioli, cilantro, radish, and queso fresco: This is about as authentic as it gets, plus we would eat that jalapeno aioli on just about anything.
- The double cheeseburger topped with pepper jack and cheddar cheese: This isn’t just like any old cheeseburger, it’s one you’ll remember, and one you’ll come back for.
- Fried shrimp and oyster sandwich on a toasted brioche bun: For when you just can’t choose if you want shrimp or oysters, Chiringo comes to the rescue to give you both.
And the sandwich that deserves a sentence all to itself, *drumroll please,* the Cuban sandwich. Chiringo’s staple meat, the roasted mojo pork, carries the perfect amount of heat and sweet. It’s stacked and pressed with ham, swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and pickles on traditional Cuban bread. Your tastebuds will thank you, your friend who you let taste a bite will thank you, and your server will thank you when you order another one to go. It’s just that good.
Unique side dishes include fried plantains, quinoa, mac and cheese, tomato/cucumber/feta salad, and french fries. You may be thinking, french fries? What’s unique about french fries? Chiringo french fries are the perfect kind- they are fresh cut, crispy, almost as thing as shoestring style, and seasoned to perfection. All you need now is a spicy margarita to wash down all that salty goodness.
In addition to beer and wine, the restaurant also has a mouthwatering drink menu full of specialty cocktails designed to refresh and rejuvenate. The frozen Billy Ocean is a tropical mix of rum, ginger, pineapple, and mango. Lemonade, cucumber juice, and vodka come together to create the Lancho, one of our personal favorites. Or, try a mojito, a bourbon smash, or a sand wedge if you like to keep things classic.
Don’t fret if you’re not staying in Grayton! Chiringo has a shuttle service that will pick you up from the Grayton Beach parking lot just north of Scenic Highway 30A, and they’ll even give you a cold water for the ride. No need to worry about fighting for parking spots, paying for valet, or waiting on an Uber.
The party doesn’t have to stop here. Stay close by in one of our many Grayton Beach vacation homes and find yourself within walking distance to the hottest new restaurant in town.
