The new shop, Los Chilingos, which the owner said means “little cute” is serving up delicious hot food, snacks, and more at 230 24th Street.

NEWS

News broke in the Facebook group You Know Your From Ogden (yes, that is how ‘your’ is spelled) in a post by Autumn Thompson on Sept. 11 about the “cute little bodega” at 230 24th Street.

Los Chilingos, which co-owner Maria Isabel Mendoza said means “little cute,” opened to little fanfare about three months ago. Now that the word is out, Ogdenites are showing up for plates of Mendoza’s chili verde, as documented in photos on social media.

New windows on the outside, goodies on the side at Los Chilingos in Ogden. Photos: Deann Armes

I’d admired the pop of new color on the building with curiosity, then hurriedly went to check it out after discovering it was a new bodega. The inside is as cheery as its Disney Dole Whip/raspberry sherbet exterior. When I walked up, a woman was leaving with some plates of hot food and two children were running out the door with paletas in hand.

Mendoza, who relocated to Ogden from Fresno, California, and opened the shop with her partner Jaime Zapata, said business picked up a few days ago. To draw more visibility, they’d installed large windows on the side of the building that faces 24th Street.

The space is tiny, packed with snacks like cold drinks (horchata!), Mexican ice cream bars, daily treats by Dolce D’ Lara bakery, $2 hot dogs, candy, and Mendoza’s plate of chili verde served with rice and beans and warm tortillas. She also makes tamales — just order in advance.

I’m vegetarian, so she served me a heaping plate of rice and beans and gave me a sample of her special red sauce. I’d never tasted anything like it and wanted to know what’s in it. She smiled and she said she never tells.

There’s also an assortment of essential goods like phone chargers, Goldfish crackers, chicken noodle soup, sardines…even towels and socks. It’s a mom-and-pop-style 7-Eleven, with fewer “convenience” goods but a ton of flavor and charm.

Ogden now gets the secret sauce that Mendoza’s fans in California are surely missing.