If you’re looking for carne asada fries in Aurora, our Carne Asada Fries are the dish we’re known for at El Chubby’s. They start with a big serving of fries and get topped with our carne asada, which is thin strips of steak grilled with jalapeños, onions and tomatoes. Everything is made to order at our place on S Abilene St, so they come out hot, and you can have them the way you like. If somebody at your table has never been here before, this is usually the plate we point them toward first.
We’ve been cooking for this neighborhood since 1991, and Carne Asada Fries are the signature dish on our menu today. They work for lunch, they’re easy to split at dinner, and they’re hard to beat after a long day when nothing else sounds right. Below is what you need to know to order them well, plus a couple of close cousins on the menu that deserve a look.
What are carne asada fries?
Carne asada fries are a simple idea done generously: french fries piled with grilled steak and the good stuff that goes with it. The story most often told is that they came out of the taco shops of Southern California, where somebody had the bright idea of putting carne asada on fries instead of in a tortilla. However they got started, they spread fast, and today you’ll find a version in a lot of places that take Mexican food seriously.
The heart of the dish is the carne asada itself. “Carne asada” just means grilled meat, and in most kitchens it refers to steak cooked hot and fast and cut thin. Ours is steak grilled with jalapeños, onions and tomatoes, so you get a little heat, a little sweetness from the onions, and some brightness from the tomatoes in every bite. If you want to know more about the cut and the cooking, we wrote about it in what makes carne asada different from other kinds of steak.
The fries matter too. They are the base that holds everything together, so they need to stand up to the steak and the toppings without turning into a soggy pile. That’s one more reason we make them to order instead of letting them sit.
How do you order carne asada fries at El Chubby’s?
You’ll find Carne Asada Fries in the specialties section of our menu, along with the other house favorites. Ordering is easy, and since almost anything here can be prepared the way you like, a few small choices can make the plate yours.
Think about heat first. The steak is grilled with jalapeños, so there is some kick built in. If you like it hotter, ask about adding our green chili. We make it fresh every day, and the hot green is the one we’re best known for. If you’d rather keep things gentle, mild green or red are both good choices, or you can ask for chili on the side so you control how much goes on.
Next, think about extras. Our sides list includes guacamole, sour cream and salsa, and plenty of folks like a little of each to go with their fries. Guacamole adds a cool, creamy contrast to the grilled steak. Sour cream softens the jalapeño heat. Salsa adds a fresh, sharp edge. None of them are required, and the fries are plenty good with nothing extra at all.
Last, think about who’s eating. Carne Asada Fries are a hearty plate. Some people treat them as a full meal for one, and some order them for the middle of the table and share while everyone waits on burritos and enchiladas. Both work. If you’re feeding a group, ordering one plate of fries for the table alongside individual entrees is an easy way to make sure everyone gets a taste of the dish we’re proudest of.
Chicken Asada Fries and Cheesesteak Smothered Fries: the cousins
Once you’ve had the original, there are two close relatives on the menu worth trying.
Chicken Asada Fries follow the same idea with chicken in place of steak. They’re a good pick for anyone who doesn’t eat red meat, or for the person at the table who always orders chicken no matter what. You still get the fries and the full plate, just with a lighter protein. The same choices apply, so ask for chili, guacamole or sour cream if you want them.
Cheesesteak Smothered Fries are the cousin from the other side of the family. We already serve a Philly cheesesteak burrito and Philly cheesesteak tacos, and these fries bring that cheesesteak over to a smothered plate. If you grew up loving a good cheesesteak and you also love our chili, this one was more or less made for you.
We also have plain Smothered Fries for the folks who mainly want fries and chili, no meat needed. And if you like the carne asada but want it in a different shape, look at the Carne Asada Bowl, the Carne Asada Nachos, the Carne Asada Plate or a carne asada burrito. They all share the same grilled steak, so if the fries win you over, you have plenty of ways to keep exploring.
Are carne asada fries a good meal to share?
They are one of the best sharing dishes we make. A plate in the middle of the table gets conversation going, and it gives everyone something to pick at while the rest of the order comes out. They also travel well enough for a takeout night, though like anything with fries, they’re at their best when you eat them soon after they’re made.
If you’re bringing kids along, our kids menu is for children 10 and younger, and every kids meal comes with a sopapilla. That leaves the grown ups free to split a plate of fries and a couple of burritos. For a bigger table, Carne Asada Fries pair well with a round of tacos, a combination plate or two, and a bowl of chips with salsa or queso con chorizo. You’ll leave full. We’d recommend you come hungry.
Where to get carne asada fries near you in Aurora
When you search for carne asada fries near me from anywhere in central or south Aurora, you’re likely not far from us. El Chubby’s Mexican Restaurant is at 1191 S Abilene St, Aurora, CO 80012, and we’ve been at that same address since 1991. We’re open Monday through Saturday from 7am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 9pm, with dine-in, takeout and a drive-thru. You can call us at 303-755-1414 if you have a question about the menu.
We’re a family-owned restaurant, and we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. That means you can get Carne Asada Fries for a late lunch on a workday, for dinner with the family, or anytime the craving hits during our hours. Come for the fries, and save room to try the green chili, the homemade tamales and the burritos another time.
If you’d rather eat at home, you can order online for pickup or delivery. Online ordering runs Monday through Saturday from 8am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 8pm, and delivery is handled through DoorDash and Uber Eats. However you get them, we hope our Carne Asada Fries become one of your regular orders. They’re the dish we’re proudest to put on the table.
