Chacarero
Category: Latin American [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown426 Washington St
(between Franklin St & Summer St)
Boston, MA 02108 (617) 542-0392
- Nearest Transit:
Downtown Crossing (Orange, Silver, Red)
Park Street (Green, Red)
State (Blue, Orange)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
71 Reviews for Chacarero
Cheap and delicious! I love that they put string beans and muenster cheese on all their sandwiches, not to mention a dash of crack in that seemingly innocent round white bread of theirs. I know it all sounds weird (string beans on a sandwich? with hot sauce? what??) but it's so good! Trust me.
This is about as simple as menus get. All the sandwiches are pretty much the same. You get a choice of chicken, beef, combo, or vegetarian, and the rest isn't really negotiable... but why argue with perfection? This place is a well oiled machine, and I wouldn't dare question it.
I get a small veggie for $5.80 and am stuffed. Honestly, unless you're crazy ravenous or want leftovers for tomorrow, a small is plenty and fills me every time.
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Years ago, at the start of my illustrious temping career, I'd walk out into Downtown Crossing and stand there baffled at the lunchtime line of a couple hundred suits. Figuring they were all either on some foodie bullshit or waiting to kick a poor guy, I'd walk by and head to Au Bon Pain or wherever. Walk back, same line, still no idea what the allure was.
I figured it out eventually.
I have a real job now, way out in the suburbs, and I really can't believe how much I miss Chacarero. I absolutely never had anything less than a great meal there, and now that they've turned it into a legit restaurant, such luxuries as indoor seating and a bathroom only make me want to recommend it more. This place is the truth. Quit eating at Cosi, you dumb assholes.
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Don't be fooled by the photo on this site, there is no walk-up counter window anymore! You have to go inside and wait in line (at least, the line was only inside when I went, not out the door and around the block). Then you will wait in a line, which moves relatively quickly due to the guy whose job is to keep herding people forward (rather than standing still to stare at them constructing your sandwich). You will choose one of the three (ok, technically four) filler options - veggie, chicken, beef, or chicken&beef. You will choose large or small (note to the lighter appetites - the small is still HUGE, I got lunch and dinner out of it). This was one delicious, spicy sandwich and I'd go back in a heartbeat. I agree that the cheese wasn't needed. There are a few indoor seats that weren't filled when I went (early spring)
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Simple but yummy. I would grab one of these delish Chilean sandwiches when shopping at Downtown Crossing. I've only had the beef sandwich from the stand, where there was almost always a long line around the corner of the building.
Ah, summer afternoons, taking longer than you should for lunch, and Chacarero....what could be better.
Actually, I am there on winter afternoons too...but something about a hot day and a hot sandwich just go together perfectly.
Looking forward to the new location.
Delicious. BBQ combo (beef + chicken), large. With beans, carrots, red bell peppers, avocado, cheese (i think it would be better witohut the cheese). it was a sexy sandwich
Sweet potato fries with spicy mayonaise was awesome as well. the mayo is really something else...
A large is enough for a pretty-hungry guy, and if you want to sin then get the fries with the large combo.
I like how you get a good mix of people who come in to eat: suits out to lunch, regular joes wandering the streets, tourists who are lucky enough to decide on this place to eat. You get it all.
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i rarely head out for lunch but hear that this place is always crowded. i had a chance to grab a late lunch today so i decided to venture over and check out the hoop-la.
chacarero is a chilean sandwich joint that has a pretty simple menu - you can choose reg/lg beef, chicken or combo creations.
walking in you pay first at the counter and head over to the sandwich line. the bread is a round, rustic - foccaccia-like...you can order spicy, which i did and they begin assembling - an avocado spread, some spicy sauces you can add....cheese, the meats (i got the combo), string beans, tomato...all in all, once it's all put together you've got yourself a diesel sandwich - very rustic feeling.
bread was really good - i could possibly just have that alone...the steak and chicken were both so-so - there really wasn't enough flavor/seasoning in the meat...the string beans add an interested component...the avocado and spicy sauces gave a great kick (though still not enough to make up for the blandness in the meat). maybe the trick will be to try a veggie sandwich next time... ;)
How can you not love this place? A simple menu that has been perfected, and epic lines of suits either freezing in the cold or sweating in the sun waiting for their sandwiches always brought a smile to my face.
The food itself is great, I generally opt for the spicy vegetable sandwich...greenbeans and avocado. nummy.
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Downtown Boston has never really been that appealing to me. Why go to this pigeon paradise and be solicited by the woman who wants money to support her seven kids (seriously?) when you can find the same shops and services in the cleaner package that is Back Bay? I can think of only one reason: Chacarero.
If I had to choose between the Chacarero sandwich and sex, I would be a virgin. This tasty little piece of heaven between two buns has redefined the sandwich for me. If you don't like spicy, you'll miss out on their amazing spicy avocado sauce, so pull it together and brave the pain. This is possibly the fastest and cheapest way to instantly improve your life!
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I was forced to get their sandwich by a friend. I don't like string beans, nor muenster, and was a total brat about waiting in line, but man was I thrilled with that sandwich! You really have to try it, even if you think you'll hate it. I'm not sure how they do it, but they put some random stuff together on some really great bread and it's magically delicious.
If you work in the area you already know to check it out. If not, wait until there's a nice spring-like day, take that day off from work, go downtown and get a sandwich. Go a little late or a little early so you don't have to wait quite so long. Then, have a picnic for one in the common with your newly discovered culinary delight.
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Loved the sandwich -- what a delicious combination. The bread is so good and can't get enough of the avocado spread.
The sweet potato fries were unfortunately more soggy than crisp, so I'd skip those next time, but I'll be back again and again for their chicken sandwich!
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I feel a bit generous in selecting 3 stars for this popular downtown hot spot that leaves me a bit cold. Here's why...
- Plain ole chicken paillard styled pounded, butterflied breast meat that was not even seasoned w/ salt- hello! much less anything else. And it was overcooked- cant one expect the primary ingredient to be prepared with some degree of care or expertise.
- Was that a processed guacamole spread!? Or some other avocado imposter?
- Torta ot morta, the plain, untoasted "bread" ahh was dead and tasteless.
- OK we can add some stye points for green beans in a sandwich, thats kinda cool!
In general Boston has a weird culinary validation m.o., that has yet to be cracked or make any sense to this foodie. Chacarero is part and parcel to this secret society of very mediocre joints that develop huge followings for apparently no good reason at all.? Cheers
The sandwich for lunch is as iconic as it is cliche.
And yet somehow Chacarero has breathed new life into unceremonious weekday lunch. Amazing considering they sell one kind of sandwich and only offer you a choice of seasoned meats or veggies. Who needs variation when the product is unique, simple, and incredibly tasty. I dig the chicken with hot sauce as it balances perfectly with the coolling and mild muenster cheese.
The portions are enormous: a small sandwich is plenty for one, and the large splits well for sharing. Long lunch-time lines are processed quickly and this place is perfectly located for a picnic on the Common or Public Garden.
I miss Chacarero so much. I moved out of Boston about two years ago and I often miss eating this delicious Chilean sandwich. It is by far one of the tastiest sandwiches you will ever find.
My favorite was the bbq combo with beef and chicken. It hit the spot many days when I worked downtown.
If the setup is still the same you have to know how to order. You have to pay first and then step up and pick up your sandwich. the lines are always long, no matter what the weather is like. I can't wait to go back up to Boston just to get one!
The Chacarero is a sandwich creation so tasty that it deserves its own set of taste buds.
Supposedly of Chilean origin, the stack consists of thinly sliced grilled chicken or beef with long string beans, smeared with a spicy green avocado like sauce and held between two heavy pieces of fresh warm flat bread, not unlike ciabatta.
This Chacarero's location is a mere window at the side of a building in downtown crossing, and is easily recognizable by the ridiculous lines that lead up to it. The entire ordering and pickup process can take upwards of 30 minutes on a busy day--but it's completely worth it. The lines provide an excuse to enjoy the outside air after being cooped up in hermetically sealed office buildings all morning, as well as many opportunities to chat with the other lost corporate souls of Boston's financial district.
We desperately need a little Chacarero in Los Angeles. The humble souls of this fair city know not what they are missing!
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Chacarero is one of the main reasons why I'm no longer allowed to bring cash to work anymore. No matter what I bring from home for lunch there's a pretty strong chance that I won't be able to resist the lure of a Chilean sandwich come noontime.
The sandwiches are simply amazing. Yes, the ingredient combination may seem a bit strange to the uninitiated (delicious sourdough-like flatbread, string beans, muenster cheese, avocado spread) but the result is so, so good! The sweet potato fries are also quite yummy.
Five-plus stars for the food, but minus one for sometimes-rude service. Even with the iffy service/long wait, however, this place is definitely worth trudging to Downtown Crossing in the middle of winter (that's quite a compliment coming from a girl who doesn't own any rain/snow boots.)
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Damn...i miss these sandwiches. I've been in Cali for 7 years and I still crave these sandwiches! Please open a branch in No. Cal!
Walk around the corner to the NEW location:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I love the sandwiches, maybe a wee bit too much bread. Load it up with that horseradish stuff and I'm ready for the rest of the day.
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Great sandwiches. Go early to avoid the long line. The bread alone is worth standing in line for, though. Don't leave anything off the sandwich (except for meat if you're vegetarian like me) - you may not think the strange combo of green beans, avocado, muenster cheese and tomatoes works, but yikes, will it rock your world!
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THE LOCATION ON PROVINCE ST. ROCKS AND NEW LOCATION TO COME ON ARCH STREET SOON.
1. These are the best sandwiches almost anywhere.
2. You must love waiting in not 1 but 2 lines and having to get to know the people you are waiting with.
3. Get the combo with the hot sauce. (don't be a wimp)
4. The large is LARGE. Small is LARGE.
5. Go at dawn or dusk and the line is slightly shorter.
6. read other reviews if you don't know what it is.
7. I love lists
8. If you really don't want to wait there is another one around the corner by Sam Lagrassa's But it's not the same to me.
9. You could always eat at Sam Lagrassa's
10. Thank Juan Hurtado for bringing this Chilean delight to Boston!
Eat Like a pig!
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I don't get all the hype around the Chacarero. The meat is pretty good, but the 'hot' sauce is boring, the bread is dry and crappy, and it adds up to a pretty bland and boring sandwich. There's always a line, so people must like it, but all in all a waste of money.
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I will add my voice to the legions of downtown workers.
Delicious.
I could never dream that green beans on a sandwich would be so right. Everything blends together wonderfully, and makes for a tasty lunchtime treat.
Like most people, I recommend it with everything (well, except for tomatoes, but get 'em if you like 'em. Bleah!) and extra hot. I'm even mildly allergic to avocadoes, and I can't even ponder this sandwich existing without that delicious delicious spread.
When the place closes for the Filene's renovation, I imagine its sister restaurant will be hard-pressed to absorb the throngs of hungry office drones. Hopefully something will come along to make sure I still get mine...
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i am so confused. ok, a little help here -- where did chacarero's go since the construction has started in downtown crossing [by a rival construction company to the one i work for, no less]? i'm craving a chilean sandwich.
now, i'm not a big fan of the sandwich. i mean, it's two slices of bread with some stuff in the middle. i'm not a big fan of bread either, which i guess makes me logically not a fan of the sandwich. there are so many different types of sandwiches out there, but what they have in common is the ingredient: bread.
but there is something about the chilean sandwich at chacarero's. the combination of ingredients maybe? being a creature of habit, i consistently order the small beef sandwich, with extra avocado. therefore, i cannot review anything other than the small beef sandwich. a word of advice: stick with the small. the small is rather large. the beef is juicy, the peppers zesty, the round bread [it's not a bun, folks!] is fresh and they slap on the avocado spread which i love, although it's never enough.
instructions on ordering: the former location outside of filene's and across from tj max would have two lines at a simple counter in the wall outside. you first get in the line to the right, where you put in your order for sandwich and drink, and pay. then you go to the second line with your receipt, stare at the calvin klein underwear posters in filene's as you wait, and then tell them what you want and any variations that you may like on your sandwich when you finally get to talk to someone inside the booth. they make the sandwich rapidly, then give it to you and you either take it somewhere else, or eat it at the outdoor seating that is public. ahh...fond memories of lunch in the summer....
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True story - once while waiting in the ridiculously long lines for these addictive sandwiches, a man walked by and said to his pal"The last time I had to wait in a line that long, I was in prison."
Of course, wait his true statement about the lines here doesn't even begin to tell you the fact that you have to wait in not one, but two lines for these sandwiches.
Of course, I usually go before the lines start or after they are over to avoid them (unless I'm actively avoiding my work).
I highly recommend that no matter which sandwich you try, that you get the extra hot sauce and when the sandwich maker turns to you and says "everything" with her accent, you damn well better let her put everything on it because it just tastes better that way.
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Chocarero's pretty good-- the sandwiches are a bizarre but tasty combo of meat, avocado, beans, good bread, hot sauce-- lots of stuff. But I hate Downtown Crossing, so it's a little discouraging to have nowhere decent to sit. It's nice to trek over to the Garden with it, but...
The prices are also a little out of my normal range. For a treat, Chocarero's cool. But I wouldn't make a habit of coming here.
Burrito Express beats it out in a close one for my #1 torta, but this is and always will be THE sandwich of Downtown Crossing.
Q: "Small combo, evreeting?"
A: Yes.
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The sandwiches are definitely taste - but the line, the shitty birds, and flocks of bums bring this down to a three star for me. I wish I had ordered mine with red peppers ahead of time, I was denied because I didn't pay extra at the register (bastards).
I think it's a good grab once in a while if the line is short, but in my opinion not worth sacrficing your whole lunch break to get one.
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Since I've started working downtown, not a week goes by where I don't make a pilgrimage to Chacarero. Get there early, as the line typically balloons around 11:45am, even in the winter, and for good reason. The small size is definitely a healthy portion, so don't feel the need to shell out for the large. I've seen someone order the large combo beef/chicken before and it looks like you'd need two hands to carry it. And if you find it lacking in flavor, give the BBQ a try. Mind you, it isn't traditional BBQ, but they do throw on some marinated red bell peppers that add a bit of flavor. I could keep going, but really, there's not enough nice things to say about Chacarero.
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One of my top lunch stops in downtown Boston. If you do go, there are some rules. It's not quite like the Soup Nazi; their employees are quite friendly. The concern is other patrons and the smooth operation of the entire system.
The most important rule involves the line. Join the end of the right line first. Place your order at the window and pay. Then walk to the far end of the left line. A rookie mistake is to hang around waiting for your order, which will screw up the whole system and make everyone hate you.
Second thing to know: there might be no difference between the small and the large, other than $1.25. Do some research yourself. The bread is almost definitely the same, but they may add more meat. Either way, the small is more than enough for most appetites.
Lunchtime lines can get extremely long on nice days. Sometimes you can catch a break at the second location on Province St.
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I'm picky with meats, so I always go for the large veggie extra hot. I love it. My mouth starts to water while I'm standing in line.
The lines are long, but if you go before noon or after 1pm, it's not so bad. They are super efficient and move quickly.
Tip for the first-timer: You order in the line to the right, pay and get your ticket and then go to the end of the line on the left side to wait for your food. They'll ask if you want everything on it- if you don't like spice, ask for no hot.
Enjoy!
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These sandwiches are goooood. :)
Yeah, you have to stand in 2 lines, but they've got a good assembly line thing going on behind that window, and it moves pretty well.
It's an interesting combination of foodstuffs (my reaction the first time: green beans? on a sandwich? ok, sure, why not.), but it works together so well.
Yum.
I like the veggie sandwich here - I have never gotten to be a fan of the meats here! Spicy goodness filling this thing though - yum! I would check this place out in the later afternoon or go really early bc the line at noon is completely bananas! A three because I would say pretty average as I will only eat their veggie sandwich.
There is a reason there is always a line at this place...well worth the $7 for the large sandwich. Very tasty and filling with a nice kick to it but not too spicy for anyone. I recommend this place to everyone
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I'm probably going to get hate mail for saying this, but maybe these sandwiches just aren't my thing- while the ingredients were all very fresh and the staff were quick, the taste didn't really wow me. Just sort of an OK beef sandwich with green beans and avocado on it. The price is spot on for this kind of thing, and the lines aren't a big deal if you get there at the right time. Definitely try it if you haven't done so- I don't think I'll try it again, but clearly there are people out there who love these things more than I do.
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The filenes one closed but a block away on Province st is the other one. I'll upload a pic of both if i can. the province one is indoors and the line was pretty long at 11:30am today. maybe cuz today is the first day the filene's one was closed.
Yummy Chilean sandwiches! Go for the combo, with everything.
Don't be scared off by the long lines--they have a smooth system and things actually move quite quickly.
Chacarero's is the only place in Boston I would happily treck it to.
It's basically a cart in the wall metal booth that you order from with outdoor seatings by the buses downtown.
Blissful Chilean Sandwiches!
For the bland AND flavorful.. you adjust when they ask what you want on it.
Get off Downtown Crossing and walk around the corner to Washington Street where Filene's block is.
Lines are quick and the people that run that place are sweet.
Not for the picky eater... everything in it is good but everything put together is better.
Choose Beef over Chicken!
It's Muenster cheese!
It's actual green string beans!
It's avocado spread!
It's O.G bread...
and some other kicks.. like salt and pepper.
Yay Chacarero.
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I can't say enough good things about this place...I love it an everyone coming to Boston should visit this place if they are in the downtown area. I consider the sandwiches from this place a special treat to myself otherwise I would be getting them several times a week.
Only negative that I have, is that I can't help but feel that if you speak spanish they give you more of that crazy yummy sauce (forgive me if it is some other language they are speaking).
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Went for lunch there this afternoon. Small place with long lines. The menu is not really extensive, you've got chicken, beef and veggie Chacarero sandwich, all in small and large. I had a small chicken which goes for $6. I was gonna get the large, but my friend had told me to get the small since even that is pretty big. I liked it a lot, it's a different kinda sandwich, nothing like I'd ever had before, chicken is probably grilled, what makes it good is the guacamole, green beans and a hint of black pepper. Almost reminds me of the legendary gyro place in Manhattan.
I went to this place after seeing the reviews.
The sandwiches were quite tasty. I had the chicken sandwich. The avacado spread and the green beans were definitely very good and brought out the flavor. The bread was good too.
The location is convenient, though there's not too many benches to sit.
Too bad it's only opened on the weekdays...
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