Cholo Soy Cocina: Gourmet Andean Street Food on Antique Row

Tucked into a compact storefront along West Palm Beach's Antique Row, Cholo Soy Cocina has built a following well beyond its footprint. The restaurant reimagines Latin American street food with a scratch kitchen and Andean-inspired flavors, an approach that has earned it national television attention alongside a loyal local base of taco and ceviche fans.

A Chef With Television Credentials

Cholo Soy Cocina was founded by chef Clayton "Clay" Carnes, who remains a hands-on presence in the kitchen and dining room. Carnes won Food Network's Cutthroat Kitchen in 2016, and the restaurant itself was later featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, where Guy Fieri sampled dishes including the tempura-fried Pescadito Taco. The recognition reflects a menu built around Carnes' own take on Andean-American cooking, a concept whose name nods to slang he noticed on the wall of a Peruvian restaurant.

Scratch Cooking Behind the Counter

Rather than shortcuts, the kitchen leans on fundamentals: fish filleted in house, meats smoked on site, and corn tortillas made fresh daily. Ceviche prepared Ecuadorian style and a rotating lineup of gourmet tacos anchor the menu, finished with house-made sauces sold separately under the restaurant's own "Cholo Sauce" label. The restaurant also runs a food truck and catering operation, extending its street-food roots beyond the dining room.

Good to Know

Cholo Soy Cocina is located at 3715 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33405, in the city's Antique Row district. It's a fitting stop for diners curious about Latin American flavors delivered with a gourmet, made-from-scratch approach.