Chamorro: A Mexican Family’s Dream Dish in Garden Grove
“I followed the rainbow and you’re my pot of gold” — that’s what Guy Fieri told the family at Sabroso after tasting their chamorro plate. Located in Garden Grove, California, just three and a half miles from Disneyland on Harbor Boulevard right off the 22 freeway, this restaurant represents a Mexican family who put everything on the line to open their own place and serve real deal Mexican food.
What Exactly is Chamorro?
For those unfamiliar, chamorro translates to “shank” — specifically a big, meaty shank that gets the low-and-slow treatment until it’s fall-apart tender. The dish arrives as what the restaurant calls the chimoto plate, featuring meat swimming in a rich red sauce that one customer in the episode described as “magical.”
The Real Deal Cooking Process
What makes this chamorro special is the attention to every step. First, the shanks get a generous salt seasoning, then they’re seared on the flat top to build that crucial fond and caramelized exterior.
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While the meat sears, the salsa comes together with an impressive spice lineup: cloves, coriander, Mexican oregano, cumin seeds, peppercorns, garlic, onions, and ginger. The pepper blend hits multiple notes — super spicy chile de árbol, smoky and moderately spicy guajillo, and the milder California chile to balance things out.
Everything gets dropped into a pot with water and cooked down. Once the sauce is ready, it goes over the seared shanks and braises together for an hour and a half. The plate comes out with Peruvian beans and gets finished with pico de gallo and queso fresco.
Guy’s Verdict
Guy didn’t hold back on this one. He praised the dish for having “great texture” and being “not too spicy” while noting it had “a lot of depth” and wasn’t over-seasoned. The meat? “Super tender.” His overall take: “It is absolutely amazing.”
He also couldn’t resist joking with the family about the ginger in their sauce, pretending he needed to tell mom they changed the recipe before quickly adding “I’m kidding” to their relief and laughter.
The Family Vibe
What resonated beyond the food was the atmosphere. As one person in the episode put it: “The food and the service and the family energy is outrageous.” Customers come in happy, leave stuffed, and everybody wins. Guy called it “an awesome experience” and told the family he was “very proud of you.”
If you love seeing family-run spots that bring authentic regional dishes to the table, this is what Triple D does best. It’s a far cry from chain restaurant sameness — more like what you’d find at spots doing things their own way, like by Taco Joint in a GAS STATION 🌮⛽ or creative comfort food like Cornbread Stuffed Meatloaf | Big Bite.
Looking for more Triple D destinations? Check out our restaurant directory to find spots Guy has visited near you.