damnlines.comdamnlines.comA Dominican chicharrón counter that Gothamist calls the neighborhood's 'standard-bearer,' with a line that reporting says has held steady since the shop opened in the early 2000s.
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at Elsa La Reina del Chicharrón yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
Gothamist's reporting is the anchor claim here: writing about both the original Inwood location and this Washington Heights counter, Gothamist says 'there's been a line at the counter ever since' the shop opened in the early 2000s, calling it the neighborhood's chicharrón 'standard-bearer.' The piece treats the line as a constant rather than an occasional rush — a defining, ongoing feature of the operation rather than a weekend-only phenomenon.
The Infatuation's review of the chain's original Inwood counter (the same operation, which it notes runs 'with three other locations') backs this up: 'There's usually a line at this Inwood takeout spot,' the review states, describing 'an employee hacking at chicharron with frightening speed and expert precision' at the front of the queue as part of the experience.
Both outlets describe a counter-service, mostly-takeout model rather than a host-stand wait. Gothamist notes the two locations it covers — Inwood at 4840 Broadway and Washington Heights at 1249 St. Nicholas Avenue, between 172nd and 173rd Streets — are 'both open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., though you might want to call to confirm.' No reservation system is mentioned in either piece; the queue described is a walk-up order line, not a table wait.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: No reservations found; operates as a walk-in, counter-service, mostly-takeout spot, per Gothamist and The Infatuation.
Walk-ins: Yes — walk-up counter service with no reservation system found in available sources, per Gothamist.
Both the Inwood and Washington Heights locations are open 9 a.m.–10 p.m. daily, per Gothamist, which advises calling to confirm.
Gothamist reports 'there's been a line at the counter ever since' the shop opened in the early 2000s, and The Infatuation similarly notes 'there's usually a line' at the counter. Neither publishes an exact wait time, but both describe the line as a near-constant feature rather than an occasional rush.
No — it's a counter-service, largely takeout spot, and no source or reservation platform (Resy, OpenTable, Tock) lists a booking option. Per Gothamist, customers order and wait at the counter rather than reserving a table.
Yes, it operates entirely on a walk-in, order-at-the-counter basis, per Gothamist's description of the shop; the piece notes most customers get their chicharrón to go rather than dine in.
It's known as the neighborhood's chicharrón (fried pork belly) 'standard-bearer,' per Gothamist, and The Infatuation praises the counter's chicharrón for a 'crunchy exterior that flakes like puff pastry, and a springy interior that stays perfectly moist.'
Gothamist reports the Inwood and Washington Heights locations are both open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., though it advises calling ahead to confirm.
Sources: Gothamist · The Infatuation