The Absolute Best Mexican Restaurants in Philadelphia, PA
If you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine, you’re in luck – Philadelphia is home to so many awesome Mexican restaurants! From classic street tacos to innovative fusion dishes, the City of Brotherly Love has you covered no matter your craving. With casual taquerias to more upscale dining experiences, the Mexican food scene in Philadelphia is as diverse as it is delicious. So to help you out, we’ve rounded up the top Mexican restaurants in Philadelphia that are a must-try for any foodie. So, grab a margarita and get ready to explore the vibrant flavors of Mexican cuisine in Philadelphia.
El Vez
121 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800
El Vez has been delighting patrons with its margaritas, guacamole, and downright delicious food for over 20 years. This restaurant is not short of personality either. The comfy velvet booths make dining a delight, and the spinning low-rider bike over the bar is certainly an eclectic touch. What makes El Vez great is that it’s perfect for any time of the day. Brunch, lunch, Happy Hour, and dinner, El Vez is always the move. When it comes to the food, we recommend the black bean tlayuda. It’s a crispy corn flatbread loaded with toppings. If you like shrimp, you need to try the Baja shrimp tacos with their Modelo beer batter. The drink options are vast as well, with an extensive tequila list. El Vez is a must-visit when you’re in Midtown Village.
LMNO
1749 North Front Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 770-7001
LMNO is unique for a multitude of reasons. For starters, this is not your typical restaurant. It’s a restaurant, lounge, book store, and art gallery all fused together under one roof. With its location in Fishtown, it shouldn’t come as a shock that LMNO focuses its menu on fresh seafood dishes compared to the traditional Central Mexican cuisines that most people are used to. The “dirty” tacos with crispy melted cheese are top-notch, but the seafood is definitely where it’s at. Try the lobster tails and grilled seabass. Their brunch menu includes a delightful birria Benedict and a tres leches French toast that you won’t want to miss.
La Llorona
1551 West Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 515-3276
With its chill vibes, unique tequilas, and specialty agave cocktails, La Llorona Cantina is the perfect place for a relaxed dinner with friends. This place was designed for sharing, and that’s a good thing because you can try many different items instead of just your one entree. Order their small plate shareable dishes such as the crab tostadas or chorizo tlayuda while you sit back and enjoy one of their refreshing cocktails or mezcal flights.
Café y Chocolate
1532 Snyder Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19145
(267) 639-4506
This welcoming spot near Marconi Plaza truly does no wrong. Café y Chocolate serves up brunch all day, along with traditional Mexican comfort foods like huevos rancheros and flautas. Their specialty is Mexican hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon. It’s the one item you absolutely must order, especially on those cooler mornings and days. When it comes to the food, you can’t go wrong with their huevos motuleños especiales. Slathered with spicy salsa verde, refried black beans, poached egg, ham, mozzarella cheese, roasted poblano rojas, caramelized onions, and tomatoes, each tortilla is a magically delicious journey of flavor.
Mole Poblano
1144 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 465-1616
It’s probably not a shocker that the must-try dish at this Mexican spot is its namesake. Mole Poblano meets expectations regarding the complex but delicious classic dish and the rest of its Puebla-inspired dishes. Obviously, you have to try the mole poblano when you come but don’t worry if your eyes wander to other dishes on the menu. Mole Poblano covers its enchiladas, burritos, sopes, and tacos with its mole, so you can still enjoy these classic complex flavors no matter what you order. Keep an eye out for their weekend specials, too. The tamales and braised goat barbacoa are not to be missed.
Los Cuatro Soles
1801 South Chadwick Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 755-1125
This spot in South Philly is perfect for enjoying delicious tacos, burritos, and agua frescas with friends. Plant-filled, bright, and lively, Los Cuatro Soles makes you feel alive. Not just because their food is so dang good but because of the space and the positive vibes that fill it. We definitely recommend going for either tacos or burritos here. Simple, flavor-packed, and downright delicious, Los Cuatro Soles just knows how to nail the best parts of Mexican food.
Blue Corn
940 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-1010
Small, almost always busy, and certainly always delicious, Blue Corn in the Italian market is easily one of Philly’s best Mexican spots. Everything is handmade in the small open-air kitchen. The two salsas on each table? Made in the kitchen. The blue corn tortillas? Made in the kitchen. We could keep going, but you get the point. The four siblings who run the restaurant hail from San Mateo Ozolco in Puebla, and they infuse their Pueblan DNA into every single mouth-watering bite. You truly can’t go wrong with anything you order here. It’s all freshly made and packed with flavor. Make sure to try their cheesecake that’s made with the same blue maize as their tortillas. It’s certainly a new flavor for those who haven’t experienced it before.
Tamalex
1163 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 465-1665
Tamalex is always busy, no matter what day of the week it is. That’s because people come from all over the city to feast on their delicious Mexican and Honduran food. The pupusas and baleadas are some of the best in the city. The real star of the show, though, is their tamales. You will not find a better tamale in the city. On weekends the staff will make over 1,000 in a night so that they can be ordered fresh the next morning. If you want one, you better get there early because they sell out FAST.
South Philly Barbacoa
1149 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 694-3797
We didn’t exactly save the best for last, but South Philly Barbacoa might as well be the best Mexican food in the whole city. That’s because this joint is James Beard Award winner Cristina Martinez’s passion project, and well, pretty much everyone has heard of it. According to James Beard, South Philly Barbacoa doesn’t just have the best tacos in Philadelphia; it has the best tacos in the Mid-Atlantic. The lamb tacos are easily some of the best food you’ll ever taste in your life. Period. The only downside here is that it’s almost always packed, and the hours are limited to the weekend. People come to Philly just to try this place, and if you don’t live in the city, you should too.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Philadelphia city page!
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