So my date arrives to the SRT kind of late but not really, he just seems late because I'm already too hungry to hang on the trail any longer. I was even getting too hungry to be able to make a decision. After he offers to help me by making a decision, I decide we will go to blue corn. He informs me of a large snapping turtle he saw on his way to me. We head back, she has now gathered a concerned posse,, everyone trying to figure out how involved to get. I look at my date who is already googling "how to pick up snapper turtle". I laugh and look back up to see that he has pretty much handled it, people clap for him, and we are back on our way to the italian market. We sit outside because it's the only option, and I am overwhelmed because its all babies yelling, plates clanking, cars passing, pedestrians walking. I usually don't like eating outside, but sometimes that's the music and you blink through it and you're good. So the first thing we order is the Ofrenda De Los Dioses. It comes to us quickly and smothered in a vibrant green sauce. I watch my date pick up his fork and knife, but I'm still looking through the menu for what else I want, and I am an only child so I don't want him to eat without me. This was my favorite thing we ate, but I do not have a photo of it because my date brought out the neurosis in me and everything went white. But I suggest you eat this too. I ordered a classic margarita , and it came in a glass that made me feel like I was the most interesting person on the block and it was my birthday. I ordered tinga sopecitos and our charismatic server suggested I could just get one of each. Everyone who works here is really great at talking about the food they serve, and I have a lot of admiration for this. I enjoyed listening to the staff talk to other tables about all kinds of stuff on the menu. My date ordered the Blue tacos, they come out looking beautiful, and he's clearly enjoying them when he realizes he never washed his hands after picking up his lady turtle friend. We laugh, he continues to eat his food,, I continue to hold his hand. One thing I love about blue corn is that they really let flavors breathe. Nothing is overly salty or drenched in any one flavor. Sometimes I find chorizo a bit indulgent , where I can only have it in small amounts, but the chorizo sopecito was my favorite. You can taste everything you're eating, and I think this simplicity lends itself very well to dishes that center good corn and herbs. We basically lick our plates and our server asks if we want dessert and my date says no. Red flag I know. He didn't know that I decided we were having dessert like 45 minutes ago when I watched a few cheeky sweets go to a table behind him. I order myself a flan and cafe de olla. I will not share. The cafe tastes like sitting at the kitchen table with whichever guru you love the most. The flan was adorned with strawberries and my date's spoon, and of course when I ask what his favorite thing was he says the flan he politely declined at first. Later he says something about sometimes the thing you don't want is the thing you need. So true. read more

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Had an excellent time here for lunch. Wasn't too crowded and had some delicious food Highly recommend the tacos and ceviche, everything we tried was excellent. Really fun and intimate atmosphere and when we walked by the restaurant later for dinner it was packed and looked like a great time read more

Visited this restaurant on cinco de Mayo 2026. The weather was beautiful we dined outside for lunch. We ordered their 3 specials menus for the day. We had the ceviche along with 3 huge oysters. Both the ceviche and oysters were fresh. Next we had the soft shell crab on blue corn tortillas. Our next meal was shrimp, beef, chicken, sausage, cactus leaves along with 4 different kinds of tortillas. The service was excellent. read more

Blue Corn - Front of restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The service here was great! Really kind and attentive staff. We tried here because we saw online from multiple sources it's one of the best Mexican restaurants in Philly. It definitely did not disappoint! The food was so flavorful and the plates came with the food beautifully presented. We wished the rice was Mexican yellow rice, but overall a great spot!!! read more

Blue Corn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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First time at Blue Corn recently and had a wonderful meal and experience. My sister and I ordered the octopus ceviche and the Shrimp cocktail-esque appetizer and wow both were AMAZING. Two of the best appetizers I've had in a while, very delish. She got tacos and I got something for main dish, also good. But honestly wish I got either the filet or a seafood entree, feel like either would be amazing. Super friendly and attentive staff, can tell it's a well run business and customers love it. As noted by others cash only, but appreciate there is an ATM with a low fee right in the restaurant. read more

Blue Corn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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As soon as you walk in, you can tell you're in for a treat. Great vibe, interesting decor, and very cozy. The server quickly greets you and takes the charger plate out of the way, then will explain any specials they have. I got one of the specials for that day, the birria beef taco. These were simply perfect, savory and tender just bursting with flavor. The consommé was also quite rich and zesty. These were phenomenal, I would suggest to try if they have them for that day. Best I have personally had. Also tried the skirt steak taco on regular menu and these were filled to the brim, also great. It is cash only, and they do have an ATM. I wanted to stop here a few times but usually don't have cash. This is definitely worth the effort to bring it. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked phenomenal, definitely will be back to try some more! Thanks read more

Blue Corn - Birria taco - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We tried Blue Corn Restaurant after walking the Italian Market looking for lunch and after a quick search Blue Corn turned up on a list of top 25 places to eat in Philly! Who knew! We ordered the special Yellow Fin Ceviche, and special of Brisket Tostada, plus chips and salsa (tomatillo salsa was so yummy). This meal was so awesome and just enough food to split with hubby! So glad we stopped. read more

Fantastic al pastor tacos and a great, strong marg! I got the three tacos and a skinny marg, and it was perfection. I tried one of my brothers steak tacos and definitely preferred my own. Service was quick, drinks were strong. Cash only, but they have an ATM onsite if needed! read more

Blue Corn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Blue Corn somehow captures the entire spectrum of Mexican restaurants under one roof: it feels simultaneously homey where local families gather and lively with a bar and happy hour, and its menu has a combination of affordable classic items and more adventurous and upscale ones. I came with a couple others and tried out some of the latter kind of dishes since we were all Mexican food fans but wanted to try something off the beaten path. The three items we got were: - Tuna tostaditas: a daily special, three crispy blue tortillas topped with a deliciously refreshing tuna ceviche. One of the more "bougie" menu items but they seem to do great seafood here if the menu is any indication. - Zucchini blossom quesadillas: a set of three, stuffed not only with cheese but grilled vegetables including the blossoms which were a bit like artichoke. Came with a really good salsa verde and chipotle salsa - Ofrenda de los dioses: a specialty item the restaurant seems to have invented, sort of like a layered enchilada filled with cheese, corn, and huichacotle (corn mushroom) and smothered in a creamy green salsa. I had been looking forward to this one the most and it didn't disappoint! The huichacotle is sort of like a cross between a corn kernel and a grape in texture with a slight chew. And I scooped up every last bit of that sauce - truly worthy of the gods as the name states! Overall really good and memorable food, and I feel like Blue Corn is a great fit for any kind of Mexican meal, whether you're craving a familiar taco or eager to expand your horizons. read more

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My absolute favorite taco spot! My faves are the lengua and the cabeza, but you can never go wrong with any of the tacos! Their ceviche is so refreshing and I believe it comes with a house-made spicy vinaigrette which is phenomenal. They're cash only but they also have an ATM too! read more

Blue Corn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Ate at Blue Corn Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia, PA. Tuna ceviche with beet sauce and plantain chips, Mexican shrimp cocktail, tortilla soup, horchata and tamarind drink. Phenomena service. Incredible food. Seafood do fresh. Have never had these Mexican flavors before. All staff decked out in Xmas garb. read more

I recommend following Blue Corn on Instagram or Facebook because they always post their specials. I had the tuna tostaditas as appetizer: three mini blue corn topped with raw tuna that's marinated in soy sauce served with chipotle aioli. I was surprised with this fusion. Everyone enjoyed this very much. Ceviche never disappoints. Always fresh served with plantain chips with their special green sauce. My seafood soup was pretty good. Unfortunately I crunched some sand. The nopales as side dish is very salty, Churros are served with sweet dulce de leche. Portion isn't too big. As always service always five stars. Food came out fast, the staff was attentive and friendly. read more

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Second time here, another really great experience! Service was impeccable -- prompt, responsive, kind, super fine attention to detail. Outdoor seating was comfortable for 4 of us, and they have a lot of 2-person tables there too. Food was delicious & worked for a variety of diets/preferences (vegan, high spice level, low spice level, etc.). The rest of their brunch selection looked really yummy. read more

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We had been meaning to try this place for a while and now that we have I'm glad that we did. The menu has a ton of options. We ultimately went with the blue corn tacos (which felt like an obvious choice) and the seafood stew special. The el pastor blue tacos were... pretty good. The tacos themselves were actually a bit thinner than I would expect but the filling was quite nice. The hot sauce on the side was a really nice addition. And the cooked green onions that it came with was a surprising and delicious addition. The seafood stew was the star: so much seafood (albeit you pay the price for it-almost all of the entrees are a bit on the pricier side actually). I was surprised they served bread to dip into the delicious broth given that it's a Mexican restaurant but this was a good touch. The white fish and shrimp were really nice. The clams and mussels were fine-nothing terribly special. But overall excellently seasoned. The drink menu is extensive. Cash only. Nestled into an adorable area of Little Italy. The service was extensive. We were super looked after and there were a ton of employees, many of whom served different roles and we ended up being catered to really closely. Definitely worth the try. read more

Blue Corn - Seafood stew special - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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First time, a recommendation by my son. We're from San Antonio. I have to say I was skeptical being from Texas. We went in for a snack and beverage. Ordered the beef nachos and oh my goodness!!! Probably the best I have had in a very long time. Service was great! Small place with a touch of elegance, set tables with goblet glasses. Nice touch. Highly recommended. read more

BRING CASH, make a reservation for that fri-sun time great flavor, wonderful value, i am a bit partial still to mole poblano bc i feel like that has a homier vibe but this is a very solid spot pastor tacos were delicious, the steak plate (?) was also good size and great flavor, the opening chips and guac we got as app were pretty mid tho. would return $35/pp if you get a drink, can be done for like $25/pp tho without read more

The guacamole was fresh, and we look forward to entrees in the future. This visit was just for an afternoon snack.

Excellent sit-down Mexican restaurant. Cash only. Full bar. We came for tacos, so tacos we had. We had chicken, pork, beef cheek, and oyster. Oyster tacos were a special that day, and special they were. Fried oysters were briny and delicious. I'd get those any time they are offered. The cabeza was also good. I can't wait to return and explore more of the menu, like the huaraches. read more

Blue Corn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Blue Corn is a place I have frequently walked past and seen full of people but have only just explored recently with my family and it surpassed all expectations! I got the pineapple sour, spicy and strong and delicious, and the chicken flautas for dinner, which were crispy and flavorful. The inside was home-y and the staff was incredibly attentative. Prices were also great too! The place is cash only, but there is an atm inside with onl a $2 fee read more

I was in town visiting my friend for the Philadelphia half marathon. I decided to visit this restaurant as it received great reviews previously. Please be aware that they are cash only but they do have an ATM in the lobby. We were seated fairly quickly and the staff was very pleasant. The restaurant is fairly busy and somewhat small inside but not overbearingly uncomfortable. My friend and I both ordered the al pastor tacos which unfortunately had a little too much feeling and could have a little bit more salt but enjoyable overall. I can't recall what drink I ordered what I do remember enjoying it. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal and experience. read more

Blue Corn - Al Pastor tacos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I could give five stars alone for Blue Corn being the first stop of our epic South Philly Taco Crawl UYE! But in essence, I give it because it's the perfect classic taqueria with all kinds of local neighborhood charm and a good bar on top! Blue Corn is one of those South Philly Mexican restaurants that I've known about for years now. But when you're living there you get set in your ways of going to your usual local spots. So when I saw that it was the first spot on our taco crawl I was sold on joining in. And even if it was cash only and slightly on the smaller side, Blue Corn delivered big on where it mattered with epic service and quality food! After being one of the ones to arrive fashionably late for the crawl the Blue Corn staff were quick to connect another table for four to our group and get an amazing horchata in my hands. While it was tempting to also try a Mexican coffee, I was also sold on joining some of our group in enjoying some mezcal, and it was perfectly smoky and served traditional style with a slice of orange. If it wasn't a taco crawl I would have been sold on trying their huaraches, platillos, burritos, and other tasty delicacies. But since it was an epic taco crawl I was able to order some lengua tacos and trade some for a cabeza and pollo pibil taco. Of the three my favorite was the perfectly cooked beef tongue with subtle flavor. But I also enjoyed the slight tinge of spice that the Apollo had, and the tender bits of beef cheek from the cabeza. If you're looking for a Mexican restaurant that's classy on a budget, then it doesn't get much better than Blue Corn! read more

Blue Corn - Language Tacos to start of a good taco crawl! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It may have taken me 8 years to return, but I finally did and had a better experience than my first! We stopped by after wandering the Italian market with out of town visitors - no reservations but walked in around 1:30-2pm and were seated without issue with a total party of 4, no wait. Our server notified us of the specials that day, and they all sounded so good - we mostly ordered off of the special menu he sold us on! The best thing from the specials was 100% the seafood stew that can be an appetizer or entree version. The seafood stew tasted like the sea, and all of the seafood inside was cooked to perfection, not overcooked on any of the items at all. The lobster ceviche we could have skipped, not much lobster and the flavor was okay - needed more acidity and pop in my opinion and pricey $$$ I enjoyed my cod tacos on special, and I also tried a bite of my husband's seafood tacos (puerto vallarta) and his was really good too (see pictured flour tortilla). The presentation is also very thoughtful, especially for a place that may be seen more as a "hole in the wall" Overall, my guests were very happy with their meal and so were we- and for 6 alcoholic drinks, 2 appetizers, and 4 entrees - our bill was $176 before tax and tip between 4 persons. **CASH ONLY** - they have an ATM in the restaurant. read more

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Incredible place. I had high expectations and they were met. I had a few items: 1. Some sort of whitefish ceviche (was a special at the time) - this is my dish of the year so far. It was so incredible fresh and tasted amazing. I would eat this everyday. 2. Lengua tacos. Very good. I like lengua quite a bit. 3. A seafood soup. This was OK. I'm not sure why I ordered it as I know I don't really like this type of thing but it was still pretty good so that is saying a lot. My wife got nachos which I also got to eat and they were amazing. Had the chips and salsa and guac too. Very good stuff. Margs obviously popped off. I will be back here. A place you could take friends from out of town to impress them and not break the bank. Our server was impressive with her knowledge of the menu and kept us well fed and our cups full which is always appreciated. The space looks a little tight and is always filled, but it didn't detract from the experience. No bumping of chairs or anything. read more

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Bomb Mexican food in Philly! It is definitely very authentic and they had a lot of menu options that I don't usually see at other Mexican places. The margaritas were so good with many different flavors to choose from. Definitely recommend getting the nachos. The guacamole was super green and vibrant, but unfortunately I felt like it was just a bit too bland and could have used some more salt and lime. I enjoyed my quesadilla, I had never had squash blossom in a quesadilla before and it actually worked really well. If you don't like onions though like me, they do put onions in their quesadillas so make sure to ask for no onions! I wouldn't come here on a date night, ambience is very casual, but I would definitely come here with a group of friends to catch up and get some margs! read more

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Service is fast and friendly, and the tacos are amazing. Fresh tortillas, and the alpastor is simply to die for. The general vibe there is just so relaxing. It's my boyfriend and I's new favorite Mexican spot. We will be back many more times! read more

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My friend recommended this place for dinner and it was so good. Cash only!! Reservations needed it looked like. I got the huarache gratin very good but very heavy. It was so flavorful! Their Mac and cheese is SO good. The service was good. The flan was also very good. Decent amount of vegetarian options. Can't wait to be back! read more

Blue Corn - Guacamole and chips - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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After dumping Los Gallos for their less than stellar service, my husband and I have not gone back. Instead, we have been going to Blue Corn for our tacos fix for some time now and have nothing but great things to say about this place. Personally, I am not a fan of the double-tortilla tacos, I always separate the two tortillas and throw one away. When I saw the one-tortilla per taco from Blue Corn, I was so happy. Not only did I not have to pull two tortillas apart, but these tortillas are also thin like crepes, which means I can save space for more guacamole and chips. Despite the thin tortillas, the tacos are generously filled. The al Pastor and Tripa are our favorites, but Blue Corn also has a couple of specialty tacos. The Tacos Puerto Vallarta is an absolute must try. It was delicious, and now that I'm thinking about it, I can't wait to get it again. The guacamole is solid, too, with their tortilla chips made out of - can you guess it? Blue freaking corn. The chips are light and thin, which makes the entire meal feel not as heavy while satisfying your craving. read more

Sat outside which was a bit chilly even with heaters in place, but food was delicious and service was excellent. Drinks were also really good and everything came out very quickly. Highly recommend the blue corn pastor tacos and they had a dessert special crème brûlée with a liqueur topping that was to die for. read more

The mahi tacos on special were delicious! I wish I'd ordered them as my meal. We sat outside and enjoyed people watching in this busy neighborhood. The only part we didn't care for was having to pay cash. We don't carry large amounts of cash, so needed to plan ahead. There is an ATM but it's awkwardly placed in the doorway those using it are squeezed into a tight spot and kind of in the way of entering or exiting the restaurant. read more

Delicious and very authentic high-end Mexican Cuisine served by a friendly, gracious staff. We went on a Saturday night and fortunately had a reservation (a MUST for weekend dinners). The small, brightly decorated space was packed, but there was additional sidewalk seating. Drinks were excellent, including a great white sangria. Appetizers included a special sea bass ceviche and a heaping platter of nachos with chicken, beef and pork. If you have a limited appetite, save it for the entrees. Our entrees included octopus in its ink; a Tampiqueña (steak pounded flat with a molé enchilada, guacamole and refried beans) and that night's special Cowboy Steak, a huge platter piled with bone in steak, grilled asparagus and scallions, roasted potatoes and a house made chimichurri. Delicious but large; expertly wrapped to take home. We will be back, probably for lunch or a weeknight dinner. Menu huge! Quality out of this world. read more

Blue Corn - Epic Cowboy Steak platter (enough for 2 and delicious) - one of the specials on 11/22/25. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Was looking for an alternative when our reservation somewhere else wasn't honored and what a blessing because we found blue corn. Welcoming staff and plenty of staff that supported each other and made for a great experience. The decor is adequate. Clean and basic. Not really much to look at. And the place is packed with tables The food was excellent and they presented 3 appetizer and 3 entree specials. Like real specials- not just a regurgitation of what was on the menu We ended up sharing nachos and guacamole, seviche special and first appetizer on menu- which was a layered slice of something. It was fantastic. Really unique. The ceviche was outstanding- it was a sea bass. The guacamole and chips were ok. I liked the chips the guacamole was over blended imo. We also got two margaritas. Skinny one was good and my friend got a spicy one that she said was great. read more

Authentic Latino food. This is a real restaurant not a commercial concept. As good as the best I found in Mexico & Colombia. Now you've got me craving their food at 4am. Just go. I cannot imagine anyone who likes Latino food wouldn't like this. read more

I tried the tacos from the special menu about a month ago. I bought Mahi tacos 3 small tacos for 18 dollars contained red cabbage and orange sauce. I did not enjoy the flavor but my friend tried one and she really liked it. I also got the tomato soup and wasn't impressed. The portion was small, and it was quite expensive for just tomatoes and nothing else in it. The food was quality but my plate was very small for the price. I came back a few times to try the chicken nachos, and it was delicious. I think I'll just come back to get the nachos. They were so good and everyone who passed my food wanted to know where I got it because it smells so good. Everything about the nachos has flavor, refried beans, melted cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapenos, and the chicken seasoned well. read more

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A taste of Mexico in the middle of the Italian market. Fish soup is the top choice here, redolent of serious pieces of seafood. The burrito is so big you need to bring half home -- comes with fries or salad. Mexican coffee is black with sugar and cinnamon, a taste treat. Wandering musicians stop in to serenade diners, and one birthday girl had the whole place sing to her. Reservations recommended but on a wet Saturday there was a table for 4 walkins at 1145. read more

Blue corn has always been on my bookmarks but somehow I never made it until yesterday. We stopped by for just a drink but ended up having 3 each and a full on dinner. Out of all the margaritas and cocktails we tried, I liked Macho the best. It is also the spiciest drink on their menu and I asked them to add the spicy salt which made it extra delicious. I highly recommend this combo! Sea bass ceviche: so fresh and tasty. The quantity was quite a bit for an appetizer but I am not complaining. It was also my first time trying the Huaraches! We asked for the Huarache Gratin with chorizo - so good! Cactus was perfectly cooked, not soggy at all. Service is 5 star, very soft spoken, humble and friendly people. read more

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$17 + tax: plain nachos with guacamole and mushrooms Cash only establishment. Next time try the three vegetarian quesadillas (Mushroom, Huitlacoche, and Zucchini flower) and a drink. read more

Service!!! I wasn't even able to try the food to see if it was good or not. We asked to sit outside in there gazebo area. He wanted to seat us in the sidewalk. Ok.... I asked why? ... he said because he doesn't like to crowd the guests ...... ok...... we are the only freaking guests here!!!! He said he knows but what if people come later? ....... I just shook my head and left. That is up there with some of the lamest shit I ever heard, especially when you look in the restaurant and there seems to be tables lined up right next to each other. Very disappointing!!!!! Also what's up with the cash only crap..... that sound like an " I don't want to pay taxes deal if I ever heard of one" read more

Went to blue corn for my birthday! Probably one of the best birthday dinners I ever had. Phenomenal service food was the absolute best. I will recommend this place over & over. Thanks again for a birthday I will never forget read more

Blue Corn - Mezcal old fashion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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my experience overall wasn't terrible. they were nice people, nice atmosphere, and food wasn't even too bad. Wayyyy too small of a portion tho & apparently a "special order" ended up being $60. i would say it's a bit pricey for the portions and it's not worth the money. I personally wouldn't come here again. 1-10? 5. read more

Update: we went for dinner last night and loved everything. We started with margaritas (Blue corn margarita was blue, classic also good), then went with chorizo sopecitos and blue tacos, and closed with the alambre as our main. Everything was fantastic - my favorites were the blue tacos and alambre (kind of like fajitas). The atmosphere is so fun and there's so much to look at everywhere. Service is super fast and friendly - it felt like 30 people were working. Love love it here! read more

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