El Taco

El Vez was SUCH a vibe! The margarita was delicious, the chicken tacos hit the spot, and the…read morechicken nachos were absolute fire, served on large plate so every chip had perfect ratio of toppings. But the creamy poblano corn rice?! EPIC. Seriously, I could have eaten an entire bowl of that by itself. Fun atmosphere, great food, strong margaritas, and the vibes were HIGH. They do take reservations and we were seated quickly. Exactly the kind of spot you want to stumble into in Philly, and in a cool neighborhood with lots of walkable spots nearby. Would absolutely go back!

Mexican food in the very heart of Philly - bonus points for the photobooth!…read moreFirst and foremost, our waiter was wonderful and I wish I could remember his name. The menu here is expensive and has plenty of vegetarian options which I appreciate appreciated. They make a very good classic margarita, so be sure to order one as your drink of choice. The nachos are pretty good, but I will say the star of the show was actually the sides for me: the brussels sprouts, plantains, and equites - fabulous! I ordered the cauliflower tacos as my main dish, but it was a little bit disappointed in these, they could've used a little bit more flavor.

Fundido with chorizo

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Churros with chocolate sauce

Cantina La Martina

4.4(112 reviews)

4.9 mi

I can't believe I am giving Cantina La Martina a ONE star review! I couldn't even muster a 2 given…read morewhat they gave me to eat tonight. I ordered the carnitas tacos and churros. The meat in the tacos was so dry that it was hard to chew and swallow. Some of the pieces were cooked to a crisp. No amount of salsa could make them better. I'm sorry I didn't take photos of the tacos, but trust me me I get no pleasure from leaving a bad review for this place; I am not lying or exaggerating. I thought they were going to be one of our local gems. I choked down a half a taco, gave the rest to my husband and he couldn't eat them either. The churros actually had raw batter in the middle and the outside was rubbery and hard at the same time. You could barely bite through it. I'm a cook and I know that that is about keeping the oil at an even temperature to get the inside done and not overcook the outside. Someone in the kitchen did not know what they were doing. The thing is, I have had their food before and it was pretty good. I don't know if there is a new chef or what happened, but I can't trust them after this experience.

Came here for lunch. Driving and parking is fine in the day. As others mentioned its not a good…read morearea to walk around. Inside I enjoyed the decor and vibe. Staff very friendly. Good: old fashioned, tri-mix of guac (liked the truffle one), steak tacos. Not so good:coco tartare app, I thought most of the other tacos were tried were very okay for the price and would not recommend (shrimp, pastor (one of my least favorite versions of pastor), one with habaenro (not spicy at all). Would have enjoyed some actual spicy salsa to go with it. Overall, I sadly can't really recommend it.

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tamalex restaurant bar & griil

4.7(25 reviews)

2.9 mi•Society Hill

Stopped in for Happy Hour and had an amazing time! The food and service were great! We sat at the…read morebar and had great conversation with our bartender and the owner...extremely friendly! Definitely will be returning!

Had a lovely dinner here with friendly service. Cute themed restaurant in the heart of society…read morehill. I loved the enchiladas and the tortilla soup that was poured tableside.

2.3 mi•Italian Market, Bella Vista

Front room (Nov 2024)

Mister burrito

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Buena Vista Restaurant & Cantina - Philadelphia

4.1(46 reviews)

Popped in for a quick Michelada while waiting on my Angelo's order. Glad i did!! Being a native…read morefrom Texas, I know micheladas are hit and miss when traveling. This one was a HIT. I saw the little black liquid (assuming jugo maggi) bottle come out and I knew it was on! Full custom mix, and it was fire . Can't speak to the food but the michelada was great!

Came here for happy hour and it did not disappoint. Great vibes, snacks, and drinks. I recommend…read morethe nachos.Those were packed with all the standard toppings, and they packed them on high! The wings were meaty and saucy. The jalapeño margarita wasn't as spicy as I'd like, but it passes. They also played classic 80s, which didn't fit the theme, but it brought back fond memories. 9/10.

1.3 mi•Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center

Full stocked bar

Chorizo Fajitas

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Classic Margarita add Jalapeño, with a tajin rim.

El Rey

3.6(1.1k reviews)

Loved the ambience, decor, and the service. We were ravenous when we went in and immediately got…read moreseated (2 people) on a Friday night. We got the vegetarian nachos (4/5) and the margaritas (guava 4/5, mango 3.5/5). The toppings on the nachos - beans, salsa, cheese and jalapeños were delicious. It felt like they skimped on the jalapeños but oh well. The guac (extra with the nachos) was wonderful! The drinks were both a little too sweet with excessive ice - a little expensive because the glass is filled with too much ice.

Amazing Staff is great and mushrooms and cheese is too die…read morefor delicious 2nd time going and it was better than the first time Margaritas were made well

Inside

Tres Leches cakd

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Tamarind Margarita

Don Barriga Mexican Grill

4.4(200 reviews)

0.7 mi•University City

This is THE PLACE for good Mexican food in the University City area! Soooo gooood and very…read morereasonably priced for the amount of food you get! The service was quick and friendly! The restaurant itself is small although I've found this is pretty common in the area, but still had plenty of seating along with outdoor seating. The decor is well themed!

Did takeout. My grandson loves this place! I tried it for the first time on Sunday. Was in the mood…read morefor guacamole and churros. The guac was super fresh, flavorful and delicious. Lots of tomatoes, onions and of course avocados. Seasoned to perfection. The chips were a little too thick for my taste. I prefer a lighter chip. The churros were crispy on the outside and perfectly soft inside, they offered 2 dipping sauces both were delicious.

Dia de los Muertos.

Tacos birria

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Jarritos

Los Gallos Mexican Taqueria

4.2(592 reviews)

2.8 mi

Had an innocent mix up in my pick up order. I went back in with hopes of exchanging for the right…read moreitem. I have to say Luis was beyond professional. He could not have handled it better if I wrote the script. This guy is an ACE !! It's not always about getting it right 100% of the time... but rather how you handle it when it goes wrong. Well done Luis !!

Yum! I'll let the picture do the speaking. Will definitely come here again! Beef sandwich and…read morestrawberry horchata

1.7 mi•Penn Center, Rittenhouse Square

Ribeye steak con camarones - amazing! Served with corn tortilla

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Outside

Mission Taqueria

4.1(836 reviews)

This place is amazing!! The best meal since my daughter had been diagnosed w celiac ~few years…read moreago!! Just amazing! Related, shaun (not a typo) was an amazing ambassador and waiter. I love this place!

Pretty darn tasty (the green sauce is chefs kiss, I put dat ish on everything) fresh hot, quick…read moreservice and friendly staff. The layout is cute they even have an outside area with a table or 2. We were hungry so we ordered everything that sounded good and we enjoyed.

Kitchen with wood stove

Quesabirria Quesadillas

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More art

Loco Pez

3.9(156 reviews)

1.3 mi•Graduate Hospital

Happy hour Monday through Friday which includes $6 margaritas. Great vibes and friendly service…read more The appetizers are great and in my option better than the entrees

Dollar tacos are a great deal and the food is really good, but I will have to say I'm disappointed…read morein the service. Our waitress was just not friendly and it definitely altered our experience. I would probably be back for the deal, but Im also not compelled to return.

3.2 mi•Northern Liberties

SUPER CUTE !

Quesabirria Tacos

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Happy hour sign

Cantina Dos Segundos

3.8(980 reviews)

Great little Mexican spot...actually not that little tho on inside! Great happy hour options too…read moreand decent selection of vegan items.

Stopped here during a street festival and was able to snag seating outside. We started off with a…read moretuna tower (unfortunately cannot find this on the menu, so maybe it was a special). The portion was small for the price. We also got tacos and the meat was not juicy, but still flavorful

Great tequila selection!

GUACAMOLE & CHIPS

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Margaritas and tequila shots

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5 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Jess G.

4 years ago

New taco spot right next to the Quad. Flan has this delicious taste with a hint of coconut try the Nacho Fries

Alvaro L.

4 years ago

New taco shop on UPenn's campus. Great food, especially the carnitas burrito with the creamy chipotle!

Royal M.

4 years ago

Amazing service and amazing food! Everyone was so nice and friendly! Highly recommend to all!

Alex T.

Elite 25

587

282

3 years ago

Fantastic arroz con pollos. Great atmosphere, fantastic service. Would absolutely come again!

King ..

3 years ago

10/10 All I can say.. Customer Service is top tier

El Taco - mexican - Updated September 2026

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They have some of the best quesadillas in Philly! The complimentary chips with beans and queso are…read moredelicious--and that's just the starter! I highly recommend the quesadillas de pollo with a refreshing Agua de Horchata. Their homemade corn tortillas are amazing, and you can really taste the difference! I definitely have to come back and try the birria tacos next. The food is 10/10--authentic, flavorful, and delicious. The staff is also super kind and welcoming.

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This is a review for takeout only!…read more I got the Al pastor burrito and it was absolutely delicious. It was really big and stuffed to the brim. The meat was tender and well marinated. It was also nice and warm so the cheese is well melted. The guac was a big serving and perfectly seasoned! The chips tasted like they were freshly fried. I would highly recommend this place, it was 100% worth it for the cheap price! Everything was well packaged.

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Walked by on a random Tuesday & decided to give it a try. I am SO glad I did! I was greeted right…read moreaway, I ordered a veggie quesadilla & there was an exchange of friendly banter. Sorry I have no pics of my food, I ate it too fast lol. But I'm definitely going back & promise to control myself & get pics next time. The restuarant was clean and spacious with plenty of seating. My veggie quesadilla was Delicious!

Yesterday my workplace brought in lunch for 10 of us. There were a few details that were wrong, but…read moreoverall people were pleased with their food. I had chicken soft tacos and a side of guacamole. I have a strong preference for corn tortillas, which these weren't, and in the online ordering there was no choice, but the filling was excellent. And I really liked the guacamole, which had an excellent texture and a mild flavor. Across the group there were several bowls, some crunchy tacos, and a couple burritos. It was a nice way to start the year.

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The food was actually delicious and I appreciated the portions. Not great takeout packaging; it was…read morecold upon arrival but still tasted good.

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A really good first experience. I enjoyed my meal a lot. Our waiter was great. The crowd was small…read morebut there was a constant flow of customers, a lot of pick up orders. There was so much food that I had enough for a meal the next day. The guac was fresh and the chips were crisp. I also tried their Jamaica and there was so much, and it was good. The menu was big so I'm exited to go back and try some new things.

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This place does it right!! Exactly how we like it. The favors are strong and the service quick. The…read morestreet tacos are always fresh. And it's got a great atmosphere. Give it a try, you won't regret it!

Amazing food. It's not the best tacos I've ever had but pretty good. Everything was extremely…read moreauthentic. The signature tacos were the best. I was able to order a huge plate of nopales and their refried beans tasted just right. I thoroughly enjoyed their horchata. They give you so much. It's the best I've had in a while. It tasted homemade! The beef soup wasn't the best but everything else was great!

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One of my faves! This is a great location near the Barnes museum, the library and the Parkway. It's…read morea fast casual type of restaurant, but with really good food! It's a nice place to stop if you want to grab a quick meal, but you can also sit for a while and relax. Takeout is also available. You order at the counter, they give you a number and bring your food to the table. There's a self serve drink station. The aqua Fresca is delicious! I love the tacos here. The fish tacos are my favorite. All the tacos have good little extras on them like pickled onions and avocado. That makes them extra special! Buena Onda also has an excellent happy hour! Tacos are three dollars margaritas are $6, chips and pico de gallo $1. Happy hour is every day 4 to 6. Seating is inside and outside. It has a lot of natural light. The bathrooms were very clean.

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