We ended up coming here after my husband went for a work lunch here and loved it. I wasn't disappointed! He raves about the Quesabirria tacos and they were delicious. We also ordered a variety of other tacos, and all of them were flavorful - so really just choose what you like most. I also scarfed down those wonton chips. I love that they came with different sauces also. read more

What a wonderful infusion of Chinese and Mexican. By the way, Chinesca is a rough Spanish translation for Chinatown. Today, La Chinesca may not bring much to mind but it evokes a historical period when Mexico became the destination for thousands of Chinese immigrants, many of whom came from the impoverished Szechuan province. They settled primarily in Mexicali and the Federal District until a wave of nativist populism resulted in the expulsion of most migrants from Mexico. Sounds eerily familiar... The Chinese population in Mexico adopted many Mexican traditions and had an influence on the food. It is being celebrated in this wonderful eatery. Entering La Chinesca, the expansive footprint of the restaurant becomes obvious. It's in a rapidly changing and gentrifying neighborhood dotted with new restaurants and music venues such as Union Transfer next door. An old Jiffy Lube station turned into a restaurant allows a truly relaxed setting for enjoying good food. The front patio allows people watching, open air and in cool weather, large heaters to make for comfortable s seating. There are numerous converted benches and also open cubicles with tufted outdoor couches. The back patio is colorful, large and comfortable. And then there is a basement with a speakeasy ambiance that is just delightful. Amazing seating options. We came here for dinner and the place was hopping busy with a festive atmosphere and the upstairs full bar being a center of activity. Eight of us sat comfortably as we flavored the appetizers, each as tasty as the previous one. La Chinesca is a free-flowing kitchen, meaning the dishes are served as they come out of the stove. Yes, some people like to have the food come out in unison but at this place, the food just keeps on coming and in any case, I the portions are shareable. I have actually started to like free-flowing kitchen restaurants, as the food is always piping hot. There was a time and a place for Le Bec Fin with white tablecloths and finger bowls, but Le Bec Fin closed town almost two decades ago and today's diners want a more casual atmosphere. The service was stellar, I mean, flawless. Colin was obviously super experienced and both the Managers, Joe, and the Assistant Manager, Karl, came over and assisted Colin due to the size of our party. It was great to see the entire staff work seamlessly, from the bar, to the kitchen, the servers, all like a well oiled team. The positive nature of the staff made for great service and as a result, satisfied clients... Dinner was a wonderful cacophony of tastes. The Pork dumplings were like a Gyoza with a little chili crunch that gave it a tiny kick and were delicious. The Egg Roll Al Pastor with Chipotle Duck Sauce was like superb, as were the Sweet Potato Empanadas made with roasted onions and Cilantro Lime crema. Main courses started coming soon. I ordered and shared the Spicy Garlic Shrimp Tacos, with a Mexican infusion of Chili oil, Szechuan Bok Choi and cilantro. Yum!. Another had the Chicken Tinga Tacos, made with a succulent Spiced Braised Chicken and Salsa Roja with Cotija Cheese. My hubby tried the Carne Asada Lo Mein, and this one was a star performer. The spiced Flank Steak and grilled Nopales with cilantro made it a wonderful dish. There were other dishes galore, but I'll cut to dessert.... Churros.... Huge, tasty, sweet, with Mezcal Chocolate Sauce... And of course, one of the best Latino desserts ever, Tres Leches - an addictive, ultra delicious concoction adored in Latin America. We left pounds and pounds heavier.... read more

New to the area and I saw the great reviews so I decided to check it out. The atmosphere was good upon arriving and service was seemingly attentive. We sat down at the patio and ordered a few items, the wontons, Peking duck tacos, and the bao buns. Family style was what the waitress said the restaurant offered but not what was served. Dishes were two tacos per plate, I don't know what family that could feed. The waitress was sweet and cordial as she served our wontons. A mountain of chips with less than exceptional sauces ,however, the green salsa was the highlight of the meal. Now the Peking duck tacos were extremely disappointing. An establishment that prides themselves on a melding of two cuisines I expected the Peking duck to be a star. It was wet in the worst way and the undercooked tortilla just added to the sogginess, we couldn't finish. Moving on to the bao buns unfortunately they tasted like orange chicken ? Perhaps if it wasn't a bao bun I wouldn't be as disappointed but I once again couldn't stomach to finish and my friend had to. As we called the waitress over for the check she floundered behind the bar and left me confused as I never saw her again and someone new came to our table. Now, Ivan the bartender was great and honestly the main reason we left a tip he tried to brighten our meal with friendly banter. Unfortunately I will never be back. read more

This spot is create for friends to meet up, a date, or a quick bite and drink. I was here with a friend during happy hour and everything was good. I ordered their aqua fresca and chicharrones, which are highly addictive. Bet you can't just eat one The other pain point were the portions and cost. I felt the portions were on the smaller side for both the food and drinks. If you're really hungry, I wouldn't recommend going here. Still a good place to try! read more

La Chinesca - Chicharrones - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Just got the cucumbers, general tso wings, pork dumplings and birra carnitas thru grub hub. Everything was delicious. The only feedback is that the cucumbers needed salt or some soy sauce. They could have been really good but they were just sliced cucumbers with some chili oil. The wings were sticky, crispy and tender. read more

We stopped by here on a random Thursday night and oh my gosh it did not disappoint. The establishment used to be a old jiffy lube and they turned it into a super cool restaurant. The outdoor patio facing the street has a lot of neat furniture and picnic tables. It really does have a fun and chill vibe. Even the lighting was giving me life! For drinks we got the hook a Louie, it was a jalapeño infused vodka with pomegranate juice! The spice level was not crazy at all, and it was honestly the right amount of alcohol to get you going all night. Clearly I was obsessed because I kept ordering that all night. Food wise we kind of shared a bunch of plates which was super smart, because the amount of food and taste of food will get you full very quickly! The wonton chips hands down was my favorite. It was fried to perfection and every bite had a perfect crunch to it. The trio of salsas that came with it, was perfect. And each one tasted significantly different than the next. Quesabirria tacos were also incredible! The meat was cooked perfectly and it had a great flavor provide to it as well. I wasn't a huge fan of the consume, but it does go well with the wonton chips as well. We also got the spiced chicken wings. Okay guys when I tell you these wings were crispy, they were crispy!!! There's a def a good heat to it, and you'll definitely be searching for water towards the end. Overall it was an amazing experience! Service was so fast and helpful, and we had a great time!! read more

La Chinesca - Fried Wonton Chips - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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La Chinesca: finally a fusion restaurant that feels like fusion. To boot, the space is pretty (in an elevated garage--the front opens completely to the front seating area) and has outdoor seating in both front and back--could definitely see it rocking private events. For a group of 5, we ordered nearly the entire menu, and loved everything ordered, including an excellent Michelada (Mexican Lager, Clamato, Hot Sauce, Lime, Tajin Rim). Some of our favorites: - Chilled Cucumbers (Fresno Chile, Sesame, Szechuan Peppercorn Marinade)--so fresh and flavorful (we can see why our server said it was a crowd favorite); - Shrimp & Pork Egg Roll (Shrimp, 5 Spice Pork, Cabbage, Carrot, Broccoli, Shiitake Mushroom, Chives, Duck Sauce)--seriously, we almost fought over who'd finish off that duck sauce. - Tijuana Street Dogs (Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog, Chipotle Mayonesa, Pico de Gallo, Pickled Jalapeño)--was a group ever so excited for hot dogs? These are a must-reorder next time item! - Quesabirria Tacos (Braised Beef, Cheese, Onion, Cilantro, Consommé)--that consommé... - Baby Corn Elote--we didn't realize that this elote would be made only with baby corn, but the most skeptical diner eventually said she couldn't stop eating it! - General Tso's Tofu (Crispy Rice, Broccoli, Scallion, Sesame Garlic Crumble)--piping hot tofu with terrific seasoning all around. - Crab Fried Rice (Egg, Napa Cabbage, Carrot, Bean Sprout, Broccoli, Chili-Sesame Crunch)--we spotted a diner eating this dish on our way to our seats and it was worth the stomach space! - Carnitas Tacos (Braised Pork, Smashed Avocado, Onion, Cilantro, Salsa de Molcajete)--could've had a whole plate of these! Our other favorites: - Pork Belly Bao Buns (Citrus Hoisin, Fresno Chile, Pickled Cucumber, Chinese Chive)--the only thing I could've had more of was the chives. - Fried Wonton Chips (Salsas)--light and crispy! - Fried Peppers (Cilantro, Cashew, Salsa Verdé)--a nice blend of mild'n'spicy peppers. - Kung Pao Chicken Wings (LC Signature Kung Pao Sauce, Ma La Spice, Celery, Bell Pepper, Scallion, Peanuts) - Beer Battered Fish Tacos (Chilito, Poblano Crema, Pickled Red Onion, Cilantro) - Chicharrones (Achiote Spiced Mayo) We ended the feast with the Choco Taco Sundae (Vanilla Soft Serve, Fried Cinnamon Tortilla Dipped in Chocolate, Dulce de Leche, Coconut Flakes, Candied Pepitas, Luxardo Cherry), which had even the diner who said "I'm not a fan of soft serve" indulging! Can't wait to go again! read more

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Visited La Chinesca for the first time for a lunch date with a colleague. The place is super cute -definitely Insta photo ready. There's indoor and outdoor seating options as well as street parking. The service was prompt and attentive. We ordered fried wontons, chilled cucumbers, wings and the fried rice. Everything was delicious and my pregnant coworker really enjoyed her mocktails. On my list of places to return to for happy hour on a warm day. read more

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When I first heard of La Chinesca opening, I was immediately intrigued by the restaurant space in an old Jiffy Lube location, and I knew I wanted to try it out. When I read about the Mexican / Chinese fusion, that made me even more intrigued. All my food references in Philly (Eater, Resy) highly reviewed the new restaurant, so I was excited to try it out! We last minute were able to snag reservations for 3 of us 48H in advance, and we popped by for our designated time on Saturday evening. As predicted, the vibe of the restaurant is so eclectic, fun, and unique. Upon arrival, we walked through their front outdoor seating area and then through the front room in the restaurant - the tables outside were so fun and the pillars were reminiscent of the Jiffy Lube history. The inside had so much authentic Mexican decor that made for an incredible vibe. We were seated in the back room, which didn't have as much decor as the front area, but was still authentic and eclectically decorated. It was an unseasonably cool day in the spring, so we were glad to be inside, but the front space as mentioned and the back patio area we could see from our window look awesome to explore in warmer weather! It wasn't too busy when we were there, and we felt like we had our server's close attention. She gave us great recs on drinks and food, and you could tell she had passion for the restaurant! We started off with some drinks, and we were pleased to see that a good number had mechanic-like themes to them (i.e. Spark Plug; Fill it, Regular; On Empty, etc.). My partner and I went for the Gas Guzzler, which had such unique flavors - we were initially intrigued by the Italian apertif paired with the mezcal, and then the addition of the grapefruit and lime made for a very refreshing, yet strong, drink. The flavors blended so well together, and we could really appreciate the smokiness of the mezcal that was balanced by the sweetness / bitterness of the fruits and apertif (this may or may not have inspired us to purchase our own bottle of mezcal the following week...). One of the more memorable cocktails I've had recently! Our other dining partner also enjoyed his cocktail, the Spark Plug, having similar remarks about the uniqueness of the drink. For food, we started off with the fried wonton chips - basically the Chinese take on chips and salsa. The salsas were a nice accompaniment and all unique, some with a bit more spice than others. The chips were greasy but tasty, and the quantity was enough to keep the 3 of us snacking until our main dishes arrived. For mains, I went for the fish tacos and my partner for the quesabirra tacos, both at the recommendation of our server; we split the tacos so we could enjoy both. I loved the freshness of the fish tacos, and I appreciated that they were not heavily fried. The poblano crema and fresh cabbage salad was a nice topper for the fish itself. The taco shell was sturdy enough to hold the contents and had really nice flavor; you could tell they were homemade. The quesabirra tacos were such a unique offering and very tasty, although messy. The beef was nicely tender and paired well with the gooeyness of the cheese. The consomme gave the taco the extra oomf and provided a messy yet delightful accompanying flavor. Both tacos were very nicely executed, and we are grateful at our waitress's suggestions! Between the wonton chips / salsa and the tacos, we were decently full at the end of the night, so we didn't get to try any other menu items, although we were intrigued by the elote, bao buns, and churros. La Chinesca is a very fun and unique dining experience and a welcome addition to the Philly food scene. The vibe is excellent in itself, and the food just rounds out the experience. We were glad to finally make a visit, and we look forward to visiting again to enjoy the outdoor space, more cocktails, and other unique menu options. Thanks for a memorable dinner, La Chinesca! read more

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I don't know what took us so long to come here but I am so happy that we finally made it happen. We were hungry so didn't waste much time with the menu, but all three dishes were satisfying. Coupled with a good drink and some great service, despite it being pretty busy on a week night. Loved the cold noodles, pork belly baos and perfectly battered and crispy fish tacos. We will certainly try some different things on our next visit, but everything I saw come out looked pretty solid and the other guests seemed quite satisfied. The space is pretty cool, too, and is actually larger than I had initially thought. Sitting at the bar, I would definitely do that again, but there also doesn't really seem to be a bad table in the house, either. The experience was so good - we will certainly be back. read more

Visiting Philly and found this place around the corner from my AirBnB. The decor is reminiscent of the 1970s, which works for this kid born in the 70s. The food is an homage to the LaChinesca neighborhood in Mexicali, Mexico, so there are things like fried wonton chips with salsa versus your average tortilla chips and salsa. LaChinesca was the largest Chinese neighborgood in Mexico. I came in for Happy Hour 5-7. There are only Happy Hour drink specials. Food is regular priced all the time. I drank a spiked pomegranate lemonade and ate chicharrones and elote. My opinions are: 1. Do not get the spiked lemonade with vodka...get it with rum. The vodka had a tinny taste which countered the pomegranate...and not in a good way. It left a metallic aftertaste. I think rum would have kept the sweetness at the right level and been a smoother mix. With that liquor change, this is a very flavorful and solid drink. 2. The chicharrones are damn delicious but should not be called chicharrones. They are actually pork rinds. They are just skin with no meat or fat...so technically NOT a chicharron. 3. The elote was pretty good. They use baby corn which is innovative but not having the larger nibs of actual corn changed the texture and was not reminiscent of real elote for me. Additionally, the black beans added to the mayo muted the chili powder and it could have used a touch more cotija cheese. 4. The staff was super friendly and personable, so that always adds a star!! They had a drink called a Spark Plug which I wanted to try and they gladly provided a sample. If you like mezcal, I highly suggest ordering it. Overall, it wasn't a 5, but the atmosphere, staff, and attempts to provide new spins on old favorites would warrant a return to try other items. read more

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First time going last night and I'll come back solely based off how the staff treated me. They were so friendly and accommodating. We initially were seated at a high top table but it was too tight and we asked to move. The host went back to his stand and was speaking with other guests. We went up to a woman working near him and told her the situation and she told him for which he then stopped what he was doing and immediately found us another table. He was super nice. We ended up sitting out back and our waitress was nice and attentive. The food was very good. Our highlights were the Tijuana street dog, fried wontons and carne asada tacos. We got the carne asada Lomein too it was fine. The drinks were great. Only downside to my experience is I have crazy gas this morning. Worth it though! read more

Came for lunch, and got wonton chips and burrito. The staff was friendly and the interior was really pretty - def happy hour vibes! But if you're just looking for good Mexican food, you can get it somewhere else without the frills. Food was good, but not amazing read more

La Chinesca - Fried Wonton Chips - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mexican-Chinese fusion is such a unique and cool concept. The auto body shop theme is cool too. The inside of the restaurant was too cold for us to sit in, so we moved outside. We ordered the Peking Duck Tacos and the Salt & Pepper Squid Caeser Salad and both were pretty good. We would come here again. read more

Nice place i would go back again and the food was good as well i cant brag too much about it read more

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I absolutely love Chinesca and had an amazing meal in the spring. Went back today looking for the incredible chicken wings and they were just fine, not enough sauce or spice. The ribs are still excellent but beyond that the birria tacos were dry and uninspired. The cucumbers were not crunchy like before and the dressing did not stick to them. The calamari on the Ceaser was tough and over cooked, smelled a little fishy and even the margaritas which used to be amazing were just blah, not enough tequila or lemon flavor. The churros were still very good. This was mean to be a special occasion trip and we were so disappointed. Seems like they lost the chef or something. Got to get their mojo back soon because the cool ambiance will not save them. read more

La Chinesca - Chicken Wings - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Was so excited to try this place out for dinner but was a disappointment. We ordered the wonton chips, duck eggroll, battered fish tacos, quesabirria tacos, and hiramasa crudo. Only thing that tasted good were the hiramasa crudo. The battered fish tacos did not taste fresh and was super greasy. The quesabirria tacos looked like they were doused in oil. Left a bad aftertaste in my mouth. read more

La Chinesca - Battered Fish Tacos - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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TLDR; fun youthful atmosphere, nice outdoor seating, portions are small I'd recommend La Chinesca for a quick bite and a drink if you're in the Spring Garden area. The indoor area is quite small but the outdoor seating is ample (both in front and back) which is perfect as the days are warming up. We tried the Hookie a Louie and La Caracha, both were quite good but could've used a little more oomph for happy hour. Mexicali Asian fusion is really the best descriptor for the food and everything was delicious (must try the birria tacos, they were a hit). However the portions are pretty small for the price, so I wouldn't recommend coming on an empty stomach. read more

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Food was amazing at La Chinesca. We literally ran the gauntlet of what they had to offer and everything was fantastic. Quesobirra tacos were a stand out as well as the Pork Belly Bao Buns. Drink list is eclectic and they taste amazing. Service was top notch, we were attended to regularly, drinks were filled promptly and the servers and managers were helpful with allergies and menu recommendations We sat down stairs in what I would describe as a a speak easy feel. Well decorated and not over crowded. Can't recommend enough. read more

tl;dr expect an exciting atmosphere, an approachable menu of tapas-style fare, and premium prices There was no shortage of hype preceding La Chinesca's arrival to Philly. And at night, you can't miss the red neon sign illuminating the corner of Spring Garden and 11th. Vibes at the restaurant are just as popping as the lights. The spacious front patio features picnic bench-style seating, ideal for warm evenings. The industrial indoor space hosts plenty of small tables, streetlight-style lighting fixtures, and a wide bar. The back room is crafted from 2 repurposed shipping containers behind the original Jiffy Lube structure. Music and chatter echo moderately loudly against the metal walls. Mood lighting accentuates the knickknacks around the restaurant, each paying homage to the automotive industry. My partner and I arrived at the tail end of Friday Happy Hour, and the indoor space was full. To our surprise, the HH menu consisted of only a handful of drink options and no food specials. We quickly ordered 2 cocktails, the Spark Plug and the Spiked Agua Fresca, before perusing the food menu. We decided on the Fried Wonton Chips, the Salt & Pepper Squid Caesar, the Scallion Pancakes (a nightly special), and the Quesabirria Tacos. Our tiny table was quickly decked by the former 3 dishes. The chip platter was piled with a mountain of wonton chips. The chips themselves were nicely salted and flavorful on their own, decidedly better than standard corn chips. Further, they sturdily held up well to the dips. Of the salsa, we most enjoyed the light and fresh salsa verde, and the autumnal pumpkin and sesame salsa. The Caesar salad was comprised of standard romaine lettuce and a stingy portion of squid. However, the dressing was robustly salty and savory, better even than most premium Caesar dressings. The scallion pancake platter hosted 3 CD-sized cakes, each topped with a healthy dollop of pickled veggies. The thin, single-layered pancakes ended up dry without a dedicated dipping sauce on the side. Some time after we finished our first dishes, our piping hot, clearly cooked-to-order tacos were brought out. Each taco was hefty and generously stuffed with slightly overcooked braised beef and a layer of melty chihuahua cheese. The tortilla shell was slightly limp, exacerbated when dipping it into the flavorful, umami consomme. To round out our meal, we were surprised by an order of Churros on the house! The dessert plate was large overall, with 5 medium-sized pieces, each crisp and doused in cinnamon sugar. Alone, the churros were somewhat bland, but that was quickly fixed by the thick, silky dark chocolate-mezcal sauce. Throughout our meal, the service was quick and helpful. Overall, dishes felt glaringly safe -- either Mexican or Chinese cuisine, rather than committing fully to fusion. Our $82 bill (after tax and tip) felt ~$5 overpriced per person. In particular, the drinks seemed overpriced, even after the HH special, for relatively standard quality and quantity. Nonetheless, La Chinesca proved to be an enjoyable outing as a whole -- but expect to pay a premium for the entire experience. read more

La Chinesca - Churros - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went here on a Sunday evening and it wasn't too busy. It was a good experience! We started off with the Chicharons... the sauce underneath was delicious. They were still sizzling when they came out. So good. Elote was super good as well, again the sauce made it that much better. Chicken tacos with the pineapple was good but something flavor wise was missing for me, same with the birria tacos. The wontons that came with the ceviche were so good, we got 2 orders just for more wontons. The bao buns were good. The fried chicken was crispy and REALLY SPICY. You will need lots of water (lol). The matcha tres leches was a little dry but delish. We got 2 drinks that I cant remember the names of and we really enjoyed them both. read more

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Food is on the pricier side but really delicious. The restaurant itself is really unique - I love the outdoor space and the open garage door so even indoor tables get fresh air (but more shade/cooler when it's too hot out). We enjoyed the chicken tinga egg roll (warning - it has a kick with the sauce), Caesar salad (good, but a bit saltier than I prefer - very generous helping of calamari) and the street dogs (really good dressed up hot dogs, but pricey at $17 for 2). Service was really great - and we would enjoy returning for dinner and drinks in the future. read more

Every time I would drive by, I really wanted to try it. We finally went for dinner and I was so excited....I'm crazy for Mexican and Chinese food and curious on the combination of flavors. We ordered Chinese long beans with tofu, birria tacos, a shrimp tostada and some cocktails. Everything was tasty and good, as were the drinks. Prices were average. Now that I have tried this place, I don't think I would go back and can't point my finger on why. I liked the food and don't know why there is a but....but there's a but. A-Ok though. read more

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The food was delicious The service fine Ambiance was oddball but fun I needed fifteen characters to finish the review read more

So I think that this a cool idea. I love the fact that they took an old gas station and an eyesore and made it a real destination. I believe right now they even have a set up for dia de lost muertos. An ofrenda and everything. I will be checking it out. So the atmosphere is really cool. The place is really tight on the inside though. So that's a little tough. We ordered the wonton chips, shrimp and black bean tostada and the quesabirria tacos. everything came out in good timing. My mother and i split the meal. the tacos were pretty greasy. The chips were ok. But the real winner here was the shrimp and black bean tostada. Honestly i didn't think i would like it but i was curious. And man that is the winner. I'm still thinking about that thing. I will go back and it will be for that. Also fun fact, its dog friendly as they have the front patio and there were tons of adorable pups. read more

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How many times can you say that you had dinner and a renovated Jiffy Lube? Because for me this will probably be my only time. I love how this restaurant is a fusion of Mexican and Chinese food. It's an interesting take, but it's very well done! And to continue to add to the fun they have try to maintain some of the aesthetics from the former mechanic business that stood there prior. These are the type of niche restaurants that you not only enjoy for yourself but you bring guests to enjoy! Definitely a star of the city. read more

La Chinesca - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

New restaurant in the area was a bit of a disappointment. The decorations are definitely a cool vibe with a 80s diner-esque feel, but the food was definitely not the best. I got the wonton chips with salsa, Chinese broad bean and the fish tacos. Everything was very salty - and I think if it were less saltier then I would have enjoyed the food more. If I were to come here again, I would only get the fish tacos. I definitely do not recommend the broad beans, they're massive/too crunchy/feels undercooked. I know they're new so they're probably working out some kinks. read more

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"THE PLACE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN". I've been here 3 times in 3-years. Incredible ambiance -- amazing design, music, atmosphere. Service is kind -- although staff should consider reminding patrons at 9.55 pm that the kitchen is closing and that deserts must be order prior. Food -- this is where La Chinesca still doesn't hit the mark. A Chinese-Mexicali food concept rooted in the history of Mexico's chinese immigrants is AWESOME. Yet -- the food never hits the spot. Is it bad? No. Is it good? No. It's just "OK". Sometimes a little too salty, sometimes just a little bland, sometimes just good but not great... especially for $18-25/dish . For a restaurant with this potential, this feels unfortunate in a neighborhood filled with up-and-coming gems. Their sister restaurant Cafe Lift and Prohibition Taproom have nailed it. La Chinesca simply hasn't yet. Perhaps a different chef? A more dialed in menu? I'll try it again in a year with more hope. read more

Ambiance is fantastic and perfect for date nights! Fan favorites were the Mongolian beef and the fish tacos. read more

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La Chinesca was an amazingly creative and delicious fusion between Mexican and Chinese food - two delicious cuisines inspiring the other. The ambiance was also very fun and vibrant, and the staff friendly. Drinks were fresh, flavorful, and delicious! At this shared-plate family style restaurant, we enjoyed the Fried Wonton chips with 3 different salsas (that we wished were sold in bottles), along with the shrimp tostada (super fresh), and the Crudo (unpictured) for our first course. I didn't love the Crudo, but we were told that some menu items were new, so maybe they're still figuring that one out. Second course was phenomenal with the most crispy Fish taco I've ever had, the delicious and savory duck egg roll (paired with duck sauce that we were dunking our fingers into), and the fried peppers. My one knock here is that the peppers I would have enjoyed as more of a side dish than a whole shared plate. Dessert we had flan, but not the kind of flan you're thinking! This was a super decadent, chocolate cake style flan! So yummy! Get to La Chinesca as quick as possible, I can't wait to go back myself. read more

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Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Food: 3/5 Price for value: 3/5 Overall: 4.0 (16/20) We ordered an array of tacos, fish, shrimp, and vegetarian(mushroom) as well as the wonton chips for an appetizer. Overall great time, service people were nice, hip, and very responsive. The fusion flavor doesn't quite hit the mark and the vege tacos were on the greasier side. Had the black tea flan for dessert which tasted decent, but felt more store bought. The happy hour prices are a bit high, and don't quite justify the amount served, but the atmosphere makes up for it. Would return. read more

La Chinesca - Black tea flan - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I finally got a chance to visit this place and loved it. They offer some nice happy hour specials for drinks and food from 5-7 pm. I ordered one of my favs a City Wide that comes with a beer and a shot of tequila if u didn't know. For food my friend and I spilt their wings that came with duck sauce and mustard for dipping and also the quesabirria tacos which I both recommend! read more

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Food was okay. Drinks were not bad. The wonton appetizer was nice, great sauces. Service was sub par but the ambiance was cool... read more

La Chinesca - On empty tequila, smoked salt, grapefruit, & lime cocktail. Very fresh and light, similar to a Paloma. Delicious! - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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La Chinesca was a solid happy hour with pretty decent fusion options. I would say the best item was the Fried Wonton Chips! All of the sauces/salsas were great and the chips were nice and crispy. We also got the Tijuana Street Dogs, Pork Belly Bao Buns and the Carne Asada Fries. I would say skip the Tijuana street dogs to be honest because to me it wasn't anything special. The pork Belly Bao buns were good and so were the fries but nothing especially amazing. The service was good, but what really made the experience nice was the atmosphere. The establishment itself is really cute and aesthetically pleasing which is always a plus. read more

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First off, Ivan the bartender was the light at the end of the tunnel of this sad excuse for Mexican/chinese fusion. The building and decor is fun, vibrant, and the fact that it was once a mechanic shop added a bit of an edge. Service was good, not the best, but good. I cannot speak on the service that much as the interaction between the server and our table was minimal and she decided to, what it seems, give up in the end. Moving forward from this, the food, oh boy.. THE FOOD. We were asked if this was our first time, and it was, we were then explained that it is a restaurant serving fusion cuisine in a family style format. If you are familiar with family style, you would know this means bigger plates that can feed well .. a family. This in the end was not the case, and taking to account the taste, portions, and price.. it was not up to par. Granted, I have had taken a few losses secondary to my reliance on Yelp, but given the great reviews and 4 star rating, I was surprised once I had a taste. Wonton chips, nothing to ride home about, served with a tomatillo salsa (best thing we had), chipotle (maybe) salsa, and what we now know was a duck sauce (no good). Now we proceed to the $17 (2) duck tacos, on raw homemade tortillas.. no char.. just raw masa. Picture a Betty Crocker, slow cooked duck served on a raw tortilla.. dripping in sauce.. the whole flavor profile was flat .. no depth.. no play in texture.. just sad, sticky, wet taco. The finally to this culinary journey were the bao buns. Mind you, these were comped from the check, I believe the server was under the impression that we grew impatient due to the wait, but this was not the case, we just asked if they were coming after this dish. These were not terrible, just average, bun not fluffy (maybe frozen), pork was dry. At this point, I was not surprised. In the end, we came and did what we needed to do, supply our body with some substances to proceed with our night. Once again, thank you Ivan for your friendly conversation and positive attitude. Apologies that I will not be returning, but I wish you the best. read more

Been here a few times and it's really good! I would say the food was a little spicier the second time I went but still delicious. I'm sad they took the crab Rangoon dip off the menu - I had dreams about that dip and they deff need to bring it back. Our server was attentive and good with recommendations. Drinks - I loved the spiked agua Fresca with mezcal. Soo good. I didn't know they had a downstairs part which is a vibe (all red and romantic/moody) compared to upstairs portion. Can't wait to go back and will be on the lookout for them to bring back the crab Rangoon dip. read more

The atmosphere here is top notch! The vibes are high and the food is amazing! You can't go wrong with picking anything off the menu! It's all sooo good! The service is even better! read more

We were the first Sunday brunch customers at La chinesca this weekend. We didn't know that brunch literally started this weekend so the place wasn't that busy. But it SHOULD be because the food was absolutely AMAZING! Breakfast potatoes are a hit or miss, and these were a HIT! I got the crispy potatoes tacos and added eggs (ask for it) and my girlfriend got the steak burrito which was delicious. Everything was great.....except that they don't have coffee. But that's ok, not a big deal, but I hope they add it to the brunch menu. read more

La Chinesca - Crispy potatoes breakfast tacos with eggs added - New Mexican Cuisine Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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If you're like me and have always wanted to visit LA but never got around to it, this place is the next best thing. La Chinesca is serving up some killer Mexi-Cali-Asian fusion out of an old Jiffy Lube and the West Coast vibes are lit - literally. If you're lucky like we were one fine Saturday evening, you'll sit on the patio under hot pink neon tube lights and catch the setting sun on Spring Garden, a mild buzz from the perfectly executed margarita coursing through your veins. The patterned afghan blankets and throw pillows give it that extra balmy summer night feel, but what's a summer night without some drunken grub? The food is bomb. While the random chill in the air (we came in early June) would have paired nicely with a piping hot bowl of the lo mein that sounded amazing and also a good indicator of their cuisine, we stuck with the basics and opted for the fried wonton chips to start and quesabirria and crispy potato tacos as entrees. Those wonton chips and salsas brimming with tang and flavor should be on every bar menu in the city. I could fill up on just those and wash it down with a margarita. The crispy potatoes were also uber flavorful, but more akin to homefries you'd get with eggs (not a bad thing!), but I don't think they necessarily belong in a taco. But the star of the show was that quesabirria taco. Crispy crunchy unctuous bites of marinated braised beef dripping in grease, a delectable au jus and melty sharp cheese all swathed in an oily corn tortilla, it's the thing of dreams. (Also, I've yet to try South Philly Barbacoa for comparison - I know, blasphemy - so don't @ me.) I'll be back! EDIT: It's a flat/smooth indoor to outdoor establishment, so good for wheelchairs. Took a little bit of moving chairs around/navigating the outdoor patio but overall a success. read more

What a great new spot on Spring Garden! It felt like a little oasis, tucked into an old Jiffy Lube. If you didn't know it was in Philly, you would think you were in California. The wait staff was wonderful, very attentive and patient. They will explain all the menu items and give suggestions for drinks. I had a tequila watermelon that was incredibly refreshing. The food is tapas style so you can try lots of things easily. Highlight for me was the fish tacos. The beer batter was light and flavorful and the fish was flaky and cooked perfectly. We also enjoyed the bean curd- probably the most interesting thing I've had in awhile. They didn't have a ton of desserts to choose from but that wasn't an issue for us. Overall a fun, creative new spot that I will be returning to soon! read more

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