Rebecca DavisTracking down a great Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia is half the fun of eating in this city. The local scene runs from lively, music-filled cantinas to quieter rooms serving slow-cooked regional plates that you don’t see everywhere.
Some nights you want hand-pressed street tacos. Other nights, you want a long dinner with mezcal and a mole that someone clearly fussed over.
To make the search easier, I spent some time eating across town with friends, family, and a few patient coworkers. Here are the spots that genuinely stood out.
How much does it cost to dine at a Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia?
Eating at a Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia usually costs around $15 to $40 per person, based on whether you stick to tacos or build a full sit-down meal with drinks.
| Menu Item | Average Cost |
| Single Taco | $4 – $6 |
| Burritos and Quesadillas | $14 – $18 |
| Entrees (Fajitas and Steaks) | $21 – $26 |
| Margaritas (Classic or Seasonal) | $9 – $18 |
1. El Vez
Website: https://elvezrestaurant.com/
Address: 121 S. 13th Street
Contact: (215) 928-9800
Hours:
Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM;
Dinner: Sunday-Friday, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Friday-Saturday, 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Brunch: Saturday-Sunday, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Walking into this lively Midtown Village spot, you get hit with a fun, eclectic vibe right away. As one of STARR Restaurants’ standout properties, El Vez plays with classic Mexican flavors and adds cool twists pulled from Tijuana street culture.
If you like trying modern takes on familiar dishes, you can jump straight into their fusion plates instead of sticking to the traditional fare. Their bar pours hand-squeezed lime juice margaritas by the glass or pitcher, which is a nice touch for groups.
The setup gives you plenty of indoor seating plus breezy outdoor spots, so it works for big get-togethers or a quick weeknight bite.
Just a heads up, the modern fusion angle might miss the mark if you’re after strictly traditional plates, and it can get loud once the bar crowd picks up.
Customer Reviews
Highly recommend
From the moment you walk in you are greeted warmly. Our server was “Jelly” she was awesome. The food was delicious fast service but not rushed at all. If in Philadelphia I highly recommend this spot if you like Mexican and good drinks.
– John Fesler | Google Review
Amazing foods
Amazing environment and amazing foods. If you are looking for Mexican food in Philly, I would highly recommend El Vez. We made reservation, and got our table without waiting. We ordered a pitcher of Margaritas, one cocktail, chips and salsa, tuna-coconut cheviche, and four tacos. The services are very good.
– Terry Lum | Google Review
2. El Fuerte de Loreto Philly
Website: http://www.elfuertedeloretophilly.com/
Address: 1412 S 5th Street
Contact: (215) 433-9131 | (445) 285-1214
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Brunch and Dinner); Saturday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Brunch)
If you like a cozy neighborhood vibe, this small South Philly spot is a real find.
Run by the owner Jonny, the kitchen turns out homestyle cooking with playful Italian and Hispanic fusion plates.
A friend of mine eats here almost every week and raves about how the portion sizes give you serious value for your money. The menu jumps from comforting, authentic enchiladas to surprise dishes like spaghetti tossed with fresh crab meat.
It also runs as a bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spot, so you can bring your own drinks and keep the bill manageable.
The main drawback is that the menu is light on strict vegan options, so plant-based eaters might have to settle for sides. The dining room is also small, so it can fill up fast on weekends.
Customer Reviews
Tasted and smelled like home cooking
Jonny and his staff treated our family to an unlikely Thanksgiving Day treat. Although traditional turkey dinner with all the fixins was on the menu, we went for Mexican and loved it! From queso fundido to octopus salad; mussels marinara to strip steak and spaghetti with crab, our combinations all tasted and smelled like home cooking – not my home, by the way, but a welcoming neighbor sharing his culture and craft. Do yourself a favor and visit. Salud!
– Joe Guastella | Google Review
Classic Mexican choices
I would give them 6 stars, fresh, friendly and fun. Every person working said hello, refilled drinks, checked to make sure everything was in order. Food was fantastic with a great combination of traditional breakfast and classic Mexican choices.
– Anthony Pirrotta | Google Review
3. Mission Taqueria
Website: http://www.missiontaqueria.com/
Address: 1516 Sansom Street
Contact: (215) 383-1200
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM
This place greets you with a lively, modern look that instantly lifts your mood.
Guided by Mexican spirits expert David Suro, Mission Taqueria works well as a hub for fresh, gluten-friendly dining and an exclusive mezcal tasting club.
Almost the entire menu is naturally safe for gluten-sensitive guests, featuring house-made masa that they even sell by the pound if you want to cook at home.
You can also pick up some fun branded items during your visit, like their signature hot sauce.
When you go here, save room for dessert. Even if you’re skipping the traditional cheesecakes in Philadelphia, their original treats are worth ordering.
One catch: the kitchen sticks to pretty rigid prep, so you can’t ask them to leave dairy out of popular items like the empanadas. Their listed hours also skip Sunday and Monday, so plan around that.
Customer Reviews
Recommended 100%
Found this restaurant by chance and I loved it. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, and the food 😋. I had the tortilla soup and carne asada and carnitas tacos. Also the tortilla embarazada. All recommended 100%. The prices affordable. Great experience.
– Tovar Rozo Laura Elena | Google Review
The food is fantastic
Absolutely amazing gluten-free menu! Highly recommend the shrimp tacos, churros, and a spicy jalapeño margarita. Our family loves Mission Taqueria – all the staff are friendly, the food is fantastic, and it’s in a great location.
– Maureen Stanley | Google Review
4. Tequilas Casa Mexicana
Website: http://www.tequilasphilly.com/
Address: 1602 Locust Street
Contact: (215) 546-0181
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM; Friday-Saturday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Stepping into this Locust Street venue, you get an upscale dining room lit up by beautiful chandelier lighting.
Under the careful eye of Chef Fabián Delgado Padilla, the kitchen uses refined, traceable techniques that bridge Guadalajara traditions with the local food scene.
I stopped in for a mid-week dinner not long ago and was genuinely impressed by their interactive custom taco concept, which lets you build a plate around big, flavorful main courses.
They also shake up some great regional drink pairings that match local beers with premium mezcals or tequilas. The dessert menu stands out too, packed with creative, house-made sweets instead of standard factory options.
Because of the high-end specialty drinks and refined menu, a night out here lands on the pricier side for a casual dinner. The dinner-only hours also rule it out if you want a midday meal.
Customer Reviews
The best authentic Mexican food
An incredible gem in the heart of Philly. The best authentic Mexican food I have had outside of Mexico, all served up by the remarkable staff. The owner’s son came to greet us and told us about the history of the place, and took very good care of us. Would definitely come back!
– Melissa de Waal | Google Review
The best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted
Incredible dining experience with seasoned servers and the best Mexican food I’ve ever tasted. Went here for my brother’s 21st and the entire staff made sure we felt welcomed and celebrated. Fantastic experience, loved the molcajete and the ceviche.
– Sophia DeGrands | Google Review
5. El Rey
Website: http://elreyrestaurant.com/
Address: 2013 Chestnut Street
Contact: (215) 563-3330
Hours:
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Friday-Saturday, 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Brunch: Saturday-Sunday, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Finding a fun, retro-inspired hangout gets easy once you stumble onto this vibrant Center City spot.
Run as another concept from STARR Restaurants, El Rey turns an old roadside diner setup into a boisterous cantina serving dishes from Puebla and Veracruz. The look is part of the fun, with kitschy vintage movie posters and folk art accents on every wall.
If you swing by on the weekend, the brunch is solid, especially their decadent French toast. They also run a stellar happy hour that pulls in a fun crowd with affordable draft beers and classic margaritas.
Plus, they have a great private group dining space that fits up to thirty guests for celebrations, much like some of the classic diners in Philadelphia.
Just be ready for a high-energy, bustling noise level that makes quiet conversations a bit of a stretch. Weekday lunch is also off the table since they only open at 4 PM.
Customer Reviews
Best local off-street Mexican street fare
Visited El Rey recently for the first time in years. Still the same wonderful place, dark and dank vibe, like transported to modern day Center City from West Texas circa 1974. With a soundtrack of honky-tonk jukebox music and prison art on the walls, one feels like they are in a Quentin Tarantino movie, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. The food, best local off-street Mexican street fare. Great bar. Friendly staff right out of Central Casting. No regrets.
– Eric Ascalon | Google Review
11/10 staff and 11/10 food
We held a Board Dinner event here on a Saturday night in July for 11 people. Had a family style dinner and I can’t tell you how amazing the food and the staff was. It felt like the food never ended and was a wonderful time from start to finish. I even had board members telling me that this was the BEST Mexican food they had ever had. Felt at home here and can’t recommend it enough. 11/10 staff and 11/10 food! Shoutout to the drink quality and the mushroom and cheese dish (so good!).
– KFullerton ICMA | Google Review
