From Birria to Al Pastor: Your Guide to Philly’s Taco Scene
In a city with such good Mexican food, you could argue that the best taco might be the one at your neighborhood joint. But these restaurants warrant a trip across the city.
“Alt pastor” tacos from Sor Ynéz / Photograph courtesy of Sor Ynéz
The taco scene in Philly is so robust, there’s an argument to be made that the best taco is the one at your neighborhood joint (and yes, you almost certainly have a great neighborhood taco spot.) You should still frequent that spot, but what about the tacos that are worth traveling to eat? Where are those places? If you’re looking for a particular kind of taco — tacos al pastor negro or a breakfast-inspired bacon, egg and cheese taco, perhaps, or a flour tortilla hugging some deep-fried shrimp and serrano salsa — use this guide to find a spot doing regional specialties so well that we’d happily recommend anyone leave their neighborhood to try them.
Philly Tacos, Point Breeze
You’d think that with a name like that, this joint would be slinging tortillas filled with chopped steak and Whiz. But don’t let the name fool you. The man behind this place is Juan Carlos Romero, Philly’s own master of al pastor. 2011 South Reed Street.
El Mezcal Cantina, Point Breeze
This sit-down Mexican restaurant opened in an old pizza shop on Point Breeze Avenue in January of 2022 with neither fanfare nor a Yelp page. You’ll see a whole range of Mexican regional influences on the menu (from coastal seafood to CDMX-style huarache) but prioritize the tiny al pastor tacos with marinated pork that’s been spinning on the trompo. These tacos come in beet-dyed corn tortillas or tortillas made with bright green hoja santa. Add on a margarita plus some punchy-acidic mazatlan aguachile and you’ve got yourself a party on a random Wednesday evening. 1260 Point Breeze Avenue.
Sor Ynéz, Kensington
Named after Mexican scholar, Sor Juana Ynéz de la Cruz, this spot in Olde Kensington is worth the trip. Tortillas are made in-house daily, and the patio is lovely, as are the well-balanced agave cocktails. 1800 North American Street.
Blue Corn, Italian Market
The cochinita pibil tacos here, Yucatán-style pork marinated in citrus and wrapped in banana leaves before being cooked low and slow, are our favorite version Blue Corn serves. But the food across the board is comforting and fresh. We also love that you can make a reservation, enjoy table service, and have a very good margarita (which isn’t necessarily the case at all of these taco spots). Note that it’s cash-only. 940 South 9th Street.
Chicken tacos at Cantina La Martina / Photograph by Hannah Albertine
Cantina La Martina, Kensington
This 2022-opened Kensington restaurant, from the former chef of El Rey and Xochitl, Dionicio Jiménez, serves brunch, lunch and dinner in a tavern-esque corner spot with a huge outdoor patio. Of the tacos we’ve tried here (a pitch-black pastor negro, and crispy fried fish), the chicken taco lined with banana peppers and a layer of melted Chihuahua cheese is the most recommendable. If you have a “chicken-tacos-are-boring” bias, tell that tiny voice in your head to chill out and give it a shot. Especially since Cantina La Martina runs a happy hour on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. when many of their tacos cost $1 and you can drink a $6 margarita. 2800 D Street.
La Chingonita, Fishtown
After operating as a truck throughout the city, Rebecca Baez and Omar Martínez opened up a brick-and-mortar in Fishtown in the spring of 2022. Now this family-owned spot is serving up tortas and tacos within a stone’s throw of the neighborhood’s main strip, which is reason enough to support them. But their Mexican food is also fresh and flavorful, especially the vegan tinga tacos and the tacos de suadero. 413 East Girard Avenue.
TacoTaco Mexicano, West Philly
Breakfast tacos aren’t a staple in Philly the way they are in Texas, but TacoTaco Mexicano offers potato, egg, and cheese-stuffed burritos and tacos every Saturday and Sunday. The eggs are fluffy, the cheese is melty, and the potatoes will give you the lift you need from whatever you did the night before. They come on corn tortillas, which isn’t very Texan, but we’re not in Texas, now are we? 261 South 44th Street.
Birria tacos at Juana Tamale / Photograph by Michael Persico
Juana Tamale, East Passyunk
Jenn Zavala opened her brick-and-mortar taco spot at the southernmost end of East Passyunk at the end of 2021, and we’re all better for it. The tacos are as good — if not better — than the ones she served all over town for years: the intersection of caramelized cheese and rich beef birria, all served with consommé for dipping. She also regularly does fun specials like Taco Bell-style Mexican pizza. Keep up with the restaurant’s Instagram page for the latest on their rotating menu. 1941 East Passyunk Avenue
Taco Riendo, Kensington
With five kinds of breakfast tacos and a list of regular tacos as long as Shaq’s arm, this is the place to check out when you’re looking for a taco in Kensington, and maybe the only place if you’re looking for tacos de cabeza. 1301 North 5th Street.
El Purepecha, Callowhill
This archetypal hole-in-the-wall taco shop moved into a sleek space near Underground Arts in Callowhill with plenty of seating. Come here for the fish tacos (and fish burritos) and shrimp tacos, and stay for pretty much anything else for which you’re in the mood. Especially if that mood involves finishing with tres leches. 315 North 12th Street.
Photograph courtesy of Que Chula es Puebla
Que Chula es Puebla, Kensington
The meat at this North 2nd Street spot is consistently flavorful (particularly the shredded chicken), but the salsa stands out even more. Choose between two options: a spicy red version made with chile de árbol, guajillo and chipotle peppers; and a salsa verde made with avocados and tangy with tomatillos. The right choice, as it turns out, is to try both. 1356 North 2nd Street.
Taqueria Morales, South Philly
Taqueria Morales is a neighborhood restaurant where everything is above and beyond — the tortillas are made by hand every day, the proteins are all seasoned and cooked perfectly, and the grilled onions served alongside all the tacos are absolutely addictive. We particularly like the chorizo tacos, which walk the delicate line between being oily and flavorful without ever overwhelming your palate. 1429 Jackson Street.
La Llorona, South Philly
We go back to La Llorona time after time for its seafood dishes, including the shrimp tacos. Deep fried to crispy, crunchy perfection and served with a raw serrano chili salsa and creamy jalapeño sauce, these are the perfect summer dinner. 1551 West Passyunk Avenue.
Buena Onda, multiple locations
Sure, there are other items on the menu here, but you can safely ignore everything but the the fresh fish tacos and fried Pacific shrimp tacos at Buena Onda. The theme here is a beach-inspired taco shack, and both of those fishy options nail the assignment. Even better, Buena Onda’s seafood is sustainably sourced according to Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines. 1901 Callowhill Street (plus the Comcast Center and the ‘burbs).
Taco Heart, Queen Village
Tex-Mex food is one of Philly’s more elusive types of Mexican food, and the lack of Texas-style breakfast tacos has haunted us for years. But no more, ever since Nano Wheedan opened Taco Heart. The tortillas are the star here, all handmade with flour and lard for an almost croissant-like flakiness. Pick up a couple of bacon, egg and cheese tacos, or order for delivery for breakfast in bed, but whatever you do, don’t forget to order a couple packs of flour tortillas to eat home. 1001 East Passyunk Avenue.
South Philly Barbacoa, Italian Market
We loved this place before all the national awards and TV shows. The beloved spot recently moved to its sister restaurant, Casa Mexico, as a pop-up food cart, but the tacos are still worth crossing the city for. You’re obviously going for barbacoa tacos — lamb that’s cooked overnight then stuffed into tortillas handmade from locally grown corn. They’re only available Friday through Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. so you’ll have to plan accordingly, but it’s all worth it. Meat this juicy deserves your time. So does owner Cristina Martinez, a Philadelphia icon and longtime advocate for food security and immigration. 1134 South 9th Street.
Additional reporting by Adeoluwa Fatukasi.
