Greg's Philly Latin/Mexican Food Faves

Alma de Cuba

Rating:  
★★★★★
Cost:  
$$$
1623 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
https://almadecubarestaurant.com/

Alma de Cuba is a Stephen Starr restaurant. That means a high probability of delicious food and a memorable ambiance. You get both of them here. From starters like ceviches and Royal Palm Dates (almond-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, on top of Belgian endive with coconut gelée & cabrales blue cheese) to entrees like the succulent Short Rib Ropa Vieja, you will be blown away by the flavors. Save room for dessert: the Chocolate Cigar (almond cake with chocolate mousse in the shape of a cigar served with dulce de leche ice cream) is almost too pretty to eat!

Amada

Rating:  
★★★★★
Cost:  
$$$
217-219 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
https://philadelphia.amadarestaurant.com/

Amada is one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. A Spanish tapas restaurant, it is the jewel in the crown of restaurateur Jose Garces, the Iron Chef with an impressive restaurant empire. I love going to Amada for two reasons: (1) food is served family style, so everyone in your party will have a shared experience of having tried exactly the same things, and (2) you will have so many small plates that, even if you have some that don't blow you away, you will still have so many small plates that will blow you away that you will leave blown away!

I remember the first time that I went to Amada and had the Ensalada de Jamon: a salad with Serrano ham, figs, cabrales blue cheese, and spiced almonds. When you order a salad, you think that you are going to receive a bowl of green stuff. Not so with this one. What is delivered to your table is what looks like a meat log. You're thinking "What??" The thinly sliced Serrano ham is wrapped around the other salad ingredient (lightly dressed) and presented on a plate. You dig in, destroying the meat log illusion, and get a wonderful symphony of savory / salty / sweet / bitter all going on in your mouth at once. This was one of the dishes that garnered Jose Garces the Iron Chef title on The Food Network.

An amazing selection of cured meats and cheeses (you must try the Manchego with lavender truffled honey) as well as the meats, seafood, and poultry grilled "a la planxa" are mouthwateringly delicious. If you like garlic and seafood, the Gamas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) is a must, as are the Albondigas (lamb meatballs with shaved Manchego cheese and truffles).

Wonderful Spanish wines (try the red Rioja or Ribera del Duero), great Sangria, and wonderful cocktails like Tie Me Up / Tie Me Down (vodka, lemon, and fresh rosemary) round out the experience.

Buena Onda

Rating:  
★★★★☆
Cost:  
$
1901 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
https://www.buenaondatacos.com/

Another Jose Garces restaurant, but cheap, cheap, cheap. Street tacos in the style of Baja, Mexico with the quality and rich flavor and beautiful presentation. Prices are reasonable, and they have happy hour specials that are crazy cheap. Buena Onda ("Good Vibe") is a stone's throw from the Barnes Foundation. Go to the latter first thing in the morning and follow up with lunch at the former afterwards. That's my idea of a perfect morning!

Cuba Libre

Rating:  
★★★☆☆
Cost:  
$$$
10 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
https://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/en/philadelphia/

A wonderful Cuban restaurant in Old City, Cuba Libre has great food and great mojitos. The ambiance is so fun. It's worth the trip.

El Rey

Rating:  
★★★★☆
Cost:  
$$
2013 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
https://elreyrestaurant.com/

A great Stephen Starr Mexican joint that looks like a throwback, cheesy dive restaurant.  Don't let that fool you, as it is intentional. It is meant to look like a cheese throwback. The high quality of the food and drinks will convince you that the dive ambiance is a show. The food is great, the margaritas are wonderful, and they have huge discounts for happy hour on certain beers, margaritas, and tacos.

El Vez

Rating:  
★★★★☆
Cost:  
$$$
121 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
https://elvezrestaurant.com/

As a Stephen Starr Mexican restaurant, you get the double dose of amazing food and amazing ambiance. A wide and varied selection of guacamoles, tacos, enchiladas, and entrees make your choice difficult. The good news is that I have never had anything that did not amaze at El Vez. I think about this restaurant and all I can do is smile.  You will, too.

La Calaca Feliz

Rating:  
★★★★☆
Cost:  
$$
2321 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
http://www.lacalacafeliz.com/

This wonderful Mexican restaurant is near both the Philadelphia Museum of Art and my home. It is also the place that makes the best guacamole in Philadelphia and wonderful (gluten-free) enchiladas. Their margaritas are great, too. It's always fresh, always flavorful, and always fun – a great neighborhood restaurant.

Lolita

Rating:  
★★★★☆
Cost:  
$$
106 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
http://www.lolitaphilly.com/

From the powerhouse couple that is Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, Lolita is a great Mexican restaurant in the "Gayborhood" section of Philly. A tremendous selection of guacamole, salsa, tacos, enchiladas, salads, and did I mention margaritas?? Lolita is a small restaurant that will leave you with a memorable experience.

Tinto

Rating:  
★★★★★
Cost:  
$$$
114 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130
https://philadelphia.tintorestaurant.com/

The Basque region of northern Spain shares a small border with France, so the theory goes that Basque cuisine shares features of both Spanish and French cuisine. I don't really care if the theory is true, I just know that I love Tinto, Iron Chef Jose Garces' Basque-themed restaurant.

Tinto holds a special place in my heart. A recent experience with my Fiancée involved putting our fate in the hands of the chef's tasting menu, which was made all the wiser by our decision to go with the wine pairings for each course. Highlights of that meal include Brochetas de Cordero (lamb brochettes with eggplant, bacon, and sherry jus), Pulpo (Spanish octopus with smoked green olive aioli, crispy potato, and tomato escabeche), and Vieiras con Guisantes (scallops, peas, toasted bomba rice cream, and wild mushrooms). Quite frankly, those dishes alone would have made this one of the top ten meals of my life.

That said, it got better: the star of the evening was the Entrecôte (beef tenderloin with seared foie gras, broccoli rabe, Roquefort cheese, and sherry & prune jus). Sorry...having a moment...

With the dessert course, we shared a glass of PX (Pedro Ximénez) sherry made from overly ripe grapes so that it tastes like liquid (and alcoholic) raisins.

That meal was truly one of the best that I have ever had. Thank you, Chef Garces.