South Philly Taqueria Tour

 

 South Philly Taqueria Tour [15:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We love good Mexican food. There’s something about the variety of flavors and the relaxed dining style that we both really enjoy. So on a recent afternoon we decided to explore several area Taquerias to find the best… 

After considering our options, we selected three Taquerias to visit; since menus can often be quite expansive we limited ourselves to using the ubiquitous taco and elusive tamale as a litmus test for the restaurants. Generally, tacos can be found everywhere, but it takes more than just stuffing a tortilla to make a good one. Furthermore, tamales are difficult and time consuming to make, so anyone who takes the time to make a good one certainly cares. 

Stop # 1: Pico De Gallo 

This unobtrusive eatery on the corner of 15th & South could easily be overlooked except for the large sign hanging over the entryway. Entering the cozy restaurant we were warmly greeted by our waitress “Katie” who ushered us to a table. The dining room, while small is comfortable and contains about a dozen tables featuring an eclectic mix of Mexicana. Pouring over the menu and munching on the complimentary chips, we anticipated a winner. 

Consistent with our theme, we selected the Baja Fish Tacos, The Mexican Puffy Tacos and the Organic Jalapeno and Black Bean Tamale. As we waited, Katie stopped to chat and we learned that Pico De Gallo should be adding a liquor license sometime in the near future (there should be a law that beer must be served with Mexican food). In addition, when she learned that we were on a mission to find tacos & tamales, Katie made a few helpful suggestions. 

Our meal arrived promptly and we dove in. The Fish Tacos were the consensus favorite featuring sautéed Tilapia, Pico De Gallo and diced Papaya for a splash of color. This dish offered fresh flavor with a touch of sweetness from the Papaya. The Puffy Tacos were good but not great; the seasoned pork was excellent but the presentation was a bit too plain for me. Finally, the Tamale was good but offered little filling and was mainly corn meal; the accompanying refried beans were some of the best we’ve had. 

Overall, the combination of the food, atmosphere and friendly service makes this place a winner; it didn’t hurt that the entire check was $20 either. This place is ideal for couples and smaller groups, but large groups may be problematic. I can understand some of the criticisms made by Messy & Picky, but I think the upside far outweighs the downside. We’ll definitely go back. 

Pico De Gallo is located at 1501 South St Philadelphia, PA 19146 (215) 772-3003 

Stop #2: Taqueria La Veracruzana 

Continuing our Taqueria Tour, a quest for tacos and tamales, our second stop was Taqueria La Veracruzana at 908 Washington Avenue. Surprisingly, this spot was busy on a rain drenched Sunday afternoon. Light on atmosphere, this Taqueria serves plain and simple Mexican food. After helping ourselves to a table, our waitress quickly greeted us with menus and soon returned with complimentary chips and salsa. A red and green salsas were both served and each was good in its own way: the red featured chipotle peppers that offer smoky and spicy flavor while the green was very herby with a twinge of heat. 

Sticking to the plan, we ordered Carnitas (Pork) and Bistek a la Parilla (Grilled Steak) Tacos as well as Tamales Verdes (Chicken Tamales in a Green Sauce). Without getting into the specifics, we were generally disappointed except for the Tamale, which was very good. Filled with chicken and an accompanying Verdes Sauce, this hunk of spicy goodness is a great value @ $1.50. 

Our experience at Taqueria La Veracruzana was not a good one. Granted, it was busy and I’ve read other reviews by those that rave about the place, but Taqueria La Veracruzana didn’t do it for us. The items worth noting are the complimentary salsas and the kickin’ Tamales Verdes. The service was good, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to overcome shortcomings in other areas. If you’re visiting the Italian Market, stop by to get some Tamales Verdes … to go. 

Taqueria La Veracruzana  is located at: 908 Washington Ave Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 465-1440 

Stop #3 La Lupe 

Just steps away from what many in Philly consider the center of the cheesesteak universe (9th & Passyunk), Stop # 3 was La Lupe. Based on our two previous stops, La Lupe was not what I expected. The shop is fresh and bright with a touch of neon, making it more reminiscent of an ice cream parlor than a Taqueria (at least those that I’ve been to). This place is built for nice weather, since the windowed walls can open up to the covered sidewalk that contains tables for outside dining. 

The menu is fairly extensive, so we had our hands full. There were 11 different types of tacos, so we had to choose quickly to prevent “paralysis by analysis” from setting in. We selected: Queso Taco – Grilled White Cheese, Barbacoa Taco – Oven Roasted Goat, Bistek Taco – Steak and an “Enchilada” Taco – spicy pork. In addition, we chose to sample one each of the tamales: Rajas – Jalapeno & Chicken and Rojos – Pork with red sauce. 

Waiting for our meal, we chatted with another guest who frequents La Lupe. During our conversation it became apparent that our friend knew the Taquerias in South Philly pretty well and he said that La Lupe is among the best. Furthermore, he pointed out that La Lupe serves some good “Eskimos” (milkshake-like drinks) including Horchata which is comprised of pureed rice and almonds mixed with water, milk and sweetener. Other flavors on the menu include: Platano (banana), Mango, Mora (blackberry) and Guayaba (Guava). As we talked, our waitress stopped by to offer us some complimentary Cantalope juice, which was tasty and refreshing. 

Our meal arrived promptly and I thought we might be overmatched: our eyes were bigger than our stomachs (the chips and salsa have may have something to do with that!) Served with sliced cucumbers and lime wedges, the tacos were attractively presented and each included a healthy dose of guacamole. The standouts included the Queso and Enchilada tacos. The Queso taco consisted of a lightly fried piece of “tropico” cheese that was browned on the outside while still gooey on the inside; the flavor was light and needed no additions like hot sauce or salsa… The Enchilada – or spicy pork tacos were full of flavor and contained higher quality meat than some of the other pork tacos that we had. The tamales were simply presented and good. Although neither of them are what I consider a standout, my favorite was the Jalapeno and Chicken, which included plenty of filling and a spicy bite. I couldn’t tell which tamale was Tushar’s favorite because he had his mouth full. 

Our experience at La Lupe was a good one. The food was very good and the taco selection alone is worth the trip. Denizen of the Philadelphia dining underworld Holly Moore gives La Lupe a rating of “Excellent” too. Although we didn’t get a chance to explore the “Eskimos,” that’s my goal for our next trip. Our waitress was timely and patient enough to shepherd us around the menu when we got confused. The entire check was $14! Finally, even though the atmosphere may not be what I expected, I really enjoyed it. We’ll definitely be back, um… maybe tomorrow. 

La Lupe is located at 1201 S 9TH St Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 551-9920 

In summary, our Philly Taqueria Tour was a lot of fun and we found some great food. Each restaurant had something good to offer: Pico De Gallo had great service & atmosphere with good food: the Fish Tacos were excellent. Taqueria La Veracruzana was pretty generic, but their Tamales Verdes seemed to be the lone bright spot. La Lupe had good service and the overall best food; the Queso taco and the “Enchilada” tacos were excellent. Plus, La Lupe gets points for the variety of their menu. 

Do you have a favorite Taqueria in Philadelphia? If so, let us know! 

[Tags]Philadelphia, South Philly, Mexican Food, Pico de Gallo, Taqueria La Veracruzana, La Lupe, podcast[/Tags]