Mixto Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (1416) • $$

"Came here with a party of 20 and they sat us upstairs. Service was fast and efficient with drinks, apps, and entrees.Mixto - great way to try a lot of different things. Empanadas we're nice but not the flakey kindGuacamole - pretty standardOctopus - thinly sliced a charred. Was not expecting the potatoSeafood mofongo - flavor was nice and I liked the texture of the mofongo. Seafood was a bit over cooked though and some of my mussels were bad"

El Merkury

★★★★☆ 4.3 (205) • $$

"I've heard about this place a few times and finally stopped in to grab a quick lunch to-go. The vibe inside seemed very clean and casual. I got two taquitos to-go- one chicken and cheese and one chile chicken. First of all, I was thrilled that this was only $7. I didn't know lunches under $10 still existed in Philly. I was even happier that it was delicious. The chile chicken is actually spicy but in a fun way- not in the way that makes you cry. The service was super quick, too. I think I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. Will definitely be back to try more from the menu."

Heffe

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (264)

"They make their empanadas in an old shed right on the lot which is a little horrifying but they look quite good lol. Bring cash, wear a coat or sunglasses cos you're sitting outside and be patient, the kitchen does a fine job on their tacos and that fine job takes a while. Not cheap at $6 to 8 per taco, each a single soft corn shell. No veggie taco although there is a veggie burrito. Bring a drink from the Tiki bar next door!I tried the crispy chicken tacos, maybe because it was the first menu item and I couldn't make up my mind? Those shells were absolutely stuffed with meat and ancho mayo, topped with shredded white cheese & a little lettuce, served with a lime wedge. Excellent, $12 with tax, that seemed a little high."

Aqimero

★★★★☆ 3.8 (191) • $$$

"Came here for brunch on a Sunday and had a pleasant time!We did the endless brunch option but I personally am not a fan of champagne so I ordered cocktails a la carte while my friends did mimosas and Bellinis. I wish they would add bloodys or another breakfast beverage as an option for non champagne drinkers - it is the ritz after all, I expected more! The food presentation was on point. Very aesthetic dishes but the quality was here and there. The pastry basket was pretty average nothing memorable. The parfait however I thought would be average as well was actually delicious! The toast sampler was tasty, I wish the mushroom was more of a pate than chunks of mushrooms. We also got the burger; huevos rancheros and crab cake Benedict as the entrees. They were all tasty! But I wish the crab wasn't fried and had more lump crab. Overall, service was decent and food was good. I had a nice time but I honestly expected more of a wow factor since it's at the ritz"

Jezabel's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (146) • $

"tl;dr this quaint West Philly cafe hosts a daily assortment of empanadas and Argentinian pastriesJezabel Careaga's store-and-cafe has been widely lauded by critics and amateur foodies alike. The multi-purpose space expands across the first floors of 3 adjacent row homes, accentuating the intimate and homey feels of each room. The space is minimalistic, with unadorned white plaster walls, sleek wooden furnishings, and accent planting. Afternoon sunlight blasts through the large bay windows. Stick to the bakery display room to grab-and-go, or venture into the further rooms to sit and snack. The middle room is highlighted by an open kitchen -- designed for cooking lessons -- with a large center island surrounded by industrial ovens and tall shelves of ingredients and glassware. Wooden booths are complemented by velvet pillows, and the tables are each decked with a woven napkins basket. Further inward, the third room is sprinkled with home goods and local crafts.My partner and I arrived for late lunch on a weekday, and the air was quiet and relaxed. We browsed the pastry counter and opted for a variety of that piqued our interest, including empanadas, mafaldas (medialunas with ham and cheese), Escabeche de Berenjena (Italian pickled eggplant), and chimichurri. Of note, the 'menu' was unclear, even within the restaurant -- our strategy was to guesstimate an appropriately filling assortment of goods. All of the pastries were heated to order, recapturing a warmth and flakiness at the expense of drying out -- a risk soundly mitigated by the sides. The moderately large bowl of chunky eggplant, peppered with spice and served cold, provided a nice acidity to balance out the rich empanadas. On the other hand, the chimichurri was strongly cilantro-y and, while adding a pleasant texture and aroma to pastry-heavy bites, was otherwise forgettable.Each empanada sported a unique, intricate wrapping design. The Fugazza (leeks, sweet onions, and cheese) was the highlight of our meal, with a dynamic array of flavors and textures. In a close second was the Humita (spicy corn and cheese), accented by the pop of sweet corn complemented by rich, stringy cheese. Less memorable were the Carne (spicy ground beef) and Pollo (spicy shredded chicken and olives) varieties; while both were stuffed generously with meat, the flavors were less innovative. Finally, the mafaldas were loaded heavily (or, as generously as a small medialuna can withstand) with slices of sweet ham and cheese, then baked until melty.The service was friendly and laid-back. As a whole, our items ranged from ok to great, and our meal fell short of being truly satiating. At $28 (after tax and tip), our check totaled on the pricier side for cafe fare. While the relaxed vibes and authentic eats are well worth an occasional visit, I don't see Jezabel's entering my regular routine."

Bodega Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (121) • $$

"Bodega Bar is one of my favorite HH spot in Center City. One of my friend had suggested that we should do our girls night out here at Bodega's. I love a Happy Hour menu consists of more than one cocktail drinks and plenty of food options. And you know what's better than the extensive menu? A reservation!!! I was able to make a reservation online for us. Of course Bodega's had added a cherry on top too. Two of us were able to be seated and order first before our last party arrived, hooray no more hungry tummies while waiting for friends who were late lol. We were starving, so we started without our last friend since she's late. Couldn't resist the Blood Orange Margaritas, so we order two. Besides the drinks, we also order N1 Queso and Chips and Picadillo Beef Skewers. The beef skewer is to die for, soooo freaking tender and flavors. By the time the last party arrived, we already had three orders of the Picadillo Beef Skewers lol. And yes we had order more after our friend arrived because she was also hooked lol. We decided to pig-out for the night, so we also order Creamy Veggie Empanadas, Casa Guacamole, Lollipop Chicken Sticks, Cuban Pork Skewers, Shrimp Skewers, Calamari Frita and Dos Tacos. We had agreed the stars of the night were Blood Orange Margaritas and Picadillo Beef Skewers. Everything else is pretty mediocre but Creamy Veggie Empanadas, those were quite disgusting for us. I had such a great time at Bodega's last time, I decided to go back again two weeks later. Yes, I'm totally addicted lol! I had order the exact same Happy Hour items with the Buffalino Wings. Of course, I left the veggie empanadas out. And this time, we added Salmon A La Plancha and Garlic Shrimp & Spinach. We agree that the salmon is pretty bland and not worth the near $30 price tag. But the Garlic Shrimp and Spinach were absolutely delicious. With that being said, I'm sure Bodega's Bar will see me soon:)"

Calle Del Sabor

★★★★☆ 4.3 (78)

"The friends I was staying with a couple of weekends ago live right next to this establishment. The restaurant is a walk up window. You just go up, give your order then wait around for it to be made and handed to you. There is just one, cheap looking chair outside of the place for the patrons to sit and wait so when you come for your food just keep in mind that you most likely won't have anywhere to sit while waiting. I decided to order a three little pigs tacos (which comes with 3 tacos). And my friend ordered al pastor tacos (which also came with 3 tacos). Getting our food took around 10 minutes so the wait wasn't bad at all especially given it was a miserably hot day that day. The three little pigs tacos were filled to the brim of a large flour tortilla. It was also stuffed with meats, cheap queso, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. The flavor of the tacos was very Americanized (which is obvious from the ingredients used) and since it was such a large taco it just felt very overbearing and nothing to get too excited over. Additionally, I tried the al pastor tacos which were also not that good. There was just way too much sauce for the meat and just felt like the tacos were not satisfying. The quality that I experienced was also disappointing given all of the glowing reviews on here. All in all, this place was just ok."

La Cocina del Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (38)

"Reliable. Good portions. Tasty. Go to place for fast Mexican food! Neighborhood gem! We have ordered from here at least 3 times now and they've been consistent. Definitely worth supporting this business."

Izlas Latin Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (36)

"So it's late night. I'm starving and so I hit yelp to find anything open. Surprisingly I found this place and it has really good reviews. I wasn't expecting much but I got a lot of yumminess!!!! I ordered rice and beans with avocado and chicken wings and I'm so happy I did everything was delicious. Thank you so much! Keep up the deliciousness!"

El Taco

★★★★☆ 4.2 (18)

"Found parking outside (illegally)Cute lil taco spot by UPenn. I wasn't impressed by the beef taco, felt like there was entirely too much meat on the taco. They have a nice lil sit down area inside. Staff was nice and patient. Drink: Horchata"

Fabio's Chicken Restaurant Takeout

★★★★☆ 3.9 (18) • $

"Was taken here today by a Colombian friend who needed to satisfy a craving for something cheap and delicious. This place reminds me of Nanzhou, a Yelp favorite, because of the heaping helpings you get for next to nothing. I got the oxtail soup (Sancocho) with extra rice and plantains to see how it would differ from the Korean-style stuff I was used to at home. Aside from a thicker, stew-like broth and beefier potatoes, it was just as delicious. My friend got a flat steak (Carne Asada) that I think he ate in just under 10 seconds. Remember Yelp, you're missing out on a lot if you don't visit NE philly once in a while, especially this place."

CYM Island Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (20) • $

"This is a local mom and pop shop, where you run to when you really can't get home for some good Spanish cooking, but are CRAVING some rice and beans. The price is really cheap as in most Latin restaurants and the food is seasoned really well. I had the pork (lechon/pernil) and kindly asked the lady to lather some of the onions from the yucca and she was happy to comply. We also had arroz con gandules (yellow rice with black eyed peas) and sudao de pollo (chicken stew) which were great. The hubby loves the chicken stew because of the seasoning and because he swears it's healthier than the other fried meats in the place. I wasn't particularly impressed with the rice, it was more on the bland side but not terrible. Overall, it is a great place to come grab a quick bite or something to go. They have one picnic table outside for eating, but other than that take out only. They accept credit cards and parking isn't terrible around here either."

La Parada II

★★★★☆ 3.8 (10) • $$

"When craving for Latin food, this is it! Good selection of food that is already cooked so it is quick and easy. I can cook most of this myself, but on those days I do not feel like it, this is where we go. Great sizes that can feed a family of 4 for less than $20. I usually order the roast pork with red rice and beans, and mangu, if they have any left, it goes quick. Also, very very clean, which I can be very picky about. This is a take out only, unless you eat on the tables outside, which is still take out."

Kaku Latin Food

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"I've had these pictures to post this review for so long. after a long ride from new jersey, we had to get some lunch so we found this corner with a small shop selling lunch specials. we had an amazing experience with the two ladies working there. they entertained us, served us a mean plate, and even helped us with drinks. they had a variety of fresh juices ranging from passion fruit to guanabana. it was absolutely delicious and a great lunch choice. love from jersey!!"

La Esquina del Bronco

★★★★☆ 3.6 (5)

"Open when I needed it most. Wanted to get some rice and beans and meat in my diet and this spot gave me a good pick. The chicken and pork here are cooked in different styles, but every dish tasted well flavored, coming with a fresh mini salad (if you ask) and amazing rice. My favorite two parts, though, were sweet corn tamales and the potato ball. OMG, what? I had tamales many times in my life, but this tastes like corn bread, steamed, with fresh corn in it too. They didn't have it the second time I came it, but it seems like they swap out or run out of appetizers sometimes, so get there earlier in the day to check it out. The potato ball and alcapurrias speak for themselves- potato, deep fried, sometimes with ground beef inside. Ask for gravy if you want it extra flavorful. YUM!Some tips- First off, since it's cafeteria style, don't expect it to be piping hot at the end of the day. You may have to come home and heat it up. I came around lunch time and was able to eat everything in the park on the way home at a good temperature. Since it's a small operation, results may vary. Respect the neighborhood and this spot and try it out when you can!"