This beloved Mexican restaurant serves exceptional comfort cuisine that’s known for its flavor and generous portions. Their delicious costillas, picaderas, and enchiladas are sensational — perfect for lunch or dinner (or leftovers for the next day).

Long-time El Rey chef Dionicio Jiménez opened his brightly tiled Kensington operation last year to much acclaim, including a nomination for a 2023 James Beard Award for best chef, Mid-Atlantic. Jiménez doesn’t mind playing with tradition; at Cantina La Martina, he marries flavors from other cuisines with Mexican staples for delicious outcomes such as Chilaquiles Italianos — crispy tortillas with salsa verde, Parmesan, herbs, eggs, and burrata — and Trufa y Remolacha Asada, a tilapia cured in lime juice and finished with cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, and black truffles.

This modern Mexican spot is in the predominantly Russian and Polish neighborhood of Port Richmond where few Latin American restaurants have gone before. Nemi offers an elegant dining experience complete with unexpected dishes like duck confit for two and bright ceviche with a mango passionfruit puree. The bar complements the refined menu with a wide selection of margaritas and cocktails made with house syrups and fresh juices.

LMNO is a restaurant, lounge, book store, and art gallery all rolled into one. This STARR Restaurants business in Fishtown strongly emphasizes fresh, seafood-centric dishes characteristic of coastal Baja rather than the Central Mexico-influenced fare you’ll typically find elsewhere in Philly. After dinner on a Friday or Saturday, enter the nondescript door in the back and hang out in the dark, cozy, no-phones-allowed Listening Room where guest DJs spin vinyl.

A new gem in Fishtown, Añejo shines with their tasty tacos, empanadas, and tostados. But their standout entrées, such as their Spanish rock octopus, sizzling lamb chops al carbon, and flavorful salmon a la veracruzana, are worth trying immediately.

The four siblings who run Blue Corn, an Italian market operation, put their family recipes on full display. Tortillas, huaraches, chips, and even cheesecake are made with special blue maize for which the restaurant is named, from their hometown of San Mateo Ozolco in Puebla. Daily specials and a full bar round out the experience at this homey and inviting restaurant.

This hot spot is know for their overflowing margaritas, but the food at El Mezcal is what makes diners stay. Eat the La Montada (fresh huarache, grilled ribeye, cactus, fried beans, huitaloche, Oaxacan cheese, salsa yucateca), tlacoyos (mushroom al mojo, fried beans, pico de gallo, radish), and don’t ignore their impressive aguachile bar (that includes shrimp, red snapper, soy, chiltepan, and lime).

James Beard Award winner Cristina Martinez’s newer Mexican restaurant excels with an expansive menu that perfects classics with her signature flare. Taste their enchiladas verdes chicken (three tortillas filed with chicken, topped with green salsa, grated cheese and crema) or delicious pancita (Menudo) tripe stew that’s served with tortillas and garnishes.

A popular neighborhood Mexican restaurant, Mole Poblano specializes in exceptional burritos that include their tasty Chihuahua cheese and signature mole poblano sauce. Try their pescado ahogado, a delicious dish that is served with tomato onions and jalapeño.

Cemita is at the center of this beautiful all-day BYOB cafe just off Passyunk Square. It’s the name of the signature sandwich as well as the bread itself, made by chef Juan Carlos Aparicio (who developed Parc’s highly regarded baguette). Try the choriqueso featuring house-made pork chorizo or the arrachera tatemada al pastor, which includes cured beef and recado negro, a spice from the Yucatán. El Chingon also serves incredible starters like lamb meatballs and rabbit tinga tostadas. Bring a six-pack of your favorite beer and order some michelada mix-ins to round out your meal. 

What started as chef Jennifer Zavala’s unlicensed tamale pop-up in a van grew into a permanent BYOB location and fast favorite on East Passyunk Avenue. Focused on punchy flavors and fair wages, Juana Tamale boasts long lines and some of the best birria tacos in town, not to mention piping hot bowls of birria ramen, a fantastic fusion. Although this is mainly a takeout restaurant, there are a couple of tables if you can’t wait to tuck into the tamales that started it all.