Vetri alum Justino Jimenez struck out on his own last month with this snug new taqueria at Sixth and Oregon. The specialty is al pastor, and the menu is focused and traditional, expanded and enlivened by chef's specials that yield pleasant surprises. (A recent special quesadilla came strewn with a bounty of ramps, for example.) [Photo: Los Jimenez/Facebook]

New to the Art Museum area is this fast casual, Baja-inspired Jose Garces spot. Though its first official review was mixed at best, the early consensus is that the house-specialty fish tacos are worth a visit all on their own.

You can try Tired Hands' excellent beers at an ever-increasing number of bars within the city, but a quick trip out to Ardmore to sample them in their native environment will yield a wealth of tacos at their newly opened second brewpub. The tacos here are globally inspired, with a few recognizably Mexican-inspired combinations as well as inventive variations like brisket, Swiss cheese, and caraway slaw or shrimp tacos promising "butter-poached tails, crispy heads, and uni crema." [Photo: Tired Hands/Facebook]

Former Tashan chef Sylva Senat is returning to the Philly scene with plans for a pair of new restaurants, the first of which is this taco shop expected to debut this summer. The snug space, now getting a makeover by Ambit Architecture, was most recently home to a satellite location of Thai-Malaysian restaurant Aqua.

Talk of another vegan offering from restaurateur Nicole Marquis (HipCityVeg, Charlie Was A Sinner) has been going on since last fall, though no firm details were verified. Recently, Michael Klein confirmed rumors that it will in fact be a vegan taqueria. Named JoséJosé, the restaurant is targeting a June opening. [The location, formerly Crumbs Bake Shop, shown a few doors down from sibling spot HipCityVeg. Photo: Naked Philly]

The owners of popular food trucks Taco Mondo, Street Food Philly, and Say Cheese are joining forces for a brick-and-mortar taqueria in Rittenhouse Square. Look forward to tacos, burritos, and more that aren't afraid to embrace fusion. [The restaurant is going in next to the Bards Irish pub. Photo: Google Street View]

The Philly outpost of Mercadito has been delayed long enough to raise eyebrows, and news of problems within the Chicago-based Mercadito Hospitality group last year and shuttered locations in New York haven't helped matters. Still, amongst murmurs of possible progress, a rep for the group says that although they are "playing catch-up at the moment," they're "expecting a late summer opening." At existing locations in Chicago and Vegas, the menu of the group's high-end Mexican flagship concept is anchored by a long list of tacos, from simple al pastor and Baja-style fish tacos to elaborate combinations based on lobster, pork belly, and more. [Mercadito is slated to take up residence in the ground floor of the luxury apartment building at 2116 Chestnut, completed over a year ago. Photo: Google Street View]