The Top Spots for Puerto Rican, Mexican and More Latin Foods in Philly

Jezabel Careaga is known for her Argentine empanadas, but she also has a way with tortilla de patatas (potato quiches), ham-and-cheese croissants and desserts such as torta de ricotta and pastafrola de membrillo(quince jam pie). She also hosts monthly chef dinners called If My Grandma Were To Cook For You, and designs and sells home furnishings in her next-door studio.

Sleek, rustic and reasonably priced, this bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) rodizio ups the stakes with its all-you-can-eat meat (and buffet) concept. Regulars praise the short ribs, garlic beef, chicken hearts, goat stew with yucca, fresh fruit, fruit juices and flan.

The mom-and-pop counterpart to corporate-owned Brazilian steakhouse chains carves churrasco-style meats tableside and stocks its buffet with vegetables, salads and sides. Saturdays mean homemade feijoada, a slow-simmered, soul-stirring pork and black bean stew.

Salvadoran, Mexican and Honduran cuisines find a home in this South Philly corner spot. El Bocado is known for pupusas stuffed with cheese and chicharrones, and fried chicken served with green plantains and roasted tomato sauce.

Pop-up shop turned brick-and-mortar, El Merkury specializes in Central American street food inspired by Mayan cuisine. Corn, chocolate, chili and beans go into popular dishes such as maize-based flatbread pupusas, available con carne or vegetarian. El Merkury also serves up fresh churros with ice cream, including flavors like apple spice, piñata and chocolate.

Succulent, marinated meats get cooked over a live fire at this Northeast Philly destination that opens early for breakfast and rolls through BYOB lunch and dinner. Appetizers of arepas and chori-criollas (Colombian chorizo with fried potatoes) lead to main courses of smoke-kissed ribs, steak or chicken.

This Rittenhouse spot gives Cuban fare a modern makeover. Cobia ceviche comes with octopus, jalapeño, avocado and kaffir lime; vaca frita, made with braised and seared skirt steak, is served with tomato escabèche; the flan comes with Key lime curd and graham cracker ice cream.

The appealingly breezy atmosphere at this Old City hotspot — scene of late-night salsa dance lessons — sets the stage for a menu by renowned chef Guillermo Pernot. A classic Cuba Libre meal includes ceviche, Mamá Amelia’s empanadas, lechón asado, grilled seafood, mojitos and tres leches.

Enormous plates of goodness (and small price tags) are the specialties of this Kensington outpost. Well-known for both fried chicken and crispy pork, the restaurant’s traditional spread also includes rice and beans pastelillos and stewed eggplant.

The kitchen at this Callowhill eatery dishes out soul-stirring Dominican food — and plenty of it. The beef patty, yellow rice with black beans, tostones and pasteles earn high marks among ex-pats.

Along the otherwise gritty South 9th Street Italian Market, the Sandoval family serves refined cocktails, spot-on preparations of huitlacoche quesadillas and Puerto Vallarta tacos. Much of the fare is served in signature blue corn tortillas, made with corn meal from San Mateo Ozolco, in Puebla, Mexico, the owners’ hometown.

A bright South Street bistro serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, plus brunch Friday through Sunday. The draws: house-made mole atop enchiladas with Chihuahua cheese, inventive cocktails and tequilas.

This sunny, Washington Avenue cafe from the owners of Jet Wine Bar transports the flavors of Mexico City — pulled pork cemitas, chicken tinga — courtesy of chef Juan Carlos (JC) Piña, along with horchata, Mexican-style coffees and a rotating selection of drink mixers in carafes available for those who BYOB.

This restaurant/bar in Graduate Hospital enjoys a loyal following for its veggie tacos, tequila and mezcal selection, and its neighborly atmosphere. Outdoor tables overlook Julian Abele Park.

This Northern Liberties eatery satisfies patrons’ Mexican cravings for mole, sopes, tamales and mixed-to-order margaritas (it’s BYO tequila). Chef Alfredo Aguilar is known for his refreshing ceviche.

The owners of the Center City landmark Oyster House balance Mexican tradition and innovation one floor up, slinging beef short rib and chicken mole tacos alongside fancier jumbo lump crab croquettes with charred corn salsa and top-shelf frozen cocktails.

Vuelva a la vida, sopes, huaraches, and barbacoa and tripe tacos are among the traditional dishes served at this festive sit-down restaurant and bar known for its tequila selection.

With a name that translates to “How beautiful is Puebla,” this friendly Kensington BYOB serves three meals a day. There’s a wide variety of platos típicos, including spicy shrimp stew, decadent chimichangas and traditional or crunchy tacos with carne desebrada, tripa or bistek.

The main draw to this mom-and-pop Mexican taqueria in Queen Village is its chargrilled steaks topped with mole, whole roasted chickens and spit-cooked lamb — served with fresh salsas and tortillas.

An old Center City diner sets a retro scene for lamb and portobello tacos and chile relleno alongside micheladas (beer, spices and lime). Tacos are also available in the speakeasy Ranstead Room, located in the back.

The all-day eatery from chefs Cristina Martiñez and Benjamin Miller offers the incredible barbacoa, pancita, fresh-pressed tortillas and soulful consommé (soup) that earned them honors from Bon Appétit. But, South Philly Barbacoa is so much more than tacos: Their tortas and platters have tons of fans too.

Since 1986, this Rittenhouse Square staple, housed in a stately mansion with folk murals, has celebrated the French leanings of traditional Mexican cuisine. On the menu: tequila-forward cocktails, luxurious queso fundido, Cancun oysters, tamal-wrapped branzino and Mayan-seasoned grilled shrimp.

A busy restaurant, bar and late-night spot with a nautical theme, Northeast Philly’s Būccann takes a pan-Latin approach to cocktails and cooking. Margaritas and mojitos accompany eats from Cuba (ropa vieja), the Dominican Republic (bistec salteado), and Mexico (carnitas tacos).

This busy Washington Square West destination seems to serve it all: Cuban vaca frita (fried beef), Argentine churrasco and Dominican kibbeh. On weekends, Mixto opens early for breakfast and brunch.

This long-running casual favorite in El Centro de Oro serves a delicious bounty of regional foods. Colombian arepas, Dominican mashed plantains with shrimp and Cuban arroz con pollo with pork sausage and green olives are just a few of the many options.

At Upper Darby’s combo restaurant-nightclub, guests fuel up for a night of dancing with classic Puerto Rican roast pork pernil, Argentine churrasco steak, Colombian-style fried fish and a scattering of other pan-Latin dishes.

Family-owned Northeast Philly dining fixtures (one in Summerdale, the other near Roosevelt Mall) have two distinct experiences under a single roof: Portuguese and Peruvian. A single meal can span Lisbon to Lima, pairing pepper- and onion-smothered bacalao asado and Portuguese-style grilled steak with ceviche mixto and pollo a la brasa (Peruvian rotisserie chicken).

Bright ceviches, pisco cocktails and soy-spiked lomo saltado bring the flavors of Peru to a chic, new Old City space. The Northeast Philly-based team behind the more casual El Balconcito restaurants (above) crafted a mod dining room and bar, showing off stylish takes on Andean favorites.

Combining her Puerto Rican heritage and vegan lifestyle, HipCityVeg owner Nicole Marquis offers meat-, egg- and dairy-free versions of island tacos, sandwiches, nachos and margaritas in this chic bar off Rittenhouse Square.

For 20 years, this Centro de Oro spot has served authentic tastes of Puerto Rico food, dishing out salads, sandwiches and small plates, including fried plantain chips, fried cassava root, beer-brined wings and croquetas.

Though largely a bakery, this Harrowgate spot also serves savory dishes such as mofongo, empanadas and pollo guisado. Still, the sweet allure of flan, pan de agua and stuffed tornillo pastries is undeniable.

For a full spread of Puerto Rican favorites, this family-friendly restaurant delivers. The North Philly institution offers pastelillos, bistec, habichuelas,stuffed plantains and plenty of combo plates containing all the variations therein.

Santiago and Margarita Principe spit-roast whole pigs and chickens over a traditional Puerto Rican charcoal pit in the backyard of their casual Kensington quick-serve; they also encourage patrons to douse the smoky meats with their homemade pique hot sauce. Also on the menu: rice and beans, alcapuirrias (green banana or cassava fritters), pastelillos (meat-filled pastry) and the Caribbean root beer, mavi.

Chefs Luis Liceaga and Rafi Nieto bring Puerto Rican street food to the masses at the Reading Terminal Market. Their locally and Latino-influenced menu stars empanadas, fried chicken, seafood paella, marinated skirt steak pinchos with chimichurri and the Philly Special sandwich, made with pork, chicken, steak, hot sauce and potato sticks.

Small but mighty, this colorful Society Hill BYOB has customers head to the counter to order Venezuelan street food: amazing arepas, patacónes and house-made lemonades.