Latino-owned Restaurants to Check Out in Philadelphia

Taking its name from a character in a famous Mexican ballad, this family-run BYO in Philly’s diverse Italian Market focuses on dishes from Mexico City and Puebla.

Can’t-miss offerings include tacos (over a dozen options) and burritos.

Philadelphia is home to many veteran Mexican chefs who’ve broken out on their own to much success. The latest: chef Frankie Ramirez, formerly of LMNO Fishtown, who opened his airy 4,000-square-foot Amá around the corner on Front Street.

Expect regional Mexican dishes prepared through live-fire cooking techniques, plus weekly aguachile del dias, seasonal tlayudas (crispy pizzas), and show-stopping entrees like whole char-grilled octopus and fish.

The expansive menu at Colombian-owned Amigo’s includes Hispanic cuisine as well as American offerings and, of course, more than a dozen different pizzas.

Amy Rivera Nassar’s Puerto Rican-style turnovers often sell out at pop-ups and inside her tiny corner eatery in Fishtown, the neighborhood where she calls home.

The takeout lunch spot — named one of the best new restaurants in America by Esquire in 2024 — features pastelillos in criollo and vegan flavors, rice bowls, soups and specials.

This all-day Italian Market spot is where you can find Venezuelan fare, like arepas, tequeños (fried cheese) and patacónes (a sandwich using fried plantains instead of bread).

The arepas come in over two-dozen varieties, like slow-cooked blackened beef and a vegan version with red onion, fried sweet plantain, black beans and avocado.

Along the multicultural corridor of South 9th Street, the Sandoval family serves spot-on preparations of marisco dishes and specials for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Blue Corn.

Many dishes are served in signature pinole blue corn tortillas, made with cornmeal from San Mateo Ozolco, in Puebla, Mexico, the owners’ hometown.

Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American restaurant and rum bar, Bolo, opened in 2023 and earned him a nomination for Emerging Chef from the James Beard Awards.

The menu celebrates pan-Latin cuisine with ceviches, snacks (like bacalaitos and pan con queso), pinchos (skewered meats and vegetables), main dishes (such as vaca frita and pernil) and desserts.

Café y Chocolate, in deep South Philly, pairs its hearty, vegetarian-friendly Mexican breakfast/brunch menu (highly recommended for the chilaquiles) with smoothies, fresh fruit juices, hard-to-find coffees and hot drinks, such as a cajetuccino, a cappuccino with cajeta, Mexican goat’s milk caramel.

A Snyder Avenue neighborhood fixture, the family-run Chiquita’s serves up beloved Mexi-Italian pizzas and family-sized takeout combo specials.

Must-order plates include chipotle ranch chicken tenders, cactus cheese fries and al pastor pizza.

This Mexico City-inspired restaurant and rooftop bar is where locals flock for classic antojitos and shareable plates with year-round indoor/outdoor dining.

Daily specials include half-priced mezcal on Mondays (ask for bartender picks), $6 tacos on Tuesdays (get the fish tacos), happy hour botanas (available only at Condesa) and paletas.

And don’t miss El Techo’s seasonal Radio Fresca parties full of food and drink specials and live DJ sets.

For quintessential affordable Mexican dishes, head to Don Barriga in University City and Washington Square West.

Burritos, fajitas, tortas and nachos are all on offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner here.

A beloved addition to Philly’s Mexican culinary scene, El Chingon offers refined takes on classic regional Mexican dishes, from seasonal aguachiles and housemade cemitas to spit-roasted al pastor tacos.

Chef Juan Carlos Aparicio, a two-time James Beard Awards semifinalist, has since expanded his South Philly BYOB into an indoor/outdoor Fishtown “agave” garden bar serving up his greatest hits.

El Fuerto De Loreto fuses Mexican, American and Italian food at its South Philly all-day eatery.

But the real star here: brunch, which is offered daily. That means that you can enjoy huevos rancheros and blueberry pancakes until 4 p.m. with BYO.

Everyone has a favorite neighborhood taco joint, and for many, El Jarocho is it. This humble corner storefront slings memorably flavorful al pastor and nopales-tangled carne asada.

Diners eat in to enjoy their signature sour cream-chipotle dipping sauce, which goes great with fresh salsas and tortilla chips.

Pop-up shop turned brick-and-mortar eatery El Merkury specializes in Central American street food. Corn, chocolate, chili and beans go into popular dishes such as maize-based flatbread pupusas, available con carne or vegetarian and vegan.

But the show-stoppers are the elaborate churros served in multiple flavors of ice cream and cake.

While Philadelphia boasts a plethora of Mexican restaurants, El Mezcal Cantina in Point Breeze stands out for its brick oven pizza, trompo tacos and flame-broiled steak.

On Sundays from spring through fall, El Mezcal Cantina serves a limited version of their menu at FDR Park’s Latino Market, across from the skatepark. (Don’t miss the steak and al pastor tacos.)

Owner Louis Quiles brings touches of his Puerto Rico-meets-Philly heritage through coffee, clothing and sneakers at his Fishtown shop, Encanto Kicks & Coffee.

The vibrant and colorful shop is where customers can linger over cafecitos and pastries, kick back at a table, or even play a game or two.

James Beard Award winner and Iron Chef Jose Garces’ Latin-American flavors have served Philadelphia for decades.

In addition to opening famed spots like tapas-heavy Amada in Old City and Rittenhouse Square’s longtime burger joint Village Whiskey, the chef also founded the Garces Foundation to help immigrants through educational programs.

This Kensington “club-staurant” is frequented for its fusion cuisine, live music performances, happy hour specials and karaoke nights.

Popular dishes include fried red snapper, lobster fried rice and tacos.

At her charming University City cafe, bakery and market, guests can eat and learn to cook Jezabel Careaga’s famous northern Argentine staples.

Menu highlights include seasonal vegetable-forward small plates and soups, plus a full Argentine pastry program including her famous empanadas, medialunas and alfajores.

Top Chef alum Jennifer Zavala has been synonymous with birria tacos and tamales, both now served at her East Passyunk eatery.

Her menu has since grown from these cult favorites to brunch, lunch and dinner restaurant specials like chilaquiles and Mexi-pizza that attract meat lovers and vegans alike. And Zavala’s passion and fearlessness is baked into the restaurant itself, from the eatery’s bold aesthetics to the way her team gives back to the community.

Breakfast, lunch, fresh breads and pastries, and a full-service deli make La Caleñita a can’t-miss eatery.

This North Philadelphia-based Colombian spot serves heaping plates of rice and beans, steak eggs and arepas, but the bakery treats are the real stars.

Try almojában (cheese bread) or trenza (braided bread stuffed with fruit) alongside a fresh juice or Colombian coffee.

Authentic Mexican food awaits in South Philly’s Whitman neighborhood at La Canasta Mexican Food.

The spot’s titular tacos de canasta are a solid choice, as is the spicy mango salmon, quesadillas, sopes and more.

Settle in for a modern cantina experience at this West Passyunk Avenue spot from Arturo Lorenzo (Café y Chocolate, La Mula Terca) and Tim Lidiak and Adrienne Salvatore-Markey (Thirsty Soul).

Pair tacos, quesadillas and more with a varied bar program that makes use of artisanal tequilas.

This Port Richmond eatery is named after Colonial Roma, a popular neighborhood in Mexico City. And much like CDMX’s transformation into an international destination with globally inspired fare, co-owners Jesús García and Alejandro Fuentes lean into Italian, Asian and Philly-centric dishes here.

Think: pierogies, sesame-crusted tuna tacos with pineapple salsa and sweet soy sauce, seasonal pastas, whole branzino, Korean short rib skewers and weekend brunch.

The Old City corridor below Market Street has long been home to Hispanic and Latino cuisine. Las Bugambilias, named after the bright Latin American flower, joined the neighborhood in 2021.

Alongside familiar Mexican dishes, try their version of Veracruz seafood dishes like enchiladas del mar, camarones al mojo de ajo and ceviche mixto.

Owned by Angel Jimenez Hernandez and Karina Sanchez Arellano, Newbold’s Los Cuatro Soles (which translates to “the four suns”) has been dishing out authentic Mexican food to customers since 2016.

Burritos, huaraches and tacos all get high marks here.

Located across from FDR Park’s legendary skatepark and just around the corner from its famed neighbor, the Southeast Asian Market, is the must-visit Mercado Latino.

Open Sundays from April through October, the outdoor market hosts Central American, Caribbean and Latin American food vendors selling freshly made tacos, pupusas, empanadas and fresh fruit. Bring cash, a picnic blanket and a big appetite.

It’s no wonder Mi Pueblito — one of the O.G. birria taco trucks — has a cult following around Philly.

Find the truck on the weekends parked under the I-95 bridge in South Philly serving up birria tacos, birria ramen and elotes alongside homemade salsas.

Ecuadorian transplant Jorge Mosquer opened Mixto in the Gayborhood 25 years ago, originally as a sister restaurant to Tierra Colombiana.

These days, Mixto is known for Cuban and Latin American plates like chicharrones de cerdo, bandeja paisa and ropa vieja, as well as Noches Latina events.

Tamales — masa lovingly wrapped in cornhusks or banana leaves — are a year-round favorite throughout Mexico, Central America and South America.

On South 9th Street, Mole Poblano does an incredible variation with rajas tamales (stuffed with tomato, Oaxaca cheese, and jalapeño) and mole and red tamales (stuffed with pork).

Husband and wife team Tracy Hardy and Jennifer Gomez-Hardy have expanded this North Philadelphia restaurant and lounge with a pescatarian-inspired menu and spacious outdoor area (called The Yard).

Platters include catfish nuggets, fried salmon stuffed with lump crab, seafood mac and cheese, and a salmon cheesesteak plus finger foods and sandwiches for the kids.

La Roma’s sister restaurant, Nemi, features contemporary regional Mexican dishes by chef Jesús García, previously at Lucha Cartel and Cuba Libre. Savor traditional house-made tortillas, salsas and guacamole alongside signature plates like salmon ceviche, charred avocado tacos, pork belly tacos, duck confit and mango trifle.

A full tequila and mezcal bar (try their blood orange margarita) adds to the authenticity at this Port Richmond spot.

The kitchen at this Callowhill eatery dishes out soul-stirring Dominican food — and plenty of it.

The oxtail, yellow rice, tostones and red snapper earn rave reviews among the diaspora.

Juan Carlos Romero and Lluli Pilar’s Philly Tacos has grown from a popular Washington Avenue food truck to a Point Breeze restaurant and Spruce Street Harbor Park seasonal outpost.

Expect their greatest hits at each location: smoked pork tacos, birria burritos and quesadillas.

Small but mighty, this BYOB has customers heading to Queen Village and University City to order amazing Venezuelan street food like arepas, patacónes, empanadas and papelón con limón (house-made lemonades).

This expansive South Street space is the best version of an all-ages game night out, complete with vegan-friendly bar snacks, milkshakes and cocktails.

Think: seitan wings, Beyond Meat burgers and fries, plus antojitos and pastelillos from Amy’s Pastelillos.

Award-winning chef and activist Cristina Martínez started South Philly Barbacoa at home before making waves in the Italian Market.

She’s since expanded her food business to catering, cooking classes and a two-in-one restaurant concept: South Philly Barbacoa (open on weekends) and the full-service Casa México are inside the same South 9th Street space.

Expect the same star-making dishes like mole verde alongside South Philly Barbacoa favorites like lamb barbacoa tacos and consome.

For stellar Honduran-style tamales (fatter and heartier than their Mexican counterparts), this 7th Street corner BYOB is worth visiting.

Sweetening the deal: The Society Hill bar and grill leans into homestyle Mexican cooking and has a 15-seat bar with an impressive mezcal and tequila selection.

This family-run joint became a viral sensation in 2020 and has since won over the hearts and stomachs of Philadelphians with their homemade tortillas and flavors.

At Taqueria Morales, traditional Mexican plates include vegan options like tacos dorados (rolled fried tortilla), enchiladas and sopes, which are all fantastic choices here.

In a sea of “Puebladelphia” restaurants, family-run Tequilas has stood out for nearly four decades with its “Guadaladelphia” heritage. Now, the next generation of Suros has ushered in an expanded version of the Locust Street restaurant and bar with a new menu, a new name, Tequilas Casa Mexicana, and a new sister cafe-bar, La Jefa.

Expect Mexican classics created by Guadalajaran chefs, like atún de apache (tuna tartare), sopa del dia, beef barbacoa and jericalla (crème brûlée). La Jefa, located at the back of Tequilas, offers brunch, lunch, dinner and evening cocktails.

North Philly’s Tierra Colombiana is where guests can dine and party like Colombians would in Bogotá. Dishes here are piled high with meats (chicken or beef), rice, beans, and sides (arepas and empanadas) large enough to feed a group.

Must-orders include bandeja paisa, paellas, picada especial and broiled red snapper. Work off the meat sweats at the second-floor event space, where Latino DJs and musicians perform regularly.

Mexican destination restaurants, date-night Cuban bistros, family-owned Puerto Rican establishments and Pan-Latin culinary innovators are located in all corners of the city, representing Philly’s growing Latino communities.

Find meat-filled Brazilian buffets, cheese-stuffed pupusas, plate-filling mofongo and Caribbean pasteles alongside fresh juices, cold cocktails and rich desserts like gourmet churros at restaurants and cafes serving a variety of Latin dishes.

Centered at Fifth Street and Lehigh Avenue in North Philadelphia, El Centro de Oro is a major hub of Latino culture in Philadelphia. Peppered with faux palm trees and “golden” details on the sidewalks, the distinctive block is home to residents from almost every Latin American country, and the food is no different.

Here, hungry diners can find authentic tastes of Puerto Rico, Dominican baked goods, fresh Mexican dishes and mouth-watering barbecue eats. Check out our guide to some of the best restaurants in the neighborhood.