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A platter of various tacos and their trimmings (lime, spices, and garnishes). Cantina La Martina

The Absolute Best Tacos in Philly

These Philly restaurants serve classic and creative versions of the iconic tortilla-wrapped Mexican food

by Ernest Owens and Eater Staff Updated
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by Ernest Owens and Eater Staff Updated
Cantina La Martina

Endlessly customizable to satisfy every craving, tacos are a perfect food. Luckily, Philly has no shortage of great tacos, from over-stuffed tortillas served up in no-frills neighborhood spots to fancied-up versions from big-name chefs. South Philadelphia, with its population of Mexicans from Puebla, is an especially good place to find an excellent taco (and several other Mexican dishes). While a complete list of taco spots worth checking out in this city would be nearly impossible, here are 15 of the top choices, from long-time staples to newer additions.

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Taqueria Amor

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Tim Spinner has been involved in a number of Mexican restaurants in Philly, from El Vez to Distrito to Cantina Feliz. At his vibrant Taqueria Amor in Manayunk, the chef serves Ensenada-style fish tacos filled with tempura-battered tilapia, Carolina barbecue shrimp tacos with a sweet chile sauce, and even Korean barbecue broccoli tacos with kimchi. If you’re feeling less adventurous, classics like chicken tinga never miss. 

4410 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
(267) 331-5874
(267) 331-5874

Also featured in:

Cantina la Martina

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This critically-acclaimed restaurant in Kensington has nearly a dozen taco options on their menu, ranging from arabes (made from flour tortillas, herb marinated pork, scallions, chiles torreados, and salsa chipotle) to cochinita (made with achiote braised pork, garnished with pickled habanero red onions and cabbage, alongside salsa cruda).

2800 D St, Philadelphia, PA 19134
(267) 519-2142
(267) 519-2142

Also featured in:

Sor Ynez

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Chef Alex Tellez brings his Mexico City upbringing to the menu, pulling from both contemporary Mexican cuisine and pre-Hispanic influences. Tacos aren’t always on the menu, but they’re a special worth grabbing during happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and on weekends. For happy hour, tortillas (made from blue corn sourced from Masa Cooperativa) are stuffed with grilled adobo grilled chicken, carnitas, or carrots and mole. The weekend tacos include quesabirrias, fish tacos, and a classic breakfast taco.

1800 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 309-2582
(215) 309-2582

Also featured in:

It's All Guava Baby at LMNO

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Arrive in the heart of Fishtown to try their birria Tacos, dirty veggie tacos, pollo asado tacos, duck tacos and more.

1739 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 770-7001
(215) 770-7001

Also featured in:

El Techo

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Come for the tacos, stay for the view. A fully retractable rooftop offers panoramic skyline views, 11 floors up from El Techo’s sibling restaurant, Condesa. There are six tacos to choose from, and they’re loaded with flavor. Try the Al Pastor — grilled pork with a bright salsa and charred pineapple — or the Coliflor tacos filled with crispy cauliflower coated in salsa macho mayo.

1830 Ludlow St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(202) 836-4270
(202) 836-4270

Also featured in:

El Rey

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The cuisines of Puebla and Veracruz come alive at El Rey with a flavorful array carnitas, steak, fish and veggie tacos.

2013 Chestnut St (at 20th St), Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-3330
(215) 563-3330

Also featured in:

El Vez

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Located in Midtown Village, this Stephen Starr hotspot is has garnered a stellar reputation for their crispy mahi-mahi tacos, cauliflower tacos al Pastor, birria tacos, and more.

121 S 13th St (at Sansom St), Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800
(215) 928-9800

Also featured in:

Hi-Lo Taco Co.

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This pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant in Midtown Village serves up tasty tacos made with comforting flour tortillas and flaming pit-smoked meats.

1109 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
(267) 996-4910
(267) 996-4910

Blue Corn

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The goal at this Italian Market gem was to create something a step above the typical taqueria, inspired by the cuisine of Mexico City — but don’t let that dissuade you from settling in for a simple plate of tacos, which are excellent here. Blue Corn’s full bar is an added bonus.

940 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-1010
(215) 925-1010

Si Taqueria

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A buzzy neon sign bearing just two letters (Si) illuminates the entryway to this tiny Newbold taco shop, a sibling to the pastry shop Oui. While you can stop by Si Taqueria any day of the week for tacos like al pastor and mole, swing by on weekends to score the tacos arabes deal: tortillas, chipotle salsa, limes, and either a half pound or a pound of aromatic arabes filling for a damn good price.

1500 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(267) 239-2931
(267) 239-2931

Also featured in:

South Philly Barbacoa

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Cristina Martinez’s lamb barbacoa tacos turned a small South Philly eatery with limited hours and only a couple of items on the menu into a major destination. Martinez has since moved operations into a bigger space in the Italian Market and has expanded into a second restaurant, Casa Mexico, which offers a broader array of offerings. The tacos are as excellent as ever, and the hours are still limited — South Philly Barbacoa only opens Saturday through Monday, so expect a line, though it usually moves quickly.

1140 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 694-3797
(215) 694-3797

Also featured in:

El Chingon

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At his all-day BYOB in South Philly, Carlos Aparicio filters specialties from all over Mexico through the lens of his experience working extensively at some of Philly’s top restaurants. Thus the chef that developed the baguette recipe for Parc now fills sourdough flour tortillas with chorizo, al pastor, or vegan arabes made of oyster mushrooms and tangy chipotle, among other treats.

1524 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 239-2131
(267) 239-2131

Also featured in:

Mi Pueblito Tacos

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Trust the lines wrapping down the block under I-95: Mi Pueblito’s Jalisco-style all-beef birria tacos are a must-try. Catch them Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m. at the brightly colored food truck in Pennsport.

Front and, Dickinson St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 444-4361
(267) 444-4361

Juana Tamale

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Jennifer Zavala’s birria tacos, churros, and tamales are all rich, satisfying, and fun to eat in this vibrant space on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philly. The queso birria ramen comes with birria tacos on the side for dipping in consomé, though you’ll never go wrong with a vegan order, as Zavala has nailed plant-based tacos.

1941 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 273-0894
(267) 273-0894
Ramen and taco combo. Juana Tamale

Also featured in:

Los Gallos

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Serving generous portions in a cheerful space, Los Gallos is a neighborhood staple for good reason. There’s no shortage of worthwhile taco options on the huge menu at this casual South Philly charmer.

951 Wolf St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 551-1245
(215) 551-1245

Also featured in:

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Taqueria Amor

4410 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127

Tim Spinner has been involved in a number of Mexican restaurants in Philly, from El Vez to Distrito to Cantina Feliz. At his vibrant Taqueria Amor in Manayunk, the chef serves Ensenada-style fish tacos filled with tempura-battered tilapia, Carolina barbecue shrimp tacos with a sweet chile sauce, and even Korean barbecue broccoli tacos with kimchi. If you’re feeling less adventurous, classics like chicken tinga never miss. 

4410 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
(267) 331-5874
(267) 331-5874

Cantina la Martina

2800 D St, Philadelphia, PA 19134

This critically-acclaimed restaurant in Kensington has nearly a dozen taco options on their menu, ranging from arabes (made from flour tortillas, herb marinated pork, scallions, chiles torreados, and salsa chipotle) to cochinita (made with achiote braised pork, garnished with pickled habanero red onions and cabbage, alongside salsa cruda).

2800 D St, Philadelphia, PA 19134
(267) 519-2142
(267) 519-2142

Sor Ynez

1800 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Chef Alex Tellez brings his Mexico City upbringing to the menu, pulling from both contemporary Mexican cuisine and pre-Hispanic influences. Tacos aren’t always on the menu, but they’re a special worth grabbing during happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and on weekends. For happy hour, tortillas (made from blue corn sourced from Masa Cooperativa) are stuffed with grilled adobo grilled chicken, carnitas, or carrots and mole. The weekend tacos include quesabirrias, fish tacos, and a classic breakfast taco.

1800 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 309-2582
(215) 309-2582

It's All Guava Baby at LMNO

1739 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Arrive in the heart of Fishtown to try their birria Tacos, dirty veggie tacos, pollo asado tacos, duck tacos and more.

1739 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 770-7001
(215) 770-7001

El Techo

1830 Ludlow St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Come for the tacos, stay for the view. A fully retractable rooftop offers panoramic skyline views, 11 floors up from El Techo’s sibling restaurant, Condesa. There are six tacos to choose from, and they’re loaded with flavor. Try the Al Pastor — grilled pork with a bright salsa and charred pineapple — or the Coliflor tacos filled with crispy cauliflower coated in salsa macho mayo.

1830 Ludlow St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(202) 836-4270
(202) 836-4270

El Rey

2013 Chestnut St (at 20th St), Philadelphia, PA 19103

The cuisines of Puebla and Veracruz come alive at El Rey with a flavorful array carnitas, steak, fish and veggie tacos.

2013 Chestnut St (at 20th St), Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-3330
(215) 563-3330

El Vez

121 S 13th St (at Sansom St), Philadelphia, PA 19107

Located in Midtown Village, this Stephen Starr hotspot is has garnered a stellar reputation for their crispy mahi-mahi tacos, cauliflower tacos al Pastor, birria tacos, and more.

121 S 13th St (at Sansom St), Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800
(215) 928-9800

Hi-Lo Taco Co.

1109 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107

This pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant in Midtown Village serves up tasty tacos made with comforting flour tortillas and flaming pit-smoked meats.

1109 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
(267) 996-4910
(267) 996-4910

Blue Corn

940 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

The goal at this Italian Market gem was to create something a step above the typical taqueria, inspired by the cuisine of Mexico City — but don’t let that dissuade you from settling in for a simple plate of tacos, which are excellent here. Blue Corn’s full bar is an added bonus.

940 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-1010
(215) 925-1010

Si Taqueria

1500 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19146

A buzzy neon sign bearing just two letters (Si) illuminates the entryway to this tiny Newbold taco shop, a sibling to the pastry shop Oui. While you can stop by Si Taqueria any day of the week for tacos like al pastor and mole, swing by on weekends to score the tacos arabes deal: tortillas, chipotle salsa, limes, and either a half pound or a pound of aromatic arabes filling for a damn good price.

1500 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(267) 239-2931
(267) 239-2931

South Philly Barbacoa

1140 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Cristina Martinez’s lamb barbacoa tacos turned a small South Philly eatery with limited hours and only a couple of items on the menu into a major destination. Martinez has since moved operations into a bigger space in the Italian Market and has expanded into a second restaurant, Casa Mexico, which offers a broader array of offerings. The tacos are as excellent as ever, and the hours are still limited — South Philly Barbacoa only opens Saturday through Monday, so expect a line, though it usually moves quickly.

1140 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 694-3797
(215) 694-3797

El Chingon

1524 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

At his all-day BYOB in South Philly, Carlos Aparicio filters specialties from all over Mexico through the lens of his experience working extensively at some of Philly’s top restaurants. Thus the chef that developed the baguette recipe for Parc now fills sourdough flour tortillas with chorizo, al pastor, or vegan arabes made of oyster mushrooms and tangy chipotle, among other treats.

1524 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 239-2131
(267) 239-2131

Mi Pueblito Tacos

Front and, Dickinson St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Trust the lines wrapping down the block under I-95: Mi Pueblito’s Jalisco-style all-beef birria tacos are a must-try. Catch them Tuesdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m. at the brightly colored food truck in Pennsport.

Front and, Dickinson St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 444-4361
(267) 444-4361

Juana Tamale

1941 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Jennifer Zavala’s birria tacos, churros, and tamales are all rich, satisfying, and fun to eat in this vibrant space on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philly. The queso birria ramen comes with birria tacos on the side for dipping in consomé, though you’ll never go wrong with a vegan order, as Zavala has nailed plant-based tacos.

1941 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 273-0894
(267) 273-0894
Ramen and taco combo. Juana Tamale

Los Gallos

951 Wolf St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Serving generous portions in a cheerful space, Los Gallos is a neighborhood staple for good reason. There’s no shortage of worthwhile taco options on the huge menu at this casual South Philly charmer.

951 Wolf St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 551-1245
(215) 551-1245

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