Cantina is a restaurant in a refurbished bar. It still feels like the old corner bar. Lighting is…read moresubdued but you can still see the menu. Booths and bar seating is available as well as a patio on weekends. It is located in a sketchy area but a police car is stationed on the corner. I felt as safe as I do in other areas of Philly. Street parking is available within a few feet. The cocktails were very good with many different kinds of margs and other drinks. Beer and wine are also available. We were greeted as soon s we walked in by both the bartender and one of the owners. Our server brought water as soon as we sat down. She was attentive and helpful with explanations. The food here is authentic! Several different kinds of guacamole are available. We chose the one with pomegranate. It added a nice crunch and flavor. One with grasshopper was available. lol that was a no for me! The trio of empanadas were delicious. We shared a carnitas taco platter and branzino platter. The tacos were tasty. The branzino was cooked nicely with good flavor. The rice and beans and Brussels spouts and mushrooms were all delicious. I'll definitely be back!

I can't believe I am giving Cantina La Martina a ONE star review! I couldn't even muster a 2 given…read morewhat they gave me to eat tonight. I ordered the carnitas tacos and churros. The meat in the tacos was so dry that it was hard to chew and swallow. Some of the pieces were cooked to a crisp. No amount of salsa could make them better. I'm sorry I didn't take photos of the tacos, but trust me me I get no pleasure from leaving a bad review for this place; I am not lying or exaggerating. I thought they were going to be one of our local gems. I choked down a half a taco, gave the rest to my husband and he couldn't eat them either. The churros actually had raw batter in the middle and the outside was rubbery and hard at the same time. You could barely bite through it. I'm a cook and I know that that is about keeping the oil at an even temperature to get the inside done and not overcook the outside. Someone in the kitchen did not know what they were doing. The thing is, I have had their food before and it was pretty good. I don't know if there is a new chef or what happened, but I can't trust them after this experience.

Had a lovely dinner here with friendly service. Cute themed restaurant in the heart of society…read morehill. I loved the enchiladas and the tortilla soup that was poured tableside.

Very much enjoyed our Monday-evening dinner with friends. On a Monday evening, it was quieter…read moretoward the front, but the back room was energetic. The decorations were festive, perhaps for the holidays, perhaps year-round--we'll have to return to find out! Service was terrific and the food delicious. We shared: - Guacamole de la casa (3 guacamoles: mango, spicy, and regular), each of which were tasty and everyone had a different favorite! - Chips con 3 salsas (red, green, and borracha), each of which were tasty and I couldn't pick a favorite! Two diners had the Quesabirrias tacos and one the Lengua tacos--everyone was pleased with their order. I tried the Carne Asada from the grill and while the sweet plantains were prepared in a drier/crispier style than I prefer, the meat was perfectly seasoned. We shared an order of churros and tres leches cake--the latter was drier than expected, but the 3 churro-lovers thought they were terrific (crispy on the outside, softer on the inside).

Came here for happy hour and it did not disappoint. Great vibes, snacks, and drinks. I recommend…read morethe nachos.Those were packed with all the standard toppings, and they packed them on high! The wings were meaty and saucy. The jalapeño margarita wasn't as spicy as I'd like, but it passes. They also played classic 80s, which didn't fit the theme, but it brought back fond memories. 9/10.

Decided to come here for dinner for girls night and it did not disappoint! It was my first time…read morehere our server Maria was very nice and accommodating with getting our orders in and recommending the guacamole which was delicious! I also got the tacos i got 2 Carnitas and 1 al pastor tacos. These were delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection and everything tasted very fresh. The mango margarita was so good and you get to choose between a salt or sugar rim! My friend got the queso birria tacos which she loved. So much fun such a great time will definitely come back to try more foods!

Honestly El Rey is great!…read more As a Los Angeles native, Mexican food is always a "not as good as California" affair, and with that bar, it's hard to find anything that holds a candle. But El Rey is good in its own right, taking familiar foods and flavors, with a bit of a fancier twist, and making a good meal that I love to eat and enjoy! Seating and service here is friendly and prompt. Even when it's pretty loud and seems packed, there are always a handful of open tables available, where we've usually been able to be seated almost immediately. Such was the case this evening. We were on a bit of a time crunch so we ordered immediately and our food came out so fast that the waiter for our table was surprised as the food beat him with our napkins to the table. We ordered the Tuna Tostada and the Yucatan Spiced Chicken Fajitas. Both were amazing! Good thing for our tight timeline, the food was gone as fast as it came. The waiter helpfully recommend the house hot sauce, which was certainly spicy and a good compliment on our fajitas. Overall, a great place to dine for Mexican-inspired! Laying aside my California bias, El Rey is a fun time every time we come.

Valentine's Day magic at El Rey? Say less. The steak tacos…read morechanged my life -- and I stand by that. I hadn't been to El Rey in years, but we scored last-minute Valentine's reservations and WOW. The vibe was lively, warm, and perfect for a fun night out. - Let's talk about these STEAK TACOS . Perfectly seasoned, tender, flavorful -- the kind of bite that makes you close your eyes for a second. They were so good I came back two days later just for them. That's not a craving... that's infatuation. - The Chayote Salad completely surprised me. Fresh, bright, and paired with their homemade hot sauce? My palate was awakened. I even brought it home (with dressing and hot sauce on the side) and it still hit! Speaking of heat -- if you love spicy food, ASK for their homemade hot sauce. It's bold, fiery, and addictive. I genuinely want a bottle for home. Service? 10/10. From the manager to the hosts to the bartender -- everyone was kind, attentive, and patient. They even remembered me from Valentine's Day, which says everything about how they treat their guests. Bathroom Check: Clean? Yes. Cute ambiance? Yes. Great mirror for photos? Absolutely. And again -- CLEAN. El Rey, I'll be back soon

Lovely spot close to UPenn, great placement to walk up and down Spruce! Loved the California…read moreBurrito there was so much flavor in it! Service was speedy but lacking in connection, I love supporting Latino businesses and this is one that gets it right for sure! Lots of seating! Many nearby shops to explore! Complimentary tortillas!

So delicious, my favorite place to eat in or take to go after class! My favorite is the California…read moreburrito! Service both for take out and dining in is great and I am always seated quickly.

Had an innocent mix up in my pick up order. I went back in with hopes of exchanging for the right…read moreitem. I have to say Luis was beyond professional. He could not have handled it better if I wrote the script. This guy is an ACE !! It's not always about getting it right 100% of the time... but rather how you handle it when it goes wrong. Well done Luis !!

Yum! I'll let the picture do the speaking. Will definitely come here again! Beef sandwich and…read morestrawberry horchata

This place is amazing!! The best meal since my daughter had been diagnosed w celiac ~few years…read moreago!! Just amazing! Related, shaun (not a typo) was an amazing ambassador and waiter. I love this place!

Pretty darn tasty (the green sauce is chefs kiss, I put dat ish on everything) fresh hot, quick…read moreservice and friendly staff. The layout is cute they even have an outside area with a table or 2. We were hungry so we ordered everything that sounded good and we enjoyed.

Dollar taco night was great at loco pez! I was able to get a seat at the bar easily and the…read morebartender was excellent. The food came out quickly and everything was delicious. There was also a good amount of seating outdoors in addition to the space inside. Everything tasted great and the deal was amazing!

Dollar taco night is the GOAT. The tacos were a little dry, but honestly everything else made up…read morefor it and the experience was great overall. Our waitress, Hannah M., was superb- super friendly and very attentive despite how busy it was. The place definitely gets packed, but the staff handled it really well and service didn't slip. The vibes were great, I loved the interior, and the margaritas were delicious, though there was a lot of ice, so we probably got about four pours out of one pitcher (idk how worth it) Still, a fun night all around, and next time we're coming back to conquer the 20-taco challenge