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    El Vez

    4.0 (3.9k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order El Vez Takeout or Delivery

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    EL VEZ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Vez

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    Guacamole traditional
    Chris L.

    Definitely would benefit from a reservation or hope to find open bar spots if come during peak times. Can get lots of things to share if you want. This is a louder ambience especially at night. Service was great and available. A pretty quick dining experience as well for how crowded it was.

    De La Hoya Guacamole
    Maiah F.

    El Vez is such a unique restaurant, the interior is so cute and interesting. The food is delicious. I've been a few times now and the bean enchiladas are definitely my favorite. You can't go wrong with any of the guacamoles but their classic one is delicious too. They also have a wide range of cocktails and beverages that are yummy. I definitely recommend if you are in the area!

    Crispy Brussels
    Kristal L.

    Food: steak tacos were splendid. Queso is 10/10. Brussels were so Smokey and spicy and delicious. Definitely will order again. Basic guac and chips were good. Drinks: tried the regular margaritas, pink Cadillac and pomegranate. Fave was the pink Cadillac with a Tajin rim. Service: Server was amazing! I wish I could remember her name but she was simply a breath of fresh air. Ambiance: dim light and vibes. The bathroom is downstairs and separate from where you wash your hands. There's a wall full of photos too which was super cute.

    Street corn
    Thomas k.

    One of my favorite Mexican themed restaurants in Philly. It can get a little loud and kinda clubby at night. I like going during happy hour times - they don't have happy hour deals though. I love the assorted guacamole options. The fajitas are a goto option for my wife and me. But most of the mains are really good. Prices are reasonable. Drinks - I think the margaritas are good. Kinda the standard prices. It's a good Starr restaurant. And you'll have a great meal.

    Nacho Mamma
    Sheila P.

    A friend knew that I loved nachos and recommended this place to me while I was visiting Philly for the first time. I had the nacho mamma, and it was absolutely delicious! The chips were nice and crispy from seeming to have been in the oven. The toppings were great also. I was by myself and was told the bar was open with full service. The staff at the bar checked in on me often, and my nachos were brought out at a reasonable time. Inside was hip and happening, busy, and with a few tables empty but I'm assuming they were reserved.

    Avena P.

    Been here for happy hour, sips, countless dinners and birthdays and always have a good time. I love the ambiance of the restaurant and the Photo Booth is so cute. Bathroom is huge and so clean as well which I was so surprised with when I saw because it's nicer than I remember. The veggie nachos is a mandatory order everytime I come here and the platter is always so big. Drinks here are always so good, and the service is really great.

    Bar Area
    Katrina G.

    Upscale Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown Philly. I was in town visiting and our host for the weekend brought us here. We couldn't get a reservation so our group decided to go and wait for a table. I'm so glad we did. El Vez is a gorgeous and very large space and was filled to capacity on this beautiful Saturday evening in August. There is some outdoor seating too. We had a few cocktails at the bar while waiting. Once seated in a plush corner booth with a view of the whole place we did a guacamole trio (El Vez, De La Hoya, Tito Santana). They were all really good. A little full from earlier in the day and our chips and guac, most of us got salads. The service was good and the prices reasonable. I could definitely eat here again as this El Vez still stand out in my mind as I write this review months later!

    Menu
    Dennis D.

    This is one of our go to places when we get to the Philadelphia area; El Vez. We always love Mexican food and try a new place whenever we go into a new area. El Vez however is one that we've been to several times. Place is always good food is always wonderful. This is their spicy guac and it was delicious. Queso on the side as well with some chips. Margs also very good.

    Shrimp Aguachile
    Jonelle G.

    5/5 experience. Inside the vibes are immaculate so cute! Came here with my boyfriend for dinner on a Thursday night. Got the shrimp aguachiles to start and the chicken enchiladas with salsa verde. Food was flavorful and delicious! Came out hot and fast. Shout out Chris who made the experience even better with 10/10 service. Will come again if I ever find myself in Philly!!

    Tiffany D.

    I enjoyed my experience here overall. I was looking for fajitas on the menu, but they have different name! Comes served for 2 people. They were tasty. The vibe has a funky, retro kind of feel to it. Service was efficient, although I recall it not being too friendly on this particular day. I would return when in the area.

    Chips And Salsa
    Lily S.

    El Vez is a Philly staple for me. A massive space with a fun and bright atmosphere. Their margaritas are incredible with so many different options to choose from. They have a large food menu with a variety of shareable appetizers and classic Mexican entrees. The staff is always super friendly and helpful with navigating the menu or answering any questions. Don't forget to stop by the Photo Booth they have right in the main dining room. Overall, El Vez has never failed me and is my favorite place to bring out-of-towners

    Steak tacos
    Janet C.

    The food was okay - the flavor and texture of the steak tacos was good but portion size was tiny. I was still a bit hungry afterwards which was disappointing. Our waitress did not come back to take our orders until we had asked two other employees who were passing by to help us - we were left waiting for a long time. The interior and exterior of this restaurant is beautiful though - vibrant and festive.

    Carnitas Tacos
    Ashley L.

    El Vez never misses! Got the carnitas tacos and they are always a favorite of mine! Such great flavor and tender. Also got the De La Hoya guac and could not stop eating it - it has a great garlic flavor! The guava mojito is also one of my favorites.

    The center of the bar at El Vez.

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    29 days ago

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    3 months ago

    Good good food, really good menu, great service, lively atmosphere, would recommend this place for sure

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    El Vez Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Vez

    Is there a photo booth still?

    Yes there is

    Is there a happy hour?

    Unfortunately, no there is not.

    Are dogs allowed in outdoor seating?

    Yes!

    Is there a kids menu?

    Not when I was there. But the food was awesome.

    Do you need a reservation?

    Yes it better

    Is there a happy hour here? and if so, what time?

    no they do not.

    Anybody know if it's LGBTQ friendly, like for a date or potential proposal?

    Absolutely! Call ahead and make the night super special

    How is the parking in terms of cost and availability?

    I mean, it's in the heart of Center City so parking is tough. There is a convenient lot 1 block away at 12th and Samson, but it it expensive. You can sometimes score street parking but that is rare. It is better to take public transportation to… 

    Is this family friendly? Like for mature 10 year olds?

    Yes. It's loud. So if you have kids with sensory issues( or adults for that matter), it may be a challenge. But I think it's okay.

    Is there a happy hour?

    I really don't know. I went on a Sunday after a theater matinee. Let me tell you, the margaritas were awesome. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

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    4.4(112 reviews)
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    Came here for lunch. Driving and parking is fine in the day. As others mentioned its not a good…read morearea to walk around. Inside I enjoyed the decor and vibe. Staff very friendly. Good: old fashioned, tri-mix of guac (liked the truffle one), steak tacos. Not so good:coco tartare app, I thought most of the other tacos were tried were very okay for the price and would not recommend (shrimp, pastor (one of my least favorite versions of pastor), one with habaenro (not spicy at all). Would have enjoyed some actual spicy salsa to go with it. Overall, I sadly can't really recommend it.

    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.

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    El Vez - mexican - Updated September 2026

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