It's the place to go for authentic Mexican tacos. It's owned by a famous James Beard Award winning chef. Cristina Martinez's lamb barbacoa and handmade heirloom corn tortillas are featured on at least 3 Netflix shows. It's a restaurant that we couldn't pass up, and it totally lives up to the hype. First of all, it's cash only. There's an ATM machine conveniently located inside the restaurant. The ordering process was easy. We were greeted immediately and handed a menu. The service here is fantastic! The staff greet you with smiles and warm welcomes. There's lots of indoor and outdoor seating. We were there at an off peak time so there were no issues finding a table. My husband ordered the 3 taco deal. He chose steak as the protein. I had 2 individual tacos so that I could try the barbacoa and cochinita pibil. We also split the guacamole with handmade chips. It came with 2 tasty hot sauces. I could definitely taste the jalapeño in the green sauce. My husband loved all the spicy toppings and sauces. It was exactly as we thought it would be in terms of flavor. Especially the cochinita pibil which is something we had previously in the Yucatan. Everything was so clean and fresh tasting. The technique in making the barbacoa truly brings out the full flavor of the lamb. The value was there considering the amount of protein in each taco. The toppings were all fresh and delicious. The nopales (cactus) was a new topping for me. I had a few on the side to try it. It was a nice addition to the barbacoa. I can't forget to include the mango agua fresca and complimentary cake in this review. The aqua fresca was the best I've ever had. The mango was all natural. I didn't detect any artificial flavors. I believe the cake was apple cinnamon. They make different ones daily or seasonally. It was the perfect ending, and not too sweet. Don't miss this gem in South Philly. It's on 9th Street and just south of the Italian Market area. It was totally worth a special trip. I'm so glad we got to experience it for ourselves. read more

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Best tacos I've had on the east coast. They chop the barbacoa right on to your taco in front of you. The bar has a fantastic variety of tangy, spicy, bright toppings and salsas to make your taco your own. My favorite is always the reddish orange salsa and this one tastes just like the taco places back in Texas. The tacos are hefty, so that makes up for the slightly higher than average price. They didn't have jamaica when I went so they subbed in mango juice and it was incredible, my new go-to. Service is friendly, fast and there's plenty of seating and a nice outdoor space. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - three barbacoa tacos - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

South Philly Barbacoa is one of my favorites and the staff here is so friendly. The elote is still one of my favorites, the guacamole is some of the freshest I've ever had, and the barbacoa tacos were incredible. The chicken quesadilla, sweet tamale, and mango juice were the perfect finish. read more

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If you're not a local and live in Los Angeles/San Diego or somewhere that you get amazing tacos like I do, you may think these tacos are mid at best.. I tried the Barbacoa tacos and believe they needed much more seasoning. Mine was pretty bland, and the condiments didn't help much. The soursop juice was refreshing and delicious tho. read more

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Yelp Review 2025 #256: Google has this place listed to open at the wrong time compared to what's posted outside their door. I did a Philly Cheesesteak crawl before walking to South Philly Barbacoa. I got here at 9:30am. I was full but I'm not leaving Philly without coming here! But I was worried because I got there too early but if I leave, I won't be back to this side of Philly anymore. I peeped inside and no diners were there, chairs were still on top of the tables. But I saw somebody inside so, I asked if they were open even though all signs hint at no, they're not open. If I used common sense, I would've left and live with regrets. The nice lady let me in and got a table ready for me. They prefer cash but if you absolutely don't have cash, they have an ATM by the door or you can order from a tablet. From the moment I walked in, I felt the warmth and hospitality as if I'm a guest at somebody's house. I placed my order and my food came out quickly all hot and fresh. They have a station next to the counter where you can put onions, cilantro, hot sauce, etc. on your food. 3 Barbacoa Tacos: You can get 3 tacos with one type of meat for $13 if you're getting carnitas, cochinita pibil, grilled steak, grilled chicken, root vegetables or chorizo. It's $18 for barbacoa. The lady who let me in assured me I can't go wrong with their barbacoa and I'm glad I listened to her because it's the best barbacoa I've had outside of Mexico. You know how some taquerias give you 2 tortillas on top of each other with a little bit of meat on top? Not here! Their tortilla is so well-made that they only need one and can hold a whole lot of juicy, tender and flavorful meat! Easily 5/5 I had the chance to meet and chat with Chef Christina Martinez and took pictures together. She was worried about her hair but she had nothing to worry about. I watched her story on Netflix and I admire and support people like her that work hard despite adversity. I was two tacos in and they gave me corn cookies for free! They were absolutely delightful. Like eating corn muffin tops. As full as I was, I managed to finish all 3 tacos and 1.5 cookies like a champ! read more

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These tacos were slightly on the pricier side but well worth the money. We ordered 3 carnitas tacos ($20), 3 barbacoa tacos ($21), guac and chips, and esquites. Guac was good but needed a little more salt (4/5). Esquites corn didn't wow me but was still super delicious (4/5). The taco were amazing. Meat was extremely tender and juicy. I really enjoyed the sauce & veggie bar where you can dress your taco to your liking. There was this peanut sauce which was so yummy! read more

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Came here for New Year's Day. With a group of eight. They're known for their lamb tacos. It says set for $21. They have a vegetable and taco topping stand, which is generous and you can put as much as little as you want. We also got cups of hot water and regular water. In the vegetable station, you have pickled cactuses, jalapeño onion, carrots, and pickles. You also have the regular onion, cilantro, wine concoction so it's nice to have a bit of pickled and regular vegetables. The inside is still a little chilly for New Year's Day since it's only 20 something degrees outside but it's a festive atmosphere well Mexican music being played. They came to check on us a couple of times to see if we needed anything else. Overall a good time here! An older review said that they had good Horchata and I was looking forward to them. But they don't have them anymore!! read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I had heard about South Philly Barbacoa/Casa Mexico for several years; I had also seen it featured on a food show. I thought it was time to try out this 'storied' restaurant. I had thought there were two separate restaurants, Barbacoa and Casa Mexico , but it appears they have 'merged' into one. The restaurant looks a little worn - many chairs are stained, some tables have tablecloths, others do not. We went on a Sat evening, only one other family was there during our dinner. We ordered in the front, and took seats in the back to move away from the door, as it was cold outside.....and a little too cool inside. I wasn't sure if I should takeoff my winter coat, but I did. We ordered the Guacamole, the Barbacoa, Steak, and Veggie tacos. When I ordered, I mentioned that, if possible, I like the meat(s) in my tacos to be lean, which can be challenging to find sometimes. The staff was very nice and said they would make a note of the request. The Guacamole and chips came out first. The Guacamole was fresh, creamy and as delicious as could be. It compensated for the chips, which were too hard, had no salt or flavor. The tacos came out together. The meat was as lean as I could have expected, both the steak and lamb. There is a small serving area near the front where there are some additions for the tacos - chopped onions - finally chopped dried cilantro - some sauces - cactus and other vegetables. I was hoping to see either a Pico de gallo or salsa, to add to the taco, but there were none. I added some veggies and guacamole, which improved the flavor and added depth to the taco. While the meats were lean, they were rather bland - the homemade taco shells were average, and Vegan taco was okay. While I was 'satisfied' with the meal, I had expected a better experience based on the reviews I had seen. read more

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This place is featured on Netflix's street food show. It is cash only & accepts venmo/zelle. There is a line, but moves pretty quick. They put meat on your taco and you add your own toppings (cilantro, onion, cacutus, jalapeno, lime) There is bar and table seating inside and outside read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Barbacoa and carnitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Have been to casa Mexico a few times but just finally went to south Philly Barbacoa next door. Nice cozy family vibe as soon as you walk in. Ordering is quick and easy, and food is prepared quick and with lots of care. Esquites was quite large and was very tasty and savory. Just the right amount of sauce and cotija cheese to cover the corn. The carnitas taco meat is melt in your mouth and seasoned so well. There is a self serve bar for toppings with onion, cilantro, pepper, green/red sauces, amongst other things. Chef Cristina and team are amazing, thanks. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Carnitas Taco - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I can't come here enough. 5am start time for weekend barbacoa. We've now upped our ordering game to the $50 kilo because we have no idea why we weren't offered that after paying $46 for 6 tacos , 1 consommé, and 1 horchata. When we could literally get 1/2 kilo meat 12 tortillas and TWO consommé. And they had a $5 coupon off $50. Man We felt like idiots after that. So anyways. Now we're back one week later. lol And month after month this place always delicious. Stay for additional menu items like the tastiest guacamole and fresh chips read more

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This place has been on my bucket list for a while and I finally got to try it. Truly fantastic food. There was a short line when we arrived The menu is fairly short, but I think it is all the highlights. We got the shrimp and barbacoa tacos with horchata and jamaica to drink. The taco toppings (pickled jalapenos&carrots, cactus, onion, cilantro) and sauces brought balance in acidity and spiciness to the tacos. I liked how you can customize it. Shrimp tacos: each one had a large fried shrimp on it. The shrimp was not greasy at all. It had a nice crisp on the outside and was very fresh and tender. Barbacoa: fantastic! Again the meat was super tender and each taco had a hefty portion. There is the tiniest hint of gaminess of lamb at the end but I enjoyed it. Horchata: not my favorite. I thought this was a little artificial and chalky tasting Jamaica: I loved this. It was tart yet sweet in the best way and reminded me of a Chinese plum drink. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Shrimp taco, barbacoa, horchata, jamaica - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cannot believe I didn't come here sooner! After watching Christina's chefs table episode we've been waiting to try SPB. Highly recommend trying both the classic Barbacoa and Pancita with the salsa/toppings they offer. + MUST TRY the consome! You can really taste the amount of love and care that goes into this food, down to the handmade tortilla! A must visit in Philly. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Barbacoa Lamb Order of Tacos Pancita Order of Tacos + consome - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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***CASH ONLY***CASH ONLY***CAHS ONLY*** Finally tried the barbacoa tacos after hearing all the hype, and they were good. The meat was tender, the tortillas were fresh, and the flavors of the salsa mixed with the tacos, it all worked. That said, I'm not sure they completely lived up to the legend. Portions weren't bad, the place gets packed fast. Still, I'm glad I checked it off my list and can say I've had them. Solid tacos! read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Barbacoa and Conchinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Came back after a few years, the dining space is integrated with Casa Mexico's space. Prices naturally have gone up but the food tastes the same. My husband and I usually share 1/2 kilo lamb barbacoa and it's enough food. I love their tamales - so simple and warm. They do take Venmo, in case you don't have cash. read more

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Great flavorful and fresh tacos. They make the tortillas handmade right in front of you. Very quick service and the line was not bad at 12:30 PM on a Sunday. Was in and out in less than 30 min. Highly recommend coming here! read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Finally got to try and find out what the hype was all about! .. and it was just.. okay. I think it's worth to try just to say you've tried but I've definitely had better places without this price tag. Spices and sauces were yummy, meat didn't taste extraordinary, kinda normal for barbacoa. We got a guac to share and 6 barbacoa tacos. I enjoyed the self service sauce bar which is not typical in Philly. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

no photo added here because i was too hangry to pull out my phone to take some pictures. parking: hard to find, and yup, you have to parallel park most of the time in philly. service: rushed and untimely. the lady who took our order tried really hard to upsell most of everything. we got the consomme which is supposed to dip your tacos in, but it got to our table way later that we finished half of our meal by that time. food: the meat was pretty good, the rest is mid, especially the guac, no flavor at all. the consomme that lady wanted to upsell us tasted horrible and way too watery. i thought it should have been denser. there's a self-served station for you to add sauce and veggies. the horcharta was not my favorite. cash only so please come prepared. i'm not a fan of this place but my bf liked it. i'm on the fence of coming back. read more

I saw this place on chefs table on Netflix and decided to stop by when I was in town. I thought the venue is nice and the staff was also nice. I did have higher expectations for the tacos, but they were still good. read more

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Whenever I come to Philly, this is a must. The hand made tortillas, salsa bar, people, decor, and the meat are superb. This is cash only but there is an ATM. The service is attentive and both in English and Spanish. Parking might be difficult depending on the day you arrive. read more

We came for the barbacoa after seeing this place on Netflix. It was very tender and well cooked, but a bit bland. However, the salsa bar was excellent and a added the missing salt, acid, and heat. The refried beans were also superb. read more

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I will forever remember this delicious barbacoa and consume. The hand made tortillas had the right thickness to them. They complimented the meat really well. The barbacoa was cooked so tender and very flavorful. The console was deliciously packed with garbanzos and rice. Everything was so good and flavorful. Came in at 8am on Sunday morning and luckily it wasn't too busy. They had an assortment of very tasty salsas and even some Nopales (cactus). I highly recommend this place, though I will warn its a little pricey. read more

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Have had many a taco when I lived in the Mission in SF. First time having pancita, spicy and rich, along with a soursop Aqua Fresca. Enough tables for inside seating. Ordering was easy, all the salsa and pickled radishes at the bar. Cash is king here. Worth a visit for some tasty authentic tacos. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - At the edge of the Italian Market. - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I visited on a Friday around lunchtime. There wasn't much of a wait, as most diners were outside and only a few inside. Our food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. Unfortunately, shortly after we sat down, renovations began on the wall next to us, so we had to move. The guacamole appetizer looked small at first but turned out to be the perfect portion and it was delicious. I ordered the carnitas tacos, which were juicy, but 2 of the tacos had multiple bones I was not expecting. I also tried a chorizo taco, which was excellent. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Cool little spot. Had some trouble finding it at first because of the outdoor cafe thing that are in the road. There are two different menus of different food. I almost ordered from the wrong one. You want the little cart that is sitting in the middle of the restaurant. Great flavor and good portions. Go Birds!! read more

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Visited Philly Barbacoa on a Friday for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. The barbacoa meat was absolutely delicious, tender, and flavorful. The standout feature was the live taco station where your tacos are prepared fresh right in front of you. You get to customize your toppings, and one unique option was cactus, which was a delightful addition and highly recommended! The soup, however, was essentially a simple broth with rice and chickpeas, lacking meat and depth of flavor. While it wasn't terrible, it didn't quite meet the expectations set by the exceptional tacos. Service was polite and prompt. The ambiance is casual and reminiscent of Mexico. Chef Christina, a James Beard award winner, comes out to greet guests, which was a wonderful personal touch and made the visit even more memorable. Note that there are 2 restaurants in one i.e. there is also 'Casa Mexico' with a different menu in the same exact place. This was slightly weird as one of them is cash only and the other one takes card and offers table service. I think the management should revisit this strategy. Would definitely return for the tacos but might skip the soup next time. read more

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On a recent trip to Philadelphia, my friends and I stopped in here to sample the famous Barbacoa as featured inNetflix Chef's table. We read online that the quesadillas are to die for and ordered those along with two Barbacoa tacos per person. If you are like me, and your only exposure to Barbacoa has been the one that is sold at chipotle and is very spicy and full of flavor, you might be a little disappointed here. The Barbacoa was juicy, fatty, mild and lightly seasoned. It's definitely the type of meat that does need a accompaniments to really make the flavor shine. We were told by the guy working the counter that some of the toppings would be spicy but none of the toppings really were that spicy. The green salsa was very much on the mild side and the red salsa did not have that crazy kick to it that I was expecting. I even tried chili oil and it wasn't super spicy. I think that part of the experience was a little disappointing for me because I do expect Mexican food to have a little bit of kick to it. I absolutely loved the texture of the tortillas, the masa was super smooth, and not rubbery, the tortillas were pliable and soft, and just melted in your mouth, which I absolutely loved. The Horchata tasted good, although I would have liked to taste some more cinnamon notes in it. The quesadillas were very simple just tortilla and cheese. Definitely not the type of quesadillas I'm used to, but I still liked them and they would make for a good snack on their own. The lines started building up pretty quickly once we got there so I would suggest getting here a little bit earlier than usual and making it a breakfast pitstop, which is what we did before taking on our day of adventure. The neighborhood is pretty lively and there's tons to do in the area. I love the colorful seating inside the spot, even though it looks pretty basic from the outside. Definitely go check this place out for a unique taco experience. read more

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South Philly Barbacoa has a very simple menu and only offering a couple of items. The chefs brings the flavors of Mexico to Philadelphia. Specializing in barbacoa which is the best barbacoa I have ever had. The meat was super tender and flavorful. The place is very causal and the vibe is that similar to of dining at a restaurant in Mexico. Service was great and prices are very reasonable. If you are looking for true authentic tacos this is the place to go. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ate at South Philly Barbacoa in Philadelphia, PA. Barbacoa tacos, complementary cocktail, cactus drink, consume and condiments bar. Fantastic service and excellent food. Very quiet and chill location. Bartender/ manager super friendly and engaged. read more

3 tacos for $20 is absurdly expensive...Carnitas were banging. Barbacoa had absolutely no flavor and had a very metallic/iron taste read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SPB lives up on the hype. I saw them on a few shows some years back and finally got around to making a Philly trip. We stopped in after having cheesesteaks and still thought it was amazing. We got the barbacoa tacos and loaded it with all the self serve toppings (onions, cilantro, peppers, chili oil, green sauce) and all the flavors just balanced so well with the unctuous meat. The lamb had a perfect meat to fat ratio and was so tender. We came back the next morning for more before heading home. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Lamb - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This saddens me to write this review, but my visit today was so disappointing in relation to my prior visits. I'm hoping it was just an off day, but my tacos had multiple pieces of cartilage that I was nervous could have choked me or broken a tooth. I feel like the quality in the past was significantly better. The prices have definitely increased from prior, but that's expected with inflation, but $6/taco with no additions just was a bit more than I expected. I've previously only had good experiences here, so I'm hoping it was just an off day. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Barbacoa Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So I've heard a lot about this place, and it's certainly gained attention through James Beard awards, Noma collabs, and of course Chef's Table. Some places would allow that to go to their heads, but the team at South Philly Barbacoa is kind, welcoming and dedicated to creating a quality meal. While the Barbacoa is amazing, the tamales are better. They're a bit sweet and nutty, and are better than any tamale I've ever tasted before. Continue past Pats and Genos and make sure you stop here for some amazing food. read more

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I got their special tacos. It was delicious but is it worth the hype, I am not sure. Guac was also very good! read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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And for five bucks a taco, they were stuffed with a tasty portion of lamb. They were full of meat, delicious, and tender. Their tacos are plain, but there is a toppings bar where you add the toppings and "salsas" you want. The topping bar includes chopped onions, cilantro, a cactus salad, limes, peppers, Guac, and two different salsas (spicy red, mild verde) pour over. These three tacos were above and beyond and really could make me grab the others next time I'm in town! read more

South Philly Barbacoa has been on my food bucket list to try for quite some time, glad to say I can finally cross it off. Bringing flavors from Mexico to Philly Chef Cristina Martinez sure brings a one of a kind experience to her restaurant. Friendly and important reminder that this place is CASH ONLY. My wife and I came on a Sunday of Labor Day weekend, wait wasn't too bad. You order at the counter and you're given a number and you can sit whenever you'd like. Plenty of tables inside and some outside as well. We got 3 chorizo tacos and 3 of the barbacoa tacos which are cut up and prepared next the register on display. I also loved the toppings bar which you can dress up your food however you'd like with cilantro, raw onions, peppers and a salsa macha which was to die for. The chorizo tacos for me stood out a little more, they were damn near perfect. No shortage of meat and had the perfect saltiness to combine with flavor, homemade tortillas stay together well and are absolutely killer. The barbacoa was good, lean and tender but I thought it would pack a little more flavor. Don't get me wrong, still delicious but I was expecting a little more, will always be a must stop on a trip to Philly. read more

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This is the perfect spot for Mexican eats. Whether you are indulging in the barbacoa or the chips and guac, your taste buds will not be disappointed. There is plenty of seating both indoor and outside to accommodate hungry patrons seeking the perfect taco. The wait staff is busy getting the food delivered to patrons. We were there on a day when Chef Cristina was working and she graciously took time out of her busy day to pose for a picture with us. Highly recommend stopping at this yummy south Philly spot for yummy eats. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Chef Cristina - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What a delicious place. I'm surprised I've never been here before. We were lucky to be able to walk in and get seated without a wait. The barbacoa tacos are delicious. Chef Cristina was very warm and welcoming, walking around and making sure all the guests are comfortable. The full staff is very welcoming. I will definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Philadelphia read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Barbacoa tacos - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Absolutely loved the Barbacoa tacos here. The meat was super flavorful and tender. I liked that we got to add our own toppings. Best tacos I've had in Philly thus far. read more

South Philly Barbacoa - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When I first visited SPB, a hidden gem that was a local staple with no tourists, it was excellent. Many years later when I re-visited after their big reveal on netflix, it was still just as amazing if you can see passed the price hikes and long lines. The quality and care is second to none when it comes to authenticity and flavors. After my few month stint in CDMX tasting the best of the best, I have some self proclaimed credibility in the taco game. The barbacoa is seasoned to perfection without being shy on the spices. Rich in collagen that make your fingers sticky is the only way I want my barbacoa. I also love how they stay true to themselves with the use of offals for us more adventurous eaters. It's as good as it gets here and no need to travel south of the border to get your cultural fix in. Stay fat mother suckers read more