October 1, 2021 – Taco lovers, listen up! National Taco Day (Monday, October 4) is right around the corner and we’ve got the scoop on the best tacos and creative riffs on the traditional Mexican dish from local restaurants and bars. Sor Ynez, Café Ynez and Rebel Taco at The Bourse Food Hall, are giving foodies something to taco-bout in celebration of the special occasion.
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Café Ynez, the Mexico City-inspired all-day diner located on Washington Avenue in South Philly, boasts an impressive line-up of classic tacos fit for the taco-loving aficionado.
Foodies can enjoy the signature Chicken, Carnita, or Steak Tacos, prepared with choice of meat, topped with pico de gallo, cotija cheese, smoked jalapeño salsa, and served on two soft corn tortillas, or the fish-forward Tuna Tacos, crafted with Togarashi tuna pan-seared over a bed of lettuce, radish, cucumber, and white onions, topped with cilantro and a drizzle of home-made chipotle ranch aioli on soft corn tortillas.
In addition, Café Ynez offers one perfectly balanced veg-friendly option, the Cauliflower Tacos, composed of deep-fried cauliflower in a sweet and spicy chipotle sauce, pickled cabbage, sliced avocado, and radish on soft corn tortillas.
Standard hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday from 10am – 9pm, Friday through Saturday 10am – 10pm, and brunch service Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
2025 Washington Ave | 215.278.7579 | www.cafeynez.com
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East Passyunk Avenue, home to more than 160 independently owned businesses in South Philadelphia, boasts a bevy of restaurants and bars specializing in Mexican cuisine including Cantina Los Caballitos and Pistolas Del Sur.
Cantina Los Caballitos offers taco-lovers a personalized Build Your Own Taco with corn tortillas as a base, topped with onion, cilantro, lime, and a choice of protein such as steak, vegan beef, carnitas, mahi mahi, shrimp, and more.
Along the Avenue, Pistolas Del Sur serves up an array of traditional and unique tacos including the juicy Filet Mignon Tacos, prepared with Filet Mignon strips, garden-fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, queso fresco, and topped with crispy onions.
Check out all of the respective businesses’ websites for more info.
1904 E. Passyunk Avenue | www.visiteastpassyunk.com/
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Rebel Taco at The Bourse Food Hall, Old City’s modern artisanal food hall, offers an extensive line-up of tacos, ideal for both meat-eaters and herbivores. The Get Shorty, is prepared with short rib, fresh cilantro and onions, avocado crema, shoestring yucca, and placed on a corn tortilla, and the Eat Your Veggies, is composed of a variety of seasonal veggies, shoestring yucca, onions, topped off with fresh house-made guacamole, tangy chipotle, and wrapped in a corn tortilla
Guests may indulge in these dishes inside the food hall or al fresco on the fifth street patio overlooking historic Independence Mall.
Hours of operation for Rebel Taco are Monday through Thursday 10 am – 7 pm and Friday through Saturday 10 am – 8 pm.
Hours of operation for The Bourse Food Hall are Monday through Thursday 7 am – 8 pm, Friday through Saturday 7 am – 10 pm, and Sunday 9 am – 6 pm.
111 S Independence Mall E | 215.625.0300 | www.theboursephilly.com
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Sor Ynez, the Mexico City-inspired veg-focused restaurant in South Kensington, has a menu brimming with artfully crafted, authentic Mexican cuisine helmed by Executive Chef Alex Tellez.
Two fan-favorite taco offerings include the veg-forward Alt Pastor, prepared with spit-roasted cauliflower, red chile, fresh pineapple, salsa verde, onions, and cilantro, and the savory Fluke Milanesa, composed of crispy breaded fluke cutlet, lush green avocado slices, topped with shaved red cabbage, tangy chipotle mayo, and served on fresh tortillas.
Guests can dine indoors or al fresco on the recently revamped, sweeping patio.
Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 4 – 9pm, Saturday from 12 – 9pm, and Sunday from 12 – 5pm.
1800 N. American Street | 215-309-2582 | www.sorynez.com/
-Alexis Levant