"Don’t let the grimacing cartoon Aztec king of the underworld fool you—South Philly’s El Mictlan is warm and friendly, even if the restaurant’s namesake is not. The Mexican dishes are more stunning than the casual BYOB environment might suggest. In addition to the well-done usual suspects—the guac, chicken empanadas, and quesabirria tacos are all must orders—they also have surprises like tuna tostadas with sriracha mayo, avocado, and fried onions that you’ll be thinking about long after the meal is over. Bring some friends, a bottle of tequila, and order as much of the menu as you can." - alison kessler, candis mclean