Cantina la Martina
Mexican restaurant · Upper Kensington
2800 D St, Philadelphia, PA 19134
Highlights
Creative Mexican with mezcal, tacos, and unique ceviches
Creative Mexican with mezcal, tacos, and unique ceviches
"Kensington’s Cantina La Martina has mastered two things: incredible tamales and seafood cured in citrus. There are eight ceviche options on the menu, including an excellent vegetarian option with hearts of palm, and the only build-your-own-aguachile in town. The best one, though, is the Peruvian ceviche mixto with white fish, tuna, crab, octopus, choclo, sweet potato, and a fruity aji amarillo. Bring a few friends, a few bottles (it’s a BYOB), and eat unbelievably refreshing bites of the ocean." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"This critically acclaimed restaurant in Kensington has nearly a dozen taco options on their menu, ranging from arabes (made from flour tortillas, herb marinated pork, scallions, chiles torreados, and salsa chipotle) to cochinita (made with achiote braised pork, garnished with pickled habanero red onions and cabbage, alongside salsa cruda)." - Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme
"Long-time El Rey chef Dionicio Jiménez’s brightly tiled Kensington operation earned him a 2023 James Beard Award nod for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic. Jiménez doesn’t mind playing with tradition; at Cantina La Martina, he marries flavors from other cuisines with Mexican staples for delicious outcomes such as chilaquiles Italianos — crispy tortillas with salsa verde, Parmesan, herbs, eggs, and burrata — and trufa y remolacha asada, a tilapia cured in lime juice and finished with cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, and black truffles." - Ernest Owens
"This dynamic Mexican restaurant is both nationally acclaimed and beloved by Kensington. The staff led by chef Dionicio Jimenez serve generous margaritas garnished with fruit-infused popsicles, baked branzino in a mezcal-salted crust, cabrito braised in pulque and agave leaves, countless taco options, and more." - Eater Staff, Ernest Owens
"Right across from Somerset station, this Mexican restaurant serves chicken chilaquiles for brunch, tinga tostadas for lunch, and braised pork shank and masa dumplings for dinner. The atmosphere is cozy–there are only a few tables and the walls are lined with handmade figurines like cacti, colorful chihuahuas, and antique plates. Since they’re open every day at 11am, you can get in a couple rounds of tacos and margs before noon and consider skipping out on the office for the rest of the day. " - alison kessler, candis mclean
