Gerald S.
Yelp
Don Panchito's sits in a former banquet facility at the corner of Grant and Academy in Northeast Philadelphia. The dining room is fairly large with minimalist decor, especially in response to required Covid Protocol. So, the atmosphere feels more utilitarian, than ethnic, but that does not distract from the quality of the food put out by the kitchen.
I went with two appetizers; Esquites and Chicken Flautas. The first, a fresh sweet corn dish mixed with chipotle mayo, spices and crema. The kernals were plump and firm, making for an engaging cool salad-like dish that showed me a new way to enjoy corn off the cob. The Flautas were three homemade tortillas stuffed with excellent ground chicken, spices and cheese, cut in half and served in a star pattern, topped with crema and guacamole. This way, it became finger food, holding shape and contents from presentation to mouth. They were hot, crisp and delicious.
An interesting aspect of Don Panchito's is that it has a halal kitchen. Before going, I really couldn't imagine how that looked in reality. Turned out that many of the other customers there were in a party that was partially Muslim. They had a Call to Prayer in a corner of the dining room while I was there, complete with carpet for kneeling. I was impressed with the dedication to their faith and the obvious comfort they felt in observing their customs in that setting. Definitely unique for a Mexican grill!
And, I have to mention Sophia, my friendly server who was covering the whole floor alone. She never lost her cool despite handling both the solo me, and the twenty or so partiers who were only minutes ahead of me ordering their food. The kitchen was slammed, but everything kept moving smoothly, due in large part in Sophia's verve and grace.