El Purepecha

This was my third visit to this Mexican restaurant, but my 1st time dining at the bar. The ambiance at the bar felt much more inviting and the air conditioning is always on full blast. As always, the food was exceptional, but what stood out even more was the cleanliness of the place. I really appreciated how attentive the bartender and waitstaff were in cleaning up after each customer, which made it easy to unwind after a long week. The generous portions are perfect for enjoying a meal with friends, and the drinks are a delightful mix of unique and familiar flavors. Overall, it was a wonderful evening, and I look forward to returning!

Excellent food, friendly/attentive waitstaff, fun interior and decor, good prices. All in all, just a great happy hour or dinner spot! We loved the elote dip, enough so that my girlfriend will go back and have it just as her meal.

I really enjoyed my visit to El Purepecha and would definitely make a return visit. The Birria tacos were crispy and had the right amount of filling; the cheese pull was amazing! The consomé had lots of flavor and complimented the tacos very well. The slightly tart and refreshing mango mojito was a perfect compliment to the tacos. The churros were cooked perfectly with a crispy exterior and a slight chew in the center.

The best cheese with chorizo that I’ve had. I don’t understand the comments of people saying that it’s bad because it was perfection. If you really want authentic and Mexican food, come here. I do have to criticize the margaritas cause they had a lot of ice. But otherwise staff friendly, good vibes, good food.

A friend and I had the best lunch here yesterday! The food was very good, the servings were generous, and the person who took care of us, Becky R., could not have been any nicer or more attentive! The restroom was really nice and clean! The dining area and bar was spacious, cool and clean. I would recommend Purepecha to anyone looking for a place with a healthy selection of various authentic Mexican food options!!

Ordered takeout, chicken quesadilla, and birra tacos. The food was good and still hot when delivered. My only complaint is that we requested utensils and napkins since we were staying at a hotel and didn't receive them. On 7/15 I visited the restaurant and the food was excellent and so was the service. I would recommend dining in over takeout. I updated to 5 stars because of this experience.

We went there because I saw it in multiple websites that there tacos are one of the best in Philly! The taco was really good, I would say we really enjoyed it but the service was so slow, that was the main disappointment. The atmosphere was good too.

The food was good, but the portion sizes were underwhelming. Charging $4 for a 2-ounce side of guac and $2.50 for a small portion of Chipotle Crema feels excessive. It’s also surprising how common it’s become to pay over $15 for three tortillas with a bit of meat, onions, and cilantro. I likely won’t be reordering.

Staff was great and the interior design was cool, and very spacious. The food was hitting on all courses. They have something special with that elote dip, the cheese pull, the seasoning, the flavor, and the chips all come together for a super bite. The quesa birria tacos were some of the better birria tacos I've had in Philly. They didn't skip out on the cheese, they didn't use a ton of the fat meat which I appreciated. Some places you eat a birria taco and you're pulling out fat more than you're eating, not here! The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the mango margarita and that's cause it tasted like straight mango juice but it's a mocktail so not too much expected there. Would definitely visit again.

We came for an early dinner on a Saturday evening (4 PM). I made a reservation through Google, but it wasn't really needed as there were only two other pairs seated when we arrived. Service is friendly and quick. We ordered, were served and ate all under one hour. We had the esquites to start off with and were pleasantly surprised with the portion. I had the chicken tinga quesadillas and they were great. Very cheesy and the chicken was packed with flavor. I also had the mango margarita (mocktail) and it was just mango juice, but can't really complain because what's a margarita without tequila? Anyways, I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu!

Came in on a Friday night without reservations and was seated within 5 mins. The food was amazing! We ordered the elote corn dip, tostadas, and birria tacos for 2 people and it was soo filling. Also got the horchata and it was yummy! Services was quick and attentive. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes

I met a friend here for dinner on a Friday night and was immediately seated as a walk-in by friendly hosts. The restaurant has an upbeat vibe with groups enjoying dinner at the bar and surrounding tables. It's a perfect place to bring a small group to chat over some margaritas and great food. We started with a house margarita and mojito that both had nice presentation and were tasty. We shared chips with queso which was the perfect start for our steak quesadilla and burrito. I also added a side of salsa verde and chipotle red salsa which were the perfect touch to the meal. Everything was flavorful and great for leftovers! I recommend this spot if you're looking for a casual night out!

I haven't tried the food yet, so this review is based solely on the ordering experience. After I paid for my order, I asked if sour cream came with it and was told it didn't--but that I could add it for an extra charge. That was fine by me, but then I was told I couldn't pay for just the sour cream because it didn't meet the card minimum, and I'd have to buy something else on top of that just to be able to pay. That policy felt really frustrating and unnecessary, especially after already paying for my meal. I want to be clear that the waitress, Sophia, was great--super polite and helpful. This isn't about her, but the restaurant's setup seems more focused on squeezing every penny than making things convenient for customers.

Looking for a spot on the way to the Met. Finding parking wasn't too bad. We dined at a table near the bar. Our server was fast and pleasant. The prices were pretty reasonable for being in Philly. We went with the Al pastor tacos and steak burrito. You get three tacos for $10 which is great in the city. The avacado sauce for the tacos was extra, but worth it. The tacos were very flavorful, full of meat and very tender. The burrito was good and the steak was grilled, but could use a little more flavor or seasoning. But over still very good. They had Mexican Coke and Sprite available which we ordered. Would definitely come back and try some of the other dishes on the menu. The table next to us ordered the el lote dip which looked amazing.

Still delicious, even for take out. Love the enchiladas with chicken tinga, green and red sauce, and queso.

Solid spot for great happy hour deals. Lots of seating with good service. The food is yummy and definitely recommend swinging by for happy hour at 3-6pm. The nachos supreme were a steal (and table favorite) for the flavor and price point. The margaritas were also great with lots of flavor options.

Great margaritas and tacos! The churros were also fresh and tasty! I'd recommend them to anyone on in the area. It also has such a cute vibe

This has become our new date night spot. Easy to get in, fresh and flavorful, and great service!

The best Birria Tacos ever!!!! They were extremely flavorful and tender and not too greasy at all! Loved the dipping sauce that came with it. God I wish I had some right now! We also shared the queso and the choriqueso (chorizo and queso combined). So yum! They have a great selection of seasonal alcoholic drinks. I got a pumpkin spice Margarita and it was amazing! Everyone else in our party of 6 enjoyed their tacos and drinks as well. The staff was very friendly and the food came out quickly and correctly. The interior is large, open, bright and festive. It's located in a seemingly safe neighborhood. A great option for your mexican fix!!

took a trip here with 2 of my sorority sisters because this spot has great reviews and let me just say it lived up to the hype. very casual environment upon entry and cute decorations to match the overall feel of the establishment. we were seated immediately at around 6pm on a wednesday. i believe this place does happy hour but we had just missed it, no worries, as we were genuinely here for some great food. mike our server was very nice and had no problem giving us recommendations. i went with the fried fish tacos, which were fantastic. each taco had a good amount of protein & the avocado was fresh! one of my sisters (not pictured) also went with a taco platter which she thoroughly enjoyed. she mentioned that the rice she ordered on the side was also very good. my other sister went with the fish platter and her plate was CLEAN. she said everything was flavorful, hot and cooked to almost perfection. the plating was gorgeous might i add. if you're looking for a casual place to dine that doesn't sacrifice quality because it's laidback please check out this spot. it's AMAZING.

We ordered the 3 dips as an appetizer for 4 people. We LOVED the queso & guacamole. Salsa was strange. We didn't eat much of it at all. I ordered the fish platter. The fish was swai which is closely compared to catfish. It wasn't horrible but I grew up deep down south along the gulf. I've had better fish. Can't give it 5 stars. My son loved his birria tacos. My husband and daughter-in-law loved their traditional & fish tacos. The margaritas were $8 for maybe 8oz during happy hour and $13 after 6:pm. They tasted good but seemed high priced. The outside is a little scary at dark but the inside is surprisingly welcoming and comfortable. LOVED the shared restroom. Stalls have ceiling to floor privacy and all are welcome into the single restroom. Very modern/forward thinking. I adore that a father can take his young daughter to go potty without issue.

Overall good food. Both the elote dip and Baja tacos were delicious. Baja tacos had good flavor but the fish itself was a little mushy. Maybe just a bad batch. Interior was pretty and had lots of seating. Service was also great. Wasn't a long wait and super friendly waiter. We came on a Friday night.

Came here on a Sunday around 5 and there were a few tables. By the time we were leaving around 7, it was a full house. Staff were friendly and organized. The Choriqueso was full of delicious flavors, it was soooo good! I would go back just for the chips and dip. The two of us could not finish the dip because it's a big portion. I enjoyed my beef Birria tacos a lot, I loved the consistency of the soup dip (thicker than usual). Usually at other restaurants, Birria tacos are extremely greasy, but not here, HUGE PLUS. Would come back again and again.

If you're looking for some good birria tacos and margaritas, El Purpecha is it! I came during a happy hour with family and we really enjoyed ourselves. Their wings are delicious-nicely spice and fried well. The birria tacos were definitely a hit-seasoned well, good amount of cheese and came out hot. We tried other options as well. We will be back. Loved the atmosphere, the hosts and waiters were nice. We will be back.

After having this place on my personal "Restaurants to Try" list, finally tried them out a couple of months ago and have ordered takeout a few times now. It doesn't disappoint! The food is so flavorful, tasty, clearly made with fresh ingredients and filling. The drinks we had were mixed perfectly. Between eating there and what we've had for pickup orders, everything has been great! Fish tacos, birria tacos, sopes, fajitas, flautas... It's all good! We will definitely continue to go/order from here and I highly recommend anyone check them out!

Definitely a nice spot un Philly to eat some Mexican food. The vibe was super nice, was a good blend of great food and nice place to hang out. Service was good too, not rushing to order or get you out quickly, they let you hang and enjoy the scene. We had the burrito (chorizo) and quesadilla (chicken tinga), the burrito was a good size and the quesadilla was actually outstanding, chicken was very flavorful. 3 leches cake was a nice dessert to cap dinner. Definitely will visit again while in the area.

Outstanding service, outstanding pricing, outstanding food. Large well decorated and clean space with fun music Quesadillas well above average. Burrito was the best I've had so far in the city. Margarita was good but not incredible. Really need to come back and try more of the menu. Had a great time

Good tacos, guacamole and mezcal margaritas is a must! The service was great! Really cute and cozy restaurant. At the first floor of a building. Only note the shrimp tacos don't have a lot of flavor. Octopus and Birria tacos highly recommended!

First time visiting this place and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is a nice set up and coming during the day when the sun is beaming in was nice. The service was amazing. Our waiter was very friendly and helped through my indecisiveness. For apps we got the nachos which was done in minutes. Entrees was the birria ramen chef special of the day, chicken enchiladas verde and veg burrito. Desert was tres leches and churros. Churros definitely needed to be a little thicker but honestly not bad. Tres leeches slapped but also needed some more moisture inside. Overall was a great meal and experience. Would recommend trying this place out

I saw this place on TikTok, and many people recommended their chorizo dip to try, but I decided to go with the elote dip and chips since I wasn't feeling pork that day. When the dip came out the cheese pull on it was immaculate, it didn't taste like elote, more like cream of corn with cheese. The chips were the worst I've had from a Mexican restaurant: flimsy as hell with no girth and flavor... not even salt. After the elote dip was no longer hot, it turned into what Elmer's glue does when the top is left off too long. I had enough of it by then 2/5. The tacos were during happy hour and again no flavor or marinade to the meat at all. I squeezed the lime and poured the Verde sauce over the tacos to try to revive them, but they were DNR. It seems like a great place to grab drinks and maybe a few apps, but it wasn't a win for me.

The location is unassuming as other reviewers have said it is attached to a residence building. Inside is spacious, festive and comfortable with booth, bar, and bright open table type seating. We had a skillet steak fajita platter that made one of us jealous (perfect temp on the steak), nachos and guacamole and a mix and match taco platter! I didn't know mix and match was an option but our server suggested it since I was wavering between choices. I had a chicken tings, a fish filet and shrimp taco. All delish - and in double corn hand style. We also tried a mule and a margarita with a little spice which was perfecto! The Tajín rim takes it to so good! We will return as prices, atmosphere and friendly staff that hustles made it fun to be there. Other guests from young professionals to young families were content and enjoying themselves too. Plus it's not a date until you walk the Rail Park with your full bellies. A must see as well. Well lit and open til 10pm with benches swings and overlook of the city.

In honor of #ThankYouThursday, I am writing this review to thank El Purepecha for countless delicious meals. When I order takeout from El Purepecha and make modifications (cilantro tastes like soap to me) they actually pay attention! It is not often a modified takeout order comes the way you wanted it, and so I am extremely thankful for El Purepecha and their attention to detail. My favorites include their burritos (I'm pretty sure these have won awards, or at least high Yelp rankings), their carnitas tacos, anything with their pollo tinga, and last but certainly not least THEIR BIRRIA TACOS!!!! Potentially my favorite in the city. They hold up so well in transit and the consomme has this slightly warm flavor that I am obsessed with. I've never dined in, but I know they do have a little seating area. El Purepecha is our go-to take out/delivery option for us that has impressed many out of town guests and does not break the bank cost wise. We love you, El Purepecha!!! Thank you for the many delicious meals :)

Overall: decent/mid Mexican food in a upbeat and festive setting. Definitely more authentic than most "Mexican" restaurants in center city, but don't expect real spicy salsa served here. Also they charge 0.80$ per extra sauce you ask for.. coming from LA this is absurd to me lol. Order: Birria tacos: flavorful, cheesy, but not as authentic as I imagined Al pastor: cooked and seasoned well, served over flour tortillas though.. thought they would at least give me the option to choose but since they didn't, I thought default tortilla would be corn.. Salsa: ordered hot but tasted sweet and sour and not hot at all Drinks were good but $$$ ($14-16, oof) also NOT BYOB. Would I come back?.. maybe if I need to fix an urgent Mexican food craving but probably would not choose to come back. Maybe I just ordered the wrong things who knows... Maybe try burritos next time.

THE BEST nachos in philly (even according to @phillynachoes on IG). Their combination of queso and the most umptious steak really makes for the perfect plate. The restaurant is great for a group of friends and the food is high quality. Surprising that you'd find this kinda place near chinatown but that's what makes it a gem.

Elotes Dip $12 was realllyyy good. Hugeee portion that could be shared with 3+ people Pulpo a la Parrilla Taco $13 octopus were surprisingly soft. Enjoyed this. Preferred the green sauce over the red sauce for the enchiladas. If you like smokey, you will prefer red. Dish came with rice, beans, and salsa. Big sharable portion.

Mexican food has stolen my heart so when I finally arrived in Philly from Ohio and was on the verge of hangry, I jumped on Yelp and found this spot around the corner from my hotel. Upon arrival I was told there was a 45 minute wait so we checked out the bar. No seats, it was poppin' there but we saw a lot of folks getting ready to leave so we decided to wait it out. It was actually only about ten minutes, which was nice. The space is adorned with hanging string lights and awesome art. We sat at a table with a booth on one side and a chair on the other. It was comfy and the tables weren't too close to the folks sitting next us. The menu was available via QR code. I didn't have cellphone service inside but my boyfriend did so he saved the day. The service was okay but our server wasn't very attentive. I had to go to the bar to ask for napkins. Getting our bill took a hot minute. Paying our bill even. It was nearing the end of their night so I got it to some degree. As for food, it was good. We ordered the chips and queso. The boyfriend said it was too runny but I thought it firmed up enough after a few minutes. I opted for the fish tacos and he got a wet burrito. The portions were huge and we both had enough left for another meal. Being that we were traveling we didn't take our leftovers home but it was all good enough where I would have if I lived in town.

Same great food, great service. Food came out quickly. The carnitas were cooked perfectly. Generous portion sizes. The burritos are always two servings at least for me!

Okay I really want to give Purepecha 5 stars but the service was too poor to allow it. I'd recommend sitting at the bar if you come in, because it was sloooow going at our table. Regardless, I'll give our server the benefit of the doubt, as it looked like they were the only server for about 20 tables, and the iPad they were using to take orders also malfunctioned halfway through our dinner. We started with the choriqueso which was to die for. Creamy, a little spicy, and the chips were fresh and light. It was too much for two people to share as an appetizer but we did our best (crushed it). Then we shared the Baja fish tacos and birria tacos, and took an asada torta to go. The Baja fish tacos were a bit disappointing. They smothered the fish in sauce and a slaw so they lost the crunch of the fried casing. It was just a bad composition choice, because without that it would've been perfect. The birria tacos were some of the best I've had in the city, only one above them is that food truck down in south Philly. But they were delicious! Very greasy and messy, so be warned if you are wearing white. The torta we took home, so I only ate it cold or reheated but wow it was so good. I wish they'd chopped the avocado on it to be a bit smaller but overall the bread was crispy yet light on the inside. The steak was well seasoned. There was a crunch of some sort inside and a little spice from the jalapeños. Their drinks were good but took so long in between orders that they missed out on extra sales from us. Overall it was a nice experience and we weren't in a rush so it was nice to be together. I imagine as they work out the kinks this place will definitely be a favorite!

This place is very nice. The food is from a "less traveled" part of Mexico and the folks are friendly. We thought the veggie tacos were very tasty. The V quesadilla was also very good. The portion size is healthy. It's family friendly and has nice Mexican art on the walls

Great option for a large group! Most restaurants give a lot more trouble when you want to book a large group-- none of that here. Good service and tasty food.

So I've learned about this establishment through social media. And I quickly added it to my places to try. So the first opportunity arrived during a hang out at my friends place and we were in the mood to just order in. I ordered the tacos and we shared the chips and queso which was dominated by my toddler but we did also get the chance to enjoy some of it. I loved every bit of my meal and can't wait to enjoy it in person at the establishment.

Hold the phone, the place has changed, staff has changed, venue has gotten larger but the tortas are the best I've ever had! We got the al pastor torta, and the perfect combination of soft, al-pastor soaked bread with the crunchy meet, mayo, guac, and beans is beyond words. I retired the al pastor tacos that I've loved so much during my last visit, but it paled in comparison. We went for lunch and my only feedback is to lower the volume of the music.

Pitchers of margaritas, fresh tacos, and delicious nachos. Solid restaurant if you're in the area craving fresh food and a good cocktail.

I had high hopes for El Purepecha. As an Arizona native, a lot of the Mexican restaurants in Philly just don't hit the same. El Purepecha did some things right: the beans were amazing and tasted like home. I could eat a gallon of their frijoles. The Vegetariano Sopes are also perhaps the best sopes I've had in the city. They were packed with squash and the serving size was plentiful. The masa tasted really fresh and authentic. I also had the Pulpo (Octopus) A La Parrilla Tacos. I'm an octopus fiend but it didn't taste fresh, unfortunately. The Hongos (Mushroom) Quesadilla used really good queso but it was floppy like it was never cooked properly to a crisp. I fried it up myself to get the right texture. Also, the mushrooms themselves lacked seasoning. The guac was the most disappointing - I paid $12 for a tiny container of guac (see pic) which was also entirely under seasoned. I thought their salsa was good and it also reminded me of home, but I wish it has a bit of spice to it. I think they definitely made it mild to suit all preferences, but the salsa (and everything else I tried) didn't have any heat to it whatsoever so it was a bit boring.

The food was amazing!!!! We went out for a girls night and we chose this place to dine in. 10/10 for the service, food, and the cozy space.

Usually whenever I'm in the mood for Mexican food I head for south Philly for the authentic stuff or centre city for something pricier. But I was able to find this little great restaurant the other day, a place that's within a 10 minute walking distance of where I live. It feels almost tucked away like a real hidden gem, as at least for me, it's on one of those streets I just wouldn't normally walk by. But I'm glad I did because this place was great. I've been on a huge birria taco kick lately and these did not disappoint. They were absolutely delicious, not too cheesy, and the consome that came with then was brilliant. The decor is sort of a modern trendy cantina vibe. Music was a little loud but hey I feel like that comes with the territory of eating out these days. Prices weren't too bad either, most taco orders are around 3 for $12. I didn't get any alcohol at the time but they did have some great Mexican cokes and if you ask me, nothing goes better with tacos than that.

My soul ascended a little, here. Not to be dramatic. Delicious food, kind staff, cool decor, and I couldn't stop dancing in my seat. We didn't have to wait to sit, and the meal was worth the short wait at the table. El Purepecha is not to be missed. Muchas gracias!

The grilled shrimp fajita was excellent along with a Modelo draft beer and cheesecake for dessert. The Halloween ambience and the service was outstanding. I sat at the bar and the waitress, Becky, was very friendly and accommodating. This is a place you should consider stopping in if you like authentic Mexican food with an excellent bar. Don

I was looking for a torta and this spot had one. Unfortunately, it took so long for the food to arrive, that I was beginning to worry that I would not have time to eat it before they closed. I must have waited for 30 minutes (perhaps longer) for some tacos and a torta. It's a sandwich--why would it take so incredibly long? The food itself was okay but lacked authenticity and heat. Like, it was just a good, giant sandwich but there wasn't anything distinctively Mexican about it. The food was also not spicy-- had to ask for hot sauce.

This place is like Taco Bell's rich cousin. The flavor is BANGIN. Also one of the few places that has good queso for chips and dip. Take my money!!

This place hit the spot after a few hours of rock climbing! They have good tacos for a reasonable price; my favorite of the evening was the Baja fish. We also tried the birria, which left a bit to be desired in terms of flavor, as well as the chorizo, which was good. We also tried the elote dip, which I would definitely recommend. Overall, this is a solid spot!

A curious fusion of traditional staples with contemporary presentation. The dishes tend to maintain quality consistently, even when ordered for takeout. Noteworthy are the entrees like the birria tacos and fish options, which are executed with skill. However, it's the meticulous attention to ingredient integrity that stands out, elevating simple combinations. The ambiance caters to casual diners and larger gatherings alike, though parking logistics pose an inconvenience. Service efficiency complements the experience, making it a reliable option for those nearby. Despite its commercial setting, it demonstrates a commendable focus on flavor refinement.

On a hot July day, I was craving a solid horchata. I typically go to South Philly Barbacoa but they were closed. I was near El Purepecha and grabbed horchata to go! My craving was satisfied, the horchata here is heavier on the cinnamon which I liked. The decor inside is really nice! It took awhile for someone to come over and help me, despite making eye contact with 6 staff members. I won't take a star off for this because it looks like the restaurant is promising and could fill up the beautiful space with customers!

I had no expectations coming in because of it being located under a luxury apartment complex which can make the restaurant seem less authentic. But, the enchilada was delicious! Eating the enchilada with rice, beans, and salsa had a perfect balance for the spiciness. The restaurant is also very spacious so it very nice for big parties.

First time visiting and ordered the carnitas quesadillas. Carnitas were very flavorful and tender! Portion size was great based on the price point. The only downside I'd say was that the plate was covered with oil, therefore made the tortillas less crispy. Had to use napkins to get rid of those sparkly oil. Otherwise, service and atmosphere were great!

I had amazing birria tacos in Miami. I didn't think I would find birria tacos in Philly that would compare ... until I went to El Purepecha..... the birria tacos were DELICIOUS (happy dance) the strawberry margarita (YESSSSSSSS) the guacamole (amazing) I will be back ... next week

Delicious apps and margaritas!! Some of the best happy hour in the city. Definitely try the choriqueso and wings.