Había una vez at El Vez
El Vez
121 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Rating: 4.5/5.
Ideal for: Family Gathering, Date Night.
Price: Mid-Price.
We all know how Midtown Village is one of the destinations for those who enjoy dining out, and 13th street is THE place for that. From bars to restaurants to small stores, this street has it all, including one of my favorite restaurants in the city: El Vez.
I tried El Vez for the first time the day after I came to Philadelphia for school. Since then, El Vez became the place I go to with my girlfriends when we want to gossip, or with my family when we want to spend time together. I do not recommend this place for a first date because it can get very noisy, especially at night.
It is a must to get their guacamole, the La Hoya in particular. This one has onions and cilantro and comes with homemade tortilla chips and red sauce. What I like about this guacamole is that the avocado is mashed well, but you can still get some chunks of this amazing fruit. The tortilla chips are very crispy and delicious, that we always order more to eat without food! I love eating so much, that I also got an order of their melted manchego (Spanish cheese) with more chips! The cheese was so gooey, and I loved the strong flavor of it.
Whenever I go for lunch during weekdays, I make sure to order the polenta (ground cornmeal) fries. Polenta is one of my favorite things to cook, and it tastes even better when paired with cheese. It is pretty much like grits, but the texture is creamier. These polenta fries are thick and big, definitely meant to be shared with the rest of the people at the table. They are very crunchy on the outside and both creamy and firm on the inside. Pair them with sour cream and pico de gallo for extra flavors. The corn on the cob is another item that you must order, no matter if it is as an appetizer or main course (as I did that day). This classic Mexican dish normally has mayonnaise, cheese, chili powder and lemon, and El Vez created its own version with Queso Blanco (white cheese) and lime. Because the corn was grilled instead of boiled, it made it crispier than what I am used to, but still loved it.
For the main course, I got Crispy Mahi-Mahi Tacos. The avocado added a creamy texture to it, and the cabbage added a bitter taste to the crispy tacos. I thought it was too spicy with the sauce, but that is because I truly don’t like spicy food.
Lastly, the churros. I have to say that churros have been ruined for me since I went to Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid. It is one of the most famous places to get this typical dessert. Although El Vez’s churros are not like San Ginés’, I have to say that I was extremely satisfied with them. Crispy on the outside, very soft and chewy on the inside, and the hot chocolate dip was dark and savory as I like em.
Jewtina Tips: Order its cucumber margarita. And if you go on a hot day, order the frozen one!
Teenu- Disfruta- Enjoy!