Lolita

So delicious!!! Totally worth the visit. Went during happy hour and had a great experience. The food was so packed with flavor and fresh too.

5 stars for the food but unfortunately the service wasn’t too great so it’s going to have to go down to 4. Came here for the amazing late night happy hour that starts at 10:30, a few food specials and of course drinks!
I ordered some nachos and chilaquiles … Absolutely delicious. The biggest thing I hate with nachos is how a lot of places give too many chips and no toppings… Not at Lolita! So many delicious toppings and fresh chips made for a great late night snack.
UnFortunately when we entered the restaurant there wasn’t anybody to get a seated even though there are plenty of open tables. And then after that it’s the way to forever to even come to get us our water or order. But regardless the food was amazing, so I still had a great time!
I love a good happy hour, especially a good late-​night happy hour… So I’ll be back for some great, fun Mexican food!

These are one of those Mexican places I won’t forget and will definitely return to. I loved the guac (perfectly salted and topped with plenty of fresh cut red onions and jicama slaw) and chips (awesome variety of corn, plantain, and root chips). The verde and ranchero salsas were both bangin! The crispy fish tacos (plantain encrusted mahi) were also really good (even better with more verde). Eager to return and try some other things I had a hard time choosing between.

Excellent Mexican spot — fresh flavors and innovative. Delicious margaritas (but the paper straws don’t hold up well :), homemade chips, and fresh ceviche. Great outdoor dining experience and thanks for making my son a cheese quesadilla!

I’ve always liked going to mexican-​fusion restaurants. It has a certain flare especially in the east coast.
Seating arrangement is both in /​outdoor. If you want some privacy, definitely pick indoor dining but make sure you have reservations since the indoor portion is very limited in seating. However, their outdoor seating is pretty vast since it is literally the sidewalk outside of their restaurant. If you want to make passersby jealous by what you’re eating, I would definitely go for it. Plus it is very entertaining to see tourists and locals mesmerize with the display of food on your table. Great for people watching! Literally you’ll see someone point at your food and hear them say, «oh my, that looks yummy,» every few minutes or so.
Their drink menu — Awesome! Margaritas and Tequilas is their focal point, and they have some great selections. For this trip, I decided to go for their cocktails. I had a Tamarind Sour and the Drunken Traveler. Both were excellent as it had a great ratio of sweet, sour and smooth. Cheers to their mixologists.
The food — Satisfying and Filling. To start, I had their Tradicional Guacamole with mixed corn, plantains and malanga chips. The guac had a refreshing atmosphere — very light and airy.
Next up is their Roasted Beet Salad (must order) and Mexican Street Style Corn. Wow did they pack some flavors in these dishes. The beet salad had a poblano-​pistachio purée that blended so well with the earthy flavor of the beets. Together with Jicama and the agave-​lime dressing, it gave the dish a signature taste. The street style corn had a lot of juice also. Make sure for your first bite, get every single ingredient in your mouth (chipotle mayonesa, cotija, ancho, lime) and your taste buds will definitely do a happy dance.
For the main course, we had Grilled Hanger Steak Tacos and Crispy Fish Tacos. Delicious. The dish definitely had its signature. Lolitas will definitely give you an impression that east-​coast mexican restaurant is there to stay and the vibe that is one of a kind. However, coming from the west, authentic mexican food is and has always been the king for my tastebuds.
But yes, love this restaurant and I’m definitely a fan.

I came here for dinner tonight with friends. The staff is so wonderful and accommodating. There was a ton of traffic on Kelly drive and my friends and I were going to be late and they were able to push back our reservation without any hesitation. Our server, I can’t remember his name, was so nice, friendly and cheerful.
To start we ordered drinks — margaritas, traditional guacamole. One friend and I ordered the mahi mahi fried tacos… They were filling, good but not as delicious as El Vez. My friend ordered the shrimp tacos; she liked them a lot. My friends bf ordered the streak tacos and he was very satisfied. To share we ordered the plantains and corn. The plantains were great! I was not a fan of the corn. I get a version of corn at every Mexican restaurant I go to. The corn was served cold and not very cheesy. I just didn’t love the flavors.
Overall a wonderful experience. I will certainly be back.

I love the Philly food scene, but it definitely lacks good Mexican food. I’m willing to make Lolita an exception, but still knocking a star off because it doesn’t compare to the Mexican food on the west coast. I got the al pastor tacos which were flavorful and the meat was moist. I would have preferred it to have a little more of a kick and less sweetness, but not bad overall. The chips and quac were also very good.

I really enjoyed this restaurant. I returned to philly after a few years and was surprised to see all the cool hole in the wall restaurants like this in center city. The food was good. I like the the shawarma style hanger steak tacos and Mexican style corn. And I was Beyoncé like mood so I ordered a lemonade definitely check out as the staff is wonderful and particularly attentive in a non annoying way
Happy eatings

Food, drinks at happy hour were ok — not super memorable — but great location and vibe, so I’m kinda turn between a 3 and 4 star rating. They run a happy hour, with $ 5 snacks and various drink specials.
My happy hour buddy got the blood orange margarita ($ 6) and I got the white sangria ($ 5). I took a sip of the blood orange margarita — it was super strong, but the orange taste was kinda overwhelmed by the alcohol. The white sangria was light, became a little watery as the ice melted down since it wasn’t too strong to start off with, but decent. At our server’s recommendation, we got the Nachos Verdes (with mushrooms, cheese and salsa), since it was one of the happy hour items with the most amount of food. It was alright — chips were crunchy, but it wasn’t spectacular, although it was a good deal for $ 5.
I did really like the location and vibe of the place though! For happy hour, you can only sit at the bar or outside, but it turned out awesome since the weather’s warming up and it’s kinda nice outside (finally!). That block has several great restaurants (Barbuzzo is right beside it), and they all have ample outside seating, so in general there’s a lot of buzz and activity going on outside and you can really feel the energy.

The food and drinks do all the talking at Lolita’s and man are they smooth.
Lolita’s wine and dined me, or should I say martini/​margarita boozed me and dined me right into euphoria.
We were strolling around in the rain looking for food, decided on this block as it seemed to have a few options, hopping between rain drops and doorstops, checking each menu quick, we finally put our name down at Lolita; we soon realized there was a small bar-​top type seating area in the back that stares into the kitchen which in and of itself is always sort of sexy in some primal kind of way.
There looked to be a couple leaving so we immediately squeezed through this intimately packed restaurant.
You could feel the energy in this place, super vibrant, could only dream the food would translate those same feelings through the palate. Man did it!
We ordered a few drinks, we tried at least four special cocktails and they were all perfect. Just the two of us but we are four three or four as is tradition when in a new town… Okay or even around the hood.
Dish after dish after side after starter, we could not put our forks down! Only once when the girls next to me wanted their pictures taken did I take a moment away from my date and my plates… I’m sure they weren’t the awful people I felt they were taking me away from this heavenly meal. (No I actually spoke to them, they were sweet and took out picture as well)
Back to the food.
What truly stands out, believe me on this one, is actually of all things, the sweet plantains– yeah– you’ve had sweet plantains a million times right? Wrong! You haven’t had them quite as good as this! These were soft and warm, but with this super nice caramelization, a salty Mexican feta like queso, a drizzle of this sweet sour cream… The melt in your mouth, heavenly flavors, in one little side. You will want more!
I almost don’t remember anything else I ordered even though it was all so damn good.
We got tacos, we got drinks, we got apps, I’ll post the pics as i do but you need to check this place out asap.
The cucumber jalapeño margarita was awesome, the pear something or other was good too!
The shrimp tacos were fantastic, a nice kick to them. Mexican corn, platanos, guac — all really really good.
I highly suggest it but be ready for a bit of an elevated noise level. Enjoy!

I used to love Lolita but my experience last night was the worst I have ever experienced. The cucumber jalapeño margarita tasted like lemons and nothing like it use to. My carne asada was rare when I asked for medium. The waiter didn’t even check in on how our meal was till 15 mins after we got our food. Even when I complained about my food, he went on to take two other table’s order before even coming to take back my food back. Lolita used to be amazing and the quality was always the same but something has changed. It could be the last time i ever come. Sad to see a good restaurant go down the drain.

This is by far the best Mexican in Philadelphia. I started with the tuna guac, then beet salad, and finally the chalupas. Everything was incredible. Oh and I ended with tres leches! But I think more impressive than the food was the service. My server had so much knowledge of the menu and of Mexican food in general. I think she said she went to Mexico just to learn more about cuisine and culture! I can’t remember her name, started with a «B», try to ask for her. She made dining out an actual experience, which is a rare occurrence in this town. Kudos once again to my favorite spot of the 13^th street powerhouse.

Service was great, despite the 2.5 hour wait on a Saturday night. That was our bad. Ate and the bar, cucumber jalapeño marg was delicious. Little spice, super refreshing. Atmosphere was cozy, quirky and casual. Food was fresh and greatly paired, definitely recommend!

My boyfriend and I came here Thursday night for an amazing dinner. This place was so busy, and packed. It has been one of my favorite dining experiences.
We sat at the chefs table, which was amazing. I love how perfect these seats are and intimate. We had the queso dip to begin with, which every bite was amazing and a tad different flavor with the mushrooms and peppers! We had the raw tuna, which was also so good. We ended up going with the steak and chicken tacos with a side of Mexican corn. Everything was so delicious, we loved the steak tacos the best.
Service was nice, and everything was perfect! I can’t wait until we come back and try more.

Excellent margarita pitchers, fish tacos and korean pork belly tostadas for lunch. Came here with a group of 6 and we all loved the food and drinks. Also tried their guacamole and chips & salsa, which were very tasty, but I like my guacamole garlicky and spicy — theirs could have used a bit more of each.

Came for Valentine’s Day and had a nice experiment. Very quick service, we were in and out in under an hour, though that may have been them trying to turn tables due to the holiday.
The seafood tostada and tuna tostaditas were really delicious. The main courses were a bit salty for my liking, but overall pretty good. The Mexican tiramisu was delicious and a generous portion. Overall, really liked it her!

The food was authentic and delicious! Guacamole, great variety of chips, the Mexican street corn was cooked perfectly, the plantains were mushy and crispy at the same time with a great crema sauce and the fish tacos were definitely worth getting! Very good spicy sauce on the fish tacos. Atmosphere is great, small and intimate. I’d recommend making a reservation a few days ahead of time to make sure you can get in.

Attempted to get a reservation at El Vez across the street, but were turned off by the 2 and a half hour wait. Since we were craving Mexican, we decided to give Lolita a try. After a 20 min or so wait, we got seated along the bar by the kitchen.
Everything we had was amazing: blood orange marg, cucumber jalapeño marg, corn appetizer, shrimp tacos, and steak tacos.
Since we were sitting by the kitchen, we got to see everything being made. I wanted to order everything they were cooking, and I’m typically a very picky eater.
We will definitely be coming back to Lolita!

OMG. The stuffed pork chop is HEAVEN. Juicy, flavorful, hearty portion. So damn good!

Lolita is a restaurant with an «intimate» setting. It only seats about 45 people at a time, so if you have a party bigger than two people I would absolutely get a reservation well in advance. We got our reservation on OpenTable for 6 a few days ahead of time. Also, since it’s small, expect a little noise.
The service was great, and the food was awesome. I loved the plantain chips with the guacamole, and my fish tacos were awesome — all of the ingredients were very fresh. Perfect portion sizes for lunch. If you’re with someone who likes to share, I think getting a couple plates wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Great place! Will definitely be back to try the bar! I just had to give it four stars since it was a little cramped and the noise level wasn’t my favorite. I’d still head back though!

Lolita, which opened in 2004 was the first restaurant that Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran opened on the 13^th Street corridor. It went through a facelift in 2014, and continues to dish out bold flavors inspired by Mexican street foods. The interior is similar in design to Barbuzzo with the long narrow space, big bar overlooking a semi-​open kitchen, exposed brick and a general hip vibe. This seems to work for them as they are the reigning queens of 13^th Street.
One weird thing that I noticed was the velvet curtain as you open the outer door to the restaurant. There was a curtain at a couple of other places on 13^th Street as well – is this a Winter thing? What is this: Studio 54? Haha
Strangely, Lolita was practically empty except for two people seated at the bar when I came in around 1:30-ish, but I was told that the big lunch rush had just left, which I can definitely believe since I’ve walked by around lunchtime and it’s been bustling – especially at the sidewalk café when it’s warm. I got to sit anywhere I want, thought, which was awesome, but I didn’t see my waiter much over the course of the meal. Sort of thought I’d have more one-​on-​one time with an empty dining room. Also, I was kind of hoping for some sort of non-​alcoholic specialty drink, but the only aqua fresca they had was blood orange mint flavor, which was remarkably similar to the drink I had at Barbuzzo the day before. It was tasty the previous day, but I didn’t want a repeat, so kind of a creative disappointment. I wish that there were more flavors or maybe even something like a horchata or pineapple based drink. Just something nonalcoholic that I could sip on for a bit. Oh well, I was really here for the food anyway.
Lunch began with the Pork Carnitas Tostadas, which were great. The pork itself was a touch smoky and slightly sweet from the canela orange glaze. The pickled red onion might have been hidden on the plate, but emerged as I bit into the dish as a great counterpart to the fatty pork. The little bit of bark on the outside of the pig was very much appreciated as well – it really carries such a concentrated flavor bomb, and also heightened the already beautiful presentation. The crispy tostada on its own was flavorful and had a powerful crunchy factor that held up well under the heaping toppings. The orange and jicama in the salsa lent a fruity brightness, and not only helped highlight the natural sweetness of the pig, but also brought out the spices even more.
The Morita Chile Rubbed Filet Tips came with a small mound of hot corn tortillas in wax paper, which seems very traditional but also playful to me. While the beef was cooked well, it wasn’t as tender as the pork. The poblano peppers, along with the chipotles in the salsa and the morita chiles in the rub gave off a soft, lingering heat that built as time went on. The tortillas and crème helped cool it down. The beans were super flavorful – meaty, salty, fatty, smoky – Yum! Some of those black beans in an enchiladas dish would’ve been delicious. The cheese was nice for presentation, but it I basically ate all of it in one of my tacos. I wish it was a little stronger in flavor, and the rice, while tasty, wasn’t super necessary on the plate.
After a very Mexican meal, I went with what sounded like the most authentic offering: the Coconut Tres Leches. As soon as this dish came to the table, I knew that a lot of thought had gone into not only the taste and flavors of this cake, but also the plating. The bowl almost resembled a cow’s skin, which can only be an homage to the tres leches or three milks. The cake itself was warm and sitting in additional sweetened milk, and had flecks of coconut throughout. Though it was moist in the middle. it wasn’t wet like I’ve come to expense from many tres leches cakes. The warm cake was able to absorb more liquid to prevent any drying out from the milk in the bowl – so many more cakes should be served warm, it just makes them better. It was garnished with some shredded coconut whipped cream and a chocolate pot de crème plated like a truffle atop the cake. The pot de crème was made with Mexican chocolate, which has a slight cinnamon flavor, and is not as sweet as milk chocolate so it complemented the super sweet cake. The texture of the coconut also provided a good change of pace from the soft chocolate and crumbly cake.
Lolita serves up delicious and modern takes on classic Mexican flavors in a chic urban setting. Great spot for lunch, but would’ve been even better at a time with more hustle and bustle. Come for lunch and sit outside when it’s warm, or for an intimate dinner inside.

Ambience: Was a little dark for my liking. Tables were lite with a candle. This space is narrow so seating is tight. Was seated close to the bar/​kitchen, in my opinion not the best seat in the house!
Food Presentation: was ok for me, nothing to be like «wow». I’m a huge fan of food being explained to me when it arrives to the table, and this was lacking tonight! Was here for the New Years Eve chef tasting experience, so I expected more information about what I was eating than what was provided to me.
Taste: Was mediocre for me. What I had: Empanaditas – wild mushroom-​goat cheese filled (these were good) too bad they only served two and they were small. Royal Trumpet Mushroom Tostiditas – these were mediocre to me, the tostiditas had a stale taste to me and lack the crunch I was looking forwarded to to say the least. Al Pastor Pork Trompo Tacos – these were flavorful, but a little dry, nice portions! Carne Asada a la Lolita – seared beef tenderloin w/​crispy yucca fries, smoked plantain crema-​definitely the best part of the dining experience. This was so good, as I feel the saved the best for last. Every bite was flavorful, and it was cooked perfectly! Dessert – chocolate flan, was different but not bad!
Server: was ok, food came out fairly quick and drinks were filled with out asking!
Revisit: no time soon! Perhaps if I hear a review about a upgrade to food.

Tacos are amazing here. I’ve had all different kinds and they’ve all been excellent.
Nachos are also wonderful, thought the guacamole can be salty. I like the mushrooms on the nachos. Nice touch.
Tequitos were just okay.
Blood orange margarita tasted good, but wasn’t very boozy.
Overall, great tacos. Salty food so expect to drink lots of water.
Service is generally okay.
Be aware: This place is insanely noisy if it’s busy.
Also, Late night snack hours have changed even though the sign hung on their glass doors haven’t. Late night discounts were Sunday to Thursday 10:30pm-12. Not anymore as we went tonight (¹²⁄₂₀) and the employees told us they closed at 10. Lame– take your sign down!

The food was delicious and reasonably priced. My friend and I came here for dinner. We ordered the crispy fish taco, grilled octopus tostadas and enchiladas verde with mushrooms. The first two were very well done, flavorful with a variety of ingredients yet light and clean. The enchiladas were more on the traditional side, a bit heavy with cream, cheese, and probably calories, although the mushroom was a nice twist.
The dishes were made to share and they recommend 3 – 4 for two people. We were comfortable with three.
The ambience was good, dim lighting, modern décor, but a bit crammed. Prime real estate on 13^th street, and they certainly fitted a lot of tables in a small space. Luckily the music wasn’t too loud and we were able to enjoy a nice conversation. :)

It’s more of a 3.4 spot. I loved this place when it was byob. I visited recently for dinner to check out the new bar. Love the restaurant and the vibe. The staff was great. Outdoor seating!
We started with the chips and quac. Really great appetizer! I had the shrimp tacos, again they were really amazing! I would definitely go back for the food. My friend had the pork tacos I tried which were also great. I highly recommend the food!
The reason I gave it 3.5 instead of 4 stars is because I wasn’t a huge fan of their drinks. I had the spicy cucumber margarita (I believe it was called that) it was a pretty big drink but I thought it was a little weak and I wasn’t super jazzed about the flavor. Being in the neighborhood it is, I thought the margaritas are better at the other Mexican restaurant in the area. But that’s the only reason I subtract the half star. Kind of miss the BYOB especially for monetary purposes. But would like to go back because the food was great.

It is a nice Mexican place. They have outdoor seating — good in summer. Their food is delicious and filled with flavor. I ordered an enchilada and it is one of the best ones I have eaten till now.
Good place to hangout in center city. They have a nice bar.
The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because the seating arrangement could be done better. We had our adjacent table so close that we did not have space to get out when we were done.
But other than that, good service and good food!

I love Lolita! We stopped in for happy hour, but I’ve also been for dinner. It’s a quaint little space with a DIY feel to it almost — the drinks come in mason jars with paper straws and the plates are a faux wood. It’s a nice touch to add to the atmosphere.
If you’re a fan of margaritas, you’ve got to try the blood orange margarita. It’s not too sweet, not too sour and just all around wonderful. Plus, the happy hour special is great — $ 6 for a margarita. We shared a few bites and the sopecitos were my favorite! They were a variation of a croquette topped with mushrooms and cheese YUM! When I came for dinner we shared the guac (great) and I had the fried chicken tacos, which were delicious!
Definitely make this a stop next time you’re in the area!

Nice quaint modern Mexican restaurant located in a prime spot of the city
Service ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Ambiance ¹⁰⁄₁₀
Quality of food ⁷⁄₁₀

This was literally the best meal I’ve had in 2015!
From the moment I entered, the crafted experience and exceptional food didn’t disappoint. I adored the interior: rustic, urban and oddly intimate… despite fitting as many tables as possible. I felt like our conversation was private and not shared amongst everyone around us, which I can’t stand at places like the Dandelion.
The staff was incredibly attentive, informed and easy going. It’s a well executed plan to actually leave water pitchers on the table. The menu, while simple, is broad enough to appeal to the adventuresome or classic Mexican food lovers. Our dishes included the chips and salsa, enchiladas verdes, pork carnitas tacos, grilled snapper, and the otherworldly tiramisu (which might just be the best dessert I’ve ever experienced while dining out). It’s only available during restaurant week.
The chips and salsa deserve high praise for being so unique! While the standard elements were there, the surprise of plantain and yucca was just smashing. The salsa verde is perhaps the best I’ve ever had, though I will admit I didn’t care for the red salsa at all. It was simply trying too hard and incorporated flavors typically found in a mole sauce, which just isn’t chips and salsa material.
The main courses were exceptional. We did the restaurant week menu, and while I was quite upset that a meat enchiladas option wasn’t available on it, the all veggie ones that I chose almost converted me to be a vegetarian! Some of the best laying of favors in a Mexican dish that I’ve ever had! The pork carnitas though are addicting. The pre-​fix menu came with two, which though plenty, ignited my need to have more!
As for dessert– don’t share the tiramisu! Claim that baby as yours!

Was able to snag a dinner rezzie (I say snag cause for a Tuesday night, it was pretty difficult to get a normal dinner time) and was excited come here with the new (I guess not so new anymore) menu.
We started with the guac cause obvi. It was def more than enough for two people. I was so full off that. The guac was really good I thought.
Then I got the cauliflower tacos (3). Side note: the old menu used to have a ton of tofu entrees or availability to sub stuff for tofu, but this menu didn’t. There were 2 – 3 vegan/​vegetarian options. I t’s a small menu, so I guess that’s good enough. The tacos were really good and uniquely flavored. I threw up in some of the salsa/​gauc in there and it was good!
Main reason for the –1 star is the watermelon margs we got. I was supperr excited mainly to try the drinks. We got a pitcher of it and it wasn’t anything amaze for $ 36 and not strong at all. After chugging half the pitcher (not actually) I was buzzed. The watermelon and ice in the drink was really hard to drink to. Like you had to use your teeth as a strainer… do yall know what I’m talking about? But ya at the end, I wanted to use the napkins and just strain out all the liquid so the watermelon pulp wasnt in my way.
Not terribly pricey for a nice meal. The pitcher definitely set us back, but the entrees are $ 10 – 15, not bad.