Tortas Frontera

I tried Tortas Frontera two more times since my first review. The second time I had a shrimp bowl that was a little too salty for my taste. Two stars for that one. The third time I had the smoked pork mollette, which is basically pork loin, jack and cotija cheese, and fig spread on top of a large homemade English muffin. The smoked pork mollette tasted really good. It was a nice, clever combination of ingredients. Four stars for that one. Overall, my rating of three stars still stands. This place is very popular with students here at Penn, probably more due to convenience than anything else. I have yet to try a tortas sandwich, but I believe if the bread is as good as what I’ve had with my mollette, I might raise my review a star.

While this is a good choice to grab lunch on campus, you better be prepared to wait. I normally wait at least 10 minutes and it can take even longer for your food to get ready when they are busy.
The tortas are good, but there is a lack of consistency in the quality. Some days they are amazing and other days they are just alright, but overall the food is good. My favorite tortas are the Queso verde and the mushroom Torta (the only vegetarian options). Also the guacamole is great. I definitely get chips and guacamole every time.
Overall, while the food can be pricy for what it is and take way too long to ankle sometimes, it’s one of the best food options on campus.

Rick Bayless does it again! Somehow his flavors and use of local freshness has made it all the way from Chicago. The only reason this Frontera Tortas doesn’t get 5 stars is because it’s hours are horrible. Closed 2 days a week and not open past 5? Impossible to get here when you’re a working mom!
The chicken sandwich with avocado and arugula is a burst of smokiness with a touch of sweet and a hit of spiciness at the end. I don’t understand how a sandwich can be so good. Thank you Rick Bayless.
Tips:
Sandwiches for about $ 8, limited seating, salads and soups also offered. Amazing tortilla soup.

The sandwiches are Frontera’s highlight, but it’s prices and customer service are out of control (in a bad way). Guacamole (in a tiny container) is nearly $ 4. Unlike chipotle or any Mexican restaurant, they won’t give you salsa if you order guacamole.
The wait time is also crazy. Today I ordered a sandwich, but waited in line for 15 minutes. And I was at the front. They seem to either stretch their staff, often having one cashier in the middle of lunch and dinner rush.
Perhaps Frontera’s problems are due to its confined environment. But regardless, nothing can excuse their obscene prices and average 20 minute waiting times. I imagine if they weren’t on Penn’s campus they’d be out of business in a heartbeat.

It’s not bad, but it’s not delicious or even remotely close to authentic Mexican. The main positive attributes include the guacamole, which is great and has the options of so many toppings, and the tortas. It’s yummy, but super fatty almost to the point of being greasy. As for the bowls, I have had two: the pork and steak main options. The steak one had a weird flavor to it, it just didn’t work well. The pork was better but still not great. I don’t really feel the need to finish my meal when I come here; it’s kind of lackluster food and so I don’t feel motivated to finish.
Fun tip, the hibiscus drink is the perfect mixer for tequila. It’s not super sweet on its own, so the tart flavor makes a great alcoholic beverage.

First time customer today. I ordered a Cubana Torta, and was given chicken instead of ham. I didn’t return it because I didn’t want to have to wait another half hour for an order. I also overheard the employees inquiring where the chicken patty had disappeared to, and motioning to my table. There wasn’t enough integrity from the employees to confront the customer and correct the order on their own.
There’s a first and last time for everything.

From my multiple visits to this location, my opinion of this place averages to about 3-​stars. Here’s the breakdown below:
Tortas & Guacamole: ⁴⁄₅ — I’ve always enjoyed the different sandwiches, and even though the guac feels kinda pricey, it’s so good! I particularly love the avocado chunks and the hint of lemon
Convenience: ³⁄₅ — right on Locust walk near the center of Penn’s campus with nifty packaging for takeout, and they take dining dollars
Ambience: ³⁄₅ — clean and spacious but it’s nested inside a school building, so not much for a great dine-​in experience
Other food: ²⁄₅ — not that great especially for the cost (particularly the soups or bowls)
Service: ¹⁄₅ — super super slow even when it’s not crowded and the staff are unnecessarily rude
Take what you will, considering the pros and the cons!

Orders take way too long, are way too pricey, and often are served to you cold.
But DAMMMN do they make a good sandwich. I have literally tried all of their tortas and can report that their choriqueso torta is one of the best sandwiches in the city.
Don’t waste your time with the other ones, they range from ok to good, but are honestly not worth the price/​wait/​service. Stick with the choriqueso and you will be very pleased.

I was excited when I first heard Tortas Frontera was opening in Philadelphia. Prior to that, I was only able to get these tortas when passing through Chicago. I’ve been to the Philadelphia location a few times now and the only reason I go back is because the tortas are so delicious! They are very flavorful and the bread has a nice bite to it. However, other than the food, everything else is very sub-​par. Service is horribly slow, the staff is rude, and the dine-​in experience is lacking.
Food Rating: ⁴⁄₅
Service Rating: ²⁄₅
Ambiance Rating: ²⁄₅

Delicious Tortas! While it’s hard to find (luckily I spotted the sign through the window, but there is no sign for this building from the walkway), it’s so worth the journey. Cheap, delicious sandwiches, and awesome guacamole! I judge all Philadelphia guacamole against El Vez, and while this isn’t quite as good, it’s certainly a good substitute while you’re in University City. And you can add some great toppings to spice it up a bit.
I tried the choriqueso torta, and man was it good! Simple, not too messy, a little spicy, and just really delicious. I would definitely recommend it.
One weird thing, I couldn’t find a phone number for them anywhere! I wanted to call ahead and place an order, and it was nowhere to be found online. So that would be helpful for the future.

I came here ravished after 8 straight hours of class, and thought it was a convenient place to stop by on my way to my next appointment. Since I was in a hurry, I didn’t want to stop by a storefront, and was too hungry to wait and order grubhub.
Even though there were barely any customers, and around 8 workers, my food took 20+ minutes to prepare! The cashier was extremely rude and angry, and begrudgingly handed me my receipts. It took forever for someone to pour out a bag of ready-​made chicken bowl mix and swish it around a pan.
Again, I was SUPER HUNGRY so I scarfed all the food down, but the flavors were really weird… the bowl looked comforting and savory, but it had a sour taste and looked like a bunch of different random ingredients thrown in, none of which complemented each other, and packed in a tiny bowl.
I’ll probably end up coming here again because it’s right on Locust Walk, but will probably stick with the chips & guac, or maybe try a torta.

I go here mostly for convenience’s sake, but they have pretty decent food. I really appreciate that Rick Bayless chose to open a place on Penn’s campus and the Arch is a really picturesque place to sit and eat, but I just can’t get over how bad the service is.
It takes 15 – 20 minutes sometimes to make a Queso Torta which is essentially a grilled cheese. This happens even when there is no line! It even takes forever to get chips and guac which is the easiest thing to put together. And it is not like they have a shortage of workers — there are plenty. I guess they just stand around doing nothing because somehow they feel the need to give you a buzzer even though it is supposedly a fast food restaurant. I even found a hair in my food once which turned me off even more.
That said, the food is pretty great. I am not really a spicy food person unless I can have milk with it (which they do not sell), so unless I am going home, I usually stick to the aforementioned Queso Torta that contains cilantro crema, and it is delicious. The Chicken Chipotle Torta is also very good. The drinks are a little potent for my taste but fun to try regardless.
Bottom line — if you have the time to spare and don’t mind waiting a little while, give it a try.

I love this place. Sure, it takes a little while to get your order (I’d rather wait while they make it than have them throw something in a bag that’s been sitting under heat lamps), it’s a bit pricey (compared to my usual food truck lunches) and yes, my order has been wrong on more than one occasion (just check it before you leave)…so why five stars? The tortas (conchinita pibil is my favorite) and salsas are amazing. I find myself thinking about them at random times and can’t wait to get back there again. The staff are all super nice — one time (after an extra long wait for my food) there was an extra torta and order of chips and salsa with a note that said «sorry for making you wait — thanks for being patient»!
They also have a small selection of grocery items (mainly bags of chips, jars of salsa and a while back some amazing seasoning packets/sauces…I’m not sure if they still have those.
Oh, and the salsa that comes with the torta AND the warning about it being hot. It’s true. It’s HOT. I usually eat ½ of my order without it and then put it on the rest… because it’s likely to burn your mouth bad enough that you won’t be able to taste the rest of your meal. But in a good way. An «omg that hurts, but I want more way». Mmmmm. Now that I’m writing this I think I know where I’ll be for lunch tomorrow…

Alright, I’ve tried this place a few times to see if it got better.
Tasty: the gauc is pretty tasty, chips have been good twice and stale once
Also tried one of those bowls: the meat was a bit fatty. One of the sandwiches with pork and it was meh.
Now what really freaks me out about this place is how everyone walks around touching EVERYTHING (money, themselves, those blinky devices they give to everyone) and then yep, your food. It’s not just one person, it’s several. Look, if you are to touch money and have to help with food, CHANGE YOUR GLOVES. I’m seriously disgusted by this lack of food safety and don’t think I can go back.

It was refreshing to find a new lunch spot on Penn’s campus close to Huntsman hall. I was getting sick of Joes café in SHDH, and will puke if I have to eat another omelette from MBA café.
This place serves good, quality food. They have a variety of flatbreads, salads, lunch bowls and soups. They also have a few choices of agua frescas. There’s plenty of seating around, and also outside in the forum area within the Arch building. It’s a great place to catch up with people, and not overly swarming with undergrads.
I tried a small side salad that came with some roasted peppers, avocado and a lime dressing. It was really tasty, but not necessarily enough for a full meal. I also got a small side of guacamole that I added to the salad. But warning: don’t get the guacamole, not a good deal! The small was almost $ 2, and it is very very very little! The regular guacamole is slightly larger and comes with chips, but of course more expensive (maybe around $ 5). The regular is about ²⁄₃ of chipotle’s size and pricier. So save yourself the trouble and get your guacamole craving filled at chipotle, where I think the guacamole is better anyways. Like another reviewer, I agree that the mango agua fresca tasted more sour as you worked your way through.
Overall, not a bad place to grab a quick bite for lunch.

Pepito torta,
you’re fresh, but too small and bland,
so not worth the wait.

Stopped in Rick Bayless’s first outpost in Philadelphia — Tortas Frontera — on the Penn campus and I’m glad I did. It’s a great addition to the amazing food scene in Philadelphia. Though I have never seen his famous cooking show on TV (I don’t have time or interest to watch TV cooking shows), I am aware of his national reputation for creative Mexican food. The menu accommodates all the meals of the day — from breakfast Huevos to heartier Cazuelas. But the name of the game here is def Tortas. And are they delicious! If you’re from the English-​speaking world begin thinking elaborate Grilled Cheese sandwiches, if you’re from Italy think grilled paninis … but whatever your frame of reference is — the tortas here are tastier. My favorite torta to date is the ham and cheese (Queso y jamon). The Chihuahua cheese and cilantro cream perfectly mix with the smoked ham and spicy salsa.
All ingredients used are local here … there’s even a list of which farms they come from. The seating in the old CA/​new ARCH building on Locust Walk is almost always filled but there will be outdoor seating in the warmer weather. It would be nice if they would add some free condiments… like salsa picante.
And remember — it does take some time to grill up the tortas. They are made to order. This isn’t Burger King or McDonalds where everything is pre-​prepared and wrapped. But if you can muster up just a modicum of patience, your taste buds will def thank you!

Tortas Frontera is a great new place on Penn’s campus, compared to some of the other mediocre options here. The ingredients are local and fresh, and the food seems very well-​made and high quality. I tried the Shrimp torta, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I also had the mango-​lime agua fresca, which was really good at first, but too sour after a while.
On the down side, this place is pretty expensive, considering it is more of a fast-​food/​café place and also has relatively small portions. Also, the lines at times are ridiculous, and it takes a good 10+ minutes to actually get your food (you are given a buzzer, which is pretty much unheard of at a café…).
I would recommend going here if you want to eat on Penn’s campus NOT at prime time — otherwise the line is just too long and you’ll end up taking about an hour or more to eat a pretty small portion.

Definitely get the tortas — if it’s in the name, I’m guessing they are famous for them. I got the pulled pork torta and it was delicious! Perfect blend of vegetables and meat and carbs :)
I want to come back again to try the guac bar — I heard you can mix and match your own toppings… including BACON!

Tortas Frontera is a welcome addition to Penn’s campus, but has a lot it needs to work out before it becomes really good.
To start out, Tortas Frontera is located INSIDE of the ARCH building on Penn’s campus – on 36^th and Locust Walk, which makes it hard to find, haha. When you get into the ARCH building through the 36^th Street entrance, Tortas Frontera is the large open area on your left. The seating area on the ground floor of the ARCH is really nice, and Tortas Frontera is a made-​to-​order restaurant that gives you buzzers to hold onto until your order is ready, so it’s built to handle very long lines…
…which it has. Yes, it’s only been open for a week or so, but the lines are absolutely absurd. Even at odd hours, the least I’ve waited in line was 20 minutes (the most I’ve waited being almost an hour,) and that’s JUST to order your food. Add another 20 minutes on top of that to actually receive your food (the buzzer system is a godsend in this situation.) The service is slow, inefficient, and awkward, which slows down the time even more. Hopefully that will change over time.
Fortunately, if you have the time, you can sit anywhere in the ARCH and chat with friends or do work while you wait.
The food itself is pretty good. As a vegetarian, there are lots of cheesy, flavorful, and delicious selections. So far, I’ve had the Queso Torta, Queso Verde Torta, Tres Queso Mollette (…there’s a trend as you can see…,) and both the Mango Lime and Raspberry Prickly Pear Agua Frescas. Everything has been delicious, clearly made on the spot, and bursting with flavor. The Tres Queso Mollette has been my favorite food item thus far, not only because it’s the quickest to prepare (a 15 minute wait instead of 20+!), but also because you can really taste all three cheeses, all the vegetable flavors, and spices. As for the drinks, he Agua Frescas are REALLY acidic, if you can handle that.
One thing to point out though, as has been said in previous reviews, are the very small portion size, especially for the Tortas. They’re, on average $ 7 – 9, and you will probably stay hungry if you only order one. It doesn’t seem like the best deal for college students, but I suppose the lines would say otherwise…
Overall, I’m really excited about what Tortas Frontera has to offer (but my wallet is not) once they work out all of their issues. They have great hours for a campus eatery and could really meet the needs of Penn’s campus due to their delicious and diverse food options, once they are able to organize.