El Poquito Reviews

Had a great meal on the patio. Wait staff is very friendly and attentive. Recommend the carnitas enchiladas and the Tierra y Mar fajitas

We love the food and ambiance at this neighborhood spot. The tacos (we've tried them all) are delicious. Unlike a lot of places, this restaurant does a really nice job of both meat and vegetarian dishes. Guacamole and ceviche are great. Love the brunch. Margaritas are on the small side for the $$. Service can be a little slow during their busy times . . however, the ambiance (huge patio, cool bar) more than compensates. Relax and enjoy!

I really enjoy the southwestern ambiance and the outside patio. The bar makes good drinks. Service is great. My two concerns: - plenty of unique food options, but a few more pedestrian options to round out the menu would be great - poor acoustics In any case I think you will enjoy this place. Afterward take a stroll along the Avenue!

Have been for dinner a couple of times for Taco Tuesday and the brussel sprout tacos are fantastic. Wouldn't have thought they would be that good. Even if you don't like traditional brussel sprouts, you should try one!

My wife and I had driven home from Hampton Bays on Memorial Day and wanted to eat at a new restaurant. We decided on El Poquito. The hostess asked if we wanted to eat in or out? I said in but at a window, there were 6 people at most and she sat us across from the window. I asked if we could sit at the window she said no only parties of 3 or more could sit there. I looked around and said "there's no one here and it's after 5. She said "it might get crowed and we can't be moving people from table to table." I asked if she was serious and she said yes. I said to my wife let's go and we went to Chestnut Hill Grill.

Horrible experience. Couldn’t accommodate my request for impossible burger on an enchilada cause it’s already pre-made (red flag). Service was poor, our tacos came out cold and my partner was given the wrong beer. The waiter was nice enough to take the drinks off the bill but I would never go back. Coyote crossing in Conshy is the best for Mexican and I can’t wait to get back!

Delicious blood orange margaritas, frozen or on the rocks! The food was good and moderately priced. It was very noisy, though, and it was hard to have conversations. It would be nice in warmer weather to sit outside.

Decided to travel to Chestnut Hill for a little Christmas shopping. We weren't sure which restaurants would be open for lunch. Lucky for us, El Poquito decided to be open for the holiday weekend. We liked the decor. Casual and relaxing. We enjoyed our meals and received wonderful service.

The food here is always good and fresh. Try the plantains -- they are so sweet they should be served as a dessert.

decent enough food, reasonably priced, great atmoshere both in and outside the restaurant. awesome service. need to check your dishwasher though, or replace your glasses and plates... they looked not clean. other then that, food was good.

This was one of my favorite places. I'ver been here 5 times in the last year. Today, we sat and given instructions to read the menu off the QR code, which was ok, but then you had to order offer it. Huh? The party of 12 next to us did not have to. Hmmm. Forget the app had a hard time starting, internet being what it can be. But ordering off a QR code. I got out to eat for a server to take our order, and answer questions about food and drink. Ordering off to a QR code is drifting towards a fast food experience. When we were going we had to flag down an employee to bring us togo boxes. I will be taking a pause from eating here. I'll try again in the summer, but if this is the way they are going, I'll pass eating here. As for the food, all good. Impossible Chorizo, Mushroom Quesidilla and a shrimp bowl. The menu is very limited on the food side. Our drinks were made well also. See you next summer.

It had very good service, prices OK: moderate/reasonable, food average I like it much more seasoned/spicy.

Traditional & competent Mexican fare (fajitas, burritos, tacos, etc.) & drinks in a rustic ambiance with lilting Latino music & (humidity permitting) a festive outdoor garden cafe. But - even though the cafe & bar weren't especially busy - it seemed to take a long time for a (small) bowl of spicy tortilla soup & mound of fresh Mexican chopped salad to arrive.

The service from the waiter came with a little attitude. You could tell he doesn't want to be there. But he's doing what he can to appear friendly. It took a while to get our drinks. The tacos are good. But they are stingy on portions and on chips. No free chips here. Is it worth going here for just the food? I would say no. The food was good, but not good enough to overcome the bad service and attitude from the waiter. There are plenty of other places with better service. Its a shame because the interior and the outside decor is really cute and fun.

The place seemed very nice, but not very respectful for us who are not from the US. The bartender e.g. ’forgot’ the happy hour when writing the check. Gave the impression that they try to cheat whenever they think there is a possibility for that.

Father's Day pick. Delicious guacamole and tacos. Nice outdoor seating area. Friendly servers. Definitely would return.

I thought the food was very overpriced as well as extremely small portions. The waiter was not very attentive. Cute atmosphere

Went for dinner with friends. Several people told us not to go but its local so we went. The servers were the only good part. Food was below average and OVER PRICED! They gave a vegan the wrong food. I wanted to love it but sadly won't be returning. The space is amazing so its disappointing that the food was so blah

We eat here often. It's a great addition to the area. The outdoor patio area is very nice. The food is always good. They do have a somewhat limited menu. I've had the fish tacos, salad and fajitas and all were very good. The service can be spotty at time. Definitely worth a try.

My birthday dinner at this restaurant was a mixed experience. The drinks are good and the beer selection pretty good. The service itself was very good. But, I like to go to a restaurant for good food as well and this restaurant was below average. I ordered the steak fajitas on the waiters recommendation at $32 for fajitas. What I received was anything but "sizzle". The food was room temperature and soggy. None of diners had much better luck with their various orders of other items from the menu. Even the chips and salsa are mediocre. Given the number of excellent Mexican restaurants in the area, I would skip this one unless you are just going in for atmosphere and good drinks.

This restaurant is especially nice to visit in the spring and summer or any time the patio is available for dining. The food is tasty and interesting and is worth the trip, although the service is sketchy and inside tends to be noisy.

Our entire office/team went to El Poquito for dinner the night of the Witches and Wizards Pub Crawl (October) it has amazing drink specials and outstanding taco's and food. In addition we has a great server with a great attitude. A lot of fun I would highly recommend.

We enjoyed a meal at El Poquito the weekend of the Chestnut Hill Harry Potter Festival. We were lucky enough to get a table outside in the garden and enjoy the afternoon sun while sipping on a Corona and enjoying some tacos. We had the cauliflower tacos and they were delicious. I would have never thought to make cauliflower tacos but I do now. Prepared perfectly and seasoned to a T. I strongly suggest them. Service was good. A little laid back but not lacking. Our drinks were never empty and we never waited for anything we needed.

Menu Is limited but what we had was very good. Parking as always in Chestnut Hill was awful. Our waitress was wonderful- very patient with our numerous questions about the menu. Her recommendations were spot on. Would love to try this place again in the spring so we can sit outside and limit the noise.

I have been to El Poquito quite a few times it is such a great spot to go to in the summertime. Their grilled corn in amazing along with their ceviche! The restaurant is also very nice inside and all of my friends that I have brought there have liked it as well. Def try it out!!

My husband and I have been going to El Poquito since it opened it doors. We live in the area and it is the only decent place to get Mexican food in Chestnut Hill/ Mt. Airy. The food is always delicious and I have no complaints. The soup is fantastic the ceviche is always fresh (though less imaginative recently). The tacos are delicious and filing. The burritos have been a nice addition to the menu and are very generous in size. The issue... the only issue is service. Despite, being in business for a couple of years now they still have not learned how to turn over their tables. Tables go unclear for 30-40 min while people are told there are no tables available. They have run put of napkins and the servers are spread way too thin. We really want this restaurant to stay but we see people's frustration and we too have been frustrated in dealing with the lack of staffing. The actual servers are very nice again just spread too thin. Hope this restaurant learns quickly that service is an important component of keeping people coming.

El Pocquito is like your moody BFF! Some days they are awesome ..but on the days they aren’t you swear…never again! But the love for that friend..pulls you back in! Lol In this instance…but what makes you feel ‘never again’ is when there is rude wait staff…service is off and ruins your experience for that visit! What pulls you back in is the delicious drinks at El Pocquito..always consistently yummy! The food (tacos; quesadillas; nachos) are crowd pleasers! I have also been here for brunch and that was good too! Depending on the visit…I always am hopeful for a great time! Start with drinks and see how it goes!

Service was nice but a bit slow and forgetful. Food was lacking that "oomph" factor. Drinks were good but slow to come out.

There are so many restaurants to choose from in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Some have been there for years, while others come and go. A friend and I wanted to try out this new place in the middle of this historic area. We happen to go there on "Taco Tuesday" and the place was packed - and very noisy. The mushroom tacos were good (each type comes 3 pieces per order). The other one was bland. We asked for salsa, which they took their time bringing. Everything was overpriced and they actually charged us for the salsa!! I would have thought it was a condiment. There wasn`t any salt or pepper on the table either. With all the other places to have dinner there, this one will not be selected again.

We went for lunch on Sunday May 7 th. They had a Brunch menu as well as their regular menu We had one choice from brunch menu and one from regular menu. Both were awesome and filling

El Poquito has become a key destination. The food is quite good. They deviate from the usual super bland fare that seems to satisfy the relatively simple tastes of the locals. Quinoa tacos are pretty fabulous. They welcome families and have a great kids menu. The servers are friendly and attentive without being annoying, The bar serves very good cocktails and there is lovely outdoor seating. In a town where Iron Hill Brewery seams to be king I sincerely hope El Poquito makes it.

It was a wonderful evening for sitting outside and eating. Because we're from Colorado, we eat a lot of Mexican food. But nothing like this! Everything had a unique flair, a unique flavor. It was absolutely delicious - every single thing we ordered. And the atmosphere was just as good. We were outside, and our dinner spanned about two hours, even though they were busy. There was no problem with noise, the wait staff was just great, and everything together made for a great evening. We'd go back to El Poquito in a heartbeat. I want that Gazpacho Soup recipe!!!

We sat inside even thought there was seating inside but it was too hot. The noise level around 6:30 -7 was fine but by 8 it became so loud you couldn't hear or talk comfortably. The frozen mango margherita's were delicious and the guacamole w fresh salted crisp chips was delicious. We ordered chicken chipotle tacos, cod tacos, and lamb tacos. There were 3 small tacos per person, small considering the price. Even though the food was delicious and the service was good, I probably would opt to go to a Mexican restaurant where they served slightly larger portions for the price.

El Poquito is a fairly new restaurant with a lovely decor - gleaming warm woods predominate and a windowed wall gives the room great natural light. With both tables and small booths off to the side, it seems spotless and fresh as you walk in and the service just as spotless - a warm, gracious hostess and equally warm and gracious servers who were also very attentive. The food though was spotty not spotless. It might be aiming for light, more nouveau Mexican cuisine - a great goal as Philadelphia has too few Mexican restaurants and this one is located in the land of intentional living - Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hillers eat with care not abandon - but overall it has some distance to go yet before the food is as tastefully spotless as the decor.b Light, nouveau Mexican dishes is great but it should still taste good and some of the dishes certainly did but not all. Yet it was filled with happy diners and on an off, very rainy night and on such a night it felt a particulary warm and friendly place to come into. (One small side note in case they're reading as I'd like to see this new place become everyone's old favorite - the baking pans ( is that what they are?) used as chargers don't serve the purpose well- the plates fit awkwardly in them and you risk reminding those of us who went to Girl Scout camp of our camp experience - the tins aren't folksy and seeming Girl Scout camp shabby they sound a shabby note in an otherwise gleaming, spotless setting) If you're from out of town you might want to go with one of Philadelphia's more established and renowned restaurants - there are wonderfully many- but if you're from Philly you should definitely give this new place a try and see if on the next try all of the food matches up to the quality of service. It's clear they're trying hard to get it right.

My first visit was a great one. A bit delayed in writing, but this place deserves a good note. Tacos are awesome, churros equally so, and the cocktails are lovely and very different. Pricing is what you would expect from a Garces place, but I don't have to drive downtown to visit, so that is a plus. Can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can sit outside on their lovely patio!

El poquito in Spanish means the little one. And in this case I think this restaurant fell a little short. Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Garces. I think he makes great hispanic food with a twist. One of my favorite restaurants from him is Distrito. This restaurant had a lot of similarities with distrito after all it's still Mexican cuisine. The problem with this restaurant is that the menu doesn't reach the heights the distrito menu does yet price wise it is very similar. To make matters more complicated a couple miles down you have Cantina Feliz who also has a similar menu from distrito and has a better menu than this one. If you want a taqueria then all you have to do is go is to El Limon in Conshy and spend 1/3 of what you spend here and get authentic Mexican tacos. To me chestnut hill deserves a better menu. Sorry Jose G. Good thing about menus is they can be changed. I am urging Garces to please amp up the menu. Give us Tacos, ceviches that are more worthy of distrito. Is it a fail? No. The margaritas are superb, guacamole with fresh tuna is fantastic, cape cod tacos were great. The beef tacos were fresh but lacked the typical Garces edge. The ceviches (tuna, hiramasa) were fresh but were boring. The ambience and service inside were phenomenal and I am sure the bar will be busy once real spring finally comes. Come one Garces! I have lost faith yet that you can turn this one around.

There were three of us for lunch. We ordered a breakfast burrito, a quesadilla and nachos. Pros: The server was happy & friendly and greeted us very quickly. She also delivered waters to our table within minutes. The outside patio is very relaxing. One of the three of us ordered a margarita and he was pleased with the drink. Cons: The food is meh for Mexican, nothing special. The wait for our three items was about 40 minutes and it was not crowded or busy. The waters were delivered to our table with the servers fingers inside the glasses. The worst con was there were tiny bugs frozen in the ice cubes in a water glass and in the margarita. The bugs were actually frozen in the cubes so I’m sure we weren’t the only ones with those bug ice cubes.

from start to finish the entire experience was a pleasant surprise. It was a cool Fall evening and we took advantage to the funky inviting atmosphere on the patio. The Street Taco menu was so tempting, I think our table of five ordered all of them and we shared - debating over which one was the best. The service, the food and the drinks were all fantastic - no complaints here! Will definitely recommend and would definitely go back. Enjoy!

Great, friendly, helpful waiter made our evening nice. We each had different tacos and homemade limeade, with lots of their homemade guacamole and super thin warm tortilla chips. Good meal. Have a charming out door eating area also, strung with lights, very cute.

We enjoyed our food and the ambience at El Poquito. The service was a little slow at times, had to hunt down our server to get our check. The brussel sprouts and cauliflower tacos were particularly good, as was the fish taco bowl. Guacamole was fresh, delicious and a very good portion, plenty for the three of us. We'll be back.

Party of 10, very busy location took a while for us to be served and even longer to get our food even though we had a reservation on Thursday night. The Margaritas were on point, get there early enough to enjoy the Happy Hour drink specials. The Enchiladas were okay, to be honest they were a little small and the portion size was not enough. I have eaten at other Mexican establishments so I was very surprised. We had said we were there for a Birthday celebration and had to go find our waitress....as I stated Okay, okay for a birthday celebration for a bill close to $450 dollars.

A group of us came to El Poquito to learn about its conception and operation. We were hosted outside of restaurant hours, and the owners and head chef gave us their full attention for around 2 or 3 hours. The room we were hosted in (also a convertible party room) fit in with the Mexican theme that was presented throughout the restaurant, including old wooden doors and motorcycles and surfboards. We were prepared fresh guacamole and shrimp ceviche. The guacamole was hand mashed in front of us, and was incredibly flavorful. While the ceviche was not on the menu yet, it was very spicy and fresh. Lastly, we were served soft shell tacos with chicken or ground beef, salsa, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. While expectably small (fitting in with current trends), they were very good. Overall, a very good experience due to great food, appropriate atmosphere, and attentive service.

Great atmosphere, with pleasant and helpful service. Our waiter took awhile to greet us, but apologized and our food ended up coming out quickly. We both liked our food. The guacamole dip was good, but the chips were lackluster. A place like this should make their own chips, or at least buy chips that are a grade or two above store quality.

This restaurant is beautiful. The reclaimed wood on the ceiling, the unique light fixtures, the outside patio with lights, are all amazing but unfortunately the food and staff is not. I really wanted to like this place because it's so impressive when you walk inside but that was cut short as soon as we meet the hostess. We were a party of 4 and had reservations. We were there at 5:30 (15 minutes before our actual reservation) and the restaurant was not busy. We were seated in the back corner. I asked if we could sit in one of the really neat looking booths (that the kids would have loved) I was rudely told NO that they had larger parties. The hostess did not even let me finish my sentence AND walked away from me. **Note**the booths were not all sat by the time we left AND only had parties of 4 in them! Our waitress was nice but unforgettable. We ordered the Papi Chido and Margarita for drinks and they were very good. For appetizers we had the guacamole and tuna ceviche and they were good too. However the tacos we got for our entrees and even the kids quesadilla were bland, boring and extremely small. (You honestly get a better tasting and looking taco at Qdoba for a 1/4 of the price.) For dessert we ordered the churros and tres leches cake. Again they were just okay. Our bill for a family of 4 was $160! For that amount of money I would expect a far more enjoyable meal. I do not think we will be returning. If you do go...perhaps drink and appetizers on the patio and save dinner for somewhere else!

With few Mexican restaurants nearby this is where you go for tacos primarily. The food is good, the serving sizes for appetizers are substantial. The margarita selection is great. Go here for tacos in a loud environment (though there are small rooms, but you have to ask for them) & sit at a table. Avoid the bar, the primary bartender while making a good drink is forever distracted. No matter how busy or light trafficked the bar is, it's nearly impossible to get his attention. I've left to go eat elsewhere due to it.

I went to El Poquito for the first time this week with a friend. When we arrived, we were told there would be about a 5 minute wait and ended up waiting for about 15 minutes. We got seated at the table closet to the door/hostess station. Our waiter came over and quickly told us the specials...hard to understand him b/c he talked so fast. In not ever being there before, I lost him when he started talking about Taco Tuesday. We then sat for a few minutes and he never came back. I caught the eye of someone else (didn't even know if he worked there) and he approached our table and asked if our waiter had come to take our order. We said no, so he proceeded to take our order. As he was doing so, our waiter walked by. It was just awkward. The chips and guac came out and it was delish! Guac was fresh and really flavorful. Then within minutes, our meals came. Almost seemed like there wasn't much time in-between. But I guess guac is something you can still munch on while eating the main dishes. My friend had asked for flour tortillas instead of corn and they brought corn. So he had to get a new order made. I got the chicken tacos which were $4. My friend paid $13 for hers. I don't know why you wouldn't get the Taco Tuesday deal. To know you could get a whole dinner meal for $4 kinda makes me think that the 'regular' prices are a ripoff. It got quite noisy as our dinner continued. I probably won't go back.

The outside patio is a great place to eat. Go forbTacos Tuesday for a great bargain. The staff is very attentive.

My husband and I ate here in March, 2015. We arrived on a Friday night without a reservation and were seated promptly. The lack of customers may have been due to the snow. We decided to order multiple items and share everything. The chicken enchiladas were delicious. The sauce was sweet and somewhat spicy at the same time. We would both order these again next time. We tried both the steak tacos and pork tacos. We both liked the simplicity of the steak with avocado, onion, and radish the best. The white sangria was large and strong. The ambiance was very appealing with soft candlelight. The tables are spread apart nicely; you do not feel as if you are sitting on top of others. Our waitress was extremely efficient, nice, and knowledgeable about the menu. We will certainly go back soon. The food is best shared, in my opinion. Oh! The plantain side dish was great too!

This is a nice, upscale neighborhood find. Not always the fastest service but if you are hanging out on Friday, you will not be rushed.

Good excuse to go out on Tuesdays! $4 for three tacos are a great way to share and try a few different tacos and then we supplement with our favorites. Its casual and fun. We also love the chicken nachos and Ceviche. We find it to be a good value and not a typical Mexican restaurant.

Wound up staying the night in Chestnut Hill, and walked into this gem for dinner and drinks. Loved the ambiance, service was great, margaritas was good and food was super tasty. Loved the ceviche and side order of beans. Romantic rainy evening with good food in chestnut hill - would recommend for groups of friends as well!

The food was fresh and delicious. However the wait staff couldn't help us choose. It's a new restaurant they could have been trained better. Had to ask for water and hot sauce.! Asking for hot sauce in a Mexican restaurant... something wrong there. Should we have gotten salsa and chips? Because we didn't. I'm hoping things will improve because the food was good. Alcohol was WAY overpriced. Most of the food was pricey and they offered very little snacking food. Chestnut Hill likes neighborhood places that serve things for people just dropping by.

We were a group of 4 and really enjoyed our meal. The ceviche and empanada were great as was the guacamole (and thank you for no cilantro overwhelming it!). The Brussels sprouts tacos were excellent. The fish fajitas and other tacos were very much enjoyed. We did not have room for dessert. The specialty margarita was delicious. Nice beer selections and a terrific variety of tequilas. Would recommend and return. Parking was easy, too!

Went for a Friday lunch no reservations ate inside had tacos a salad and a brussels sprout side that were absolutely wonderful and very filling The food was excellent the service absolutely great and the cost very reasonable The portions were large we took food home and had another meal

My wife and I made an impromptu stop for dinner last night. The interior design has a Restoration Hardware feel which really suits the place. Our waitress was friendly, helpful and efficient. We both thought the food was great and reasonably priced. As crazy as it sounds the cashew and habanero salsa / dip is a must try! The Baja tacos were also a winner. Cold beer and a not too sweet margarita were the perfect accompaniment. Looking forward to shorts and flip flops weather to take advantage of their outdoor seating.

This is the new Mexican restaurant in Chestnut Hill. I had high hopes for El Poquito, but sadly I was disappointed. Down the road was Avenida..another Mexican restaurant.. but they have closed, not sure what happened? Now, back to my experience at El Poquito, this place has high hopes because of the spacing - different dining areas and outdoor seating. The menu is absent of empanada's - how did that happen? Ok, moving on...me and friends (some had been there previously) decided to select multiple items and give them a try. We had a selection of tacos, the fajitas and our drinks were margaritas. The food was Eh...nothing to really talk about - the fajita was bland and tasteless. The best taco choice was the Baja. We had to ask for sour cream and taco sauce for God's sake - it's Mexican - why wouldn't this be included on the plate. I know it's not Taco Bell, but seriously - you needed condiments to add flavor to these dishes. The service and server were less than desirable. We were a party of 5 and of course there were ongoing needs from different individuals - why did we have to constantly ask her to come to our table - it was like she avoided us. I don't understand that kind of service. The drinks were average. I have no reason to go back unless it changes management, menu or ownership. This is not my typical review - I am not a 1-star rater, but this experience was one of the worst I have had in years.

The food is extremely fresh with great flavor. The waitress was very kind with solid recommendations. The outdoor patio was perfect and the service was very good. I highly recommend this restaurant for a nice date - probably perfect for a first date as well.

We visited during Covid and although the inside looked fun, we were seated out back-like it was the backyard of a house. In fact, you see the backyards of some homes. The atmosphere was really nice and relaxing-relaxing and fun! The items are being served in paper and plastic for Covid, but didn't seem to take away any of the charm of this place. The drinks were tasty and while we were having our drinks we struck up a conversation with the couple at the next table. So fun! Everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves. The food was great and as the sun went down, the lights went on and the evening was a good one!

After 15 minutes of not being waited on after being seated, I left. Not a nice way to treat customers.

Lovely atmosphere. Nice outdoor seating too. We so wanted this place to have good food, but it was instead bland and overpriced. Maybe the anticipation that this location would finally host a winning restaurant raised our expectations too high? When we came soon after it opened, one of us received a very bland taco, another an undistinguished entree. The desert was probably the best part with Mexico City fried bananas and chocolate sauce. Months later we returned for lunch and the food was decent. Service was always good. For the price point, especially for dinner, should have been better.

I've been to El Poquito at least 5 times in the past 18 months. I keep hoping it gets better, because it's so convenient for people stuck in the restaurant limbo of Chestnut Hill. The food is great but the service is terrible. Consistently terrible. We've stood in front of the host station and been ignored for 5 minutes. We've waited for 10 to have someone take a drink order. I've gone through an hourlong meal without someone checking in or asking if I'd like another drink. And waiting for a check is endless. El Poquito, you will probably succeed because you're one of the few good places to eat on the hill. But please do something about the service, for those of us who don't want to have to go to center city to be treated like valued customers.

We were there on a Monday night among just a handful of patrons. The place is gorgeous - great design inside with a charming patio area outside. Our server was nice so no complaints there. Despite the lack of patrons, it took a while to get our drinks (which I attribute to the bartender - not our server). Food was good and tasty but not exceptional. And the tacos were room temperature - seemed as if they had been sitting for a while. I was visiting Philly and was taken there by friends - if I lived there I would probably give it another chance to see if our experience was the norm.

I would rate it 0 if I could.. I came here on my birthday after working at an established office in chestnut hill for 12 hours and we waited 30 minutes without even getting water. Yes, it’s cinco de Mayo but people sitting after us were being served. When I asked about service the manager was very rude and we still waited another 5 minutes before getting up. I will let everyone I know and see about this awful experience if asked for recommendations in the area and I speak with a lot of people. So extremely rude and such a damper on my birthday. What a way to treat essential health care workers.:

went with a friend from Quintessance theatre for supper and it was well serviced, the food was good. I am not a mexican type food expert but certainly it was well prepared , served quicky and efficiently and reasonably priced. Do i know enough to be critical? no., but what i ate, 2 enchiladas were good.

We were excited for the opening of this new restaurant in our neighborhood, particularly upon learning it was related to Distrito, a great Mexican restaurant in West Philadelphia. The decor is well-thought out, although the choices are not as bold as those for Distrito. (One nod is the motorcycle on the wall.) The indoor tables are elevated (a bit odd), so that you need to climb up onto a platform to sit on the bench. Not sure how that will work for disabled patrons. Indoors, the noise level is very high. The outdoor garden setting is very nice--colorful overhead lights, a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. They have added outdoor propane heaters (someone complained about being cold in an earlier review.) We have been there half a dozen times and found outdoors comfortable, although at last night's visit we were subjected to a truly awful live music event with a singer-songwriter (I guess the moral is, don't show up on a Wednesday night?) Oh, the food: it's a mix of traditional, what-you-would-expect American Mexican and what they call "street tacos", which means tacos made from Brussels sprouts, Korean barbecue tacos, etc. The street tacos are actually pretty good--I recommend all of those over the traditional fare. We tried the chicken fajitas las night and found them very salty. This is one of those restaurants that does not serve complimentary chips and salsa (which I think is a plus--too often one fills up on that stuff before the ordered food arrives.) On various occasions we tried the guacamole, which is fine, and the pico de gallo, also fine. We tried some of the special salsa: smoked onion is reminiscent of 1970's sour cream onion dip. Habañero-cashew was similarly creamy and not as spicy as we were warned. The fluke ceviches was delicious. Portions are small, but we prefer that to being overwhelmed with too much food. All in all, while I think there are some kinks to iron out, this is a serviceably good local restaurant, a bit timid in their decor and menu choices. I hope they are able to flourish in this location.

Just went to El Poquito, we enjoyed the atmosphere, decor and food! We had the Korean & Carnitas tacos with an order of the guacamole. Everything was very tasty! The Margarita was just ok and for $9, it should be amazing! My only other concern is why, the guacamole has to be $10 for a small bowl! Other than that it was a nice dinner!

The guacamole and shrimp ceviche were both excellent. The crispy Baja tacos were flavorful but the chicken enchiladas were really, really good.

Food: C People: D Atmosphere: A Service: D Overall: D+ I have visited El Poquito a few times over the last year, and it continues to go down in quality. The prices are high for Mexican without comparable service. They're inflexible on the food options, and the staff is poorly trained. No wonder the place was practically empty at 8:30 PM. We had such high hopes for this restaurant but will not be returning until seeing a sign that reads: "Under New Management"

Went to El Poquito, Mexican Cantina and Tequila Bar on a beautiful October Saturday for late lunch. We were seated outside on the charming patio. The location of the restaurant is great, right across from the Stagecrafters theater, the service tough average. We did not order any drinks. Bahn Me Korean street taco ($10) consisted of 3 medium size corn tacos filled with marinated pork, pickled vegetables (mostly julienne carrots), jalapeno and cilantro. This was more of an appetizer than a main dish. As a "starter dish" Nachos ($11) with chicken ($4) was huge. Should be more than enough for 2 people to share. We took leftovers home, but they were better fresh than reheated. The chicken in the dish was tasty, too much spicy jalapeno and cheese; pico de gallo was good. The atmosphere was pleasant. Overall average food.

I have eaten dinner here 5 or 6 times since the restaurant opened a year ago. At first I was not happy with the place due to the pricing and the menu choices, but now, I am really enthusiastic about this place. This Mexican restaurant is sophisticated and top-notch. The cooking is exceptional. The flavors are amazing! Service is very good. The interior of the building is quite nice, but it is the wonderful outdoor seating area that I like the best. It's a great place to eat in warm weather because the patio seating is comfy and well laid-out. Most of all, it is the exquisite flavors of the food that excites me about the restaurant. Whether it is the 4 choices of salsa, or the corn on the cob side dish (drizzled with sauce and spices), or the chicken enchiladas in a fantastic thin red sauce, or the magnificent and crispy char-grilled asparagus spears, or the super yummy donut-like churros for dessert, I think the food is delicious and the menu is creatively-designed. For me, not knowing Spanish, the menu was difficult to comprehend at first. They don't call things by their normal names. The don't call a chicken enchilada a chicken enchilada, and they don't call corn on the cob corn on the cob. Additionally, the pricing is unusual in my experience because every little thing costs extra. Nothing is included with any platter. Each small cup of salsa costs $4. You can order enchiladas for $15 or so, I forget the exact amount, but when you add things like chips, salsa, guacamole, rice and beans and corn on the cob, your meal ends up being surprisingly expensive. When my wife and I eat here, and have cocktails, we expect to spend $100 total. If we get out of there with a $60 tab, we feel lucky and it means that we just had a light meal and a drink. But the bottom line is that the food tastes wonderful. Having a meal here, especially while sitting out on that patio, is a special and memorable experience. Highly recommended. My compliments to the chef.

I have walked away from El Poquito twice before this eventual visit as the staff are so casual. Inside or out is a very noisy and the music, especially outside both too loud and awful. We decided to try inside. Americanos tacos (3) were not a massive serving but okay to look at and eat. The Shrimp caesar salad was clean, but you pay an extra $7 for seven small shrimp - poor value! Service was better than before but still sloppy: There is a luke-warm welcome after some delay noticing that anyone came into the restaurant; table service is basic and no one bothered to top up water glasses. We drained ours prior to billing and anywhere else, a server will typically offer more water. At Poquito they don't bother; as you leave, do not expect a cheerful goodbye. The woman at the desk took no notice though having nothing more important. Apart from the caesar salad, everything has raw onion and tomato in it. If you re going with anyone in your party who is averse to these ingredients, try and get them to take you somewhere else!

Visited while at the Chestnut Hill art fair and stopped by on the off-chance. Managed to get a table outside in the shade. Ordered several different dishes. The crispy Brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious. Quite a wait for the tacos and the waitress kept apologising. It was very busy but the wait was over long. Will definitely revisit and hope it’s quicker next time. But would still recommend.

Ok so I am a Mexican food snob. I want something different--not the usual Mexican standbys. This place hits the mark! Kimchee tacos? Who would of think it? Scallops fajitas? Delicious! This place has taken a new twist to some traditional dishes. We loved it! Cool vibe w seating outside and tons of drink options. Helen our server was delightful and tolerated our temperamental kids... place will be on our list of top places in philly. Bravo!

Went here with a friend to catch up and hang out. Place was pretty noisy inside by the bar area, more than most bar areas. We tried the nachos with Chorizo (delicious) and shared some tacos. They were tasty! Not something to go out of your way for, but great place to chill and have some tasty Mexican food. The service was standard - they were pretty busy as it was Saturday night. Not exceptional and out of this world, but acceptable.

I'm not one to jump on here to make a big stink but I have to say when something is done right people need to know about it and let me tell you they did this right! I am a huge fan Mexican with very few options for really good food this just became my go-to. Going to warn you if you're Chipotle obsessed you're doing it all wrong. The menu you here is simple and complex at the same time not so many options you're overwhelmed but more than enough intricate flavor combinations that will make you have to come back to try them all. I also love that the portions were normal we got the nacho appetizer and order of enchiladas con carne, carnitas tacos, a side of arroz con habichuelas and platanos and there was more than enough to eat without leaving feeling uncomfortably stuffed. Everything I mean everything from the cilantro that topped the tacos to the jalapenos in the nachos was fresh so fresh that natural flavors just made each bite better than the last. I love spicy food and my boyfriend well not so much but the actual flavor of all the food was spot on for both of us - I think I fell in love with the mole sauce. Don't let me forget the drinks we may be biased we just got back from Mexico in October and the bartenders here are creating some great drinks with tequila. They also had a great beer list with a few specialties I haven't seen anywhere else from small craft microbreweries which was cool for the boyfriend. We have told everyone in our family about it and are dying to go back the service was perfect friendly and fast without being pushy and its such a cool laid back atmosphere. Not pretentious or stuffy but still chic comfortable not sure how they pulled that off but i'm glad they did much needed addition to the area. Keep up the great work we will see you guys again very soon!

Food and drink great, service needs a perk. Would recommend, but if they are in this for the long haul they have to work in the hostess and the manner of service. A hostess is the first impression and while it is not a requirement to be enthusiastic, a personable/welcoming greeting goes a long way in making that ever-important first impression. Waiters should also clear plates and glasses I a timely fashion. Heaters for the outside would also be a good idea.

Believe me, I am rooting for El Poquito! We live a block away and I have always thought the location of this restaurant is superior to most! With a sweet little park on one side and their huge patio (off the street!!) this is the perfect place to hang with friends or meet the neighbors. Besides, I am a HUGE Mexican food fan. El Poquito opened in mid-July 2014. This was our second trip. The first being rather disappointing, we actually avoided it for a few months. Hoping they had made some corrections and were doing better we ventured in again. From things we over heard, I believe the owners wife was our waitress, . She was very enthusiastic and professional. She pointed out that they had made some changes to the menu. We were there for Happy Hour and ordered frozen margaritas - although the Happy Hour Specials were not mentioned. I was happy to receive the special price. The margaritas were VERY yummy but at bit too hard (I kind of hate to mention this cause I prefer this to sloppy). I had to drink it through the straw ... and I like the salt. I would have liked another before the end of happy hour - but it never was offered. So, only one for me. Queso Fundidio. Very yummy and served warm. Could have been "hotter" (as in, spicy). BUT, and this is critical - where the heck are the hot sauces!?! My husband had Crispy Pork Tacos. His comment was "The pork's not very crispy --- never mind, it's not crispy but they are GOOD!!" After which, I didn't her from him again till he was finished eating (good sign). I had Carne Asada Tacos. They were $6 more than the pork - why? The Carne Asada was cooked beautifully. Mind you these are not big portions and there is NOTHING on the side. Taco fillings all very fresh and beautiful. But again, we had to ask for hot sauce. The hot sauces they brought were nothing particularly special. A bottle of red and a bottle of green - both about the same "heat" level - which wasn't very hot. They kept our water glasses filled all night. We helpful and prompt but not hovering. The place was not very full and not very loud. So, here is the complaint. I understand the differences in regional Mexican cuisines. But to not serve chips, especially during happy hour. Isn't happy hour about drinking. won't chips/salt make people drink more? I like chips to scoop up the leftovers, although portions here make leftovers unlikely. And salsa. Okay, so anybody can make boring old salsa - so make mango or some special blend! They do have chips and guac on the menu but even it doesn't have salsa. To me, in a Mexican restaurant - hot sauces, salsas, peppers, chips ... they should be fresh - bountiful and everywhere! Hoping this place can make some more changes before the warmer weather is in full swing. I want to hang on that patio with my friends drinking pitchers of margaritas and hopefully some kind of snacking food.

We sat at the bar and watched both bartenders and filthy drink preparation area. All the concoction of drinks and other fluids drip into the ice chest. On top of that both bartenders worked that evening don't bother to use ice scoop for drinks. They use glass to scoop ice from the filthy ice chest. Based what I witnessed at the bar, I would not dare to drink any of their drinks. Same time I makes me wonder what the kitchen area would look like.

Went with neighbors who said this place was pretty good. Forget it!. If you do go don't order an appetizer and food at the same time as they rush and bring out everything at once. Ordered the chicken Tacos came out cold and the tacos were soggy. If you need to watch sodium intake don't eat the Nachos!!. Ordered wine (way to expensive) $9.00 for about 5 oz. Noise level very high. Maybe after a while they will get better, but there are far better Mexican restaurants to choose from. If you really want great Mexican food go to Tex Mex in North Wales.

Overall it wasn't bad this is about the third incarnation of his location I've eaten at. The tacos were enjoyable but three small tacos for 11-14 bucks based on fillings seemed a tad much. We did enjoy our meal, atmosphere was very loud and service a bit slow ... It was a Friday night so I'll give them that. The hubbys enchiladas looked and tasted nice and my side of plantains was very good. Not the best Mexican I've had in town but it was enjoyable.

Had a wonderful dinner! Patio is beautiful!!! Just loved the ambiance not to mention the food. The carnitas tacos, carne asada tacos, Mexican street corn, and margaritas were fabulous. The crisp, carmelized & sweet plantains were among the best we've ever had. Highly recommend.

A Spectacular Array of Authentic Mexican Cuisine As you enter “El Poquito,” a warm welcome awaits you. Smiling staff that will make you feel at home and in your own kitchen. A gentle and serene gourmet experience enriches your visit. The renewed menu has reached the highest standard of typical, genuine, flavored, and rich entrees. A menu elaborated with fresh ingredients, cilantro, tomatoes, garlic, and rice. Be sure to request a margarita, a beer, or your favorite drink. The bar staff is ready to delight you with the best ingredients! A classic favorite is the typical fajitas cooked tender and sizzling to honor the passion for the cuisine at El Poquito and accompanied with crispy tortillas and topped with your favorite accompaniments. Avocados and cilantro with a drop of lime enhance the flavorfulness of this dish. It is a must! And another favorite, “yucas,” cooked gently through inside with a toasty outlook and flamed. You can blend the flavors of El Poquito with its red and green salsas, guacamole, and the traditional Pico de Gallo. All are delicious choices! El Poquito can accommodate small, intimate, and large parties. Be sure to share your requests with the staff in advance. We were delighted by the welcome and attention of their manager, Ms. Amy, who, with professionalism, etiquette, and deep knowledge of the cuisine, recommended the perfect array of servings to our table. It is refreshing to have delicacy, elegance, and finesse as the trademark of El Poquito. We are sure you will experience this spectacular array of authentic cuisine for any special celebration, and why not on everyday occasions?

Sitting outside on a sunny day for brunch is always great - and with a Michelada or Margarita from El Poquito, it's even better. The Michelada is like a Bloody Mary, but with the carbonation from a beer it goes down easy, and has just the right amount of spice. The guacamole is a great way to start, very fresh and had jalapeños throughout. The huevos rancheros were really good as well but the best dish was the Banh Mi tacos. You can get 3,4 or 5 depending on your hunger level. They had a lot of spice but the flavor was awesome. Crunchy and delicious. Highly recommend it and sit outside if it's nice out!

I’ve been here twice already and I’ve gotten the same thing. The chicken tacos are a really good portion and very tasty and so is the elote. The margaritas are good too and don’t just taste like they came from a mix. I’ll keep going back.

I really wanted to love this place. It's SO cute and the people are very nice but the food was just ok. We went for Sunday brunch and sat outside. The outdoor area is adorable - there is plenty of space in the shade and some in the sun and the table settings are cute shabby chic style. There are lights hung from the awning which makes for a really cute nighttime scene too. We ordered a mix of breakfast and lunch and had a mimosa and a Bloody Mary. The drinks were good. The empanadas were very good too but they were not made traditional way, but I didn't mind that. The breakfast was just ok. They used a ton of butter on the eggs which was unnecessary and then everything else was over seasoned. It was edible but disappointing. Service and ambiance was a 5, but the food which is most important was a 3 at best.

Beautiful, simple, space with an absolutely lovely garden for dining al fresco. Excellent food choices (with their own take on some taco fillings), excellent guac, delicious sides. The margaritas were wonderful (get their by 6p so you can make the happy hour specials) In a neighbourhood of great choices, this is at the top of. The list.

The restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area. But the interior is not very comfortable for a meal, the bench and bar seats are not designed to linger. The drinks are good but small, The service is fine but the food is average and not memorable. I don't mind paying $14.00 for guacamole but it was not even made at your table. We had two drinks shared fajitas for two and guacamole. The bill without tip was close to $100.00 Not worth it. Go elsewhere and just go there for drinks on an nice day.

We were meeting our son yesterday at a location about half way between his apartment and our house for his birthday. We chose El Poquito based on the on-line pictures and menu. Our son is vegetarian, and there are a lot of vegetarian choices besides the basic veggie burger. We were seated in a more remote older part of the restaurant, not the new looking part in the pictures. It was nice and quiet being removed from the bar area, which was good for us since we had a lot of catching up to do, and they had a nice arrangement of lit candles in the fireplace near where we were seated. We were attended to quickly and had drinks and an appetizer promptly. We had ordered our dinners with the appetizers, and at some point a server helper showed up, threw the 2 plates on the table and literally ran away. We had to yell after him, as one of our entrees was shareable Fajita's, and we had no plates. He came back and threw 2 plates on the table and ran away again, at which point I yelled that we needed drinks refreshed. The waiter then appeared and asked what we wanted. So as I said, the food was good but the service was strange. I would try it again and hope for a different waiter. There is also a large outdoor seating area for the warmer weather.