Jose Pistolas Reviews

Really fun and warm atmosphere to grab dinner and drinks in with friends or family. The second floor area is cozy and has plenty of room for a big party. The drinks were just okay. They did not have much alcohol in them, and the margaritas tasted as if they came from a $3 mix from the grocery store. Food was pretty good and the servers were pleasant.

Have found food in Philly to be hit or miss. Some rave and some not about their dining experience here. This was one of the better meals I have had. Don't let the dark tones put you off. We had the Tofu Chorizo Burrito and it was excellent. The value was good but the practice of charging for chips and salsa is annoying to say the least. That in my view is part of the Mexican dining experience. Build it into the prices you charge. The chips were good - not too greasy and the Pico and Guacamole were tasty. Would make a return trip for sure. Service was decent - waiter could have returned more frequently to check on water and napkins etc. even though we were the only people eating downstairs in his section.

My wife and I attended an event at the Kimmel Center and passed by on our way to the parking garage. In the mood for a lite bite, we stopped in and sat at the bar. We sensed the neighborly feel instantly as the bar person was friendly and helpful. The menu is delightful with a wide range of creative fare. They have tacos made with lobster, catfish, lamb shoulder, pork belly, Korean rib and so many other it was hard to chose. We settled on pork belly and lamb and felt like we were in taco heaven when our selections arrived. My wife and I also shared a bowl of tortilla soup which was equally impressive. All along, the bartender was amazingly pleasant and provided great service. Can't miss here.

This place is so great! The staff is amazing and the good is superb! Seriously. You will love Jose Pistolas!

Interesting little bar/restaurant with cool vibe. Young kids, middle age couples and older people all in the mix. Bar service was a little slow. Gluten free beer would be a nice addition. Started to get crowded so go early if you want to sit at the bar.

I tried many restaurants and pubs around this area in Philly, but never came across Jose Pistola. However, this time my friend wanted to celebrate her birthday here, so I decided to go. It's so dark and loud - I'm not surprise...i'ts a pub, but I went up to the 2nd floor for sit down tables. I was looking forward to really good Mexican food thinking this place must be one of those "Great food with a hole on the wall" type place. However, to my disappointment, the black bean soup we ordered was soooo salty and spicy, I could not continue after 2 spoonful. It had a strange taste that completely destroyed the natural taste of the black bean. The nacho chip with guacamole dip was not great either. The chips here are really thick tough, not crispy, and reminds me of those little deep fry sticks that Chinese take out place give you in a small packet. They were just below quality. Then comes the nacho dish with tomatoes, refried beans and cilantro. I could not make out what I was eating. My friend likes here because of the fish tacos. That's all she orders here. With the price, I rather go somewhere. On a brighter note, the waitress and staff were very nice and accomodating.

So glad we ended up here on a recommendation! The drink and beer selection is great with lots of local beers. I had the El Diablo margarita and it was spicy but delicious! Service was excellent and the tacos we had were so tasty! If you love spicy food, definitely give this place a try!

My brother in law set up a happy hour here for my sisters 30th and it just turned out to be a wonderful party. They reserved the top floor for the party for 3 hours and were very vigilant about keeping it to our party. The servers and bar tenders were friendly and attentive. They let us decorate the upstairs and didn't make us take them down. I have been there a few times and they have the best nachos I have ever eaten. I would definitely recommend Jose Pistolas to anyone who enjoys delicious nachos!

Stopped in on a weekday for lunch. Nice draft beer list with local choices, and we both enjoyed our entrees, I had the Carnitas al Pastor burrito, the somewhat unique ingredients blended expertly. What's really worth writing home about however are the nachos - I think they claim the title of best on the east coast. Absolutely top quality, from the chips to the salsa to what I think were pickled jalapenos.

A+-mazing! We went in an evening stroll to see the pipe organ at Macys and continued to this local delight. The hidden Mexican top shelf cuisine in this corner bar has the historical ambiance one can truly appreciate in a city with such history. My husband chose from among the beers on draft (and there are many), and we ordered tempura shrimp tacos and pomegranate-mango guacamole with homemade chips. The flavor of the food in where you might expect typical bar food was instead as tasty as any specialty food I’ve had. If you want a short break from cheesesteak while in Philly, please try Jose Pistolas🌮🍺

This is really more of a bar with some tables than it is a restaurant. I mention this not as a complaint, just to make sure you know what you're getting into. The food is really good. Mexican fusion, including Kobe beef, Korean short ribs, and lamb can ask be put in your taco, burrito, or nachos. As others have mentioned, get the nachos. The chips are thick and fresh, the toppings generous, and the guacamole is delicious. The beer menu is pretty good, with a lot of microbrews and local stuff, both tap and cans.

The tuna ceviche was so delicious I surreptitiously slurped up the remaining sauce with my straw.  The crisp tortilla chips were sturdy, but inefficient tools for mining the sauce. The dish was composed of nice pieces of diced tuna, with tomato, red onion, cilantro, lemongrass, and a bit of fire that was balanced by the creamy coconut. The only thing that would make this dish better is if the chips were warm. I asked the waitress what her favorite drink was and she recommended the mezcal margarita. The drink romanced me with its unusual smoky flavor. Had I not needed to walk a long way I would have gladly enjoyed another.  I chose the fried plantains for dessert although they are listed as a side dish. They came out piping hot and perfectly prepared. They were soft and flavorful and accented by caramelized parts that were chewy and even crispy. I would gladly eat them again. The staff was friendly, attentive, and responsive. The food came quickly, with the peeling presentation and was well-prepared. The only negatives where the noise level and bathroom location. The music was pleasant but too loud so people talk louder to hear each other over it. It's a small place with no soft features to absorb sound so it was quite noisy. The bathroom is on the third floor, which makes it inaccessible for people with disabilities. In all it was a pleasant experience and I would go back again tomorrow if I were in the area.

Happy hour beers & drinks are good and affordable. Had the taco - really soft thin shells they easily broke (didn't like it that way). Regardless, they're tasty. My friends enjoyed their selections Being a bar, it was a bit too noisy for me. Will still come back again, as it's close to the theaters & concert venues.

What a place came in for drugs now and nachos. Fresh veggies fresh chips. Totally amazing.... You can't go wrong. Friendly people. It is a must stop in Philly

I came here with a couple of coworkers for dinner. We started with some queso that we promptly devoured and got more. I took the suggestion of the waitstaff and went with the special, and I was glad that I did. It was the best meal I had all week. It was fantastic, and I want to go back and get it again. I've been here a couple times, and I plan on going back if I'm in Philly again.

I took my mom here for lunch and she's not a huge fan of Philly. This place has changed her mind about Philly and wants to come back here more often. All house made food and an awesome staff! Beer and cocktail list are excellent and the food here is amazing! I enjoyed their Red Cod tacos, black bean salsa, and black bean soup. All 3 were amazing. Plus, it has Mamma Ro's approval!

Stopped in at Jose Pistolas for a meal and a bar atmosphere. Great 80's/90's disco music, US-Mexico World Cup qualifier on tv....unique beer choices on tap. Had tuna tacos that rocked my world...and followed up with melt-in-your-mouth churros. Wow. Would return here again and again.

The food is tasty but nothing to write home about. The fries are soggy and greasy (or should I say greazy). The margaritas are really great. There are tables for eating upstairs but it’s small and very crowded.

My husband and I went in on Friday night. The place was pretty busy, but there were many seats available at the first floor bar. The second level up had another bar that appeared to be busier. The selection of beer was great and it seemed like people we're downing pitchers of margaritas - the bartender was making them all night. we ordered the nachos to start - very good - large pile of nachos with lots of toppings on them. My husband ordered the pork belly burrito and I ordered the cheese steak tacos. Both were incredible. The prices are reasonable, but the meals don't come with the traditional rice and beans, but you can order a large side for $4. The food was delicious and if we lived close by we'd definitely be back.

This center city dive bar attracts an eclectic crowd ranging from hipsters to lawyers to orchestra aficionados. The funky atmosphere is enhanced by a friendly staff, smoke-free environs and music that encourages rather than destroys conversation. The street level is dominated by a long bar and some small tables and high tops. More dining tables are upstairs. Great selection of craft beers on tap and inventive mixed drinks. The homemade guacamole is sensational. We wish we had dinner there.

Loved being directed by a local to Jose Pistolas for Saturday Brunch! It was a casual, delicious find! We had Bloody Marys and Huevos Rancheros, which we both delicious. Wish they opened a little earlier on Sundays... Definitely recommend you try it out!

beer selection is great, food is a bit overpriced though.

My first time here and I wanted to try everything on the menu! It's not a huge menu, but you get a lot of food. My husband and I started with the chips and guac, plus we each got taco entrees AND we each had to order a side because we couldn't decide on one to share. I ordered a side of plantains and I can't find them on the menu online, but if you see them on the menu in the restaurant - get them. They are delicious. If I remember, they were sautéed in a skillet and had a glaze on them. It was almost a sweet and savory combo of flavors. Then on to dessert, we had the churros. Beer selection at the time was just okay. Compared to a few other restaurants we went to in the area, they have a smaller tap selection. Service was great. It wasn't busy. We were seated right away and food came out as soon as we sat down to order.

Hands down the best nachos we have ever had at a restaurant. The nachos are loaded with toppings and the chips themselves are very good. They also have a great selection of craft beers on tap and bottles/cans. We stopped at this restaurant on a Saturday night around 6pm and were able to get a table for 6 on the 2nd floor. We also tried the cecina tacos and soft shell crab taco. The cecina tacos were delicious, but the soft shell crabs were too fried and greasy.

went in on a whim after eating at a close by establishment. Drinks are cheap, bar staff are friendly & the place had a good vibe. The menu looked good & had I not eaten elsewhere 30mins earlier, I would have given it a go. Only thing to note is the toilets are up a few flight of stairs.

This bar feels like a cozy gastropub that just happens to show sporting events and serving Mexican cuisine. I always go during happy hour an head right up to the upstairs bar. I either get a $20 marg pitcher to split (hh pricing) or something off the draft list and order the nachos. Nachos are fantastic: all their ingredients taste fresh and it's never too bean-y like some american style bar food nachos. The crowd Bro-Level on weeknights is about a 2. (1 being the least bro: ie a place like Kraftwork - and 5 being the most bro: ie a place like Tavern on Broad)

We decided to try Jose Pistolas due to the closing of one of our favorite spots in the city. We went around 6pm on a Sat night, and it was still pretty quiet so we got a table right away. When we left at 730 it was packed. Keep that in mind. The waitress came over to our table and reviewed the specials. They have a great beer selection but we opted for tequila. I ordered the El Diablo (Spicy Marg). It was perfect. Great peppery kick, with a smoothness of cilantro. This was one of the better Spicy Margaritas I've had. For dinner, we got a spicy pork burrito, pork nachos, and pork belly tacos. We shared all entrees. All the food was fresh and had great flavor. The burrito was stuffed and even without any sides, it was filling. The guacamole sauce that accompanied the burrito was excellent. The Nachos were enough for two and had great fresh flavors. The pork belly taco was good, but it took a back seat to the other food we had. The spicy pork is excellent, but my burrito had a few chewy/fatty pieces that took away from the taste. Overall, an excellent spot in Center City. Great atmosphere, food, and awesome beer selection.

Don't even know where to start...everything was amazing! Bartender/server brought us several sample of their on-tap beverages to try before we chose what we wanted. Nachos were the best I have ever had. Especially loved the pickled onions on top. Burrito was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Too big for one meal so gladly got half wrapped to take home. Still tasted great that night for a quick heat up dinner. Ingredients of all lunch platters ordered were fresh and expertly prepared. Can't wait to go back!

Good food. Great beer list. Some good cocktails and a few good wine lists. Good music on tap as well. The feel is very much your local bar or secret hang out. It's easy, relaxed and fun.

You can not beat this place for tacos....friendly service....and great prices. It is a bit of a hangout joint but full of local color and friendly people. Our waitress was great, the food excellent and fast and they never pushed us out to turn over the table as they do in so many other places in the city. This place is a real hidden gem in Philly. And really....try the nachos....best I've ever had!

Love the food. Wish they had a nicer place. The decor is like "The Greasy Spoon. It's very hard to find great Mexican in Philly. Would go here more if the decor was not so dreadful and the size so small.

We came with University reunion friends for drinks. Excellent margarita pitchers and beer. The food was good, although we had a bizarre guacamole that did not convince us. Our waitress (cannot remember her name, though) was very friendly and funny. Great service and a great time!

This is a small bar in an old brick building, serving Mexican food. The menu is a little hard to read, but well organized. The tacos were stuffed with meat. Lots of good beers on tap including Bell's Two hearted IPA. Bars and table seating both downstairs and upstairs, bot on this steamy night the upstairs was definitely cooler.

This bar always has a great selection of beer and the food is consistently top notch! I have always considered the nachos as some of the best in the city. The staff is great, atmosphere is fun, definitely highly recommend if you are looking for good beer, great food, and awesome staff!

Decent food for a decent price. Atmosphere is very loud and dark.

The nachos were great and the burgers were good too. The mango margaritas were yummy. This was the best place to eat in Philadelphia the atmosphere was loud and crazy.

Great atmosphere, small bar area and tables on the first floor. Did not know about the second floor. Good place to stop before a theatre date.

Um yeah, get the nachos. They are legit. Tap menu is very good, offered some nice choices of IPA's. The only negative is the layout is a tad odd. 3 floors and the only bathroom is on the 3rd floor. So bring your appetite and thirst, but not the kids.

Stopped by Jose Pistolas after a night out in the city. We orders nachos, tacos and a burrito. No doubt it's a bit on the pricey side (Kobe beef nachos anyone?) but the flavors were tasty and the portion sizes were generous. I'd definitely come back here again!

We came in for dinner on a Saturday night.We were warmly received by the hostess and told it would be about a 15 minute wait. We went to the upstairs bar to order a cocktail.Even though it was crowded the alert bartender( Sorry didn`t get her name) gave us a drink menu and in a minute we were relaxing with our drinks:) We got a table in short order and our meal was fantastic! Try the Freedom Tacos (ground kobe) mmmmm!....

I mean read the title. The nachos are a game changer. We had them with spicy pork and pineapple. This was the ultimate the extreme and the plain old amazing. I mean when I say they were good they were out of this world. They were the best nachos I have had in ages. People I'm not kidding. I encourage all of you to experience the mouthgasm I just did. Oh did I mention the excellent house hot sauce to spice it up!

Great food and service In a laid back atmosphere. Bartender was welcoming, fun and mixes a mean margarita! Menu (both food and drink) was creative BUT reasonably priced, large portions and delicious. I particularly liked the oysters (pictured)and the tuna guac (another customer insisted I try his) - glad I did! The fellow customers were fun and friendly. Definitely going back next time I'm in Philadelphia!

Great food...My burger was the best I have had in some time...and the fish taco which I was afraid to order even after the weaitress told me it was great...actually was. The wait staff was attentive, and the beer selection top notch!

Good Mexican food. Great beer.

The place looks a bit shaggy when you enter. And just reading the menu might make it difficult to chose something. So better look around and see what others order to get an idea on the disches and portionsl. We were a group of six and shared two Nacho platters as starter (more than enough!). Everthing tasted great. My American colleagues said it was pretty expensive, but for us Europeans it was quite okay (dinner including a couple of beers and a tequila shot for round about 35 EUR incl. tip)

The service here was outstanding and the atmosphere is also cool. Pretty much all Mexican food but the nachos were definitely the best I've ever had. Also have good happy hour deals!

Food is excellent; takeout is quick & efficient. Pomegranate-Mango guac is spectacular (as is the spicy Tuna). Variety of interesting & tasty land & sea tacos; great churros for dessert!

Located 1 block off Broad St - convenient to the Academy of Music, Merriam, and Kimmel Ctrs. Doesnt look like much from the outside, but I recommend it. Had dinner with the family before seeing Aladdin. Enjoyed Sat Happy Hour from 4-6pm.. We had a pitcher of Margaritas and Nachos to start. Some in my party had tacos, others had empanadas, and one even had a burger. Portions are OK, bu if hungry, you may want a side of fries or rice/beans. Our waitress Kisa was very helpful not only service wise but her suggestions. Definitely will make a return trip

Coming from California, I crave western Mexican food. It's quite different than that with Cuban influence; they don't use as much fruit, and the meals are not as sweet. Got B hooked on it during our CA trip last year at a dive taco place in LA. Jose Pistolas does take liberties with their menu, but it is too the good. The classic guacamole is totally amazing! B had the Catfish Po Boy tacos & I ordered the Freedom tacos. I never did figure out what made his Catfish taco sweet; he loved it, but thought the freedom taco too spicy. For me, however, the Freedom Taco rocked it; western Mexican food IS spicier! It was wonderful; the service fun & friendly, food came out quickly, and the crowd was having a good time. We will be back!

Fun little hole in the wall pub. Didn’t have food but the menu looked great and reasonably priced. Other patrons seemed to love the food.

The nachos are the best in the city. My favorite is the grouper tacos. They have beers you don't see in other bars.

Freshest food I've ever had at a restaurant, one could actually taste the difference. Party of four sampling entrees.Best nachos ever! Mahi ceviche, Korean rib tacos, red tail bass tacos and pickled brussel sprouts. All entrees were beautifully presented and and tasted just as wonderful. For dessert we had churros accompanied with a dark chocolate dipping sauce, light and delicious. We all agreed the flan was the best we've ever had. Somewhat noisy as it is a bar more then a restaurant but worth every bite. Service was outstanding and our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable. I'm from out of town but will be sure never to miss the opportunity to dine here whenever possible. Highly recommend!

We stopped in for just drinks. My one concern, the restrooms are on the 3rd, somewhat dark and a bit scary, floor. Drinks were cold, prices were good. A nice neighborhood bar. We were told by some of the regulars to come back again to eat, and we will :)

We couldn't find a single place open down by city hall and kind of just fell into this place. And we were blown away. First of all, who'd have thought this sort of dark old bar would have a chalkboard of great draught beers. Then the guacamole --- don't miss it! Then the tacos -- every sort of seafood ones, and lamb ones to die for. Jose's is awesome.

We dropped in on a Sunday night for dinner. Pretty crowded, but it was a spirited and friendly atmosphere. Sat upstairs in the bar section. Ordered a shrimp burrito and a pork burrito, both tasty. Medium sized, so if you have a large appetite, you might want to order a side. Prices about average for this area. Didn't order any drinks, although some of the beers sounded pretty good. Worth a repeat visit.

We went here for dinner because the different tacos sounded interesting. We discovered this is more a bar than a restaurant. It was very crowded and you had to yell to be heard by the waitress. I would have probably rated this as poor but they had the best Churros and Flan I have ever tasted.

In Philly for business for a couple of days. Stayed at the Doubletree a block away. Had the Chicken Tinga Burrito. It was tremendous.

Epic margaritas and incredible guacamole. If you're looking for an adventure, try the cactus margaritas. So good! Worth the trip.

My wife and I were looking for somewhere to eat on a Saturday night and we lucked into a table right away at Jose Pistolas. The food was excellent, we had the traditional guacamole and tuna ceviche to start and they were both delicious and the chips that came with them were particularly good. We had a pitcher of their house margarita and that was delicious too.

Great Dive Bar/Restaurant (compliment). I had lunch in the city with a friend lunch. Very small clean three story bar/restaurant. Only the first floor was open Saturday when we went. The first floor seats about 28 people in the dining room and about 12-15 at the bar. Service: Yolanda was our server and she was attentive and professional. Drinks/Food: were great. I had a Mango/Pineapple Martini w/sugar rim, Chips and Guacamole and we both had the Grilled Shrimp Tacos (2). I think the chips are homemade if not they taste as such and the shrimp tacos were superb. The bathroom is on the third floor but clean. I would go again.

Jose Pistolas has a beautiful building but the prices are ridiculous. Tip: if you or anyone you know can't do stairs, DO NOT go here... bathrooms are on the 3rd floor.

Guacamole was tasty. Decent margaritas. Spicy pork burrito was very good. Service was excellent very attentive. My wife asked if they could grill the Mahi Mahi instead of tempura style and they readily agreed.

We went there for dinner and wandered upstairs. There is a full bar up there and on a weeknight it was not super-busy. The menu isn't huge, but it's good. I was not drinking but my colleagues liked the array of beers on-tap and available in a bottle. The Spicy Pork taco's were really good. I also had chicken, but the pork were better. I would have thought I was getting 3 tacos for the price, so while it seemed inexpensive, the portion size I thought was small. Except for the Chicken Nachos. Those were big, Service was OK. Nothing to write home about, nothing to complain about. Overall, a place I would visit again.

We went here with friends. What a great place! We had a blast! The food was non traditional Mexican ( Lobster Tacos anyone?) but soooo good! The service was very friendly as accommodating. We enjoyed it so much we went twice. Can’t wait to go back sometime.