Las Bugambilias Reviews

Went with a friend to find this great restaurant the services was great and food was excellent. Me and my friend cleaned our plates. Can't wait to go back and revisit and try difference things on the menu.

For some reason, while having lived in the Philadelphia area for many years, I hadn't come across this place until today. I love Mexican food, and was looking for a new place to try with a more cozy atmosphere than some of the larger options in the area. The setup is fun, eclectic and very warm and inviting, with the bar front and center as you walk in. All staff were very attentive and friendly, quick to notice when refills were needed. The food was incredible!!! My fiance got the pineapple chipotle margarita, which was quite spicy yet SO good...we started with the guacamole and pico de gallo for the table. I had the ceviche de camarones for an appetizer, which was fantastic (just enough spice to it) and had the cactus salad, which was new to me and delicious. My fiance ordered the cream of poblano soup, which I will definitely do next time, because it was the perfect blend of spicy and creamy...he practically licked the bowl clean! We are thrilled to have found Las Bugambilias and will definitely be back soon!!!

First - if you can sit outside it is very nice. This is not a fancy restaurant but the food is fine if you like Mexican (which we do). I recommend it for convenience , a filling meal, impressive dessert menu all at a reasonable price.

A beautiful place and excellent Mexican food cozy restaurant to spend a couple or friends dinner while in town. The ambiance is awesome, the service is friendly ,fast and professional, the food is outstanding, of course Veracruzana style Mexican food. We found it, just walking around the streets around Market and 3rd ave. One afternoon, loved from the outside, but then came one night for a dinner try, and what a lovely surprise. We loved, we enjoyed the excellent food and presentation, service was excellent too, and the ambiance was romantic.. If around and feel like going south of the border, get there , and enjoy… If back to Phili, will go again..

If you are in Philadelphia, you do not want to miss this cute little Mexican restaurant.  Located at 2nd and South St., the location is off the trolly, the food is delicious, and the ambiance is great.  Viva la Mexico!

Las Bugambilias is a nice sit-down location on South St with MEX American themed menus. Great for business meeting and romance.

My husband and I ducked in to miss a rain storm and oh what a wonderful surprise! Yum, yum, yum! What a wonderful menu! Their specialty dish was amazing and huge. Come hungry! Margs are fresh and tasty. And don’t forget dessert. The tre leche mmmmm.

Not your local Taco Bell this small South Street Mexican delivers the best of upscale food and beverages. I highly recommend their margaritas and the camerones rellennoes. All the food is prepared to your specifications. I also recommend their strawberry dessert.

The tamales de Puerco with a green sauce were great and the guacamole was smooth green deliciousness, but the pechuga de pollo con mole poblano really did Mexico in Society Hill Filadelfia. Recommended.

Very small place. Great food. But when you have a restaurant this small, owner can't be so eccentric that they throw a birthday party for themselves that practically closes the place down during dinner hour! If you want to do this then you really need to have a separate, private room. Otherwise you will turn off your regular clientele.

My Wife and i come here all the time. We love it. Its always fresh, authentic and delicious. 5 stars - a must try

Took my wife, daughter and her 3 girlfriends out for an 18th birthday celebration. My daughter wanted good Mexican. What a great restaurant. Service, food and drinks were terrific. We all loved the setting, tight but clean and fun. The food was very tasty, nothing dissapointed. The waitress was wonderful. We parked on Front St. and walked a quick two blocks to the door. Got seated for our reservation as soon as we arrived. Check it out cause you'll like it! We're going back....

The menu had a lot of interesting and tempting choices. Our selection (lobster enchilada and steak in chile morita). The menu was good value The drinks were nice. The service was friendly. Our table was not ready when we arrived but that was fine as we sat at the bar. We visited on a weeknight and the place was very busy so reservations are a must.

great flan and drinks. always consistent. flan tastes authentic - my husband is argentine and is a bit of a flan expert ;)

We found ourselves on South Street Philadelphia quite unexpectedly on Sunday and we decided to eat somewhere there. We stumbled upon this quaint little place and LOVED it. We didn't have reservations but after a 10 minute wait we were seated at one of the best tables (in our opinion) right next to the window at the entrance. It was brightly lit by the outdoor sunshine and we had a nice view to the outside. It is a very small space with every table taken, and reminded me of being somewhere in New York City. The staff was great, friendly, and very helpful with the menu choices. They had a full service bar with some amazing drinks. Our food was delicious! We recently spent 2 weeks in Cozumel and we felt like we were right back there with each tasty bite! The prices were what we expected. Not cheap but not too expensive. The location is great. We were able to walk around South Street and it's just 2 blocks to the pedestrian bridge for Penn's Landing. It was a true find and we will be going back!

Well we went on a Friday late afternoon and were the only ones in the restaurant. It took about 15 minutes for our drinks to arrive. We finally got to order our meal. It took another half hour for our meal to come out. The food was delicious. Way above average for a Mexican restaurant. When we were finished, we waited over 45 minutes for the waitress to come with our check. The service was horrible. We saw the waitress taking shots of something behind the bar. Then she left the building, leaving us stranded waiting for the check. We will not go back or recommend this place to anyone.

My wife and I saw a tv program that highlighted this little gem of a place. Our hobby is to try Mexican restaurants whenever we hear of one worth going to. This place was definitely worth it. The food was delicious with just the right portion for a perfect meal. You won't find typical Mexican fare that most restaurants are happy to serve and call authentic "Mexican. There a no burritos or fajitas. What you'll find here is authentic Mexican cuisine that you would find in a real establishment in Mexico. The margaritas packed a punch and were made with fresh ingredients. No bottled sour mixes here. With an extensive dessert list and coffee, this place would be perfect for a first date or a romantic night it with a spouse. I lived on the West Coast for years and was never able to find authentic Mexican food on the East Coast until I found this place. Highly recommend stopping by if you visit Philly. Enjoy!

My husband and I had our 9th anniversary dinner here. We were here once before and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and meal. I had a wonderful chicken dish wrapped in bacon last time and returned for the same dish. I thought about this dish all day until I ordered it at the restaurant that night. The wait staff is friendly and helpful for recommending a dish. Meals are prepared as ordered NOT is mass quantities. You can be sure all ingredients are fresh and delicious. We will continue to go to this restaurant for authentic mexican dishes.

Had lunch today and it was just great. Loved walking in, the decor is so festive and fun. Hostess was very welcoming and accommodating. Our server Dana was perfectly attentive and pleasant. Margaritas and food outstanding, highly recommend!

The food was Very good the drinks were amazing the service was Exceptional. I would defenitly recomend Anyone that's visiting Philadelphia to go to this resturant.

Superb Mexican - all dishes are excellent! Service is impeccable and the ambiance is wonderful. Worth going back again and again! The Torta Vegetarania is excellent. They also have the best mole sauce ever!

First time tonight (Saturday). Requested a table for 6 at 6pm. Was asked to leave a deposit on my credit card because they were busy! No way Jose! Was actually very quiet on arrival, but soon filled up. Food was very good. Worth the 4*. Could be a little more generous with the tortilla chips and the actual tortilla so that I didn't have to feel like Oliver! asking for "more". What I didn't like was the automatic 20% tip added to the bill. Seems that this restaurant is all about making $$$ (or guaranteeing the last $$$ from you), but luckily for them the food is good enough to come back.

Everything was good from the margaritas, chips, salsa, guacamole. Shrimp tacos. Prices reasonable for the area. Place was clean. Service was excellent. Go for some great traditional Mexican food.

When visiting our daughter in Philly, who lives n Queens Village, we always look for a great restaurant to bring our family for a good family dinner. We have passed Las Bugambilias a number of times with my son-in-law always saying "great place...we should all go there some time". My daughter always hesitated because although she loves the food, she objects to the fact that they charge so much for such a small amount of quacamole and chips. This visit, we were able to get her past that objection and all 5 of us headed in for a spectacular wonderful dinner. Upon entering, I was immediately brought back to the best restaurants in NY in the 70's.....small, hole-in-the-wall type restaurants with a small bar in the corner and a limited number of tables closely placed. I was in love right away. Then we all had drinks...sangria, Mexican beer, that were very tasty and quacamole and chips that were very good. We ordered a few different enchiladas and a tampiquena morita. No one talked...everyone enjoyed their food thoroughly. The server was very friendly and attentive. The kitchen service was a bit slow but, as my son said, "we're here to spend time together...chill out" All in all, this was a memorable dinner and we will be back on our next visit to Philadelphia.

I only gave this a 2 because my son liked the ceviche, the salsa was good. The guacamole was good but was an ice cream scoop size on lettuce.This was $12.50! The homemade tortilla chips were greasy and some over fried. Food greasy! expensive for portions. we got the steak and chicken flautas. There were 4 -3 inch pieces. The small piece of meat in them was so dry and the tortilla was over fried, greasy and burnt.The flor de mexico(grouper, crab and a sauce) was fishy and looked gross. There was a congealed yellow sauce on it. The churro was so greasy. The pineapple/banana cake had no flavor. Both were $9.00 and small portions. El vez the best Mexican.

We arrived to an almost empty restaurant and got a table straight away, it was a Sunday night after all. The service was great throughout and the food was delicious. We only had mains but got complimentary chips with 2 lovely salsas free. The style of food is more in keeping with proper Mexican than Tex-Mex, but was full of flavour and texture and I would heartily recommend it.

Went to this place and was very impressed, extremely different from what I'm used but the flavor of the food was extremely rich! If you want some authentic Mexican food with a slight twist then I would recommend this place. 2 thumbs up!

Popular restaurant. Friendly staff, chips and salsa are served. We like the fish and the mango salad. One doesn't leave hungry The walls are covered with photos of Mexican scenes and personalities. It puts you in the mood. Not expensive.

As we walked the streets oh Philadelphia we got a bit hungry and came across this spot. It was apple lunch time so we did not want a big meal so instead I ordered the chicken quesadillas and my girlfriend had the chicken nachos. The chicken quesadillas were delicious. The tortilla was perfectly charred and the cheese and chicken was absolutely delicious. My girlfriends nachos were just as flavorful and top our surprise the nachos were perfectly crisp. No soggy chips at all, even the ones in the bottom covered by all the greasy stuff. The service was quick and attentive. We loved the place.

I stumbled upon this place in the old city, Great ambiance, nice Mexican music, good service, and most importantly amazing food. I had the beer battered fish tacos, with guacamole and a delicious spicy sauce. I enjoyed my meal thoroughly. if back in the city, I will surely come back.

Bugambilias has lots going for it: well prepared, flavorful Mexican food - the real deal; a convenient location; even some outdoor seating for nice weather. The ceviche mixto was superb, and the vegetarian empanadas. The slow cooked pork was nothing short of amazing. The wine list is small and what we ordered was not available The bar is limited. We did enjoy the Modelo Negro but there are more interesting beers. The service is uneven - mains were brought out before we had finished the ceviche, and it was not like they needed to turn the table. Still and all, we'll be back.

Lunch one day, dinner another. A cute little Mexican restaurant, but real Mexican, not the Tex Mex stuff. Fresh juices and delicious sangria are all prepared to order. The tacos pastor are a winner.

We went here for lunch because of the convenient location. We had reservations for dinner and knew it would be a lot of food so just wanted something simple. Wow, what a surprise we had. We did order light for lunch and didn't have drinks so we probably missed out on what could have been an even better experience. But we loved our food. The service was very good too. The restaurant is decorated well and attractive. I highly recommend this place. Prices were very reasonable.

Headed to the city Friday night for dinner with friends. When we got there they asked us if we had reservations we said no they were able to seat us without a problem. The place is very very small the tables in the back were filled up and if you had to go to use the bathroom you had to ask the other person to get up. Our server was very polite very nice had a smile on her face got our drink order right away but thought they should have brought our chips out with our drinks.We had to ask for the chips. We placed our order before you knew it we were getting our food. Three of the girls ordered different types of enchiladas I ordered the chilaquiles all three of us were in agreement that the food was pretty good. The serving size was just enough. I would definitely get some friends together and go back again.

Excellent food always worth a visit and great service. Whenever I am in town I have to eat here and always bring clients and friends.

First of all, the food is excellent --- well designed, generous Mexican dishes (some really Mexican --like the moles -- and some tending to Tex-Mex but tasty). I've eaten here three times, and I never had a bad experience with the food --- but be ready for the generous portions. My only "worry" is that the he place is so small that even one "particularly extroverted" person at the bar can have a disproportionate impact on your experience.

I ate here this evening and I cannot adequately convey how disappointed I was with this restaurant. First off, the service was abysmal. We were seated for 15 minutes before I had to go up to the host to request a server attend our table. Still waited 5 minutes on top of that. FYI, the restruant was not at all busy and we saw plenty of staff about, just none that acknowledged us. We immediately gave our entire order including two alcoholic beverages and two sodas when our server finally arrived. We received our drinks AFTER our main meals came out. After the appetizer was set on our table, I asked politely if our drinks were on their way and then the server said they were on their way and the bar was backed up. No apology, nor acknowledgement that our drinks were still on our way not until I asked. I completely understand the bar can get backed up but the restruant want not at full capacity and two of the drinks were simple sodas that could have been easily served. I would have been fine if there was any sort of acknowledgment or apology for the delay. Instead I was quick & brisk answers. Our food was barely passable when it finally came out. Bland and under seasoned, none of us were able to stomach finishing any of our dishes. When it came time for the bill, our drinks were not comped for being so incredibly late. Nor did the server acknowledge or apologize for any of the delays in being attended to at the beginning, the drinks showing up AFTER our meals were served, or the fact that the server never checked in at any point to see if we would need any more napkins, other drinks, etc. A simple acknowledgment and apology would have gone along way, instead we were handed the bill like it was our privilege to be “attended to” by the server in this establishment. I will not be coming here again and I will tell others to avoid this place .

This is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. The Créma Mixta soup is a must have! Everything we have ever tried has been great. It is right on South Street so weekends in the summer when the street is crowded can be a bit of a parking nightmare. Also the place is small so we never go without a reservation, just in case we forgot to think about something, like make it a night Wednesdays (free parking but increased traffic). Great cocktails,especially Mezcal and Habanero Pinapple Margarita. Friendly staff and an intimate atmosphere. Sat at the bar on one occasion and had a lovely night making friends with the waitress and another group. Great option on otherwise commercially and crowded South Street!

We thoroughly enjoyed our first dinner at Las Bugambilias. It's a small restaurant that fills up quickly, so either go early or make reservations. The food is all reasonably priced (and so is the beer!). The food was exceptional, so much so, that we decided to splurge on dessert, even though we were so full from apps and dinner. The dinner portions are very large, so plan accordingly. My husband is a Mexican food snob and absolutely loved this place too! We will definitely be back! (Oh, and the service was great as well!).

This visit was like putting a quart's worth into a pint jar. The food and service very good, the mole sauce is great. BUT, every one who headed to the lav bumped into me and I was sitting as far out of the aisle as I could get, even the waitress noted "how tight it was tonight". The table next to us was 4 inches away. And it was a full house. It is a small restaurant but putting more tables in makes it less appealing. The food is great but the environment is poor/tight on a Saturday night.

When our kids want to go out to dinner with their parents (and their parents' credit card), Las Bugambilias is their only choice. In a half-dozen meals here (that's at least 25 entrees), there have been no missteps, other than moderately overdone shrimp. Once. Everything we've tried - the seafood, the beef, the "classic" Mexican enchiladas, has been uniformly excellent. The mole and molcajete sauces are particularly good. We finally tried some of the soups on our second or third visit, and now we're sure to order soup every time we go; everybody gets something different and spoons are reached across the table as we all share. They make an excellent (and strong) margarita (from scratch and without those vile mixes), and mojito. Desserts are simple - my favorite is Mexican coffee (coffee with cinnamon, brown sugar, orange rind) and butter pecan cookies. The room is intimate (i.e., tables are small and close together) and can get loud. Service can be a little perfunctory when the place is full, but it has never interfered with our enjoyment of the food. Make reservations if you're planning on going during prime dining hours. If you're driving, they're at the eastern end of very busy South Street, but you can usually find on-street parking if you continue past the restaurant.

Food was very good as usual and the portions are you decent size. The place is rather small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere. I took my friend here for a birthday dinner and he was happy with the margaritas and his food. The only negative thing I have to say about this restaurant is about their desserts. The last two times I've been here they have had dessert items unavailable on the menu. I really have been wanting to try the Mexican cookies so I was disappointed. Street parking is available but if you don't feel like driving around to find a spot there is a parking lot about 2 blocks away. This restaurant isn't too expensive either.

What a wonderful meal we had here! The food was delicious and was second only to the spectacular service provided. We would recommend this restaurant, much like a local to the Philadelphia area did for us.

Ate outside and really enjoyed the vegetarian empanadas My husband liked the buffet as well as well as the Mexican coffee

Although I was told that the owners were Mexican and Hungarian, the menu was fairly typical Mexican, with a few unusual items, emphasizing Veracruz-style seafood dishes. My wife had chicken mole and I and our friend had molcajete, which is a house specialty. She liked the mole but it tasted rather bland to me. The molcajete is essentially a stew containing jalapenos, cactus leaves, broth and chicken, shrimp or beef. Without knowing how to eat this, I scooped it into corn tortillas and rolled them up. Despite the jalapenos, this was rather bland yet wet and messy to eat. I tried this dish because I wanted something other than familiar Mexican food, but in retrospect, I should have stayed with the latter. The red sangria was very good, but they were out of almost all the desert items. We had the tres leches cake, which was very nice and our friend had churros, which he liked. I ordered Mexican coffee, which tasted like spiced tea rather than the strong Latin coffee I expected. The molcajete was $35 each and the check came to $144 for the three of us - rather expensive for a Mexican restaurant. Altogether, a decent but uninspiring meal at a rather high price.

Went here on New Year's Eve. We arrived early to an empty little restaurant and not any mexican people in site so I was worried. The special three course New Years eve menu did not have any of the usual mexican choices, lots of fancy dishes . Not sure if their usual menu is more typical mexican. But everything was great. The food was really excellent from start to finish. . All six in our party including picky kids felt the same. The waitress who seemed to be the owner was really nice the entire meal in a not at all fake way. Just a very friendly person who seemed to like being there and her happiness was contagious. Best restaurant of our three days In Philadelphia.

I rarely review restaurants but we gave Las Bugambilias a shot tonight. While the service was very friendly it was a little inattentive - especially since we counted five servers in a restaurant with about twenty tables. A bartender would have helped since the servers were making their own drinks. The food was very good and we would go back again. Pretty unique decor. According to an article on the door the chef is from Tequilas which we enjoyed very much and again the menu and food here did not disappoint.

Location was a short walking distance from the Hilton Penns Landing. Service was great Nicole was very attentive. Food was delicious I will be back if I am in Philadelphia again.

Great location, charming atmosphere and nice looking meals. Appetizer was very good. My main entry was ok, My friend didn't eat much of their dish. It was chicken served in a volcano bowl. It looked neat but turned out the chicken was dry. Perhaps this is a better place to get drinks and an appetizer.

As we walked the streets oh Philadelphia we got a bit hungry and came across this spot. It was apple lunch time so we did not want a big meal so instead I ordered the chicken quesadillas and my girlfriend had the chicken nachos. The chicken quesadillas were delicious. The tortilla was perfectly charred and the cheese and chicken was absolutely delicious. My girlfriends nachos were just as flavorful and top our surprise the nachos were perfectly crisp. No soggy chips at all, even the ones in the bottom covered by all the greasy stuff. The service was quick and attentive. We loved the place.

Spur of the moment, had to wait but it was worth it. The place is very small. So small that the guy sitting next to us knocked our food over. (This rude man apologized, but didn't offer to pay for it). The server was friendly and sweet and replaced the food on the floor. I loved the margaritas. The food was deliciously tasty. The homemade salsa was fresh and not acidic. The quesadilla was so tasty it didn't need salsa or sour cream. The Enchiladas Del Mar was superb. Large portions of all dishes, so we shared. Even the desert, a crepe with fresh berries with chocolate and carmel was wonderful. Overall, a fantastic dinner. We will return.

Spur of the moment, my daughter picked this restaurant and I would have to say I am so happy she found this restaurant. The place is well just awesome. It's small, cozy, the staff is friendly and the food is wow, beyond excellent. I just love food that is homemade, and everything we had from the guacamole to the flautas to the enchiladas were absolutely fresh, homemade and delicious. My compliments to the chef and I will definitely be returning to this restaurant. One of the best I have visited.

Such a fun area. The food was delicious and the drinks were also very good. We will definitely go back next time we return to philly. The service was also very friendly. The fish tacos were AMAZING. Everyone in our group raved about their meals. Very small restaurant so call ahead and make reservations.

We came here for a pre-theater dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good margaritas, comfortable atmosphere, attentive service, and flavorful food.

I love this restaurant! The food is excellent compared to other upscale mexican restaurants in the city. The staff has a family feel and is very attentive. I frequent this restaurant at least 2-3 times a month. You won't be disappointed.

Simple fresh and authentic...from their drinks to the salsa and ceviche...everything is made fresh and tasty. We had chicken enchiladas molè... Yum ... Guacamole good! Salsa simple fresh ingredients.. Ceviche mixto was very good... Drinks are strong and delish!

The food at this restaurant was excellent. It was moderately priced, but worth it. I went in the summer and sat outside. There are about six or so tables outside and my boyfriend and I sat at a two-person table. On the small patio where the table was set up, there was another two-person table. It was cramped with just the two of us on the patio and then another couple came, and it was even more cramped for space. Other than that, the food and service were great. Being located right on South street, sitting outside offers a great place for eating and people watching. I would definitely go again.

while strolling around the legs became tired an we felt invited by the open windows, were we took seat. Very good place. The food was really good: guacamole with chips as starter.Tamales De Puerco and Huevos y Carne for main. Shawnee took good care of us. Only minor downside was the wait as the restaurant was not too busy.

I always wanted to try this place out and finally got a chance. My friend and I shared 3 items: Sopes Veracruzanos, Tamales Vegetarianos and a Torta Mexicana. My favorite was the Torta Mexicana (a sandwich), it was amazing. The decor was very traditional and the service was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who has a love for Mexican food.

Danielle greeted us and was really friendly. Plenty of choice. All of our food was really tasty. Only gripe would be limited choice of red wine.

I went to Las Bugambilias with three other people. We had an 8:15 PM reservation and were not seated until about an hour later. Although this was mostly due to a table of rude elders who wouldn't get up, the hostess would disappear and say she was telling the table to get up without ever following through. We finally sit down and wait about 15 minutes for a waitress to even appear. Not only was she totally unapologetic for the wait, but throughout the rest of the meal she was out of it and nowhere to be found. We would see our drinks on the service station which the waitress would walk by, see, and not pick up. One of us actually got up to get our own drinks. Finished plates and empty glasses were stacked on the end of our table without removal. In previous restaurants where service has been bad, servers usually apologize and even comp a round of drinks, or desserts. I hate leaving bad tips, but it was a terrible experience. The food was okay - definitely not worth the trouble!

This restaurant offers delicious authentic Mexican food, however the space is very small and crowded, difficult to move around, the tables are small and very close to each other leaving little room for the food and no elbow room. This, the indifferent service, and the constantly shrinking size of portions, are the reasons Las Bugambilias is off our most favorite restaurant list

Just got into town and went to dinner here with our brother. The service was attentive and the food was fantastic. The Flautas de pollo were perfectly done: crispy shells with warm juicy filling. Ceviche was spot and could be eaten alone or with chips. Margaritas were well done. Would love to go back again while we are here.

Very charming atmosphere with delicious authentic food. The service is quite slow, although they really hustle and are exceptionally polite. We have been here several times and continue to return.

Had a fun evening with friends. The wait staff and service was EXCELLENT. Since we were not regular Mexican food people, we had many questions about the menu. They were answered patiently by our delightful waitress. The food was delicious, well presented, and fresh. The margaritas were delicious. It's small and was a little cramped at full capacity but the noise level was bearable. Very generous portions

So many good things to eat...the ceviche, the guacamole, the mole negro. Excellent margaritas. This place is really something special. It's small, so make a reservation. Service great, everything great. My 13 year-old son loved a mushroom soup, which is not his usual sort of thing. My daughters, 19 and 15, put away the seafood enchiladas with a vengeance. I, as always, went for the mole, which was first rate.

Make reservations and give yourself a little time to enjoy this family owned Mexican restaurant. Curious cocktails, mild to spicy fare, dramatic presentations and of course the best guacamole in the city. MORE of an adult place than a kid place and the seating is close together. A fun place to go with a small group of friends and share in the culinary treats. The owner is often around and the staff is down home and friendly. Give em a nice tip! Check out their menu on line to see if anything interests you.

This place was so quaint. There were only two other parties there when we went for dinner. The server was very attentive taking care of each of us. He kept the chips and salsa coming and made the best lime Coke I have ever tasted. The food was plentiful, tasty, and reasonably priced. I am glad we made the choice to dine here. I hope to go back!

We stopped in for a light dinner, really wanting appetizer type food. There were many choices that we could not decide what to order. We almost ordered 4 dishes for two people, but showed some restraint. We had the nachos and ceviche. It did take a while for the waitress to take our order. It did look like she was tending to the entire restaurant, inside and out. Once we ordered, we were presented with some chips. They were good. The pico de gallo was quite spicy. We had been warned. The two appetizers came out at the same time. We dove into the hot first. We could barely finish the Nachos. We each took one bite of the ceviche, it was good. But we could not put down any more food. Strangely, the ceviche was served with packaged saltine crackers. It did need a touch more lemon, but that is really my only critique of the food. It took at least twenty minutes of us staring at the ceviche to get the bill, or for the waitress to even question why we were staring at a full plate. I would go back. It did look like a good menu. And I was pleased with the food I ate. I just still would not go too hungry in case I needed to wait a while for service.

After a few days of, admittedly excellent, meals at the downtown hot spots during a conference visit to Philadelphia, I had to escape the trendiness for a real meal. Las Bugambillas was the perfect escape. Tucked away in a small space among row houses in historic Philadelphia, this small restaurant was the perfect place to unwind and relax. The warm colors of the decorations, including beautiful renditions of traditional sun/moon motifs, were especially nice on the very cold night of my visit. The chips are amazing, and be warned that when they say that one of the salsa's is hotter, they actually mean it. The pico style was lovely and cooling, but the salsa roja was nicely fortified by a blend of peppers that delivered on both heat and taste. I was quite glad for the horchata to cool down my mouth. For my meal, I went with the "surf-and-turf" mar y tierra molcajete with shrimp and beef tips. This dish, served in the volcanic rock morter bowl for which it is named, features meat and vegetables in a sauce almost like a stew or bouillabaisse. It was outstanding, probably the best I have had in the US. Again, the perfect dish for a cold evening as it comes out bubbling hot in a rock bowl that keeps everything streaming throughout the meal. Finally, I must really recommend the deserts. I was torn between a couple of choices, but ended up going with an orange jericalla, a Mexican custard fortified here with grand marnier and served with a goat's milk caramel. It was the caramel that caught my eye, and it certainly delivered with a less sweet taste than might have been expected. Overall, an exceptional meal in a beautiful space that warmed my body and soul. A great escape for a conference-weary traveller looking for the same high quality dining without the hectic pace of downtown. I will definitely return when next in Philadelphia.

A rare area Mexican restaurant that would do well in a border state. Great food (decidedly not Tex-Mex), with entrees $5 less than at other upscale restaurants. Very attentive staff. Highly rated by food critics, and deservedly so.

Really comfortable atmosphere, not fancy, but very nice. Great service. Cuisine leans S. Mexico. All good, but the caldo was absolutely stellar (& I'm from the SW US). Pico de gallo was nice & fresh, with an additional salsa that brought the heat. Portions were ample. They do a nice job!

Very welcoming, good food. The entrées are great. I strongly advice, particularly if you want to have some South-American food and are bored of street tacos!

Visited on a Friday night with friends, wasn't too difficult to get reservations. The decor of the restaurant is lovely and although it is small it does well not to feel it. The food was great, not the best Mexican food I've ever had but still very good and at a really good price considering the prime location on South Street. Would also recommend the traditional margarita which was completely delicious. The staff were so so lovely and really knew what they were talking about. Great atmosphere and a definite recommendation for a meal put in Philadelphia.

Love to go to get real Mexican food here just like eating in Cozumel but not have to fly 4 hours to get there. Everything we have tried has been wonderful for the chick to the seafood.

Excellent and in the cool south street area. Good service and quaint setting. The food was gourmet in quality.

We visited on a Friday night and were very pleased with everything. Our server was polite and knowledgable. This is the best Mexican food I have found this side of el paso.my chili rellanos were amazing. Everybody in our party was impressed. This is a must visit in Philadelphia.

I always have a positive experience when eating at this restaurant. Food is very filling, drinks are good, and wait staff tries to be helpful.

Philadelphia has a number of great restaurants, but it's hard to find one with a variety of good vegetarian options. At Las Bugambilias it was easy to have a very delicious and satisfying meal consisting of some creative offerings---not the usual burrito filled with overcooked zucchini that is generally the "vegetarian" selection. Not only is the Mexican cuisine original, and very very good, it's reasonably priced. Service left a bit to be desired; very friendly staff, but a tendency to walk past the table without noticing what patrons are needing. Orders were a bit slow in arriving, also, during an evening when the place was only half full, so allow time if you have other things planned for the night. Comfortable atmosphere...simple but interesting decor.

Lovely little family ran Mexican restaurant. Server very helpful with the menu. Daughter vegan and she had a great meal.

We had been driving around Philly and looking for a restaurant but more importantly a parking place. Finally found a place to park at the end of South Street, started walking found this restaurant! Cozy, great service, pleasant atmosphere,food was great! Chips were hot and fresh with a wonderful pico de gallo and a spicy salsa. We had the enchiladas verdes and vegetarian chile rellano. I would advise a reservation, we got in, but probably because someone did not show.

This place came highly recommended, but i left so disappointed by the experience that i will not return.

I found this playful yet classic restaurant several years ago while staying nearby at the Sheraton Society Hill. I've taken many colleagues there since, men and women, all different ages. Every single experience was fantastic with menu selections varying. The authentic Mexican food and charm is spot on. I don't drink, but the margaritas looked amazing, infused with freshness from behind the small, eclectic bar mid-restaurant. The seating area is small, but this is part of the whole, great package. Reservations are easy, I'd make one. Neighborhood is great for a walk before or after dining.

First time in Philadelphia, this early june on a bright sunday, we ( 4 adults and 2 children < 3 yrs) decided to hop on one of the many bus tours throughout this wonderful city where past, present and future seem to go so well together. Around 1pm we were around stop 18 aka South Street and the tour guide mentioned something about nice food courts in the area. Off the bus we were immediately attracted by the sign Las Bugambilas Mexican Cuisine. The reader is tobe made aware that writer has lived 3 years in Mexico and knows how to appreciate the real taste of authentic Mexican Cuisine, no matter the region. Outside of Mexico most of the times "real Mexican cuisine" boils down to the softer characterless TexMex variant. This restaurant is really one of the very first times we experienced the real Mexican cuisine outside of Mexico

Outstanding little restaurant on South Street. Cozy atmosphere, great and affordable menu, very good drinks. The Camarones Rellenos is a dish I would eat every time I go there. Definitely a must stop every time I visit Philly!

I've traveled all around the United States and Canada, to many villages and cities in Europe, and to some of the most fabled places in Mexico and South America, and I've never -- repeat -- never -- had such incredible Mexican fare as I did at Las Bugambillas. I've been there at least a half dozen times, and have never been disappointed with either the excellent cuisine or the great service. Be ready for 'authentic!" This is no fake-Mex, this is the real deal. Cerviche is perfect! Queso fundido, perfect! Nachos and salsas, perfect! Burritos, perfect! Pobil, perfect! Every dish, every time, with every one I've taken there -- perfect! The place is small, and can sometimes be a little noisy depending upon the crowd that is there when you're diring. The owner takes great pride in serving-up great, authentic, Mexican delights. And they always -- always -- deliver on their promise to be great. It's just a door or two away from the highly-visible South Street Diner. You have to try this place... The prices are affordable, especially considering it's in a city. You will do what I began doing three or four years ago when I found the place -- you'll bring all of your friends there too.

Saw this restaurant on Philly Foodies and decided to try. Love Mexican food and culture. Went there Saturday afternoon with my wife and have to say the service was below par and the food was not as expected. Maybe my expectations were too high. The chile rellenos were completely wet, never expected that. Tasted like they were frozen first. Would not recommend.

This was one of the first restaurants I tried in Philly. I have been back many times and every time everything has been perfect. The seating is limited so expect a wait. Even with reservations we sometimes have to wait a little, but it is worth it. Try the guacamole, It is as close to mine as I have had, Delicious. I have had skirt steak in Mexico and love it. Here they have two versions, Molcajete Arrachera (a must have), and Carne Tampiquena With Chihuahua cheese (amazing). I have tried most of the menu and love it all. From the cerviche to the camarones or the Sangria to the Margaritas all done right.

On a walk my friends and I we stopped in.... great food and drinks... make sure to ask for a drink from the bartender in their special glasses

My brother and I stopped in randomly for a pre-concert meal Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy and seating was open. Our waitress was supremely friendly and very efficient. We both liked the spicy sauce served with the chips. I ordered the enchiladas verdes and my brother got the enfrijoladas. Both were equally delicious. At $15 each entree it was a little on the pricier side than our usual "go to" Mexican restaurant, but not outrageously so. Would definitely try it again!

Wow! What a place! Excellent cocktail list, perfectly prepared. Loved my sour cherry marguerita. Fabulous freshly made guacamole. I had delicious shrimp rellenos wrapped with bacon and I made room for dessert (chocolate tres leches cake) because I just had to! Reserved a spot for Father's Day to treat my husband to a superb Mexican feast. I neglected to remember our server/bartender's name but she certainly added to a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience! Cannot wait to return!

My fiancé and I were looking for a spot to eat a late lunch in Philadelphia before going to a concert in Camden. We were going to take the ferry over so wanted something close by. We ended up picking Las Bugambilias and are so glad that we did! We had made a reservation for 3 on a Saturday – but definitely did not need one at the time. The restaurant is very, very small so I imagine if you were going at a prime lunch or dinner hour you might want a reservation. When we arrived there were 2 or 3 tables finishing up – but by the time we left there was no one eating, just 1 person at the very small bar. We both ordered a glass of sangria to start. We had wanted flavored mojitos but they didn’t make those – disappointing a bit. But the sangria was amazing. But strong! We ended up ordering a pitcher after we each had a glass. If you are in the mood to get your drink on – I advice you do this. The pitchers were huge and we each got I think 4 ½ glasses out of it – which made it way cheaper to just drink the pitcher than to get glasses. Then to eat my fiancé got the Mar y Tierre in Molcajete and I got the Filete Toluca. They were both amazing!!! My fiance’s came out in this huge lava rock bowl. It wasn’t what we imagined as it was all in a very liquid sauce. But the flavor was amazing. They gave you tortillas then to basically make a tortilla wrap of sorts with all of the delicious things inside. It was amazing. I can’t give too much detail on his dish as I did only have a taste. But I know he was very happy with it. And I loved my dish. I feel as though I could have never stopped eating it…it was SO good. The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauces and other elements on the dish were amazing. Everything complemented each other so well. You could tell the chef knew what they were doing! The entire menu sounded delicious so I am sure everything is good – but I would definitely recommend what we had to eat! The restaurant was very clean and the staff was very friendly. We had a great time at Las Bugambilias and if we are ever in the area again – we will definitely be coming back!!!

Delicious dinners. We were not super hungry so we were looking for lighter fare. We chose quesadillas and tamales and enjoyed every bite! The margaritas were perfect. The atmosphere and decor was festive. Our waiter was very pleasant and helpful.

Parking: $$ nearby garage Location: City Ambiance: Good 5/5 Vibe: Menu Options: Very good Beers: Limited selection 4/5 Food: Excellent 5/5 Best shrimp tacos Fresh ingredients in Vegetable Enchiladas Service: Excellent 5/5 Overall Value: Great experience 5/5. Will definitely go again. Neagive: Beware they include 18% tip already. Don’t double tip.

Another of my local favorites and again, I tend to look for the specials of the day.

We do not often eat Mexican food in chain restaurants.... this is just way above ordinary and delightful. THe best Margaritas you will every have in beautiful large glasses. Try the Flacas with chicken - delightful light outer wrapping - narrow rolled with delicious chicken and fillings and wonderful hand made verde sauce... GREAT CEVICHE

We just had lunch at Las Bugambillas, a quaint little Mexican restaurant. Very good. We both had soup - the traditional tortillas and another with black beans - both served with avocados, crema, and tortillas strips. Yum. For our "entrees" we ordered off the appetizer menu - Sopas with chicken and pork and Tamales - again, very flavorful. The small place was full at 1:00 in the afternoon. There was only one server, but she did the best she could getting to all the tables.

Spent my first Valentines Day getaway with my love who found this quaint,fabulous &authentic restaurant. Service and atmosphere was great in this small(seats approx 40 people) eatery. Highly suggest the Blood Orange Margarita and the chicken stiffed with peppers,spinach and cream cheese wrapped in bacon. Orgasmic food experience with review written by someone with 15 years in the restaurant business.

Las Bugambilias, named after a flowering vine, is a small but attractively composed South Street restaurant serving delicious Mexican cuisine. I recommend that you begin your meal with one of their specialty cocktails, and spice lovers should consider a margarita made with pineapple-chipotle or chipotle-lime. Be sure to try an entree topped with molé or huitlacoche, and don't ignore the dessert selections. Cremita de Olla is a great way to conclude a meal at Las Bugambilias. The restaurant is tiny, so keep in mind that you'll be sitting in very close proximity to other diners. Be friendly and you'll have a good time, but perhaps it's not the best choice for an intimate dinner for two.

We (spouse plus kids (10 and 12)) had a great dinner here sitting outside on a beautiful warm evening. The food is authentic, plentiful and full of flavor without being overwhelming spicy. The location is easy to access and ideal for people watching. Service was efficient without being rushed and we had a great evening with good food. Highly recommend.

Unbelievable authentic Mexican.. Quaint and worthwhile the stop when in Philly. Reservations recommended since it only seats 40.

The food here is delicious. For an appetizer I recommend the Queso, I can't get enough of it! The chips and salsa they bring to the table is delicious as well, but I can't pass up the Queso! I have had both the Chiles Rellenos and the Enchilada's and both were wonderful. The margaritas are strong and tasty! A must visit if you are craving Mexican food while in Philly. You will need a reservation as this gets crowded and is a small restaurant. You will be very close to whoever you are sitting next to!

I have eaten at this Mexican eatery over the course of several years and usually enjoy the experience. This past Saturday two of us had dinner there and my overall impression is that the place is just getting tired. I will chalk some of it up to the fact that they were very busy and maybe they just cannot handle the volume, but maybe they need something to recharge them. My dinner partner and I shared a pork tamales to start. They were just OK, but must have been sitting in the heat lamp for a while as mine was dry at the edges. I then had the shredded pork dinner. It came with the standard rice and refried beans; neither very impressive. The shredded pork itself had clearly been sitting in the heat lamps waiting to be served. It was not very hot and was dried out. I feel badly because this has been a favorite. I will try it one more time; I don't want to lose a good Mexican restaurant, but it needs some managerial work.

Extremely bland mexican food! We suggest you try a different mexican restaurant instead. We were hoping for traditional mexican taste but got a plate of dull tasting fodder.