Ever since our South Philly Taqueria Tour, I’ve been jonesin’ for another Mexican food fix. So when I learned that I missed out on Los Taquitos de Puebla’s Tacos al Pastor, I knew that I had to go back… even if it was for takeout.

Doing my best NASCAR impression as I looked for parking, I had to laugh as I saw throngs of people queued up for steaks from Genos. I could only hope that the restaurant didn’t have a “Spanish Only” policy…

Los Taquitos de Puebla doesn’t stand out in the mix of small shops on S. 9th Street, so it’s easy to miss. The dining room is small, yet clean and contains about eight tables. The menu was taco-rich, plus side dishes, quesadillas and alambres (“Layers of Meat, Vegetables, Tortilla and/or Cheese”). I was seated right away, but once my waitress returned, it was clear that we had a language barrier, so the manager stepped in. I went with Tacos al Pastor (pork tacos), Tacos de Pollo (chicken tacos) and Orden de Nopales Asados con Queso Fresco Aguacate (Grilled Cactus with Fresh Cheese and Avocado) to go. During my short wait, I enjoyed a Mexican Coke; at least I think that’s what Heche en Mexico means?

Once home, we busted out our Mexican feast. To start, the Tacos al Pastor were awesome. (Get more info. on “al Pastor”). The pork was spicy and flavorful, while lacking that oily quality that often accompanies pork. Wrapped in corn tortillas, the filling included onions, cilantro and pineapple, which gave the tacos a uniquely sweet twang. In addition to the side of condiments featuring radish, marinated radish, sliced lime wedges and cucumber, there were tasty red and a green salsas ready to be generously applied. Continuing our meal, we found that the chicken tacos were very good, but not distinctive. The Grilled Cactus, however, is unique. Served in 1/8” strips, the cactus is marinated, grilled and accompanied by sautéed onions and fresh cheese. The texture is reminiscent of green pepper and the flavor offers a light tang of vinegar. We both really enjoyed it.

In summary, Los Taquitos de Puebla is a really good, lesser-known taqueria in the heart of the Italian Market. A PhillyFoodGuys reader introduced my to this spot (”Thanks Buckethead”) and it was most recently mentioned in Philadelphia Weekly. This is a great place for a quick bite, not an intimate dinner. If your friends are doing cheesesteaks, use this as a great alternative. The menu is fairly simple and has descriptions in English – just hope that the manager is available Both types of tacos we sampled were very good, but the Tacos al Pastor are exceptional. The Grilled Cactus is also delicious and unique. The meal was $25 with tip and worth every penny.

Los Taquitos de Peubla is located at 1149 S. 9th St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 334-0664

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Bill // phillyfoodguys.com/restaurant-review/los-taquitos-de-puebla-under-the-radar/