Chow Now at El Jarocho!

Last semester Andrea and I brought you the Penn Appetit Taco Round-Up, but recently I’ve learned that Mexican restaurants in Philly have much more to offer than incredible tacos.

This past weekend I wandered into the depths of South Philly to check out a Mexican hot spot I had heard good things about. The location? El Jarocho at 1138 South 13th Street.

The interior of El Jarocho is pretty bare-bones. It’s well off the beaten track and seats no more than 20 people. The place gave off vibes similar to a dirty spoon diner—a sure sign (in my opinion) that I was in for a little-known treat.

But what the restaurant lacked in size, it made up for with its massive menu. The multi-lingual paper card boasted dozens of taco fillings, classic Mexican dinners, and a massive number of weekend specials. The one that caught my eye was the barbacoa lamb, a meaty delicacy I couldn’t wait to try.

Braised in a smoky chile and tomato sauce that was just thick enough to coat the back of my spoon, my lamb was rich, meaty, and fork tender. It came accompanied with freshly chopped pico de gallo and heaping sides of rice and beans.

And don’t get me started on the free tortillas. Each meal at El Jarocho comes with a complimentary bowl of steaming hot corn tortillas—far superior to their flour counterparts. They’re perfectly earthy and ideal for making some impromptu lamb tacos or sopping up the final dredges of sauce at the bottom of your plate.

So go get yourself some authentic Mexican food and CHOW NOW at El Jarocho!

-Chase Matecun