CHOW NOW Tacos Week 2: Guacamole Mex Grill
Just a short walk from Penn’s campus, Guacamole Mex Grill feels like it’s a world away. Soothing notes of Mexican ballads fill the air and a fridge full of Jaritos—a classic Mexican soda—hums away inside this brightly lit taco shop on 46th and Woodland Avenue. But most importantly, the taco collection is supreme! Here’s what we thought.
The Tacos…
Tacos al pastor: The sweet juices and tangy pineapple chunks made this pulled pork taco stand out from the crowd, but the meat could have been more moist.
Tacos de Bistec: While these tacos aren’t offered on the regular menu, the owner said they were some of the best–and we agreed! The steak was nicely browned and topped with cebollitas, sweet caramelized onions, that pulled all the flavors together.
Marinated Chicken Tacos: These tacos tasted just as spicy as their powerful red hue suggests. One of our personal favorites of the night, the chicken was tender and fresh, while the warm flour tortilla (made in house) was pleasantly toasted and crispy around the edges.
Tacos de Casa: A mountainous taco in a flour tortilla stuffed to the brim with creamy refried beans, rice, cotija cheese, and housemade guacamole.
Ground Beef Tacos: Salty, chewy, and reminiscent of our childhood taco nights. When we closed our eyes it was like we were eating the ground beef tacos back at our family dinner table.
Tacos de Rajas: The tacos de rajas were new to both of us. The sauted poblano peppers had a subtle amount of spice that was balanced out by the coolness of the sour cream. Overall the taco was delicious, but the smooth texture of the peppers and refried beans was too creamy for our tastes.
The Dessert
Churros: Crunchy on the outside and soft and spongy on the inside, these bite sized balls of dough came to our table fresh out of the fryer and sprinkled with a coating of cinnamon and sugar. A fragrant and warm ending to a delicious meal.
-Chase Matecun
Penn Appetit Picks
-Marinated Chicken Tacos
-Tacos de Bistec
-Tacos de Casa
And don’t forget to check back in to see what we thought of Guacamole Mex Grill in our Philly Taco Round-Up!