I made the five-hour drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in order to see the Phillies take on the Mets. Wanting to expand the fish taco blog outside of the Lou, I had to try El Vez, Philly’s most famous Mexican restaurant.
El Vez is located in the heart of Washington Square West. The colorful exterior is nothing compared to the décor that awaits you inside – think Tijuana meets Vegas glitz. The restaurant is filled with Day of the Dead chachkis, with a random assortment of goodies thrown in, such as Charo’s face painted on the bar stools and a low-rider bike dedicated to the boxer Oscar de la Hoya hoisted above the bar.
We started off with the Indian Red Lopez guacamole and without a doubt, it was the best I’ve ever had. It’s a mixture of fresh avocados, spicy crab, cilantro and salsa roja. Then it was time for the fish tacos; a tough choice between crispy mahi-mahi and sea bass. I went with the sea bass because it was prepared with a sweet potato puree, grilled scallions and fried jalapeno. I was curious, having never had a fish and sweet potato combination. The sweet potato and Baja sauce gave the taco a sweet and sour (yin/yang) taste. The tortilla is on bottom, so it is not eaten like a traditional taco. The taco size is rather small but stacked high and I found it very filling (especially after chowing down on the guacamole). The only downside was a lack of sides to go with the meal (not that I had much room to spare). I was glad to be able to walk off the meal and see the sights of the City of Brotherly Love.
And, oh yeah, the Mets beat the Phillies 4-3.
121 S. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 928-9800
http://www.elvezrestaurant.com/
4 out of 5 fishies.
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