At the edge of Spring Garden, near the Community College of Philadelphia, lies the newly opened Heffe Tacos. In conjunction with their Fishtown location, Heffe Tacos has been serving clients from all over Philadelphia, delighting patrons with its catchy slogan “Tacos That Don’t Suck,” casual ambiance, and late hours.
The inside of the restaurant has a smattering of small tables and two convenient kiosks up front: customers have the option to sit and enjoy a fast meal or to grab a bowl and go. A huge window opens up to the street, offering diners a comfortable spot to observe passersby as they pop into the variety of shops that sit opposite Heffe Tacos.
The menu here graciously includes gluten–free and vegetarian choices interspersed between dishes with names like “Cheesus Christ” and “The Merman.” Given that I don’t eat beef or red meat, I was stuck between ordering a “Fat Man” (crispy chicken burrito with bacon and more—$8.25) and a “Polo Yo” (crispy chicken thigh taco with queso fresco and ancho mayo—$7), with a side of “Philthy Street Corn” ($3). This time, I went for the Polo.
So, it wasn’t the best taco I’ve ever had, and my Mexican photographer and co–taster, Jean, would agree. But, it was pretty good. There was a harmony between the ancho mayo and queso fresco, a combination well–complemented by the fresh, crispy cabbage. The side of corn was char grilled and topped with cheese and spicy ancho mayo, a brilliant amalgamation, which understandably made this dish one of their more popular items.
The portion sizes are large, as per usual with comfort food, which is always a plus. The sauces—from mild to spicy and everything else in between—were also all house–made, adding a nice homey touch to their menu. In fact, much of their menu is house–made, including the flan, which I personally didn’t try out, but highly recommend after getting a taste of their menu. After your meal, if you still have room, don’t leave without trying the coffee—it’s their own organic Mexican brand. But if you’re stuffed, both the flan and the coffee are a good enough reason to visit again. Maybe you’ll even be tempted by the “Fat Man.”
TL;DR: Their tacos definitely “don’t suck,” but if you’re here definitely branch out and try some of their more adventurously named dishes, too. And don't miss their coffee.
Location: 1431 Frankford Ave.
Hours:
Sun—Wed: 11 a.m.—11 p.m.
Thurs: 11 a.m.—12 a.m.
Fri—Sat: 11 a.m.—3 a.m.
Price-range: $
