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Pura Vida
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Spanish Latin American, Spanish [Edit]
527 Fairmount AvePhiladelphia, PA 19176
Neighbourhood: Northern Liberties
(215) 922-6433
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9:30 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
61 reviews for Pura Vida
Review Highlights
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"...have great vegetarian options including vegetarian chorizo." In 2 reviews -
"Cute little BYOB with tasty food." In 2 reviews -
"BYOB (bring your own booster." In 4 reviews
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61 reviews in English
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Review from M F.
Haddonfield, NJ
5/5/2012
Loved it. Got roast pork enchiladas-- fantastic, all around--rice to beans to guac (that doesn't cost extra like all the other "mexican" places around), and well-cooked and seasoned pork. Also got the fish (tilapia?) which was good, but the grilled shrimp were great, and the pickled and grilled vegetables were awesome.
Our server was cute and nice, though I think she forgot about us (outside) once they got full inside-- we were just waiting for our check.
I don't suggest sitting on the 6th street outdoor tables, that corner there sucks, with the cars at the light blasting their Q102... but other than that, I was happy. And full. And I wish I had brought some beer.
Dos Segundos it isn't-- I thought the food was way better. I didn't miss free chips and salsa at all. -
Review from Julie G.
Philadelphia, PA
4/29/2012
I went to Pura Vida just to check it out, and there are definite pros and cons.
The pros:
- I had the chicken quesadilla and it was very good. Not greasy, the chicken was not fatty, and there was a good proportion of cheese to chicken, etc..the salsa was great and you have a choice of mild, medium or hot. I had the green one, and it was very good.
- They seem to use decent quality ingredients, and decent cuts of meat. They also taste fresh. Someone said the guacamole wasn't as 'tasty,' but to me it was because it wasn't salty or overly done...it was more pure.
- Service is very nice. I was there on an off-time, so maybe when it's busy it's different, but the woman was quite nice.
- It's a cheap BYOB - so you don't have to go somewhere fancy to have a few drinks with friends and some solid food.
Cons:
- You have to pay for chips and salsa. Even though it's not much, I was a bit taken aback...isn't that free? ...and the amount of salsa you get is small.
- It's in kind of a sketchy area. They call it Northern Liberties, but it isn't the more developed area. I wouldn't be strolling around there late at night or at dark, and I go to a lot of places.
- It's pretty small...so I wouldn't bring more than a couple of other people with us, or it would seem congested if we all wanted to sit together. -
Review from Danit H.
Philadelphia, PA
4/11/2012
I use to live couple doors from Pura Vida and this place use to makes me drool almost every day of the week (they are close on Mondays..). I eat in, take out/ dinner or lunch/ large groups or just with a friend - always good times.
The entire staff is friendly and nice, the food is great and the price is very reasonable. Everything on the menu is good and they have great vegetarian dishes (Their vegetarian chorizo is awesome). -
Review from Thad S.
4/2/2012
Seriously Yelpers? I came here expecting a cross between Dos Segundos and La Cazuelas, and it was one of my biggest disappointments in a while. I read that the chips and salsa were a rip off. I ordered the guac/salsa/chips combo anyway ($5.5) and it was a sad attempt indeed. The salsa was bland (it was the medium) and there were giant chunks of white (unripe) tomatoes in the attempt at salsa verde. The chips were bland and not especially fresh, and the guac was missing any and all seasoning. Even salt. Not to mention the serving size was "one chip scoop." The margarita mixer (hibiscus) was decent, but they put about 10 ice cubes in the giant pitcher. It was like drinking in Mexico, for real.
Entrees were another lesson in mediocrity, with the special "mole style" enchilada sauce tasting more like re-fried beans than anything resembling mole. The soy-rizo was tasty in the burrito, but the burrito lacked any flavor. The atmosphere was okay, but the food was not. I will not be back. Also, I was told on the phone that if I was more than 10 minutes late for my reservation, they would give it away. Well luckily for me I was on time. But that aside, at least half of the tables were empty at 7:30 on a Saturday anyway. Not worth the trouble for the level of food they are putting out. -
Review from Steve S.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
So we got in the mood for Cuban food tonight after watching Guy Fieri eat some on TV. So I searched in Yelp for Cuban restaurants. This one came up on the list, and the wife picked it out.
Well, I saw in the reviews that it's not really Cuban per say. Oh well, we decided to give it a shot anyway.
So this place is rather small. I counted 8 tables. We got there shortly after 5 and were seated right away at a table you could play checkers on. Literally, they gave you the checker pieces and everything. Oh, I couldn't pass that up. But anyway, on to the food.
The name escapes me because it is long, but basically we went for the appetizer that has black beans, chorizo, and chips. We ate it all happily, although I didn't think it had enough chorizo flavor. I went for three different tacos, the pork, chicken, and the Guatemalan beef, again the name escapes me. The wife got one of the entree plates that had chicken, shrimp, roasted potatoes, and chimichurri sauce. Again, the name escapes me (boy, my memory sucks tonight).
For me, the tacos were pretty good. Flavor-wise they were as good as any. Size-wise I've had bigger. The side of rice and beans I ordered was as good as any i've had. But the wife, man she raved about her plate. In fact, this place just became one of her new favorites based on her meal. The samples of it I tried were certainly worthy of praise. A little ice cream and fried banana dish finished things off nicely.
But it is true, service here leaves something to be desired. it's not that they are not nice. In fact our servers were very sweet. It's just that they seem to be understaffed. After we got there, the place filled up and the service started running like crazy. With a total of two servers, two cooks, and one dishwasher as the entire staff, they can get hectic. As a result, you will wait for things, and they might get your order slightly wrong which they did for me. They were apologetic several times through the night. I'll give a slight pass because they were working hard.
It's worth the trip. Just don't go there if you have to make it in time for a show. -
Review from Lynda F.
Philadelphia, PA
4/14/2012 3 Check-ins Here
We like it here - the food is consistent, but the service can be hit or miss. Once, I arrived ten minutes earlier than the friend I was meeting. I was told that I needed to wait for my entire party to arrive before being seated. I understand this rule during busy times and with large parties; however, this was an early Wednesday afternoon in a completely empty restaurant. I stood around until my buddy showed up and then we were seated. We remained the only diners throughout our meal and no one came in during the twenty minutes that we chatted outside afterward. That kind of put me off of this place for a while, but we've started going there again. Their chicken ginger soup is great, but I wish that the chips and salsa were complimentary or at least cheaper!
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Review from David P.
Philadelphia, PA
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I enjoyed the spanish/latin flavor from the people working there to the food, atmosphere, music and more.
Dinner was for two. I enjoyed that it was a BYO. The food was spectacular and the prices were great. Our service was great and deserving of a 33% tip! lol
My girl and I felt so at home at this place. Highly recommended. -
Review from Karen Y.
1/13/2012
they charge over $5 for chips and salsa, and it's not worth it. charging for chips and salsa is like a korean restaurant charing for the kim chee or a chinese restaurant charging for the fortune cookies. salsa is good, but it's not $5 good. for $5 i expect the chips to be fresh out of the fryer and more than a 4 Tbs of salsa that i can make at home.
tacos are a little bland. the best thing they have going for them is that the corn tortillas are fresh made to order. otherwise it comes with a plethora of options to add to it and none of them add much flavor. three tacos for an order at $7 is a good deal, but they charge $2 more to order with different fillings. kinda lame, is it really that much of an inconvenience to the kitchen?
the guacho platter was a better order than the tacos. the chimchurri sauce with the steak was flavorful and delicious. the shrimp are small and much more bland tasting than the description on the menu, but it was a nice addition to the salad it's serve with.
the other plus for this place is that they have mexico coke that is reasonably priced. the service is attentive and sweet, though i think the food comes of the kitchen a little on the slow side. the food is much like dos segundos, but i think the food at dos segundos is better. however, pura vida is definitely far cheaper and quieter than dos segundos, which has it's advantages too. -
Review from Scott H.
Philadelphia, PA
11/6/2011
I waited a long time to try this place. I was not let down. enchilladas were amazing. so much food! Horchata was a little too sweet. service is great. ambiance is really cool. i was surprised this place was not packed when i got there ( a nice surprise though)
cant wait to go back and try some more of their dishes -
Review from Monica O.
Philadelphia, PA
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I truly appreciate BYOBs and this is an awesome one. They even provided limes and a bottle opener for our Coronas--glad we were starting off on the right foot :)
I had the roast pork burrito and it was very good, not the best I've ever had but solid nonetheless. The pork could've used a little more seasoning and the rest of the burrito's filling needing to be a little more jazzed up (like some onions, peppers, etc.). Nevertheless, you get a huge burrito though for $7...but next time I'd put my $7 towards getting my friend's dish. I hate when I order wrong and like someone else's food better :-/
My friend had the "el playero", which consists of nice big shrimp in a garlic butter sauce, cilantro, and ricotta cheese stuffed raviolis. Mmm, mmm, mmm...instant foodgasm. I will def be back for this!
I also loved the decor and the music--made me wanna get up and start salsa dancing :-P
The A/C was on so the restaurant was nice and comfortable on a somewhat muggy summer night and they also had the TV on so I could stay abreast of the World Cup soccer game.
Last but not least, service was impeccable! The young lady who was our server was so nice and made our dining experience one worth repeating.Listed in: NoLibs Swag
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Review from Lindsey G.
Philadelphia, PA
1/14/2012
Wonderfully pleasant little BYOB. The server was friendly and attentive, the restaurant is nicely decorated, and they played good music. While I really enjoyed the fresh corn tortillas made for my fish taco, the fish itself (tilapia) was a bit bland. Can I get a little seasoning or marinade on that pretty please? I sampled my friends' huge shredded beef burrito and that was MUCH better than my tacos. Still, I ate for less than $10 and I'll definitely return with a bottle of tequila!
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Review from Patti F.
Philadelphia, PA
6/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I have been to Pura Vida for lunch a few times and the service has always been great. The food is delicious - no tough mystery meat here! In fact, most of it is slow roasted for 6 hours. YUM. The prices are very reasonable. You can get a loaded burrito for $8 (including guacamole.) Bring cash with you b/c they do not accept credit cards. (My only con for this lovely restaurant.)
So head on over with your tequila of choice and chow down. Andele! -
Review from Jessica S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/4/2012
Had a great meal with friends. The Guatemalan family that owns and operates this open kitchen BYOB is delightful. inviting atmosphere and very good food. If you just want a small bite or a full entree, the menu provides. Pura Vida is a hidden gem.
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Review from Melissa D.
Philadelphia, PA
7/17/2011
It's been awhile since I went, but something made me think of this place today... The first time I went, I was on a first date. We brought our own jack and mixed it with some Mexican soda and I remember an amazing burrito special that involved red sauce, sunflower seeds, and avocado. We sat outside and flirted for hours and it was lovely.
Even though that relationship failed to flourish, I have found myself back at Pura Vida several times and have had excellent experiences with friends and with food each time. I hope to go back soon. -
Review from Samantha D.
Washington, DC
3/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
The saddest part about leaving Philadelphia, might be that I wont live around the corner from this restaurant anymore.
Pura Vida has become my staple comfort food. I travel a lot and when I get home from the airport/train station, all I want is a veggie burrito from Pura Vida.
I keep my order really simple - veg burrito with black beans, medium salsa, no dairy, add guac. I generally get chips and guacamole on the side as well. It is delicious!
I've also eaten at the restaurant and gotten more adventurous. They have great appetizers and some really unique entrees. In the summer (and fall/spring) they have outdoor seating.
It's byo and they have some fun mixers if you want to byo-t. -
Review from Veronica L.
Philadelphia, PA
3/10/2012
Cute little place. I got take-out so I can't really comment on that. The food was good but nothing really amazing. The guacamole was inedible. There was way to much lime or lemon. You would think that they would taste things before serving them... The service was good and the food was ready before the estimated time.
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Review from Marny B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/23/2010
Live in No. Libs right around the corner from this place and always forget what a great gem it is! The chicken soup was probably the best of its kind that we have had in a long time. I highly recommend trying it, and I am not really a soup person. Everything else was simple, cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Prices are decent for a good amount of food. Its one of those places that when you leave you say to yourself "We have to stop forgetting about this place because its just a really good meal without any fuss"
And you can bring your own tequila and wine for their house made margaritas or sangria since it is BYOB.
Only downside is the service. Every time I have gone the service is slow. Its not horrible, but they usually don't have enough wait staff. Happy and cheerful, but slow. Thats the only reason I didn't give 5 stars. -
Review from Hayley Sara B.
Philadelphia, PA
7/23/2010
I'm torn - for everything I like about this restaurant there's something I dislike; hence, I land at 3 stars.
I went here for a good friend/fellow yelper's birthday last night. Five of the eight of us arrived on time, but the chef/owner(?) refused to seat us until all of our party was there. I don't really get this one...there was no one else waiting to be seated, and we had made a reservation. After persuading him with promises that the rest of our party would show up, and that we wouldn't order until they got there, he grumblingly obliged.
I was then distracted from the chef's grouchiness by the great decor. It's outside deck-comes-inside with Christmas ligths, plants galore, and a thatch roof hanging over one of the tables. My inner flower child was very pleased.*
Ah, time to order! The menu was SO reasonably priced . . . aside from the chips and salsa. $5 for some unsalted tortilla chips (NOT bottomless) and barely enough salsa to dunk half of them? How is a burrito the size of my head stuffed with goodies only $7, and this sad excuse for an appetizer $5? Avoid. Not worth it (even though our waitress told us it "totally was.").
I was much happier with my entree. $7 for a fresh and clean chicken & veggie quesadilla with oh-so-smooth sour cream for dipping. I was munching away happily when one of our dining companions recieved her side of rice and pinto beans, but had to send it back because there was cheese on it. She had specifically told the waitress she was allergic to cheese, and the waitress just made a mistake and owned up to it. NBD, right? WRONG. Crazy chef/owner came over to our table, asked the girl if she really was, in fact, allergic to cheese, and then stormed back to the open kitchen, where he proceeded to glare at us for 5 minutes until the waitress got back so he could yell at her, too. I swear this man had smoke coming out of his ears. If I came across him in a dark alley, I would run the other away.
However, this incident was all but forgotten when we got the check and realized that it came to only $18 per person, INCLUDING tip. My lord, I love BYOs (esp. when they make you mojitos).
And thus, my review of Pura Vida comes to end...I am still conflicted. It's a fun place, but beware the chef.
* NB: The fact that they were showing Avatar on a flatscreen and playing techno clashed a bit with the chill theme, but neither was glaringly loud. -
Review from Ramon F.
Philadelphia, PA
8/14/2011
I had a great meal here and thought the ambience was good. They had relaxing latin music playing and the service was good, considering how busy they were. I had the shredded beef platter, which was great! My sister had the enchiladas with flour tortillas and said they were very good. The chips & salsa were good, but very small for the price, so not really worth it to me. I didn't BYO, but I did have the lemonade which was also very tasty. Overall, I had a very good experience and will definitely return. If you go, bring cash, no cards accepted.
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Review from Bekah D.
Philadelphia, PA
9/11/2010
There's nothing like coming home from work on a Friday night with a craving for Mexican and 10 minutes later walking one block away to be pleasantly surprised by the Latin restaurant on your block!
I read other Yelp reviews- I knew not to sit back in the corner because of a loud a/c compressor; I knew people bitched about the $5.00 "small" guac & chips; I knew some people were offended by the $15 charge for Marg mix; I know people thought the decor was "kitchy," but I don't have those complaints. Sure we took the table in the front rather than the other one they offered us back in "that corner," and we didn't get the margs (2 people don't need an entire pitcher!) but the $3.00 Mojito mix was delicious (it's a BYO, fyi!) and we were too starved to say no to chips/salsa/guac, even though it was $5. So what!? It was delicious. The guac was REALLY good! And Kitschy decor? I felt like I was at a street vendor in Guatemala- which I think was the point- so it was PERFECT
I got the vegetarian burrito- YUM- it was big and I couldn't finish it all. Husband got the shredded beef tacos & said they were good. I don't know how that's possible seeing as it's dead cow, but whatever- my issue not his :)
I HIGHLY recommend this place for a cheap, Latin food!! -
Review from Walter K.
4/19/2010
I've pasted Pura Vida dozens of times on my bike, and for some reason, I've always been interested in eating here. I stopped in with Emily on Saturday night for dinner.
Right off the bat, I was surprised by how empty this place was. At 7:30 on a Saturday night, there were only two other tables. The decor here is awful; kitschy tropical themed pieces around the room outlined by Christmas lights. To top it if, terrible trance music was playing the entire time we were there. Seriously, who can take that much trance music?? Luckily, as if some kind of make up call, our servers were attentive and friendly. The service is as good as the atmosphere is bad.
Our appetizer was a grilled zucchini and cheese dish. It tasted good, nothing amazing, and was pathetically small for $7. We both ordered enchilada dishes for entrees. Orders can with rice, beans, a dollop of guacamole and three enchiladas. I mixed and got three different kinds of meat. The chorizo was pretty good, and the chicken was okay. I wish I would have gone with the shredded beef for all three because it was the only thing I ate that came close to impressing my palate. Emily was quite happy with her order of vegetarian chorizo however.
I like that this spot is a BYO, but there's not much to say about eating here. My experience was incredibly average. It looks like they have some outdoor seating, but not any when we visited.
Bottom Line: It's cheaper than most areas in the neighborhood, and also not as nice. I could provide several better recommendations, even if you're in the mood for cheap BYOB Mexican. They have Cuban sandwiches on the menu which may be the only thing that could entice me to return. -
Review from Teresa D.
Philadelphia, PA
10/7/2009
I was surprised by this place. To be honest, I was not expecting much, we ordered chips and guacamole, the chips were good, but the guac was a little bland, and it was a tiny portion. I was expecting a little more for $5.
I ordered tacos, one shredded beef, one roast pork and one vegetarian. They were all good, but the seasoning of the vegetables was fantastic. When you order, they ask "hot. medium, or mild?" I asked for one of each on the side. The medium, or verde salsa, was my favorite. It was tangy and cilantro-y, just the way I like it.
I will try this place again, it was good. -
Review from Ali J.
Philadelphia, PA
7/17/2010
My boyfriend and I just discovered this place and it is AMAZING. It's a wonderful alternative to Dos Segundos if you want good Mexican in the same area but don't feel like dealing with bar hopping yuppies.
The food is fresh and I highly suggest the Rosa de Jamaica (hibiscus iced tea). Its potent yet sweet flavor is perfect in this hot weather. They have great vegetarian options including vegetarian chorizo. I'm not sure, but its possible they get it from Trader Joe's which in that case it is both vegan and gluten free. They seem to be very knowledgeable about the difference between vegetarian and vegan which is helpful. If they get the idea that you don't eat meat, they usually clarify if you would like dairy products (cheese/sour cream) or not.
We brought his brother, gf, and their mom and they loved just as much as we did. His mom order a salad with seasoned, sautéed shrimp on top. I don't eat fish, but it looked amazing and she confirmed it was fresh and delicious. His brother had the vegetable tacos which had a very light and refreshing taste.
The prices are reasonably and the ingredients are fresh. I highly suggest giving this place a try. It's BYOB, too, don't forget your brew! -
Review from Ritu K.
8/1/2009
The lack of decent mexican food joints in philly is more than disappointing, so I was thrilled when a few friends suggested pura vida.
What and where I wondered?? Its a bit off the beaten path in nolib, but totally worth it! Btw- its byob so armed with enough beer to satiate us for 2 hours we descended on this hidden gem.
For starters we had the shrimp ceviche and guac. Both were absolutely delic and paired perfectly with our beer, which always seems to taste better when its byo..
For dinner I had the chicken enchiladas. You're given the choice of three different meats to choose from and can mix and match to your heart's content. They're accompanied with beans and rice (surprise surprise) and are an amazing deal for something like $14. The enchiladas themselves were in a delic verde sauce. Soo good! My only complaint would be that the dish would have tasted better with shredded chicken, rather than chunks of chicken, but really I would order them again in a heartbeat.
Service was excellent! Music a bit loud, but after a few beers the thumping dance beats faded into the background. Yeah!!! Finally a decent mexican joint in nolibs.. -
Review from Jamie R.
Philadelphia, PA
7/26/2008
I was biking against traffic on 6th st today and found this place totally by accident.
Wow. great food, cute atmosphere and really genuine service.
I ordered the Pupusas - My first since San Fran! They came nice and toasty hot with some kind of white creamy cheese on top surrounding a bowl of marinated veggie salad i think the veggies had sage leaves mixed in for an unusual twist. Tangy, creamy, chewy and satisfying.
So happy i brought my leftovers home!
I also ordered a salad with grilled shrimp, they arrived on a very large bed of shredded lettuce, with some hard cheese. the dressing was a balsamic vinagrette with a punch and all around the edge of the plate was a fresh salsa cruda. tasty.
For only two appetizers this was a LOT of food for one person.
I was going to skip dessert but then the server told me about a rice pudding made with ginger and coconut. I could not resist. You should not either. The rice pudding was warm and dusted with cinnamon in the middle was a dollop of coconut and ginger ice cream. The texture was superior to any ive had in a restaraunt, Like a warm porrage, creamy, smooth gently spiced , just sweet enough with a touch of spice to intrigue and beguile. I know i will find myself craving this on a cool winter night sometime soon.
now im plotting my next visit to N libs -
Review from christina h.
Philadelphia, PA
10/11/2010
I remember when Pura Vida opened years ago around the corner from our apartment in Nor Libs. It was like heaven. I remember worrying that this place was going to close down because it was in a weird corner and some great places were shutting down in that area because people didn't know about it.
Thank heavens they're still there! I haven't found steak tacos and guac that I like more anywhere else in Philly. We always get the usual - chorizo burrito and my steak tacos. If we're starving, we get taquitos. I personally take my tacos in "mild' and hubs takes his "hot.' I've once ordered a burrito in "diablo" for him because it made me giggle but I got in trouble for that one.
We've only eaten inside a few times, and usually try to sit outside if weather permits.
Now that we're in Mt. Airy, if I'm in the city for anything, I try to swing by and pick up our burrito and tacos to go. After a 20 minute drive, they're still delicious and my corn tacos are not falling apart.
Cash only place, and I believe closed on Mondays. -
Review from Jim M.
1/11/2008
I finally managed to make it over to Pura Vida and I was mostly glad I did. I had a feeling I was going to like it the minute I entered the door, since the delicious smell of latin food hit my nostrils. The service was very good. Like one of the other reviewers said, one waitress covered multiple tables, and very well. They had horchata, which put me in a mood to like the place from the get go, since most of the crappy places won't even know what horchata is.
As far as the food goes, I had an argentinian steak and shrimp(there is no s in multiple shrimp folks) dish called Playo Gaucho. The steak was just right and had a seasoning/sauce on it that was really tasty. The shrimp were layered over a colorful salad with a different dressing/sauce. Rounding out the dish were halved small potatoes baked with nice crispy skins and very good flavor. Overall a very nice meal.
The decor was eh. A weird mix of Latin and what looked like part of an old Hawaiian bar. Kind of odd. That drop down ceiling needed some new tiles in it too, looked a little old. But overall it was nice. Probably a good place to take a date, as every table but mine had at least one couple if not two.
My main gripe was that they didn't offer free chips and salsa. One of my rules of thumb to judge latin/mexican places is the freshness and richness of flavor present in their salsa. But I refuse to pay 5 bucks to find out. A little steep guys. -
Review from Alyssa M.
Longview, TX
10/19/2010
This place is very small and therefore the staff is small and the kitchen works slowly. It's BYOB. You can bring tequila or whatever and they'll mix up margaritas for you.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was good. I just felt like it took forever to get served and was a few dollars too expensive.
If you want to dine with more than one person, I'd recommend calling ahead. -
Review from Rachel D.
Lower Merion, PA
9/16/2011
I was just here last night! I had the most breath taking enchiladas. I am definitely a fan and will have to come back with friends!
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Review from Jake V.
Philadelphia, PA
8/8/2007
While not one the best places I've ever eaten at, this place is surprisingly great!
The sandwich I had was really a cut above the rest and reasonably priced. The menu wasn't too elaborate but offered a good selection in what you can put into each offering. For instance, there is a burrito but there are six different meats you can put into it ranging from steak to fish. That's cool.
The service? Even though it was one girl, she could handle the three other parties as well as mine easily and did so with a friendly attitude. Way to go!
My only beef, and it's a small one, is the side. If I'm going to get a sandwich, I'd like something to accompany it. Here, I got a tiny little salad that rivals Philly Falafel in how small it is. Beans, rice, anything! But this was a moot point by the time I finished the delicious sandwich.
It's funny because one of the best meals I've had in NoLibs doesn't come from the 2nd street strip but instead from an unassuming little restaurant on the corner of Fairmont and 6th. Go figure... -
Review from Jennifer L.
Philadelphia, PA
9/10/2011
I ordered the Gaucho which comes with shrimp and steak. I told the waitress that I'm allergic to shrimp, and assumed that they would just compensate with more steak. However, when the dish arrived, it had several small strips of steak and the rest of the plate was filled with salad. This was definitely not worth $16.
After we ordered our desserts, the chef/owner came over to tell us that we had to leave because another group with a reservation had shown up. I understand that they are a small restaurant, but at the same time, we were paying customers and shouldn't be kicked out due to space issues.
The chef/owner then brought over the check, and never gave us our desserts that we had ordered. I will never eat this restaurant ever again. -
Review from Vincent F.
Philadelphia, PA
6/20/2009
We've been wanting to try this place since I moved in to my new aparment a block away. Finally we gave it a shot and we are really glad we did!
The food was really really good, especially considering how reasonable it was priced. One of the best dishes was the namesake appetizer which we devoured in about 2 seconds.
I hesitate to give this a good review since that could mean I won't be able to walk in and get a table with no wait (think honeys before it got popular). But I can't help myself. This place was really good. -
Review from Dum L.
Philadelphia, PA
6/24/2011
Reasonably priced and tasty food, great atmosphere, and byob make for a great time!
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Review from Ryan E.
Brooklyn, NY
4/7/2011
I'm pretty sure this is a Guatemalan restaurant and not Mexican. Whatever though, it still pretty much tastes like Mexican and it's not bad. I wouldn't say anything is over the top amazing but it's certainly a good quick dinner or lunch option. The burritos are probably my standard go to option. Honestly, there's not much else to say because it's kind of a boring place and I don't want to bore you with boring details about how average the food is. All in all, if you are local and need a quick fix, check out Pura Vida. Please don't go out of your way for it though.
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Review from Seth A.
Philadelphia, PA
7/31/2006
We used to goto a mexican joint nearbye called Jose's, now we goto Pura Vida. Charlie is one of the cooks, he split off from Jose's to make some of the best mexican food I've ever had.
I highly recommend one of the sandwiches, (pollo al sado I think), its sloppy, but its one of the most delicious sandwiches I've tasted.
The location is a little shady, but the restaurant is pretty well decorated and the staff is friendly too.
Highly recommended if you only want authentic mexican on your plate. -
Review from Jim B.
Philadelphia, PA
5/14/2009
A great little corner place that you would never find if you didn't already know about it. I went in with a friend one late Saturday afternoon and it was empty, so we got the best seat in the house: a table that doubles as a checkers board, with a small container off to the side filled with checkers. Odd, but pretty cool.
I don't remember the name of my entree, but it was shrimp over salad with rice and peppers and onions, and it was damn good. I finished off my meal, as I do whenever it is an option, with a horchata. It was treated properly like a dessert and not like quick drink to go, and it was the best horchata I've ever had.
My one gripe is the $5 charge for chips and salsa. Any place that offers tacos on the menu has no right to charge for their chips when so many places offer them for free. Yet I was a sucker and paid the 5 bucks, and they weren't even that good. I've had way better. -
Review from Amanda E.
Conshohocken, PA
12/27/2011
Fantastic everything...drinks, food, service. Nicest people working there and really helpful suggestions on what to order.
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Review from Koko D.
Philadelphia, PA
12/11/2011
The location is right! Its so easy to park....its byob whatever u want & thats alright with me......there is out door seating when warm & thats what i like while dining.....the staff is super nice......its worth the wait for the food if u come while its super busy because the food is delectable!!!....the cost per entree is reasonable and the portions are perfect.....the atmosphere is tropical & sexy, its a must try out and i hope u become a fan too!!!! Cheers!!!!
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Review from Stephanie G.
Philadelphia, PA
5/23/2010
I ate here last night and was really looking forward to it due to all the excellent reviews. However, I was sorely let down.
For $8 I got 3 tacos. I chose shredded beef, chorizo, and fish. They had a bit of lettuce, a dollop of sour cream, and a dollop of guacamole as toppings. It was pretty scarce. The meal came with NO sides. The fish taco was SOOOO terrible. It tasted super fishy and in a very abnormal, inedible way. I took 1 bite and knew there was no way I was eating it. I told the waitress, and she didn't care nor do anything. I would have thought she'd at least offer to get me a replacement taco with a different protein. Instead she said the cook must have put too much salt on the fish....uhhh...duhhh, yeah, no.
My friend got fajitas, which was pretty much the same thing except $7 more. The only difference was hers came w rice and beans, but I really don't think that's worth an extra $7. My friend insisted on tasting my yucky taco. Too bad for her. As soon as we got back to my house she puked up everything!!
About 45 minutes later I also met with a nasty demise, except in ahem, another type of way. Followed by heartburn. Never ever going back to this one. -
Review from Z J.
Philadelphia, PA
1/23/2011
fun little byob.
great food and service, and shockingly inexpensive. try the chicken ginger soup, its the perfect way to start your meal on a bitterly cold night.
