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Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: RoxboroughMon-Wed. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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The bright orange building is like a food beacon calling you in to eat it's variety of food contents. It is shocking, but it works and it immediately draws you in to something of a Mexican-American mix of decor and sexy dimmed lighting. The back patio is a mix of quirky design, with a fountain on the back wall that says "Adobe Cafe" and a variety of plants that are nicely lit by a plethora of Christmas/outdoor type lighting. In other words, its is quite a good atmosphere!
The food lends itself to that take it or leave mentality. While I would probably steal money from a homeless man just to get some of their guacamole or chimichangas in my mouth there are other things that are just so so depending on what night you pick to go. The steak honestly can range from super sexy to you drank too much and got "that girl" the next morning and the Sangrias and Margaritas vary from sweet overload to just right depending on who is serving them.
If you have that special girl or guy and you want to wine and dine them in an effort to score some major going home with me tonight points, go down to Main Street instead. If you want a nice casual dinner with friends and family then this is a great place to go!
Try the Chimichangas, it changed my life and it can change yours too!
i think this place as just fine. you know the type of fine where you could take it or leave it.
the food is hit or miss dependent on what you order.
i think the margaritas used to be great and now they are fine too much sour mix and they are premade.
nachos with guac are great and so are the wings (sweet yet spicy). entrees are ok enough. i like the grilled veggies that come with half the platters - very tasty, borderline salty in a good way.
the atmosphere is fun in that cheesy way (the outside of the place is bright orange afterall) and i like the little outdoor patio section in the summertime.
i could go back, i could never go back, i wouldn't care either way....but if you go, get the wings, ask for the guac for your complimentary chips and salsa and a dos equis.
p.s. - tons of vegan/veggie options.
I used to go here all the time because it was literally a block from my house. It's great during the summer time to sit on the patio and have margaritas and . Mondays and Tuesdays is fiesta night where I think it's two entrees and a pitcher of sangria for $30 which was a great deal. The normal price menu is a bit on the pricey side for Mexican, but it's nice to have this restaurant in the neighborhood. The patio has festive lights at nighttime which adds to the South of The Border vibe.
It's all about the VEGETARIAN FOOD. This place has a full vegetarian menu, not just one or two dishes to settle for. We love it and go as often as we can. I know of no other place in Philly where you can get such an impressive range of meat-free Mexican food. Also it's a great place to take a family of omnivores, since everyone can have what they want. Yes, the food may be a little mild in deference to Roxborough gringos, but I'm sure they'll make it spicy if you ask.
Debbie Downer # 2 here-
I am not crazy about this place. I really didn't think the food was all that great for the price. The margaritas are weak but the price for a pitcher is fair.
I ordered the chimichanga once but without chicken and they couldn't honor my request because they were premade and heated to serve. I really wouldn't expect that from a place like this. I will say that the assorted mushroom quesadilla is pretty great, but everything else I've had there is pretty unimpressive & flavorless. I would not call this authentic Mexican food whatsoever.
Free parking is a plus.
The decor is obnoxiously bad however I find they layout of the restaurant to be cool with its several rooms and outdoor seating.
I would probably go back if I was desperate for Mexican and didn't feel like driving out to Chipotle in Bala Cynwyd.
My wife and I visit Adobe fairly frequently and we always enjoy it. It's located on a side street that runs parallel to Ridge in Roxborough and there is a municipal (read: free) parking lot right across the street, which makes visiting very convenient.
The restaurant is located in a large, meandering structure - it feels like an amalgamation of previously independent row houses - but it has a cozy sort of feel. We are always seated promptly and brought homemade chips and salsa immediately.
Even though we are not vegetarian, we always get the "beef" seitan tips as an appetizer. I highly recommend them. I usually get the fajitas and find them to be pretty good. Tonight, I requested the "meat" from the seitan tips in my fajitas (even though this is not on the menu) and they were nice enough to oblige. It was really good.
Overall, this is a nice, casual place to catch up for a low-key dinner.
Likes: parking, food, Fiesta Night (Monday & Tuesday - 2 entrees and a pitcher of beer/bottle of wine for $30)
Dislikes: House Margarita (that I think is on tap [?])
I think this place suffers from an identity crisis. I am going to keep this short and too the point. Adobe doesn't know if its a TEX MEX place or a MEXITALIAN place. This is not mexican food. My girlfriend ordered what she thought would be a mexican taco dish but what came out was covered in Parmesan cheese. Note to everyone reading this. There is no parmesan in Mexican or Tex Mex food. I could understand if it was cotija but this was actual parmesan. not good.
Also, margaritas in wine glasses are laughable. Give us some real glasses. I felt like I was sneaking watered down margaritas at 17 again.
I was really looking forward to going here, but wanted to cry after I saw the menu. It may be other peoples cup of tea but I just moved here from Denver and I know what real Tex Mex is supposed to be like.
If you like "MEXITALIAN", you'll like this place. Otherwise steer clear.
I'm no Connoisseur on Mexican cuisine, nor do I care about the perceived authenticity most white people claim to either know or care immensely about. With that said, I enjoyed my meal here quite a bit. My friend ordered some awesome chili, and my burritos and quesadillas were also flavorful with a good amount of meat. The nacho's were a bit cheese loaded, which I don't necessarily dislike, but could be bad for some. The decor and dining area was also very pleasant. I particularly appreciated the random sombrero's and pictures of Mexican guys on horses. I have yet to return, but wouldn't have a problem with the notion.
Visited the Adobe last night for dinner and it was seriously fantastic. Blew through 2 pitchers of Sangria (oops). The steak tips were right on last night and melted in your mouth. I've had them before and had some gnarly chewy pieces but not this time! I'm not usually a wing person but we decided to try them and they were really, really good. For a Monday night, I was impressed.
Must drink the homemade RED sangria. Guaranteed everything else will fall into place after sipping… Read more »
First I'd like to say that my vegetarian husband loves Adobe, and won't agree with my rating.
I have yet to be as impressed as he with the food and drink. I'm picky. I'm Guatemalan/Puerto Rican, and in my latina opinion, the food here isn't that great. I don't buy meat items here because I didn't like their chicken or pork in the past. So I keep ordering the vegetarian bean tostada.
Chips and Salsa - good
Margarita - good, not great
Tostada - good
Sangria - ok. not impressive
Environment - excellent, very comfortable, and this is why I go with my husband to the regular dining area or the bar. Plus, we can't find another mexican place that's worth it in the area.
Love this place! The food has always been delicious and ample. They also have plenty of vegetarian options to choose from. My favorite has to be the BBQ duck burrito, which is so delicious and so big, that I usually can't finish it.
I used to live in Roxborough and I have truly missed this place since I moved to South Philly, but recently while I was walking my dog, I came across a sign on a vacant storefront on Passyunk stating that an Adobe Cafe will be opening up soon! I can't tell you how excited I was, since this is just a couple blocks away from my home!
There was a lot of hype about this place, and I am a little sad that the experience didnt match up. In all I thought that for a place specializing in Mexican/Southwest cuisine, there should be more heat. The seasoning was pretty absent from my food, the salsa, and the guacamole.
I enjoyed my drink, a caiparihna. It was very tasty. The chips were warm, which is always a nice touch. The waiter didnt explain specials to us, he spoke really fast, and he seemed generally disinterested.
I had the duck tacos for my meal. The duck meat was mushy and simmered in some sort of sauce. It reminded me of salsa verde, but less flavorful. I actually found a bone in my taco, so be careful if you order anything with shredded meat here. Someone else in my party also ordered the duck tacos and was even more dissastisfied than I. The third member of our party had the mole chicken, which she said was decent.
All said, I think the drinks were the best part of the meal. The food was not as spicy as I expected and not as good as I had heard. But if overpriced mushy duck is your thing, this is the place for you
A+.
Nothing but good things to say about this place. Hit it up on Monday or Tuesday for Fiesta night. 30 bones gets you 2 entrees and bottle of wine or pitcher of beer.
Plenty of vegetarian options and even some vegan options. I dug into the seitan fajitas and they were the bees knees. My better half chowed down on some veggies enchiladas and they were tops. Staff is super friendly too.
Without a doubt, check this place out. Not very fancy inside... i.e. plywood booths.. but all that adds to the charm.
Totally random restaurant in the middle of the yunk burbs, but close to our house- a big plus!! Prices are awesome. They have a special on Mondays and Tuesdays which includes a pitcher of margaritas and 2 entrees for a ridiculously low price. The margaritas are decent. Not great- a little heavy on the sweet and sour, but after a few who notices. I ordered the tilapia tacos and my husband had the chicken burritos. The food was OK. Not great, not awful and certainly not authentic. The tilapias tacos were tasty although not the SoCal deep fried fish tacos I expected and love so dearly. They were accompanied by a bland rice and plain refried beans. The chicken burritos were decent. Once again not super tasty but certainly decent. The service was fantastic and the price could not be beat!!! I don't think we'll be back but its not a bad place if you're craving "tex-mex??"
A cute, comfortable place with good food. As others have mentioned, there are several good vegetarian and vegan options, which is a great change of pace.
The peanut butter pie was too good to pass up, so we got a slice to go. Highly recommended.
Been going to this place since way back...good food, close by to our neighborhood.. great friendly service and it's kid friendly. Spent many a birthday parties there. Great for low key food and Margaritas.
Ok I hate to be Debbie Downer but I have to be honest....this place is only good for people who are not expecting a Mexican food restaurant. I'm from California, so I KNOW good Mexican food....Adobe Cafe does not serve Mexican food, let alone good Mexican food. BBQ duck burrito? Definitely not authentic and I am not saying everything has to be, but it should at least taste good. Don't even get me started on the watery margaritas.
The best mexican food is often found in little whole in the wall places with names that are actually in Spanish. While I still have yet to find a Mexican place as good as the ones in California, I can say that there are farrr better places than Adobe Cafe
Vegetarians Rejoice, and try the seitan steak strips with a fantastic tangy sweet sauce, it is an appetizer - I hope they still have it has been a year or two since I've been there. Whether you miss meat or not they are to die for. (But not kill for, thankfully.) The place is bit dark and drafty but worth it.
4550 Mitchell St
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(215) 483-3947
Open Hours
M-W 4pm-10pm, Th 11:30am-10pm, F-Sa 11:30am-11pm, Su 11:30am-10pm
Adobe is one of those jewels of a restaurant that is perfect for vegetarians making plans with non-vegetarians. Awesome food, a vegetarian menu as extensive as the non-veg, and space for as many people as you can possibly know.
We go regularly for the seitan steak tip appetizer and seitan fajitas. The chips and salsa are dangerously good, and the tofu salad is nice for an occasional switch-up.
The seitan "wings" are good if you can eat super-spicy food.
We're regulars for dinner and had a great time having a party at Adobe this past fall. They have private rooms for parties from 35 - gigantic.
Service is always excellent and it takes like 2 visits before everyone remembers you, your favorite dishes, and greets you like you're Norm.
Best mojitos I've ever had. Oh, and the food is excellent too!
Adobe Cafe is definitely one of the better Mexican restaurants that I've tried in the area. Some of the items are average, some are outstanding, and few (if any) are sub-standard. Average items include normal Mexican like steak/chicken/veggie burritos/tacos/enchiladas. They're not bad but they are nothing special. Where Adobe Cafe really shines is in their slightly more unusual fare - stuff like duck burritos, duck tacos, and my favorite - the crab enchiladas. Other great menu items include their wings and their outstanding chips & salsa.
The service at Adobe Cafe is average, as is the decor and prices. One nice thing is that it is rarely difficult to get a table, even on a weekend night. There's a parking lot across the street so you don't have to deal with the usual Manayunk parking nightmare.
As long as you don't go here expecting traditional tex/mex or Mexican food, you'll love it. I've been there 3 times, and they have some interesting twists on Mexican, and it's great. Portions are very large, the service has been good every time, and they have a large out door seating area. BEST of all Mondays and Tuesdays they have a special two dinners and a pitcher of wine or beer for $30, or sangria or margarita for $35. Can't beat it! Definitely worth the trip!
I've been going to Adobe for a while and for the most part every meal has been a good one. It can be a bit pricy, but the food is very tasty and the environment is relaxed. The Mexican Combo satisfies evey time and the Vegetarian options are some of the best in the area.
i had an excellent dinner at the adobe cafe. delicious warm chips and guac. i had steak tacos which were very filling. they came served with refried beans and rice. my friend had a vegan burrito which was also tasty. They have an extensive veggie / vegan friendly menu.
my only gripe about the place is i think it is a bit over priced. for some reason i cannot justify spending more than $12 on a mexican dinner. my 3 steak tacos cost $15.
Holy mother of god. Go here. Amazing vegan and meateater options alike . 'nough said.
If you're looking for Mexican food then you better go to http://southwest.com and book a ticket to southern florida or texas. I've been told about at least 30 "mexican" or spanish food places and none ever come close to the place I went to growing up. The adobe has as good of mexican food I've had though. But lately I don't mess with it, their wings are the greatest wings in all of my lifetime of eating wings. Something about that sauce and being friend but not over frying just ..man. The steak tip's with their jalepano-manyonase (sounds INSANE) are unbelievable. Their happy hour margarita's are SO good. The decor is pretty homely, but I remember that place before their current owners. The guy used to walk in grab all the alcohol from the bar and go upstairs and get wasted. Anything could be better than what it was 10 years ago. It's just a nice place nestled on a side street where you can forget about this city and enjoy good eats.
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Roxborough
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Roxborough
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Roxborough
Category: Chinese
Upper Darby, PA
Category: Mexican
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