PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — This week on FYI Philly, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.<\/p>\n
Tequila’s rises from the ashes with new addition La Jefa<\/strong>. Tequila’s Casa Mexicana has been a Philadelphi staple since 1986. After a devastating fire in 2023, the family business was closed for more than two years.<\/p>\n The fine dining destination reopened in March of 2025 and added a second space for a more casual experience. La Jefa is a caf\u00e9 by day and sleek cocktail bar and dinner spot at night. The new addition replaced the back dining room that was heavily damaged by the fire.<\/p>\n Each space has its own style highlighting a modern and classic Mexican flare. The menus include authentic cuisine. And the family specializes in the spirit that the restaurant is named after with more than 25 expressions of tequila available to pair with dinner.<\/p>\n Tequila’s Casa Mexicana<\/a> | Facebook <\/a>| Instagram<\/a><\/strong> La Jefa<\/a> | Facebook <\/a>| Instagram<\/a><\/strong> Pinolero<\/strong> shares the flavor and culture of Nicaragua in its Kensington eatery. Lilliam Orozco and her daughter Sarah opened the Kensington space in May featuring traditional dishes from the Central American country.<\/p>\n Lilliam learned to cook from her mother growing up in Nicaragua. A custom wood fired grill is the centerpiece of the kitchen helping to flavor dishes like the steak and pork asada.<\/p>\n Authentic ingredients fill out the menu and custom drinks feature flavors that conjure memories for many Nicaraguan immigrants.<\/p>\n They make drinks and sell imported goods. The restaurant was decorated by Sarah with cultural items from her country. A central painting in the dining area depicts Nicaragua which is known as the land of fire and water for its abundance of lakes and volcanoes.<\/p>\n Pinolero <\/a>| Facebook <\/a>| Instagram<\/a><\/strong> Find your inner child style at Casa Vida Boutique<\/strong>. For owner, Linda Smyth, Casa Vida is much more than just a boutique.<\/p>\n It’s a third space, a place to create community and exhibit her own creations along with others.<\/p>\n Linda is an artist and jewelry designer who loves vintage clothing. Her collection of curated items is designed to encourage self-expression and find, what she calls, your inner child style with playful items for your wardrobe and items to make your home your sanctuary.<\/p>\n She opened Casa Vida on 3rd Street in Old City four years ago.<\/p>\n The name, which means home life, is a nod to her Colombian heritage.<\/p>\n She hosts everything from monthly tarot card readings to artist showcase events.<\/p>\n She’s on a mission to find local designers and feature their work.<\/p>\n She learned this spring that the building that houses her store has been sold. So she’ll soon be moving to 2003 Walnut Street in Rittenhouse Square.<\/p>\n It’s a new neighborhood but the same goal of creating community along with a little retail therapy.<\/p>\n Casa Vida<\/a><\/strong> | <\/strong>Facebook<\/a><\/strong> | <\/strong>Instagram<\/a><\/strong> Tlali<\/strong> serves chef brothers’ homeland specialties from Puebla, Mexico.<\/p>\n At Tlali in Upper Darby, brothers Alberto and Efrain Sandoval are trying to preserve the cuisine of their culture.<\/p>\n Originally from San Mateo Ozolco in Puebla, Mexico, they serve dishes made from the recipes that have been handed down by their family over the years.<\/p>\n They had their first restaurant in South Philly for almost twenty years with La Fonda de Teresita, named after their mother.<\/p>\n Chef Alberto’s fine dining experience includes stints at Amada, Lacroix, and Volver, and the brothers have also worked side by side over the years at restaurants like Suraya and Condesa.<\/p>\n “Tlali” translates in the language of the Aztecs into ‘land’, and Chef Alberto says they are grateful for the bounty they are able to cultivate and present as finely crafted meals for their customers.<\/p>\n Tlali Cocina Mexicana | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/strong> Silvia’s Bakery<\/strong> keeps business all in the family with Dominican specialties.<\/p>\n At the Fishtown spot, owner and head baker Silvia Paulino has been making traditional pastries for over twenty years. Her daughter Mariely practically grew up in the business, and attended the French Culinary Institute in New York to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Now with her brother Francisco, the family and staff turn out every variety of baked goods, with custom cakes you can have made for any occasion, and the shop’s top seller – Silvia’s tres leches cake.<\/p>\n Silvia’s Bakery | Instagram<\/a> | Facebook<\/a><\/strong> A family business in Voorhees, New Jersey, is cooking up authentic Mexican cuisine at El Mariachi San Lucas.<\/strong><\/p>\n The business is run by three sisters Anastacia, Ela, and Yaneth Ramos who are all natives of Puebla, Mexico.<\/p>\n They say most of their ingredients come from Mexico to make their specialty items like tacos, guacamole, and a stone bowl filled with chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp topped with a green tomatillo sauce.<\/p>\n The sisters say they enjoy working together and grate to share their beloved cuisine with their customers.<\/p>\n El Mariachi San Lucas<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Instagram <\/a><\/strong> Copyright \u00a9 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n
1602 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103<\/p>\n
1605 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103<\/p>\n
1100 East Tioga Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134<\/p>\n
Original Location: 112 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106
New Location: 2003 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103<\/p>\n
7219 West Chester Pike
Upper Darby, PA 19082
484-466-3593<\/p>\n
2530 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19133
215-426-9400<\/p>\n
118 white Horse Rd E , Voorhees, NJ, United States, New Jersey<\/p>\n