Cantina Los Caballitos

Hike a little less than one mile south of Royal Tavern along Passyunk Avenue, and you’ll run into Royal Tavern’s little Mexican sister, Cantina Los Caballitos, which opened up in 2006. Just like big sis, you’ll find a good bar vibe, a well stocked jukebox, and good food at Cantina Los Caballitos.

My partner and I made the hike south one past snowy weekend to check the place out and grab drinks, since we had heard of their specialty tequilas, margaritas, and cocktails. The warm, glowing orange walls and flickering candles warmed us up while we sat at the dark wooden bar. One nice difference between big sis and little sis is that there is a distinct bar side and a restaurant side at Cantina Los Caballitos, affording more elbow room than Royal Tavern.

I ordered a blood orange mojito. My partner ordered the Hervidor, a mixture of tequila, lime, and grapefruit soda. Wow! This drink trumped my mojito, and I love mojitos. It was very tangy, almost like a lemonade, but lime. The Hervidor will be my new summer drink.

Their menu has many vegetarian and vegan options. Upon one visit, all of the soups on the specials board were either vegan or vegetarian, and one of the desserts was vegan. The food is not authentic Mexican, but more of what I call “Californian Mexican.” I think I made that up or mutated that description from somewhere, but think large-ass burritos filled with whole beans and rice instead of refried beans.

While parked at the bar, we split the vegetarian quesadilla with wild mushrooms, huitlacoche, guajillo chiles, roasted garlic, Chihuahua cheese, and smoked corn crema. I regret thinking the side of smoked corn crema was plain sour cream, and not eating it sooner - it's tasty.

We liked this joint so much; we trekked back the next week to sit down for dinner – and drinks. This time I had a passion fruit margarita with a sugar rim and the vegetarian burrito. The burrito was one of those large-ass rice and black bean burritos. The buritto is a little bland as is, so be sure to ask for sides like guacamole and the smoked corn crema.

My partner ordered a civiche from the specials board, but did not find love. He’s a civiche snob and purist, so wasn’t happy with some creamy substance (sour cream?) in the civiche. He also got the vegetarian fajitas with seitan and smoked tofu. Here he found love – and a bulging belly.

Every one at the table next to us munched on grilled corn in the husk with chipotle butter, queso fresco, lime, and cilantro. We missed this on the menu, but will be sure to order some on our next visit – and there will be more visits! Maybe their weekend brunch will be next.

The best part about Cantina Los Caballitos is the jukebox. I had a rockin’ good time sitting at the bar listening to rock classics like Black Sabbath, The Kinks, and The Cure. Also, the staff is über-cute. They should get together and form a band called Los Caballitos. I’d go watch.

Brunch pictures.

Cantina Los Caballitos
1651 E Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148
215-755-3550
Mon-Fri, 12p.m.-1a.m. ;Sat-Sun, 11a.m.-1a.m.
bar open until 2a.m.