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Get Your Grasshopper Tacos and Margaritas On at Taqueria Feliz in Manayunk

Chips and Gauc
Chips and slightly spicy gaucamole are always a great way to start any Mexican meal.

Story by Christine Tarlecki Trimble, photos by Cassie Hepler

Outside, it was pouring down rain on a busy Main Street in Manayunk. Inside Taqueria Feliz, it is warm and cozy, with bright colors and inviting seats with rustic decor.

We slide into seats and are greeted by our lumberjack with a big, sweet heart waiter, Dan. We perused the extensive drink menu and decide on La Paloma (grapefruit soda and silver tequilas) and had to sample the Mezcal flight, below.

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Mezcal is a smokier and fancier made tequila and doesn’t give the horrible hangovers. They have flight specials weekly, a great way to taste the menu!
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Dan and his fluffy beard bring the mezcal flight complete with a tomato juice cleanser.
The Mezcal flight to rule them all!
The Mezcal flight to rule them all!

We ordered appetizers while we waited for our drinks, feeling warm in the comfortable and cute restaurant with the rain lashing down outside.

Co-owner Brian Sirhal, left, stops by to say hello during our dinner at Taqueria Feliz at 4410 Main St. in Manayunk.
Co-owner Brian Sirhal, left, stops by to say hello during our dinner at Taqueria Feliz at 4410 Main St. in Manayunk.
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Mexican street corn is slightly addicting.

A side note, this writer has never been to Manayunk before! The shame! And working in Bala Cynwyd, and now we foresee having happy hours more often (and they have quite a steal here). We literally could have each eaten a bowl full of the Mexican Street Corn called Esquites with queso fresco, corn and lime mayo.

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Shrimp Ceviche called Coctel de Camarones with shrimp, tomatos, scallions and avocado were spicy and fresh. Our drinks arrived, and we also got Mexican coke, which is glass bottled Coca-Cola with pure cane sugar and it was a delicious, sweet compliment to the fiery salsa and pungent queso.

Mexican coke beats up regular Coke.
Mexican coke beats up regular Coke.

We also taste tested a Warsaw Buck which was a twist on the Moscow Mule with smooth Sobieski vodka, passion fruit, and sweet spicy ginger.

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It was a DIY deal which is nice to pick your potency and the grapefruits tartness was barely noticeable.

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Then the tacos arrived … and they were filled with crispy grasshoppers, onion, cilantro, and guacamole. Yes grasshoppers (or chapulines in Spanish)!! They were crispy and roasted like spicy sunflower seeds and they were surprisingly good. Definitely something you don’t see every day and we recommend them as well as ordering from the oddball section of the menu.

Grasshopper Tacos
Grasshopper tacos! Just look at all those crazy legs coming at your face. Nom nom!
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Pulled pork tacos proved to be juicy and delicious.
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And ahi tuna tacos were delightful with some crunchy seaweed topping.

As for tacos, this place does tacos right… soft warm corn tacos wrapped around fresh and perfectly-seasoned meats and fish. We enjoyed ahi tuna tacos and pulled pork tacos with avocado and salsa. This writer took a bite of the grasshopper taco and that was enough!

After sipping our drinks and chowing on the delicious shrimp ceviche, guac and tacos, we decided to order the big plates – we both enjoyed the Brisket Enchiladas with sautéed mushrooms, rajas, flavorful oaxaca cheese, green chiles and ranchera sauce, and sweet Plantains with creamy queso fresco and lime.

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Brisket in an enchilada, who knew it could be that good?
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Sweet plantains with creamy queso fresco and lime was almost like a cheesy dessert. Not surprisingly plantains were also on the dessert menu.

For dessert, we were about stuffed, but the food at Taqueria Feliz is so delightful and flavorful that we kept on going…plus, it was pouring down rain the night we visited, so we just hung out and ate.

They also do an excellent happy hour at the colorful bar with televisions and top shelf tequilas and other spirits, so why go anywhere else for a great Mexican meal. We enjoyed pumpkin cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake and coffee. Taqueria Feliz is a casual and fun restaurant for unique tacos, modern Mexican eats, plus margaritas and tequila flights.

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Of course we had to sample the blood orange margarita because blood orange that’s why. Delish!
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Flourless chocolate cake was so thick and creamy, it was decadent enough for two.

A delightful place for date night, a night out with family (a menu is available for little amigos) and anytime a great meal and a cool drink is needed.

 

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Pumpkin cheesecake in smaller sizes with sides of whipped cream and cinnamon ice cream will always fit in your belly!