The torta, a Mexican sandwich on a soft roll topped with a selection of different fillers from carne asada to tripe, is not the easiest to come by in certain areas. In Philadelphia your selection is exceptionally limited, but we’ve been told by readers and friends to check out Taqueria La Veracruzana on Washington Avenue. Being only a few steps from the Italian Market, Veracruzana has big shoes to fill; some of the best sandwiches in the city are located within a half mile radius.

The menu offers a traditional torta selection including pollo, chorizo and huevo revuelto con jamon (scrambled eggs with ham). We opted for the carnitas (before we knew about the flu) and watched a soap on Telemundo as we awaited its arrival. About ten minutes later we were presented with a beautifully crafted sandwich, a large mound of juicy pork topped with lettuce, tomato, avocado, a long jalapeno pepper and a slice of American cheese? Wait, what?! The thick cut, white American seriously threw us off, seemingly an after thought considering it was in no way melted, perhaps even cold.

That aside, we enjoyed the flavor of the meat, crispy yet tender and the avocado, fresh and creamy. Upon asking for hot sauce, we were presented with two, a smokey roja and cilantro-laden verde that both packed a spicy punch. The bread could best be described as an oblong kaiser roll, not a single employee could inform us from which bakery it was provided.

Although Veracruzana’s torta filled an empty void in our stomachs, we’ve yet to find an incredible version of the sandwich in the city. After being named Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly for Mexican cuisine in 2002 and 2003 by, it seems that this spot has fallen by the wayside in recent years, but don’t neglect it entirely. Just make sure to lose the cheese before you bite in.

Taqueria La Veracruzana
908 Washington Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Google Map)