Cafe Ynez opens at 2025 Washington Ave. Check out the menu
Cafe Ynez, a new Mexican cafe, opened at 2025 Washington Ave. last week with a variety of Mexican dishes and coffee drinks that are scarce along the avenue.
The restaurant takes over the space that was Cafe L’Aube in the NextFab Studio maker space. Owners Jill Weber and Evan Malone also own Jet Wine Bar and Rex 1516 on South Street West.
Cafe Ynez seats 28 people, and is the only place on the avenue that offers specialty drinks and brunch. “There is a need for an eatery in the area,” said Qamara Edwards, general manager of Cafe Ynez. “We offer fresh, fast, healthy food.”
“We’re at the heart of Washington Avenue,” Edwards said. “We’re a BYO and have fresh mixers for drinks. We’re the only place with eat in/take out.”
The menu keeps it simple, with a modest selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and burritos. There’s also a pretty good deal with a rotisserie chicken available for eat in or take out: a half chicken with 2 sides for $10 or a whole chicken with three sides for $15.
The brunch menu is also offered all week until 3 p.m.
Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Phone: (215) 278-7579. Online here and on Facebook here.
– Ruthann Alexander, @RuthannAlexande
Ate there the other day. Nice inside. Menu is sparse, though they happily tweaked it to create a traditional chicken burrito and pork burrito for my wife and I since they only have a breakfast burrito. Other weird thing is they only have fish tacos, but I’m assuming they’d make them with chicken or steak. Overall good experience, but I’m guessing their menu is going to be updated soon.
Yeah, I was going to say that the menu looked a little lame. And what’s with that artwork? Maybe I was getting a little too excited about a new Mexican place, but I feel underwhelmed.
Their menu sucks. Gringo-style “Mexican food” a few blocks from authentic Mexican restaurants near Italian Market.
I think you’re being a little harsh calling this gringo-style Mexican food. Whatever gringo style means in your brain, I got no clue. Gringo style I guess would be tex mex and this certainly isn’t tex mex nor is it close to the Puebla style that is common in South Philly taquerias. It’s actually got some very authentic west coast Mexican food like chilaquiles and fish tacos. Mexican food is as malleable as it gets so let’s welcome this latest “fusion”.
Maybe they are appealing to Latino families who, believe it or not, don’t eat tacos every night as well as the GHO brunch bunches. Let’s see what the market will bear and remember that Washington Ave is getting ready to undergo a major update with bike lanes and more changes to come!
Ate here for a late brunch on Sunday and it was DELICIOUS! Staff was really nice and the interior was nice, funky and not overdone. Great new spot! Will be going back asap