Loco Lucho 
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51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States $$ Puerto Rican Restaurant About This Food Place
If you're looking for a casual spot to enjoy some Puerto Rican flavors, Loco Lucho fits the bill. The place keeps things simple and relaxed, letting the food do the talking. Their dishes bring out the down-to-earth, comforting side of Puerto Rican cooking, focusing on hearty, familiar flavors without any fuss. The atmosphere feels easygoing – it's the kind of place where you can pop in for a quick bite or take something home. Payment is straightforward with debit or credit cards, and they offer delivery and takeaway options, which is handy for a chill night in or a low-key meal after work.
Why People Come Here
- People come here for authentic Puerto Rican and broader Caribbean flavors that are underrepresented in the local dining scene.
- This place is often chosen for its quick, made-to-order sandwiches and handheld meals that suit busy Center City visitors.
- People come here for reasonably priced, flavorful dishes that provide a distinctive alternative to more common ethnic options nearby.
- This place is often chosen by diners looking for well-seasoned meats and diverse preparations, including empanadas and grilled pinchos.
- People come here for a casual, approachable environment with friendly service, making it an easy spot for a satisfying quick bite.
A Quick Look at the Menu
Explore Full Menu
When & How to Enjoy This Place
Loco Lucho is ideal for a casual, quick meal whether you’re dining solo or with a small group. Perfect for grabbing a flavorful Puerto Rican bite during a busy day, their friendly and efficient service keeps things moving without rushing. Whether you’re popping in for a solo sandwich or sharing empanadas with friends, the laid-back vibe makes it easy to enjoy authentic Caribbean flavors at your own pace.
Reviews
Joe Yatsky
There is a great trade off you have to make here and thankfully it's been made easy for you. Center City has a plethora of great food options, but eventually you feel somewhat ethnically stunted as there are some very large players andfor a long time the lack of Puerto Rican or just non-jamaican Caribbean food has been felt. Loco lucho fills that niche. It is a little pricy, but not surprising given the reading terminal location. The portions are pretty good with the sandwiches! Though the sweet plantains leave you wanting more...but I also just want more as they were so good. But really...larger portions there please!
Payton Rosee
I rarely eat Hispanic / Latino food, but this was the best I’ve ever had. I had the frita cubana and oh man it was amazingggg! Definitely would eat here again, and the man at the register was super friendly.
Emanuel Rivera
You have to try it for yourself! We visited Loco Lucho today and we are DEFINITELY going back very soon. My wife and I ordered sandwiches. I had the Frita Cubana and my wife had the Bistec sandwich. Both of them were so good my wife and I made a deal and we both ate half of each other's sandwiches. We also ordered two empanadas: philly cheese steak and prosciutto with manchego cheese. Not one bad thing to say about any of those 4 items we tried. I'll be going back for the Tripleta sandwich and for another prosciutto/manchego empanada! Great service from a very friendly personnel. Thank you guys!
Jeff Dugan
The best Cubano sandwich I have had in Philadelphia! The people were very kind and made the sandwich to order very quickly. Definitely recommend!
Giselle Duran
Being in the Reading Terminal Market is very overwhelming but I decided to try this place out for a quick bite. I got an order of steak & chicken pinchos which were served with bread and mayo ketchup. Both meats were seasoned very well. The steak was “perfect” as my girlfriend said. It was juicy and cooked to medium almost medium well. I look forward to trying over things from them.
Shawn Briggs
Their tripleta was the best I've ever had, it easily rivaled any of the best cheesesteaks in Philly as my favorite sandwich. Their tres leches cake however was a little disappointing. It tasted like it was previously frozen and had hard firm bits to it instead of a super moist cake. But the tripleta was so gosh darn good I can't in good faith go under 4 stars!
Sahily Reyes Esteves
I have been to Luco Lucho’s quite a few times since they opened recently. As a recent transplant to Philly from the island, I often feel nostalgic for the kind of Puerto Rican food that can only be found in your grandma’s kitchen. Until you go to Luco Lucho’s, that is. Located in the historic Reading Terminal, this place opened this past summer, and let me tell you, nothing makes me more proud to see tons of people lining up to eat my people’s food!! I can speak for all the different things I have tried, but I have yet to try the whole menu. First, I will say that the chicharrones and the carne frita are AMAZING, absolutely to die for. They were freshly fried, perfectly seasoned and just an overall piece of heaven! The empanadas are so, so yummy, the meat perfectly seasoned, and the dough fresh. My hubby has tried a few of the sandwiches and literally will not eat anything else whenever we go to Reading Terminal now, hehe. I snuck a few bites and they were delicious. However, to me, the jewel of the crown has been the paella. It is PACKED with meat, with very rich flavors and texture. I saw a guy literally buy his third plate when I was eating mine, it was THAT good. I absolutely recommend this place, and am dying to go again.... especially for a Frita Cubana! Yumm!!
Emory McMinn
Took me right back to Puerto Rico! Comida riquisima as they say, or ridiculously tasty food. If you're looking for a Latin spin on a sandwhich or some quality sides to go with it, look no further. A must-visit in Reading Terminal Market.
