Lalupe Restaurant   

La Lupe in South Philly, on the seedy south end of the Italian Market, is a block from rival sandwich shops Pat's and Gino's. Restaurants at Ninth and Federal seem to come and go more quickly than the seasons, but La Lupe might have more staying power because it's a Mexican-style venue and isn't competing directly for the cheesesteak crowd. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves cheap, often nutritious items, including tacos, burritos, sandwiches, appetizers, salads, burgers and platters. It's not your typical Mexican-style menu; you can get breaded chicken breast, steak sauteed with green jalapeno sauce, oven-baked goat meat or many other tasty dishes. The fish dishes include a tasty red snapper with vegetable, rice and beans. Mexican sodas and other soft drinks are served, but there's no alcohol. The space itself is lined with white tile and has walls of windows that open like garage doors. You can also sit on sidewalk tables under the awning, when weather permits.