Mamajuana Café hosts its official Grand Opening Ceremony

PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 2024—Mamajuana Café held its ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its official grand opening. Founders David Heredia and Rey Reynosa were on-site, along with Philadelphia city officials, former Philadelphia City Representative Sheila Hess, and Tynecia Wilson (Miss Philadelphia 2024) to help celebrate.
With Mamajuana Café now open, Philadelphia’s Fishtown area has added an elevated dining experience that fuses Latin-based cuisines and culture into one restaurant.
“We are so excited to bring Philadelphia its first Mamajuana Café,” said the group’s founders. “This is going to be a cultural experience for those who have never been to one of our businesses. We are known for our mouth-watering Latino cuisine–Mamajuana Cafe boasts an array of dishes that celebrate the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean, Hispanic, and South American culinary heritage; from scratch-made sauces that evoke the essence of the Dominican Republic to Colombia, each plate is a testament to our unwavering commitment to authenticity and quality.”
As celebratory glasses of champagne were passed around, guests were treated to music from a DJ and later a live band.
On the Menu
The menu, curated by Executive Chef Alexis Rosario and Chef Jose Zarazuela, offers a variety of appetizers, mains, desserts, and cocktails—just make sure to look through their additional sections for items like Sirloin Steak under Parrillas or Coconut Shrimp Ceviche from the Ceviches & Mas section.
Our table ordered several appetizers along with individual main courses– a decision that resulted in our taking our main courses home. That said, be aware that both the appetizers and mains offer large quantities per dish.
We shared the Tuna Tartare which is coated in a smoky aioli that pleased everyone’s palates. It came with a side of crispy rice and sesame seed wafers to spoon the Tuna Tartare onto and added a lightly salted textural aspect to the dish. We also ordered the Mofonguitos for the table–a dish comprised of smashed green plantains formed into a small bowl, crisped, and then stuffed with a lightly seasoned combination of diced shrimp, pulled pork, and chicken.
As two more people joined us, we added the Fried Calamari to our order, enjoying every bite of the tender meat inside its crispy battered shell. The accompanying drizzles of a sweet-based sauce and the smoky aioli made it irresistible to all of us. Lastly, we shared a plate of the Empanada Trios, which comes with one of each: Seasoned Pork, Chicken, and Shrimp with a creamy cilantro dip.
Of course, we wanted to try some of the cocktails too, so I ordered the Fishtown Lychee. It was beautiful to look at, and I was pleasantly surprised that it came with an actual Lychee fruit! The drink was sweet, lychee and coconut milk forward, and far, very easy to drink—so I had to order a second one. My fellow diners ordered an El Taino (Whiskey, Passion Fruit, Lime, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and comes with a smoking cinnamon stick), a Cosmopolitan, and one of the beers on tap, all enjoying their respective drinks.
I’d recommend visiting Mamajuana’s during the day if you’re grabbing lunch with a friend or trying to impress a potential client. However, it’s highly recommended to make a reservation if you visit at night. Once the evening hits, the venue transforms its vibe into a club-like atmosphere with music, flashing lights, and an energy that makes you want to dance.
Mamajuana’s Café is located at 1000-1032 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, PA, and is open Monday through Thursday, 4 pm- 11 pm, Friday, 2 pm – 2 am, and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 2 am, Happy Hour will be Monday through Thursday from 4 pm- 6 pm. For more information, visit https://www.instagram.com/mamajuanacafephilly.