South Philly Barbacoa has quietly slid into Triple Bottom Brewing's Spring Garden taproom, setting up a counter that brings chef Cristina Martinez's famed tacos straight into the brewery this month. The pop-up focuses on a trimmed-down lineup of her signature fillings, all tucked into freshly pressed corn tortillas, and the laid-back taproom setting lets diners pair their tacos with Triple Bottom's rotating beer list. For Philly taco fans, it is a low-stress way to score chef-level barbacoa without braving the usual Italian Market crush.
According to Axios, the brewery started hosting the outpost this month, with tacos priced at $7 each. Sides include chips and guacamole for $10, esquites for $10, and sweet tamales for $7. Axios also notes that this is a streamlined version of Martinez's menu and that a self-serve topping bar lets customers pile on salsas, onions, cilantro, and pickled vegetables to taste.
Triple Bottom's taproom sits at 915 Spring Garden Street. The brewery lists its hours as Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m., per Triple Bottom Brewing. The Spring Garden location operates as a certified B Corporation with a fair-chance hiring mission and regularly lines up rotating chef pop-ups alongside its beers.
What's on the menu
At Triple Bottom, Martinez is serving tacos filled with barbacoa (lamb), tinga (shredded chicken), carnitas (pork), pancita (lamb), and a veggie option, all on handmade corn tortillas. Axios calls out the self-serve topping station as a clear crowd favorite, since it lets diners crank up the heat or load up on pickles and extra cilantro as they go.
Why it matters
Cristina Martinez is a James Beard-recognized chef, and her South Philly Barbacoa operation has earned a reputation as one of Philadelphia's essential taco stops. Putting her food inside a brewery widens the map for where locals can find her cooking and how they can experience it. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently spotlighted Martinez's rising profile and the new Triple Bottom counter, pointing to a growing crossover between acclaimed chef-driven kitchens and neighborhood taprooms.
Plan your visit
Guests can expect straightforward counter service and a tight menu that may sell out on busier nights. Schedules can shift, so checking the brewery's calendar and South Philly Barbacoa's social channels before heading over is a good idea. For the latest details on location and current hours, see Triple Bottom Brewing.
For anyone who loves bold tacos and relaxed beer halls, the pairing feels like a natural fit and has the makings of a regular Spring Garden stop on a night out. Keep an eye on both South Philly Barbacoa and Triple Bottom as the pop-up settles in and the taproom rotation evolves.
