PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 2, 2023) – Industry veteran and Restaurateur Jeff Newman is proud to announce the opening of Hi-Lo Taco (Hi-Lo), an American-style taco bar located in the heart of Philadelphia’s Midtown Village neighborhood. Blurring the lines between “fast-casual” and “full-service,” and “fine dining” and “fast food,” Hi-Lo embraces the ultimate “High-Low” ethos where great food doesn’t have to be fancy, and incredible service doesn’t need to be formal.
The concept behind Hi-Lo is simple: a fun America-style Taco Bar centered around handmade flour tortillas and smokers where Philadelphians can come as they are, kick back and stay awhile while enjoying Ranch Water, Margaritas or local beer. The menu features crunchy-shell tacos with smoked meats, housemade salsas, and locally sourced produce. A hybrid service model that favors a QR code ordering platform over traditional table service will create an efficient yet attentive dining experience.
Newman spent 18 years cooking and consulting for some of the food world’s most notable kitchens and hospitality groups before founding Hi-Lo in 2020 as a series of popups. The brick-and-mortar space is an extension of Hi-Lo Taco's pop-up series, where breakfast tacos on homemade flour tortillas stole the show.
Hi-Lo is partnering with local coffee shop Thank You Coffee Brewers (700 Sansom St.) for one last taco pop-up on National Taco Day (Wednesday, 10/4) to celebrate the impending opening and give the neighborhood a preview. All breakfast tacos come with scrambled PA eggs and Abundantly Good cheese on a handmade flour tortilla plus your choice of Pit Smoked Burnt Ends ($6/taco), Bacon + Refried Beans ($4.50/taco), Chorizo + Potato ($4.50/taco) or Corn + Poblano + Mushroom ($4.50/taco). A limited selection of corn tortilla tacos will also be available.
Newman has hired Leah Haimowitz as Hi-Lo Taco's General Manager to operate the concept daily - she holds a credentialed background with positions at some of California's top restaurants, including General Manager at The Olde Bar in Philadelphia.
