In June 2025, Casa Cortes Mexican Restaurant expanded to a second location when it opened in the Stabon Plaza shopping center in Mohnton.
One of the first blogs I ever wrote was at this location, back when it was Maniaci’s Bistro. That restaurant achieved infamy on an episode of Restaurant: Impossible, closing a year later.
The restaurant space has changed many times since our first visit. After Maniaci’s, it was the second location for Sofrito. More recently, it was home to Briano’s Italiano. Casa Cortes opened in 2025, adding a second location to complement their space on 9th Street in Reading.
Based on our experience, it feels like Casa Cortes has the chance to stick around…