El Azteca Mexican Restaurant

My fried and I find the food delicious. The Pollo con mole for me was rich and thick with ingredients. As for my friend it was the salad al carbon that keep her taste buds satisfied.The frozen magaritas are second to none

Posted 10/25/09

What makes this place "special"- There is so much to say about how bad this place is, it is hard where to begin. Let's start with the fact that our "hostess" (who was also a waitress and bartender) told us we would have a 30 minute wait, by shoving her finger in my face to hold on before taking our name. THEN 45 minutes later, we sat down, ordered our appetizer, and waited another 45 minutes to luke warm nachos. They were made with what could otherwise be described as jalapeno flavored ragu. Not to mention the nachos were cold, and we only received them after asking where our food was. Another 10 minutes later, two of us got our entrees, and my other friend didn't even get her meal. When asking the waiter where her food went, he simply said "that's not on our menu" and walked away. Would have been nice if they didn't serve tamale's to NOT PUT IT ON THE MENU. Then, when the bill came, we were charged for the entree we never received that apparently "wasn't served." All in all, do NOT go there. You will waste time, money, and a perfectly good meal gone bad.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Everything

Posted 05/04/09

never write revies but have to say that this little mexican restaurant is tops!! I am a mexican food lover and have been all over the city but this one really impressed me. I am originally from the west and the mexican food is much much better out there but I love la azteca and highly recommend it!!! Most margaritas have to much sour mix and this one was just right...my only complaint was the serving of guacamole which was delicious was a little small---otherwise everything was perfect!!!

Pros: staff, delicious magaritas and guacamole

Cons: none

Posted 05/01/09

i went to new york for the first time of my life today and my friend jamale took me to his best's friends resteraunt and it was beutiful.it looked liked mexican hevan. the service in that resteruant was the best. you couldnt find that kind of service in any kind of resteraunts. the owner might have been the nicest person i have ever meet.but the best part was the food
they had great tortia chips with a very good but spicy dipping sauce and their guacamolie was awsome but best of all they had great desserts and everything when you eat there make sure you get a bannana wrap with cinnamon on top and whip cream it is the best dessert i have ever tasted

Pros: best mexican resteraunt in new york

Cons: they have no cons

Posted 04/15/09

What Happened? I had a terrible meal there and the NOISE! I thought maybe it was just me (went with a group of friends). The idea was to get together - so I said Nothing. Then some days later, I check with 2 others (of the 6) and they also did the same (said nothing). We all had something different and we all thought the food was TERRIBLE! The sangria was so so and the nosie (did I mention the NOISE) un bearable. Service was adequate, but very slow. You had to repeat a few times to get what you wanted. The prices were very high for the quality. Chipoltie is Gorumet compared to what was served here (and I did have a combo with a burrito - so I can compare). If the food was bland that would be one thing: the rice was and needed some of the salsa to add some flavor). There was something about the refried beans that I can not place and do NOT want to... they just were not good. The cheese enchilada was Cold and seem artificial. Well you get my point. What a crappy meal it was and that Noise! I felt like that I should have been paid to eat there. Will I go there again = NEVER! Will I tell others how bad it was = You bet!
Other than the friends... it was NOT worth it!

Pros: NOTHING

Cons: Noise, quality of food, slow service and over prices

Posted 11/10/08

As a boy who grew up in Austin, Texas and lived there for 30 years before moving to NYC about a month ago - please don't believe some of the hype.

I went to Azteca last night for the first time with some friends from work. I ordered 3 enchiladas which were fairly tasty. The cheese and pork enchiladas are rather tasty...but the 1 beef enchilada I had was rather...bleah. The iced tea was a bit more than bleah...it had that taste you get when the restaurant doesn't soak and clean the ice tea spigot like they should. Kind of a tinny metallic taste. Then there was the refried beans and rice. Good ness. I'm not sure what they did, but I had 2 bites of the beans...and couldn't eat any more.

I was very sad. :( I haven't had any Mexican food since I moved to NYC about a month ago - and I pray I find better soon. Basically 55-75% of my meal was inedible. And I won't even get in to how ridiculous loud it was in there (we had to shout across the table at each other to be heard)...nor how slow the service was.

Basically - I'm giving La Azteca 2 stars instead of 1 star simply because the pork and cheese enchilada were each fairly tasty.

I might give it another try - but with the copious number of restaurants in this city...it might be a long while before I do.

Pros: Good pork & good cheese enchiladas

Cons: Everything else

Posted 09/19/08

I am shocked that this place has been rated as good. The food was bland and not fresh. I immediately felt sick after eating here. The other person in my party's food was brought out wrong 3 times. When told they could try again for a fourth time, we simply asked for it to be removed from the check. We were told no. We were astounded. I asked to speak to the manager and was told I was speaking to the manager. When I inquired about the owner, I was told the owner was her mother and that nothing would be solved by going that route. We felt completely helpless. We refused to pay for the food that was not eaten. The manager and waitors were so rude to us. Our total wait time for a party of two was 2 hrs! We were ignored half the time since we had sent the food back and our waitor actually threw his hand up at us when we asked for something and said shhh. This experience was not at all acceptable. This would not happen anywhere but some mom and pop store in the middle of Hell's Kitchen. I have already reported this awful incident to higher powers. If you want a good meal walk anywhere up and down the street and go anywhere else. This place is AWFUL!

Pros: nothing

Cons: everything especially the waitstaff and manager

Posted 09/07/08

El Azteca has the best Salsa I've ever tasted. I crave it when even when I'm not there. The margaritas are delicious and all of my friends I've brought there who like Chicken Mole exclaim that it's the best they've ever tasted! The owner and staff are so friendly; you always feel welcome there! We have had 2 private parties there and are planning our 3rd. The large, regular Mexican clientele speak for the authenticity of El Azteca's food. This is my first post; I created an account especially to write a review of this wonderful place.

Pros: Food, service, location

Cons: none

Posted 01/06/08

My fiance and I ate here a few times. The first time, we were walking down 9th Ave, window-shopping for a restaurant. We decided upon Mexican and we stumbled upon El Azteca. We decided to try it out and we were pleasantly surprised. We loved the margaritas, especially the mango and papaya ones. The food was great too. The menu didn't just subscribe to the typical Tex-Mex fare, such as just burritos, tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, etc. I had grilled stuffed peppers, which came out pretty good, except there was a little too much cheese (even though I'm a cheese-lover). We wished we had ordered the guacamole. They prepare it right in front of you, with big stone mortar and pestle. Service and price was average.

Pros: Margaritas, Location

Cons: A little too much cheese

Posted 08/06/07

I went here on recommendations from friends and returned home with a horrible case of food poisioning. In addition the margaritas were horrible--tasted like lime juice/weak sour mix! I ordered the Tacos Al Carbon, which came with a side salad and ordered a side of sour cream. I got sick hours after the meal and it continued for 2 days. Your guess is as good as mine as to what food was the culprit. It is not worth the risk!!! Stay away!!!

Pros: Can't think of any

Cons: Food poisioning and bad margaritas

Posted 04/16/07

Just don't go .Don't waste your time and money.Food was totally tasteless,service was salty and sour.Music was way too loud(in case you go you may need earplugs).
Anything positive to say?Sorry I can not.

Posted 01/07/07

There are better Mexican places than this place by FAR but its surely in one of the more noticeable locations along 9th Ave. Food tastes a little worse than the prices, as $12.95 for an enchilada platter may not be worth it. At least the service was very friendly.

Pros: Service

Cons: Food, Expensive, Small

Posted 07/05/06

I used to live in the neighborhood and go here often. This was my first trip back since the move. It was a whole new world...

The 'medium' guacamole had no salt and a big after taste. My date's chimichanga was the size of a nutrigrain bar. And my meal - their vegetable chili - was a medium sized $12 bowl of watery bowl of minestrone soup. To make it worse, after dropping off the food, the waiter never came back to check on us and our horrible meal.

The margaritas are good - so happy they should stick to happy hour.

Pros: Margaritas

Cons: Service, Food

Posted 04/30/06

Went there last night and although I have probably had better Mexican food, it's still pretty good especially for the value. It's really inexpensive and the service is decent. The decor is cheesy but I like it for what it is. It can accommodate big groups too. I really like this place and would definitely recommend it.

Pros: Inexpensive, Good Service, Mariachis!

Posted 04/05/05

The service was friendly and the place was fun, if way too loud, but let's face it: This food is garbage. Vegetables were instantly recognizable as having come from a can or frozen bag. Most items were from packages (salsa, chips, etc...) The temperatures of the food were totally random: My date's meal was lukewarm at best, the guac was ICE cold (I mean, it should be cool, but not frosty), the refried beans were piping hot. It made no sense. This is crap food, which is totally ridiculous considering the immense number of fine, inexpensive Mexican joints in NYC. Perhaps we're jaded by the legitimate Mexican places we love in Brooklyn, but we'll never be visiting this place again.

Pros: friendly

Cons: , bad ingredients, unimaginative dishes

Posted 01/13/05

I have been worldwide to every restaurant and El Azteca is by far the best restaurant.They have great food,great drinks especially the Margaritas..guouuu, the service is tooo much... extremedly friendly....the music, i mean everything is unique......im sure if you try you come back.

Pros: The food, The service, The place

Cons: , no more locations, I want it close to me

Posted 07/03/04

One of my friends told them it was my birthday and the staff relally surprised me when their came to me singing with the mexican hats and a dessert with a candle on it. Also their take a picture that was sent to my email....
Something else???
Well, just come and check it out......
Its the best Mexican Restaurant around.

Pros: Good, Very good, Too good

Cons: , Still nothing, Just Nothing

Posted 07/01/04

As mexican, coming to El Azteca, it's like being at home, where all the traditions are presents in every visit to this restaurant.
Great way to show to others our culture;chips,salsa,margaritas,music and more....
The staff is extremly friendly and helpfull....
Try, you will love it.

Pros: Inexpensive, Great Service, Fun

Cons: , Nothing, Nothing

Posted 06/30/04

A trip to El Azteca is like a trip home. It's not necessarily the best Mexican food around, but in New York City it's as authentic as you can get on a small budget. The staff is extremely friendly and the margaritas are strong without sacrificing flavor. It's dimly lit and relaxing and is a great place to head after work or on a Sunday afternoon. I love El Azteca!

Posted 03/03/04

Great service, decent prices, nice atmosphere. Food was nothing special. Did not taste very authentic. We were a little disappointed.

Posted 02/28/04

this is a great place to get the night started at, a couple of those jumbo margaritas when the mariachi band is playing is almost an evening out on the town by itself, especially if you are going with Otis

Posted 11/25/03

My husband and I went on Cinco de Mayo. We had reservations and were taken care of greatly! The service was wonderful, the food was good. And the frozen margaritas were great too! I can't say enough about the service, they were so friendly!

Pros: Service, food

Cons: loud, little crowded

Posted 05/08/03

El Azteca is the best Mexican restaurant in Hells Kitchen. Great food and AMAZING margaritas!

Take your friends for happy hour and dinner...it's a great time!

Posted 03/05/03

Frozen Margaritas are cool and delicious and the staff adds the warmth while delivering the wonderful shrimp quesadillas. Happy Hour is friendly and popular with half price frozen drinks, and crisp chips and fresh salsa. You'll wanna hang here and bring your friends!

Pros: friendly, cozy, delicious

Posted 11/24/02

The Margaritas were nice delicious with 3 different sizes and many flavours. I had the enchilladas mole and it was great; but nothing unusual, I like enchiladas mole where ever I eat. The porportion was just right, and the rice and beans were on a seperate plate.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience very much because of its ambience. Go check it out for a night with friends.

Pros: tasty margaritas, cool ambience

Cons: nothing extraordinary

Posted 11/15/02

Good neighborhood place. The salsa is great, margaritas are perfect and the fajitas have just the right spice, they're delicious! Being from Texas myself, it's nice to know someone up here knows how to make good mexican food.

Posted 08/20/02