The best empanadas and delicious happy hour drinks. Alexa was fantastic! Will definitely be coming back!

Chela is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I've been to and I'm incredibly lucky that it's close to home and has an extremely friendly and welcoming staff. Everyone that works there is super attentive and for how busy they are they always make sure to check up on your table. Their tacos are extremely delicious, they don't hold back with make sure each taco is full of any kind of meat that you get! Full of flavor and just looking at them reminds you why they're the best. Some other notable things that you should get is the quesadillas and the nachos they have. I'll have to keep coming back to try other things. Great place for sporting events as well as I was here with a group to watch Brazil vs Morocco and stayed to watch the Knicks win right after and become champions! read more

Chela Park Slope - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I really enjoyed my experience in this establishment. Definitely was worth the trek from Uptown Manhattan. This neighborhood gem offers an industrialized minimalist form of decor with pops of color and art. Cozy but roomy, the bar area had mostly 2 seater tables and a few with high chairs. We recently went for a birthday brunch. Restaurant Week was still in effect but we decided to choose from the regular brunch menu. Place was low key and giving neighborhood vibes. The service was 10 STARS! Our waitress was extremely attentive and kind. We were also checked on by a second staff member who I think may have been a manager but cannot be certain. We started with cocktails and they serve chips and salsa gratis. I had the Jalapeno and Hibiscus Margarita and my friend ordered the Pepper Margarita with Strawberry and Chipotle. Mine was a bit on the sweet side without a hint of tequila. My friend's drink definitely was the better of the two. Not overly sweet and definitely a flavor of tequila was present. We also ordered a guacamole. I must say it was quite small and barely served 2 people. I suggest if more than 2 guests are part of the experience, order more than one. For my entree, I requested a market salad and 2 veggie tacos with a side of birria consume. Salad was very fresh and I am sure was made to order as opposed to premade a week prior and waiting in a fridge to be served. My tacos were average but satisfying. The consume was a bit disappointing as it was more of a water/broth based and not of a typical gravy consistency. It was not exciting. My friend's entree was the highlight of the experience. She had the brisket quesadilla. Never have I seen a quesadilla with a crispy outside such as this. A culinary masterpiece indeed. She consumed it all and not one complaint afterward. Delish. We did receive a complimentary Churro plate for the birthday celebration. They were drizzled with caramel and berries. Served warm, they were a dream for the palate. I did use the bathroom which was a single stall. It was clean enough but not well lit. The biggest downfall of my experience was the temperature of the restaurant. I understand it is summer, however, there was no A/C and the inside was extremely hot. I sweated through my entire experience. Even the bathroom felt like 100 degrees. We did not complain but our waitress noticed and brough a fan out to circulate the air. They do have ceiling fans but honestly I did not feel them. The management/owner should consider more temperature control methods during the hotter months as it was quite uncomfortable. To sum it up, I thought this experience was mostly positive and would patronize it again. read more

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Went for a friends birthday and it lived up to our expectations (we're all from Texas) - the chilaquiles looked excellent and something I'd have to try next time. We were told their mole is excellent and our buddy concurred. The fish tacos and guacamole were delightful and paired well with the margarita. Cheers! read more

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Chela is a great place to eat, and everything we ordered was delicious. The shrimp tacos were fresh, flavorful, spicy, and cooked perfectly. The guacamole and chips were bomb as well, guac was well seasoned, chips were nice and crispy. The wings were also a standout, with a unique blend of seasoning that was slightly sweet, slightly spicy and cooked perfectly. The food, service, and atmosphere made for a great dining experience, and I would definitely come back again. read more

Alkarys at the bar was great! She was welcoming and so attentive when we arrived. We got frozen margaritas and birria nachos, everything came out quick and delicious! First time here, came to watch the fifa World Cup and I'm impressed, will definitely be coming back for the next couple of games and beyond ! Thank you for the great service! read more

Chela Park Slope - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came here with my friend and we really liked the ambiance and vibe of this spot especially for Park Slope. The service was okay and the drinks were strong! They have a good menu with different options which I liked. I would come back here. A good spot for mexican food in the neighborhood read more

I would definitely come back here.... Food was delicious, service was A1 and the ambiance is great. Came here with a friend after a day of self pampering and getting my nails done. Guacamole, goood, shrimp taco good, fish taco goood, but my friend had their lamb tacos and omg, amazing. Cocktails were good. Definitely would come back here. read more

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Absolutely a phenomenal experience from start to finish. Came here on a recommendation and it did not disappoint. Our reservation was for 8:30pm, but we arrived early and Alejandra, the hostess, was incredibly welcoming and accommodating. Even though she was ready to seat us, we decided to hang at the bar until the rest of our party arrived and that was the perfect move. Alkarys behind the bar was top-tier. She recommended the Siempre Reposado, and let me tell you... smooth, clean, dangerously good. If you're into tequila, that's a must. Now let's talk about the food. We ordered the quesadilla, rajas, tamales, tacos, and the queso fundido and every single dish hit. The queso fundido came out bubbling, rich, perfectly melted with that pull you want when you scoop it up. The tamales were moist and packed with flavor, wrapped beautifully and clearly made with care. The rajas had that perfect balance of roasted pepper sweetness and savory depth. The tacos? Authentic, well-seasoned, and layered with flavor, no shortcuts. Even the quesadilla stood out, crispy on the outside with that perfectly melted interior. Everything felt traditional, elevated but still true to its roots. You can taste the authenticity. Service was attentive without being overbearing, the ambiance was super casual and laid back, the kind of Brooklyn spot you pull up to for a real dinner experience, not just a quick bite. Highly recommend this place if you're out and about in Brooklyn. Definitely coming back for the tequila, the queso fundido, and round two of those tacos. I'm gonna try eating at the bar to check out the spot in the front of the house. read more

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Chose this place for brunch & a vibe, when I walked in there were a lot of ppl waiting & seated also. So I sat at the bar for faster service, it was super busy so I had to wait a while (about 10-12 minutes) for the bartender to notice me so I can place my order for their "bottomless brunch". I ended up choosing mimosas & ordered shrimp tacos, it was delicious but upon walking in & it taking so long for me to order at bar at that, the service could've been better. read more

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A couple of weeks ago, my boyfriend's sister threw her wedding dinner here. It was my first time here, and I really enjoyed it. All the food was amazing. The staff was helpful and patient with all of us. They were accommodating with the menu for my boyfriend's niece. I really enjoyed the yuca croquettes and NY strip steak, but everything was good. The drinks were also strong and yummy. I think this is a really nice place to celebrate with friends! I hope to come back soon! read more

Chela Park Slope - Yuca Croquettes, Rice & Beans - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cozy neighborhood spot There are an interesting variety of cocktails. Each on that we tried was very good. The Guacamole was flavorful and a nice was to start the meal. The Shrimp Tacos were bright and delicious. The service was attentive. read more

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Wonderful spot in Park slope-- fish tacos were soooo good, branzino grilled was delish. The chicken tacos notes a jerk seasoning but it tasted a tad dry. I also ordered the shrimp taco; deliciously grilled. Got the side of platinos, it was drizzled with salsa verde which was amazing. Chela fries could be skipped. Overall love this spot for the fish tacos. Complimentary chips is a bonus and wonderful wonderful service read more

Chela Park Slope - Sides - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Went here for taco Tuesday with my friend and it was a great experience! Their taco Tuesday starts at 4/5pm and they had a lot of great margarita and taco selections. Really recommend their margs! Also great service from the staff and the inside was really nicely decorated. Definitely will be returning! read more

I had a late night craving for mexican cuisine, so I looked up nearby places on Google Maps and I'm SO GLAD I found and chose Chela! From the minute we arrived, the door was opened for us, we were greeted and sat in a comfortable spot within seconds, and water, chips and salsa were brought all brought to our table. No waiting at all! Esteban was out waited and he was so vibrant! He gave us great recommendations for the main courses. We went with the Branzino for the main and shared chicken tacos (which are dairy free). Both dishes were AMAZING and came out so quickly! Did I mention that they have an open kitchen concept, so you can see the food preparation if you wanted to. Overall I'm extremely satisfied with my experience dining here and I look forward to visiting again. read more

Chela Park Slope - Pescado al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I stopped by this restaurant on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The food came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. The menu had a good variety, so there's something for everyone, and the portions were satisfying. The staff was welcoming, checked in throughout the meal, and made the experience even better. The restaurant was clean with a relaxed atmosphere, making it a great spot for lunch or dinner. I'd definitely come back and recommend giving it a try if you're in the area. read more

Cozy mexican restaurant near park slope. The margaritas were top notch! Get the jalapeño and strawberry flavor, you won't be disappointed. My husband got the pork shank special which was fall off the bone tender and came with a pepper tamale. Very good. I had the green enchiladas with chicken, they were ok. There was a strange spice I didn't enjoy in the sauce but this is a personal preference. Service was excellent! Will definitely be back for drinks and to try their tacos. read more

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Fish tacos grilled and beef birrea tacos at Chela in Park Slope?, Brooklyn, NYC. Dined outdoors with our dog. Best customer service ever outdoors in NYC! Several different staff members dropped by frequently to check on things, say hello to the dog and ensure our cups were never empty. Food was outstanding. Great value in the area. Indoors ambiance is stunning. read more

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Food- 4/5 let's start with the chips and sauce...DELICIOUS!! I will say they're homemade without knowing for sure bc they're so tasty and unlike other chips other shops may serve. Delicious fish tacos with a white sauce on the side and a tasty but spicy red 1 too. Both were good but I don't do spicy so I passed on too much of that! Had a strawberry marg which was good and a pineapple marg which was better! Service- Excellent! Betty served us and the young man was very attentive when it came to clearing the table, etc. Ambiance- Felt like an upscale taco establishment and I LIKED IT! I enjoyed the open yet intimate feel of the place and how nice the staff was! Overall 4.5/5 and 2 thumbs up- wish the Taco Tuesday special started earlier than 4PM bc I'm sure they'd make lots more money bc there'd be more flavors avail during lunch!!! Would def recommend!! read more

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Chela was a great find. We booked for 6 for a birthday and the service was pleasant, the atmosphere was loud but had a nice vibe to it. The place itself was lovely decorated, which I liked. But let's jump to the food. Loved it! I'm usually not one to enjoy Mexican food that much as a vegetarian, but the burrito bowl was full of flavor, accompanied with a delicious creamy guacamole. My friends had the sandwich (torta) and it looked amazing. read more

Chela Park Slope - Burrito bowl - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Hidden gem for Park Slope. The ambiance is authentic to Mexican culture with a fire happy hour (m-f:12pm-7pm) Chela's staff is attentive and efficient. Drinks: Passionfruit & Mango margarita Perfect blend of strong and sweet! Food: cod fish tacos + chela fries The cod was very fresh and the chela fries were mouthwatering. I'll definitely be back! read more

Chela Park Slope - Cod fish tacos & passionfruit margarita - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Do yourself a favor & make 100% certain you order the ribs, and try as many things on the menu as you can!!! The food is all so incredibly stellar. You absolutely must get the Chela Ribs- Baby back ribs, agave chipotle glaze, spicy slaw, and yucca croquettes.) Yum!! They are an actual symphony... Artwork... poetry on a dish. All the tacos are in a class of their own but special kudos to The Arabic tacos... a wildly imaginative spin on two glorious cultures combined in the most perfect way. You'll basically want to slather yourself in their magical guacamole. The flautas a real delight, the list can just go on and on... You definitely want to run, not walk to this place!! read more

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Came here late on a Saturday night and was seated promptly. The space offers standard seats, high tops and the bar. The restaurant is dimly lit and had lovely music blasting. The hostess and server were all very friendly. For drinks we ordered a Jalapeño Hibiscus Margarita and a traditional, both were refreshing and tasty. We started with a medium guacamole and a Shrimp Quesadilla. For entrees we got the Enchilada Suiza and the Shrimp Tacos (requested grilled). The food did not disappoint! Will certainly be back. read more

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Delicious food Best guacamole I've had in a long while Great tamarind margarita Great vibes Terrific music Friendly staff Street parking read more

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Strong margaritas and customizable tacos. Lively vibe. Service was a bit slow but solid spot overall.

After wanting to visit Chela for years, I finally made it, but it didn't live up to the hype. We came for brunch and were seated at the very last table in the main dining hall, right across from the restroom. In my opinion, any table next to a restroom should be a last resort or offered only upon request. What made it worse is that there was another, nicer dining area behind us that was mostly empty. My friend had also visited recently and was seated in the same unfavorable spot, which left a bad impression for both of us. We eventually asked to move. Unfortunately, the seating experience soured what could've been a much better visit. Since it was the brunch menu the items were limited I ended up with the vegetarian tacos without cheese which was just corn, onions, and zucchini. The rice and beans on the side was actually good though. I won't be going back since there are plenty of options for Mexican food and this one did not stand out. read more

Havent been here in years. I dont think I would recommend this place to anyone. I came because of the generous HH times 12-7pm. Good prices. The fish tacos were such a disappointment. Very fishy tasting. Im not even sure if that was really cod fish. It was covered in tasteless crema with cabbage thrown in some red sauce that also didnt complement the taco. The flour shell seemed store bought and also just bland. Passionfruit margarita was ok. read more

Chela Park Slope - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Friday night dinner during happy hour. Place was pretty packed and lively. Service was good our waiter was very attentive. The Mexican poutine with shrimp was SO good as well as my birria tacos. I also had a coconut margarita that was delicious. Good happy hour prices! I will definitely be back whenever I am in the area again. read more

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My family and I just left Chela's and I knew I had to make a review. We stopped by for dinner and were greeted and seated immediately by the friendly staff. The restaurant is family friendly. We were provided a high chair for my baby and brought crayons and paper for my other child. The menu is via QR code. We ordered nachos and calamari as appetizers. Both were delicious. One order of nachos is enough to share. For main entrees we ordered chicken quesadillas, brisket tacos, kids quesadilla and guacamole on the side. Again the food was great. The pineapple and mango frozen margaritas are strong yet refreshing. The staff were attentive and helpful. Definitely looking forward to returning read more

Chela is only a few minutes away from my daughter's place in Park Slope, walked pass it many times, decided to try their food and it was absolutely delicious, especially the beef empanadas-2 for $10, full of tasty beef, crispy & hot. We ate during Happy Hour so there were specials. The shrimp tacos & fish tacos were also very good. Complimentary chips & salsa come with your meal, we asked for extra. Salsa was tangy but not too spicy. The grandkids had kid's meal-quesadillas $12 + fries $4, in my opinion too pricey for a kid's meal , should have had an extra order of empanadas because they loved them. Service was fast and friendly, waters filled & extra chips & salsa came quickly. One negative-it's pretty dark inside the restaurant, especially going down into the back room because there are three stairs & it was hard to navigate. In all it was a good experience and we will return for those delicious empanadas! read more

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Love this restaurant! The food is delicious- the fish tacos were fresh! The service was excellent, very attentive. read more

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Amazing drinks! We stopped in for food close to the end of the night and weren't disappointed. The mole was chocolatey and spicy. Great chips. Bar seating is comfortable and the staff are friendly and attentive. We'll be back! read more

Chela Park Slope - Pineapple margarita - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is phenomenal. The homemade tamales are a work of art. Our server, Esteban, was great. Will definitely come back.

Came on a Saturday evening for dinner with my husband. It wasn't super busy when we arrived, so we were seated right away. We were given water and chips with salsa automatically. No physical menus provided, scan the QR code on the table. Their website menu is a little confusing to navigate, I think the layout can be improved because I couldn't find the non-alcoholic drinks under the dinner menu, it has it's own separate tab all the way at the top of the website. I'm currently pregnant so I had asked if they do mocktails and our server said yes basically anything on their cocktail menu can be made virgin. I ordered a virgin Mango Margarita and it was delicious, a bit on the tarte and lime-y side but refreshing and cool and half price due to the lack of alcohol. From their dinner menu, I ordered the shrimp tostada which to me was very delicious. Shrimp had great flavor and the tostada was perfectly crunchy and not greasy. I wanted to order a second one, I liked it so much. I also ordered their shrimp and arabic tacos, but we didn't like them. Arabic tacos were too sweet and the flavors didn't mesh well together. The shrimp tacos were crispy but the coleslaw was pasty and with the tortilla, the pasty mess sort of congealed and got stuck to the back of my teeth when I bit into the taco, very annoying having to scrape off. Our waiter was kind and noticed that we didn't finish these 2 tacos and asked us what was wrong. We told him we didn't like them at all, and he kindly took them off of our bill without us asking for it. My husband ordered the guacamole and that was also a hit. We finished 2 baskets worth of chips which were crispy and again, non greasy. For our mains, my husband ordered the enchilada suizas, and I ordered the carne asada. Our main courses were tasty, my steak was cooked and seasoned well, and wasn't dry. It was a big portion as well but I managed to finish 95% of my 12 oz steak. I was particularly looking forward to having their tres leches dessert with peaches because I saw a photo of it from another reviewer so I was craving it. However, unfortunately that night they were out, and only had churros to offer. Bummer! Guess I have to come back! Overall, we enjoyed our date night at this restaurant and will definitely be coming back again soon. I recommend this place for established couples, and groups of friends. Not the best place in my opinion for a first date because it's very dim and dark inside, and also hard to hear who you're conversing with. Also side note, they've got an open kitchen which is really cool if you like watching the chefs do their thing. They're pretty efficient and food comes to your table as soon as it's ready. Good food, excellent customer service and kind, hospitable wait staff. Really enjoyed my evening dining here. I will return for cake and maybe more shrimp tostadas. read more

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What a nice happy hour spot. Great margaritas and tacos, which were easily customizable. Came during a late midweek afternoon, staff was friendly and efficient. read more

A good neighborhood spot for some food and drinks with the family. I come here usually with my family if we're in the mood for more than tacos. We really like the guac and calamari here. The wings were ok but nothing special. The fish tacos are amazing! My daughter doesn't like fish and tried some of mine and immediately wanted to trade me for her steak tacos. My husband really likes the chela ribs as well. Service was fine and our drinks were good. read more

Friends invited us here for the weekend. It was my first time here, and I loved everything about this restaurant: the atmosphere, the service, the food, and the drinks. I was pleasantly surprised when I stopped in by chance. I'll definitely be back. read more

Cute spot, very intimate and dark atmosphere with tables and some bar seating. Service was good/attentive and arrived quickly. Got tacos including chicken mole, veggie, chorizo, fried fish, and cauliflower. I like that there is happy hour but I wish it had more food options. read more

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10/10 experience here. Great service, music, and the food was amazing! I had the steak & eggs. The chorizo hash was soooooo freakin good. The margaritas were perfect! There was a young lady training and I just want to say she did a wonderful job! I will be returning to try more off this menu. read more

I really do feel this place is overrated. First let me start by saying we sat in the back of the restaurant because the front was a bit crowded. There were fruit flies over our food and drinks. We spent most of the time swatting them away. I ordered steak and eggs with a salad. The steak could have used more flavor and it was a bit rough. I couldn't finish the steak or my drink. The drink wasn't so bad however I ordered a strawberry margarita but was confused on where the strawberry was. My friend asked the waiter just to be sure that we were getting what we ordered and he said we were. It didn't taste like strawberry even after mixing it several times.The amount of money spent here for 3 out of 4 of us to not be happy with our food was ridiculous. I for sure will not be returning. Their customer service is really good. Everyone was so friendly and attentive but the food was a no for me. read more

Chela Park Slope - Strawberry Margarita (that's what it's supposed to be) - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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