Tl:dr: (Out of ten) Service: 9 Food 9 Overall: 9 Great place in the neighborhood, our family considers this the best Mexican restaurant in South Slope. The chicken burrito is great, and the Shimp ala Diablo is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Definitely recommend. The service is great and it has a traditional Mexican ambiance. read more

I had an absolutely fantastic experience at this restaurant! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and beautifully designed. The staff were attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everything was perfect. The food was outstanding. Each dish was expertly prepared, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. You can really tell that high-quality ingredients and attention to detail go into every plate. The menu offered a great variety, and everything we tried exceeded expectations. Service was prompt without feeling rushed, and the entire dining experience felt smooth and enjoyable from start to finish. Whether you're going for a special occasion or just a great meal, this place truly delivers. Highly recommend--definitely a five-star experience! read more

Little place with around 10 tables and a Spanish music mix and fun colorful interior decor. Menu is large with plenty of variety for any diet. We ordered the Salsa & Dip Sampler, Veggie Fajitas, Sangria, and house Cerveza. Everything was excellent! Great and filling set for a vegan or gluten free person with corn tortilla options for Fajitas. read more

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Service and Ambiance so perfect for this little hidden gem on 5th Ave in Brooklyn. But the food - the food is outstanding- so clean and fresh and hot ! Every time I'm back in the old hood I make sure to stop by ! read more

El Nopal - El Pastor Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We reserved a table for 8 to celebrate a birthday. Twenty minutes in advance of the reserved time, they called to ask if we were coming because another party of five had arrived. On the phone, we said yes and then arrived early. Still they had seated the other party and said we would have to wait. We headed to Tacos El Brancos for fantastic takeout, which we brought to one of our homes. Still, it was a big disappointment that we had to rework our plans at the last minute. read more

Shows how food doesn't need to be spicey to be tasty. Flavorsome guacamole with crisp chips (which look a bit oily, but don't taste it) followed by amazingly moist chicken breast in a rich, ever so slightly sweet and spicy, chocolate mole sauce, with pleasant refried beans and tasty rice. Will be back! read more

El Nopal restaurant has very good food. The winter weather is cold here in New York right now. In the past, I often traveled to Mexico during this time of year & I've had lots of Mexican food. So I cannot help comparing the food here to what I've had in Mexico. El Nopal offers a great selection with decent prices and portion sizes. If you get the tacos, suggest the Deluxe option. The standard taco was light on fillings. I tried the taco platter with rice and beans. To be honest, the black beans aren't something I had a lot of in Mexico - but still delicious! And very filling. Same thing with the Al Pastor Taco - good but the spices were mild. The House Green Sauce was extremely spicy - the complete opposite of the tacos. I mixed it with some mayonnaise to reduce the heat. The food was not overly salty which I appreciated. High quality food, professionally packaged, and love the green sauce ! read more

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I stopped by a couple of weeks ago on a taco Tuesday. Pretty solid deal on tacos plus a cocktail or beer, you get an option on protein. I think it was like 12 bucks for the deal. Also had chicken tostadas I had to show my date how to eat(Lol) and we also shared a guacamole appetizer which was pretty solid. The tacos were alright, the tortillas are my main criticism. A couple of people on the floor who were very attentive. Cramped space but overall I like the place. I always get it confused with the other Mexican restaurant on the same side of the street a couple of blocks up. Would recommend. 8/10 forgot to snap some pics! Will be back. read more

"Delicious with a few curveballs--worth a visit!" I grew up on tacos in Tijuana and mariscos in Ensenada, so I walk into any Mexican spot with certain expectations and a pretty opinionated palate. That said, El Nopal Mexican in Brooklyn delivered a tasty, satisfying meal--especially after wifey and I finished a three-hour choir session and were absolutely starving. It was happy hour when we arrived. I ordered two tacos de carne asada con todo and a ceviche of octopus, shrimp, and calamari--though in truth, it leaned more cóctel than ceviche, which only piqued my curiosity (and appetite). Wifey was completely content with the food--just said "yum" and kept smiling. The tacos were solid. I'm used to Tijuana-style: small, thin tortillas heated right on the meat-slick plancha so they absorb that juicy, smoky flavor. Here, the tortillas were a bit thicker, slightly larger, and clearly not grilled on the same surface as the meat, so they missed that signature edge I love. But hey--we're not in Tijuana. They held up well, were served warm, and had nice texture. The carne asada could've been juicier and more tender, but it was flavorful and chopped well. There was one tiny piece of gristle--something that happens--and to be honest, it was so flavorful I didn't mind the extra al dente bite. They came topped with avocado salsa, chopped onion, and cilantro. The avocado salsa had good seasoning but wasn't as spicy as I'd like. Thankfully, both salsas on the side--green and red--were excellent. The red one in particular brought the heat I was craving. There was a small service slip: we didn't get chips and salsa with our drinks at first and only realized after seeing other tables get theirs. Once we asked, they brought them out promptly. The chips were crispy, perfectly salted, and the fresh salsa was delicious. A great pairing for the not-quite-ceviche, which was tasty even if it leaned heavily into cóctel territory. I would've preferred diced cucumber over rounds, a bit of jalapeño for a kick, and even a splash of Clamato or ketchup might have brought it together--but flavor-wise, no real complaints. One unexpected twist: the seafood ceviche was served with plantain chips. Not something I associate with Mexican mariscos--felt more Caribbean or Puerto Rican--but they were crunchy, savory, and paired surprisingly well with the spicy red salsa. I also appreciated being able to speak Spanish with the staff--it always makes me feel more at home. They were warm, friendly, and generally attentive. As for drinks: I asked for an añejo mezcal but they only had joven, so I went with a michelada made with Estrella Jalisco, and it hit the spot. My only real gripe? In the hour and a half we were there, only one Mexican song played (a cumbia). The rest of the playlist was all Puerto Rican salsa. I love salsa, but when I'm eating tacos and mariscos, I want to hear something that feels like home--norteñas, banda, rancheras, or corridos would've really set the mood. All in all, wifey and I had a great time. A few details felt a bit offbeat, but the flavors were solid, the staff welcoming, and while it's not Baja--it's definitely got sabor. And that counts. read more

I should have updated my review ages ago. I now live in the desert in southern California but I spent the better (worse?) part of the first two years of Covid stuck in my small Brooklyn apartment, where suddenly my kitchen taunted me for not just one but THREE meals every day. Cooking that often got old real quick. So my husband and I let go of our stubborn grudge against El Nopal* and thank the delivery food gods we did because I don't know if we'd have survived without our weekly (or more -- literally. I'm really not exaggerating) empanadas. I say this with no shame: We probably ate hundreds of El Nopal empanadas during our Covid hibernation. These were dark times and El Nopal was our light. Oh, how I miss them. A typical empanada order for the two of us would consist of six, usually some combination of carne, queso, and huitlacoche (oh how I crave that spicy corn filling!). Sometimes we'd mix it up with espinaca, Tabasco, and shrimp. We poured their green sauce liberally on everything. We sometimes ordered other things too, like nachos and chicken quesadillas, both excellent. The occasional salad (much better than an average takeout salad) if I insisted on some vegetables. There were days -- not often, but definitely plural -- we'd order empanadas for lunch and then nachos & quesadillas for dinner (I loved their quesadillas, served with lots of guac, pico, and shredded lettuce). Chicken soup or tacos could hit the spot. Can't go wrong with grilled chicken anything; they use their rotisserie chicken which is so flavorful and never dry. But the empanadas are what I miss most. Are they the best ever? Are they authentic? Who knows? Who cares? They're f'ing GREAT, plenty of filling in a perfectly fried dough pocket, delicious in all varieties. Cheap, fast, satisfying. I've yet to encounter anything comparable. *The restaurant also got over getting our order wrong. Not once did it happen again. We once dined there next to a Jewish family and when one of them asked what an enchilada was, another answered "It's a Mexican blintz." (She's not wrong.) We will cherish this memory forever. read more

El nopal is an absolute staple. Every dish is huge, flavorful, and leaves you wanting more! We come here almost every week and have never had a meal we didn't like. Can't beat $4 chips with three types of salsa. It's usually nice and lively inside and food comes out pretty quick especially considering the size and quality. If you want Mexican, this is our favorite on 5th Ave by far. read more

El Nopal - Super Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This my fav since finding it in 2016. Although they stop doing there juices the food & drinks are good in my opinion! Oh, this is my neighborhood, born and raised! Unfortunately, because of greedy, greedy landlords, I was forced out of my own hood. I still come back from time to time, and this is one of my all-time favorites! It's small and quaint! They pretty much order the same thing and it's always delicious. I wish they still did they still offered there juices bc they were delicious. My go to is; the empanadas chips and salsa Brazilian sangria and house margarita I've also try their Tabasco burrito, Pernil, and my new favorite is the chicken tostadas! I'm a creature of habit, so any of the above is what I order. Oh & I forgot the grilled stuffed cactus. YUM! read more

El Nopal - The plain Tostadas! They never disappoint. - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Accidentally stumbled into this authentic Mexican restaurant on a Saturday night and it was the best surprise find ever! Ordered both margs on the rocks and frozen margs and they were strong! Service was outstanding, our water was constantly refilled and they even had to go cups for your margs if you do not finish it. Loaded nachos are out of this world and the best one you'll ever find in all of NYC. All toppings were super fresh and chips were super crunchy and freshly fried. Worth the train ride to park slope. read more

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I like this place a lot ! Portions are large and the food is packed with a punch of flavor. Everything is delicious from there tacos to the empanadas. If you go for the mild guacamole be mindful they are strong with the heat(and I'm a lightweight) but despite me requesting water every 5 minutes staff was cool about and laughed it off. This is real deal Mexican food. No frills. I like it. If your looking for the Americanized Mexican fancy margarita dos casinos style this is not for you. read more

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Great food great service! Brunch price is perfect each entree comes with two free drinks each! read more

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I order from this place pretty regularly and it's solid, if pricey. I highly recommend their nachos, pico de Gallo, and margaritas (unsure how they're still able to deliver booze but not asking any questions!) at least when it comes to taste. Values and portions are another story, with the exception of the frozen margaritas which are generously sized and delicious. Margaritas aside, their portions are laughable. A $4.50 "side of guacamole," is the size of a ketchup loader. A $6.50 order or pico comes in a tinnnnny container WITHOUT CHIPS! I was also a little miffed by my recent steak burrito order. While it was a good size, it was supposed to come with guac and there was none besides a smear of browning avocado on top. There was also very, very little "strip steak," inside and what I could taste was super over cooked and chewy, although I will say that the flavor was there. Definitely sticking to nachos and margaritas, moving forward. Also a plus one for their homemade salsas which are DELICIOUS. Deliveries are always prompt and the delivery guys are super friendly. They've also never messed up any requests (utensils, no sour cream etc.) which is awesome! I'm putting this place on my list to eat in - I have a feeling in person they might earn that fourth star. read more

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There are no shortage of Mexican restaurants in South Slope but El Nopal is definitely one of the better ones around. They have a pretty big menu so it's nice to have choices other than burritos and tacos. We ordered the Guac and chips, a few tacos, the stuffed cactus, an empanada and a burrito bowl. The Guac and chips was good, but a little small to share even for 2 adults and 1 kid. It was very fresh and tasty though with more than enough chips for another bowl of Guac. The stuffed Cactus was so amazing! I've never had it before but the flavor was this savory cheesy goodness. I loved the chorizo in every bite. This is a must try here. The carnitas and al pastor tacos was very good. The empanada was ok. The steak in the burrito bowl was too salty but tasted better once mixed in with the rice and beans. Needs more guac though. It's a pretty small spot with mostly 2-4 seaters so if you have a big group, it's gonna be tough. Minus 1 point for plate sharing fee. We ordered a lot for 2 adults and my 5 year old had an empanada and some of my rice and beans. They charged me a $3 sharing fee. It's not a lot of money but I just felt it wasn't right to charge a fee for a child under 10 years old. read more

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This place has good food when the right people are working. Sadly, when the wrong people are working they don't care what they deliver and they don't care about their customers. Seriously the person on the phone is swearing to me they made this guacamole minutes before it was delivered. Maybe they made it with spoiled Avocados??? They refuse to correct their mistakes. When asked to send what was ordered instead of a refund we were told by Gloria that she refused to serve us. We were then told if we placed another order she would refuse to serve us!!?!? All because they can't deliver what they advertise on their menu? read more

El Nopal - Brown and gross "made to order Guacamole"!?!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Last time ordering from El Nopal. I have deadly food allergies (no raw fruit, veggies, grains, or nuts what-so-ever) and El Nopal for the 4th and last time delivered my order with no raw veggies or guacamole ON TOP of my burrito, but INSIDE! In fact, 90% of the burrito was filled with raw jalapeños, raw onions, raw tomatoes, tons of raw lettuce and raw cilantro, and soooooooo much guacamole. After the deadly parts were thrown away I was left with maybe 1/4 of food that I could eat. Yes, I DID order asking very nicely for no raw veggies of any kind, no guacamole, no cilantro, etc. And said I have deadly food allergies. I wanted to give them one last try and well, this was it. Now off to take some benedryl. read more

We happened to be here on a weekend. Pros: Great guacamole and great staff Food is amazing, for entree I highly recommend the shrimp fajitas Cons: Bathroom is not very nice/clean. I saw a few flies in there. Smoothie is a bit overpriced and tastes ok. read more

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Last minute spot to drop in and it feels great when you hit a gem. Food was great service good. Drinks phenomenal. Decor is A1 !! read more

El Nopal - Red Sangria(16oz) - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I came to El Nopal with my boyfriend and my mother. It was a nice small spot and we were seated right away. We ordered some margaritas and were given chips and salsa to start. The margaritas were really good and strong. Unfortunately, before our food came my party and I were munching on the chips when we saw a little bug come out of the basket. It looked like a really small roach (about the size of a tic tac). We immediately told the waiter about it and he apologized for it. We got our food, with some hesitation to eat, but it turned out really good. I ordered the chicken fajitas which were good. We also ordered nachos with chorizo which were ok (I've had better) and steak quesadilla which was great! The food and drinks were delicious. The only mishap was the bug, hence the three stars. The restaurant accommodated us with that by our drinks being on the house. read more

The food is so amazing, drinks are to die for! I had the rotisserie chicken and mom had the steak tostadas. Soooo YUMMY! Flavorful and good portions. Maduros are perfectly sweet and soft. and the beautiful young waitress is amazing so attentive and nice. I would always come back bc to support these wonderful people. Thank you so much. read more

Great service, great food. Empanadas and tacos stand out. The meat is seasoned really well. Good experience all around.

My mother and I came here after getting tattoos right next door. The service was friendly and quick. We both ordered the same pernil with rice and beans entree and shared calamari and maduros. Everything was delicious! read more

El Nopal - Pernil, calamari and maduros - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Wonderful food and wonderful service - the tacos are TO DIE FOR! My friend and I were shopping all day and decided to drive over here for some dinner. When we got inside it was pretty empty since it was about 5 o'clock and not peak dinner time so we got a table right away. The weather came over and we ordered our food and some chips and guacamole to start. The tacos were absolutely incredible and in very filling. We both got the Pacifico tacos which are shrimp with lettuce, a chipotle mango sauce and topped with avocado slices. We also ordered 1 chorizo taco and 1 steak taco just in case. The guacamole came out quickly and it was just amazing. Pro tip: dip your chip in the guacamole and then the salsa for a burst of incredible flavor in your mouth :) We both left feeling ridiculously full, and at $45 the dinner was not that expensive, especially considering that we had so much food and it was all so fresh and made to order. Can't wait to come back and try something else! read more

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Came here after seeing my friend rave about this place on Facebook. Maybe I set my expectations a little too high but some of the dishes were hit and miss to me... the decor is cute there is a cute phrases and nice little decors around the cafe... Service was attentive the waiter refilled our water and was polite...I've had my fair share of mexican food from different parts of the world to have an idea of what I like and don't like... Their tacos are really good, I've never had grilled cactus in my life and this place serves it with their beef taco, I think my favorite had to be their fish taco, excellent amount of flavor and the fish was perfectly cooked... Now on to the part I found mediocre, their free salsa with chips was a bit too watered down for me, their calimari was nice and crisp but their sauce was not what I was expecting, I would have preferred marinara or even cocktail sauce as opposed to what they had.(would not recommend the calimari) and their maze looked so nicely presented but was no cafe Habana or anything close to what I've had in sunset.. This part really dissapointed me the most cause I thought I had found a cafe Habana dupe closer to home, I love love love Mexican corn and their maze did not meet my expectations (missing the mayo!) I probably wouldn't come back but they do have solid taco choices for those who do decide to try this place out and their green sauce (wow) has a kick to it in a good way.. But my expectations fell short during my first experience here so I would try other spots instead next time I'm in the area read more

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Being around the area and hungry, we decided to search nearby and found El Nopal. The prices are pretty fair for the quality and amount of stuff they give. I ordered the chicken burrito bowl and they gave a ton of chicken, a scoop full of rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. (See pic for how full my plate was). This was $10. Pretty darn affordable. They also gave us salsa and chips and even refilled it for us before we were able to even ask. Service was great, food was delicious. read more

This is one of our favorite spots in the neighborhood. Small cozy spot with great food. For starters the ceviche, ocptopus and the huitlacoche empanada are delicious. The mezcalitas & frozen margaritas (made with fresh fruit) are highly recommended. Alex is our favorite server, always so friendly and helpful. A real hidden gem in south slope! read more

El Nopal - Frozen Passion Fruit & Mango Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I went here during COVID and ate outside. Only 2 tables and server was excellent. The menu is interesting, food quality good and very homemade style. So why 3 stars? One should never need to season Mexican food. The dishes lacked salt! Really? read more

This is one of my favorite places to get a delicious Mexican meal in the neighborhood, and they face stiff competition locally! The food is so yummy and super reasonably priced. I highly recommend it as a place to get dinner and catch up with friends or a fun date. read more

Great taco/burrito joint. So glad we stumbled into this place. Such good food for a bargain! I ordered the ranchero burrito and my lady ordered the chicken burrito bowl. Plenty of food...for my girlfriend. I loved my burrito so much I ate all of it....almost took a bite of her hand when she tried to take some... Bottomline, come try this place. read more

El Nopal - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The food at El Nopal is consistently delicious. My favorite is the Chile relelleño Piccadilly. My husband's favorite is the pork burrito. We have tried many delicious dishes from El Nopal. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

I agree with Stephan Y. When the staff is right, it's reflected in the uber-fresh delectable dishes and killer fresh fruit margs. I'm a huge fan of their ceviche and molcajete which is plenty for two. However, our last visit to this quaint eatery yielded mediocre plates and margaritas flavored with what tasted like gasoline. Returned it twice but kept coming back worse. Another peeve is that they can only offer balsamic vinaigrette for their salads. No lime, honey, cumin concoction or avocado, jalepeño, cilantro selection. A request for chipotle sauce was met with a blank stare. So simple, yet the chef has overlooked these rather important culinary combos for those of us who enjoy our veggies and prefer a genuine Mexican meal sans Italian dressing. read more

Being Mexican as well as a park sloper I like to try local Mexican joints in the neighborhood to support local businesses. So I brought my mother & daughter here for dinner being very hungry. It's a cute intimate spot that only has 6 tables. I had the Chile Relleno & my mother had a Carne Asada & my daughter the Quesadillas from the kids menu. First & for-most I want to say that the portions here are very generous in quantity so we came out of there very full. As far as Quality, the food was also delicious. The only reason this is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the service & lack of accommodations. I wanted my Chile Relleno with the sauce on the side & the waiter flat out said " we can't, the chef won't do that for you" sooo, whatever I had the damn sauce. My mother didn't want peppers on her steak like the menu said, but was okay with the onions & just asked for rajas which is basically Grilled sliced jalapeños; the waiter took a long time to try n comprehend & when he finally said okay & my mom got her plate it was the complete opposite of what she wanted. She ate it as is lol Also the chips n salsa they give in the beginning was a joke, like they literally gave us 10 chips I swear ! Lol but other than that food & quantity is great, prices are a little higher than anticipated but fine. read more

El Nopal - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Don't order from here if you like receiving your food. I ordered on seamless on a Wednesday night. Burrito and a couple of tortillas - nothing complicated. Then I waited. And waited. Over an hour and a half. When I called them, they said that there were two people with my fiancé's first name and last initial so they assumed it was the same person. They also said the kitchen was closed so they had no way to fix this nonsensical mistake. Guess they didn't actually bother to check addresses or give a damn if people don't receive their food. They said they'd call the delivery guy but we never heard back. They were pretty flippant. Seamless offered me a full refund but I'm not ordering from here again. read more

One of the better priced happy hours ($5 beers, $8 margaritas, $7 micheladas) in Park Slope. I didn't love the sangria but it was passable. The food was decent too. Will definitely put this in the HH rotation. Also opens early (noon) for happy hour, which can be hard to find. read more

El Nopal is a solid new Mexican restaurant in South Slope. Sure, they don't have their alcohol license yet, but they assured us it's coming. But more importantly, the food is delicious. Chips and guac were excellent. Definitely freshly made. The burritos are gigantic. And the tacos are great and come with guac. I ordered the al pastor, the chorizo, and I think the chicken. Was definitely a lot of food for not a lot of money. Staff was wonderful, and I look forward to returning! read more

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I stopped in here for a late afternoon lunch and wasn't expecting anything amazing, but it was definitely delicious. It was a pretty hot day, so it's nice to find some good food and a cool and comfortable restaurant. This is a cozy restaurant with just a few tables and the interior is clean, bright and simple. They have a good amount of options in their menu and it took me a little time to decide, but the waiter was friendly and patient. We ordered the roast pork (pernil) platter, chorizo burrito bowl, and chicken fajita. My favorite had to be the chorizo burrito bowl, which also came with rice, beans, salad, cheese, guacamole and sour cream, yum! The pernil was good too, but a tad on the dry side. The chicken fajita wasn't anything special, there are probably better options on the menu. I thought their rice and beans were cooked perfectly though! The prices are decent for the area. This place is a nice lunch or dinner option! read more

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Amazing fresh guacamole. Get the made to order option!!! The rotisserie chicken is also really good. Moist chicken that's seasoned well. For $14 you get a whole chicken, which was two meals worth of food for the two of us. Depending on the size of your family, you can get different quantities and sides. The menu is really large, so it wouldn't be hard for everyone to find something they like. But... don't forget the MADE TO ORDER guacamole. The frozen lemonade is also really good. It's tart, not the diabetes-inducing and cavity-producing drink other restaurants like to call lemonade. read more