El Nopal

Chela is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I've been to and I'm incredibly lucky that it's…read moreclose 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!

I really enjoyed my experience in this establishment. Definitely was worth the trek from Uptown…read moreManhattan. 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.

Fresh Made Guacamole

Queso Fundido

See all

Fish Tacos

Chavela's

3.9(1.4k reviews)

1.9 mi•Crown Heights

Came for cinco de mayo and it was a little hectic outside but the wait wasn't too long…read more They had a little margarita stand that you could order from outside and I thought that was so cool. The waiter was very nice and service was good. Good was yummy- the guacamole was very creamy. Lots of seating inside with cool decor.

Great place for brunch! I stopped in on a Sunday with friends. We didn't have reservations but they…read morewere able to seat the four of us quickly. Great food and service was also very good. We shared the guacamole with smoked trout. Delicious. My garlic shrimp with toast was perfect as was my margarita. We sat at the back area which was perfect. Air conditioning was a relief after the 90 degree temperature.

Interior

September 7, 2024; Flautas ($15).

See all

January 14, 2023; Shrimp ceviche ($14).

Taqueria Milear

4.2(346 reviews)

2.3 mi•Crown Heights

Stumbled here by accident and I will say the food here is phenomenal!…read moreProbably the best Mexican food in the area. I ordered steak quesadilla with chips and guac and let me you this thing was delicious, the steak was perfectly prepared, it came with Oaxacan cheese, avocado, all kinds of fresh veggies, it was slamming! I will definitely come back here if and when I'm in the area. Definitely give them a shot if your in the area, you won't be disappointed!

Great service, food is great, drinks are great, and great atmosphere would come againread more

Valentine's Day and Mother's Day Decorations

August 24, 2024; Flautas ($11.50).

See all

August 24, 2024; Pork Mound.

Taqueria Ramirez

4.5(369 reviews)

4.8 mi•Greenpoint

Four years after my first visit and Taqueria Ramirez still lives as my go-to CDMX taco place in all…read moreof NYC. I've tried all the other hot places that have shown up in the last 5+ years to much acclaim, and none of them top the Campechano taco at Ramirez. Their Al Pastor is also great, but the Campechano is really where they shine - just the perfect mix of the savory suadero and the spicy minced longanisa sausage. Service is always super fast and super nice, shepherding a shocking amount of people through. Perfect cool vibe mixing a great CDMX taqueria and chic Greenpoint. It takes me 10-15 minutes to go here, and every time I find myself with 30 extra minutes at lunch, Taqueria Ramirez comes to mind. It's that good. If you haven't tried it yet, it's a must!

There's a reason this place is so popular - the tacos are fire!! The carne asada was my favorite…read more Loved all the toppings you could add to the tacos as well. The line was long but don't get discouraged - it moves fast

3.9 mi•Williamsburg - North Side

Restaurante.

Pastor & Campechano

See all

De Mole

4.4(350 reviews)

$18 for two tacos. A little steep in price. They were quality though and tasty. I wish I had…read moreplanned this not so much as a stop for a little bite but as a huge restaurant stop. You could have a great meal here. The service is super nice. They brought my dog a water bowl. They made us feel very special and prioritized.

I chose to give it a five because it really was an excellent meal. From the excellent service, to…read morethe presentation, to the taste of the food. The extremely attentive waiter understood his menu so well and even how each meal was prepared. The truffle cornbread was an excellent starter, prepared by their baker who now has his own bakery called Masa Madre in Queens. Next time. My wife decided on the chicken mole, which was comparable to the last time she had it in Mexico City. Excellent preparation and a very large portion. I chose the shrimp fajitas which were typical in appearance and flavor except for one thing. I'm not sure how they exactly prepared their peppers that accompanied the shrimp fajitas (the waiter mentioned that they cook it alongside the meat which added more flavor), but all I can tell you is that the sweetness of those peppers was so incredibly rich and accented the entire dish so wonderfully. We didn't have room for dessert. But we'll be back.

3.7 mi•Williamsburg - South Side

View from the back of the house

Pan Dulce

See all

Spicy Margarita

Xixa

4.4(725 reviews)

•$$$

I was honestly shocked by how much I loved this place! We did the tasting menu, which was $65 per…read moreperson, and I also ordered the passion fruit cocktail. It was fab! Most of all, what I really appreciated with every bite is that I wanted more and that it was so unique compared to anything else that I had ever tried. I thought the tasting menu was a really good deal, but you should also consider booking just a la carte because everything was so solid. You can tell when the chips served alongside the guacamole are so delicious and so unique that the rest of the meal is going to be incredible. I will say that it did seem slightly understaffed. Our waiters did the best they could, but dinner took longer than expected. It was still a great experience for both those on dates and those there with friends!

4.5 stars, 5 for food and 4 for service…read more Food was delish! My favorites were the gem salad elote and the guac. We also got the crispy snapper taco and the duck to share. I loved all the sauces that they give to each table that I couldn't decide which one I liked more. The drinks were very good as well. We got the deconstructed margarita and I really enjoyed it as well as the pina colada cocktail. Service was a bit on the slower side but to be fair, there weren't many people working the tables. Also one of our dishes got served to the wrong table and then never came :( definitely wanna come back to try the tuna tartare which was the dish that didn't get delivered.

0.5 mi•South Slope, Park Slope

Seating inside

See all

Bar wall

Casa Azul

4.3(197 reviews)

Loved this place. Cute blue decor. Amazing food they had some unreal chilaquiles and enchiladas…read more Good date spot and drinks were great, esp the pear/ cucumber/ spicy marg. Service was also great.

I had a tlayuda oaxaquena, which came with beans, cheese, and a variety of vegetables on top of a…read moretortilla. I felt like it needed a bit of salsa to brighten things up, but otherwise the flavors were nice. It was around $26 before tip, and the portion size was reasonable.

1.7 mi•Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill

See all

Ruta Oaxaca Mexican Cuisine

4.3(57 reviews)

Family-owned & operated

Private events

We were walking along Smith St. looking for a new dining spot when Ruta Oaxaca caught our eye. A…read morecozy little neighborhood place with tacos and margaritas - perfect! We're glad we stopped in. We caught them during Happy Hour and their $10 classic margaritas (A-Wevos on the drink menu) were absolutely delicious (and not light on the tequila! ;-) We ordered Tacos Mixtos, choosing Birria, Chicken and Shrimp. Fresh ingredients all around, great sauces on them. The shrimp popped with flavor in your mouth, the chicken was super tender and flavorful, and the beef birria was ok, a little too chewy. The Churros Rellenos were a very hot, crispy and fun way to end the meal. Our server Jim was very friendly and helpful as well. There was so much more on the menu we want to explore, so we can't wait to go back!

Would definitely not recommend the fish tacos, they were honestly very lackluster. It felt like the…read morefish was fried a while ago and then served to me later. The slaw was also just okay. Pretty disappointing all in all. My friend enjoyed her Chicken Mole dish so perhaps the move here would be select the entrees and stay away from the tacos. I did like the Orale and think it would be fine to come here just for the happy hour drink special.

1.5 mi•Cobble Hill, Gowanus

Fresh Ceviche

See all

Refreshing & Artisanal Cocktails

Purepecha

4.3(110 reviews)

This is a real bang for your buck place!! The food was great and the tacos were loaded! The…read moremargaritas are fantastic! Service was prompt and so kind. Ambiance was great for a laid back summer lunch ! Not crowded at all and they have a big window that opens up in the front on nice days!

Came here to celebrate a friend's new job promotion. We came for happy hour and didn't leave until…read morewell into the night. A time was definitely had. We drank passion fruit margaritas all night and they were super delicious. We also ordered elote, loaded fries and loaded nachos with chicken. Nice local business with kind employees. Service was also good and super fast considering there weren't a lot of wait staff. The bathroom facilities were also well kept and clean.

4.2 mi•Williamsburg - North Side

Interior

Mezacalita. Tasty. Strong.

See all

Raspberry Margarita & Peach Margarita - Happy Hour ($9)

Santa Fe BK

4.4(171 reviews)

So glad I tried this spot! The burger was really delicious and the fries were so nice when it first…read morecame to our table. The chicken flautas was also so good in that there were different textures and it was refreshing to have so much lettuce. We had a lovely experience with the bar tender and helped us decide what we should order. Great date spot at night I must come here again for their famous breakfast burritos.

I think I can say this is the best breakfast burrito I've had in New York!…read more Starting off, their signature Hatch chilies are delicious, with just the right amount of kick, and they provide a great spicy, fresh bite. The eggs are cooked perfectly, soft and fluffy, and the tater tots add a nice crunch, although I would not mind if they were even a little crunchier. They're already better than most places I've been. The sausage was nice and flavorful, although I do wish there was a little more, as I felt like it got a little lost in the rest of the burrito. Overall, this is a very cohesive burrito with all the components working very well together. I like their take-out system. It's very fast and efficient, and I was greeted by the owner, who is very friendly and full of personality. I highly recommend this place!

Indoor dining

Complimentary dessert served with honey.

See all

Compact menu but definitely enough choices.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

ae j.

146

8 years ago

Delicious food and great flavors. Very affordable meals. Everything we've ordered (fish tacos, al pastor tacos, nachos, enchiladas, chipotle chicken bowls) have been fantastic. We go often and it's consistently great. read more

Angel T.

4 years ago

The burritos be so good it's the best burrito you can get anywhere,tbh all the food here is good and the drinks

Josh A.

11 years ago

Great food service and prices , The kale buster juice was good too . read more

Ronald R.

10 years ago

love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! great staff and food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ted C.

11 years ago

Amazing tacos. Very fresh and very fast delivery.

El Nopal - mexican - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Restaurants near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Coffee near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Desserts near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Things to Do near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Parking near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Tacos near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Breakfast near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Burrito near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Shopping near El Nopal

BEST of Brooklyn, New York Smoke Shop near El Nopal

Best of Brooklyn

Things to do in Brooklyn

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed El Nopal also viewed

Pablito's Taqueria

4.0

(88 reviews)

Super delicious and homey. I tried chips with guacamole and two tex-mex entrees: the chimichanga…read moreand Eli's quesadilla. The chips were super fresh (still warm!) and the guac was refreshing. The chimichanga had a variety of vegetables with comforting spices, and I especially liked that the exterior had little extra crunchy bits to add to the texture. My favorite part of Eli's quesadilla was the spicy potatoes. We also got two salsas on the side - a vegetable green one, and a spicy red one which was my favorite. Prices were very reasonable at around $50 for two people.

Outstanding service, the atmosphere is fantastic, and the margaritas are simply amazing. They use…read moreReal Tamarind, resulting in rich and delightful flavors.

Papi's Grill

4.0

(118 reviews)

Pivoted to lunch at Papi's Grill on Tuesday afternoon. Excellent and reasonably priced Mexican food…read moretake-out. Quality: Papi's Grill is just solid and affordable Mexican food, and all the locals know it. I ordered a delicious Carne Asada Burrito, the steak on it was perfection, and each bite was fantastic. I also had a few bites of a Carne Asada Torta, which was too much bread for me, but the flavor was still solid. The Chips & Guac is a must, very creamy guacamole. Quantity: Massive portions for every item. Value: $13 for a Carne Asada Burrito. $9 for a Torta. $9 for Chips & Guac. Ambiance: Papi's Grill is located in Park Slope. Even though they have a dining area, when I visited every single person was crowded around the take-out section. The open kitchen displaying the food was incredible to watch. They are incredibly efficient and everything they put together looked delicious. Crowd: Constant bustling lunch crowd. Service: Extremely fast at filling orders. Parking: Limited street parking.

I hesitate to add a review, but my experience was very disappointing. I ordered the enchiladas with…read moreguac and pico de gallo as extras. The food had some "heat" but overall was bland and soggy. Perhaps they reacted to the negative reviews of being dry, but seemed like they added water to refried beans. The rice was blah, and the tortillas were soaked?! with what I don't know. I've never had soggy enchiladas before. It was as if they had made everything the day before and threw them into the microwave to heat up. To each his own. Don't think I'll be back.

Don Burrito

3.6

(111 reviews)

Lovely people. Really homey vibe. Their chili rellenos can't be beat. I'm not as crazy about the…read moretacos, a little bland, but I'm only here for the rellenos.

It is so hard to find good Mexican food in New York City. I am crying…read more Bland, boring, and slow. That is what I thought of this restaurant. Nothing really good, but nothing too terrible, save for the salsa which is absolutely terrible. The burrito is barely edible. It tasted like they took it out of a box and heated it up in the oven. The Mexican rice and refried beans are not bad, but when you have burrito in your name, it must be good. Sadly, it is not. The tortilla soup is not much better either. Barely any cheese, and too many tortilla strips. Add in some chicken and I will be happy. This let me down. If someone can get me some tissues, that would be great.

Calexico - Park Slope

3.7

(540 reviews)

Recommended: Baja fish bowl, chicken tacos, ground beef tacos, burritos…read more Very consistent quality. Fast delivery. Great value.

Not a huge fan of this place. We came here and enjoyed the jalepeno poppers but didn't like the…read moreburrito or the nachos. The chicken burrito Baily had any chicken in it. The sauces were also way too tart Service: decent service Ambience: nice with decent seating

Taqueria Restaurante Mi Barrio

4.1

(36 reviews)

I get lunch from here occasionally. Usually a torta. Sometimes tacos/tostadas. All really good…read more They also have hot food which is a meat with rice and beans for $12. My go to protein is usually carnitas or suadero. Affordable and tasty food. Worth trying when in the area.

The food is always great. I go at least once a week to have their authentic Mexican food. The…read morewaitresses are very nice and the service is good.

La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant

4.6

(15 reviews)

So yummy! I loved my torta there was so much in my sandwich and good ratios throughout. I will…read moredefinitely go back to try more of their food. I did take out but there is a decent amount of space to sit and the staff were helpful and nice.

I saw this place while walking down the street and it looked inviting, so I popped in for lunch…read more What a treat! The waitress was very sweet, and it was fun to work through my utter lack of Spanish with her. The food was delicious, copious, and very, very good value. Steak had a beautiful char on it, the tortilla chips were amazingly succulent, and the pico was fresh and tangy. This will be a great place to visit in the summer when it's hot out and I'm looking for a cool, welcoming respite!

Elora's Mexican and Spanish Food

3.4

(273 reviews)

Horrible food. Food was bald and my partner got a bean soup that looked like dish water.read more

Food was good but server was an amateur. Brought our meal with no utensils. I ordered 2 veggie…read moreenchiladas and was served 1veggie & 1 chicken. Outdoor table was nice

Los Mariachis Restaurant

3.6

(121 reviews)

I stumbled into this spot during a Saturday night stroll through the neighborhood. They have their…read moreoutdoor seating set up and were complying with social distancing guidelines. Masks are required upon entry, but can be removed once seated. All of the servers and workers in general had on masks and gloves, which was great. We ordered the shrimp ceviche, which was about $12, and some frozen margaritas. The ceviche came with 4 packs of saltine crackers that were a bit stale. I would have also liked a few more pieces of shrimp. They were split in halves so there were probably 4 shrimps total. The margaritas were really good. The strawberry one was definitely made with real strawberry purée and tasted really fresh. I appreciate the efforts made at this establishment and will be back to try more menu items and other drinks.

Decided I wanted a Mexican buffet for dinner for my love and I and so I ordered from two local…read morerestaurants and loved the food from both. I made my own turkey chili which was just as good as any restaurant.

Don Patron Bar & Grill

4.1

(73 reviews)

The food is excellent here! Definitely need to do a shout out about their El Paso bean dip! OMG!!…read moreTheir house salsa is excellent as well. Everything was great. Had their beef tip burrito, and it was loaded with beef!

I've still never had a meal here that wasn't really tasty. Bumped up for being consistently…read moreexcellent.

Castro's Restaurant

3.6

(324 reviews)