New Mexican cuisine is making waves in New York’s restaurant scene, with several exciting new establishments enticing food lovers across the city.
Among the standout newcomers is Frijoleros, located in Greenpoint.
Owned by Fabiola Juarez, this vibrant Mexican cocktail bar has already garnered attention for its delicious fish tacos and beautifully charred head-on shrimp.
Patrons looking for a drink will find an impressive menu featuring creative cocktails like a paloma infused with Manzanilla sherry and an adventurous tequila-and-green-Chartreuse colada.
However, those who skip the food will miss out on must-try dishes including memelas topped with black beans, queso fresco, and salsa de molcajete.
Seafood lovers will appreciate the shrimp served alongside a rich “Mexican beurre blanc” and the tuna tostada, inspired by the famed version from Contramar.
To finish off the meal, the tacos de pescado, featuring fish fried in masa-beer batter and traditional garnishes like pickled onion and chipotle aioli, are a must.
In Bed-Stuy, another noteworthy spot is Dolores, a walk-in-only restaurant on Tompkins that specializes in exceptional tacos.
Rather than aiming to be a full taqueria, Dolores offers a limited selection of five tacos, complemented by enticing botanas and a daily rotating platter.
During a recent visit on a Friday night, diners were treated to sizzling beef fajitas as the day’s special.
The papadillas—fried corn tortillas stuffed with mashed potatoes—serve as an indulgent comfort food highlight.
For those seeking a kick, the aguachile verde campechano combines fresh squid, octopus, and shrimp in a flavorful, spicy dish.
With no desserts on the menu, guests can indulge in another “One Trick Pony” michelada, a thick concoction blending tomato and strawberry juice—a delightful experience akin to drinking gazpacho.
Also worth the visit in Bed-Stuy is Olmo, which opened in June.
Set on a rapidly changing corner, Olmo offers a chic Nü-Mexican ambiance with stucco walls and artistic touches, including an elm-tree mural.
The founders’ impressive backgrounds at Cosme and Pujol are evident in the restaurant’s menu, featuring enticing CDMX-style bites.
Highlights include a bubbling cazuela of queso fundido and a plate of smoky fideos secos, enhanced with chorizo.
For drinks, patrons can enjoy fun options like a michelada de reversa, which combines a frozen Clamato paleta melting into the drink.
Although desserts take a backseat, the plate of ripe mango sprinkled with panela sugar is an uncomplicated yet delicious finale.
If you’re venturing to Williamsburg, don’t miss Rose Marie, the fresh sister spot to Yellow Rose.
While Yellow Rose pays homage to Tex-Mex, Rose Marie captures the essence of Williamsburg as it was in 2008.
The beer selection includes affordable options like Utica Club, while the menu showcases American bar food with a twist.
Expect dishes such as buttery patty melts, crispy potato wedges, and loaded fried cheese curds.
Though one diner lamented the lack of traditional squeakiness in the cheese curds, the experience was nonetheless enjoyable, especially if you appreciate casual bar fare.
While tacos are absent from the menu, Mexican influences show up in the tequila selection, the frosty G&Ts from the slushy machine, and the imported Coca-Cola—creating a vacation-like vibe perfect for summer.
In Midtown, Cuerno stands out as the first New York branch of a luxury Mexican steakhouse chain.
With interiors echoing elegance through wood and leather accents and service showcasing table-side mastery, Cuerno lays out an impressive menu.
Guests can start their dining experience with a refreshing ceviche Regio featuring firm halibut in leche de tigre and tostadas, followed by decadent frijoles con veneno, a refried bean dish adorned with slow-cooked red-chile pork.
The highlight of the menu is the tacos callejeros—small street-style steak tacos generously filled with chopped carne asada and sprinkled with onions and cilantro.
Diners can choose from a variety of sixty Mexican wines, enhancing their meal, particularly with a sparkling rosé from the Querétaro region that pairs seamlessly with fresh tortilla chips and five different salsas.
With these new dining options, food enthusiasts have a plethora of choices to explore the depth of Mexican cuisine in New York.
Whether seeking creative cocktails or authentic dishes, there’s something for everyone to savor in this vibrant dining scene.
image source from：grubstreet
