Doña Zita — Restaurant in New York

My New Review 2021-04-27: After being unemployed due to Pandemic and on a very limited budget from my savings to live off of until the job market improves and pandemic subsides, I decided to splurge and get a few street tacos from an excellent and as close to authentic Mexican restaurant that I used to frequent in Coney. Although in the area nearby on Coney Island Avenue there are just as good and cheaper alternatives, I felt it was a good time to go visit a place I used to go to multiple times weekly every summer but sadly haven't been to since the start of the pandemic. The quality here is still great, but sadly, once again, prices have gone up (yes, I reviewed this place with 5 stars in 2019 but mentioned the costs for a taco was already pretty high -- see below). Now, and to my amazement, the taco is priced at $4 each!! This is an outdoor vendor, not some Manhattan dine-in restaurant with table service that offers water, utensils and silverware.

What we have here is that the owners are trying to make up for (probably) INSANE rent that is charged in Coney Island (look around at everything that opens and goes out of business and blames the rents as per all news outlets). Sadly, this will push me and I'm sure MANY other loyal customers to other more affordable alternatives nearby,,or just spend less. This fact couldn't be more true ESPECIALLY in this pandemic where the economy which was once a beast with almost full employment to now many people here in Brooklyn are now on government public assistance just to get by due to this pandemic.

NOTE TO OWNERS OF DON ZITA: YOU HAVE SOMETHING GREAT, DON'T SCARE AWAY PEOPLE WITH $4 TACOS AND JACKING PRICES ON EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE MENU JUST TO MAKE UP FOR LOSSES ELSEWHERE, FORCED CLOSURES, AND HIGH RENT IN CONEY. WE ARE ALL HURTING, NOW MORE THAN EVER. YOU ARE LUCKY TO HAVE CUSTOMERS, KEEP THEM, DON'T FORCE THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE OF GREED...OR SIMPLY MOVE TO A LOCATION MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR YOU. I WANT TO GIVE YOU MY MONEY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE ROBBED FOR MEXICAN FOOD. My Old Review - Written start of summer 2019: Getting too expensive, I won't be returning like...

They must have just reopened for the season, because I was the only one there and one of a few random people strolling the Bowery. It was a beautiful day for a walk and I was quite hungry. Seeing a beloved local spot open and ready to serve up some fresh food was a most welcome sight. I ordered two chicken tacos, and waited only about 5 minutes while they were made hot and fresh. I was presented with the option of red and green salsas and was warned that the red was spicy. That’s fine by me! I had one taco with red and one with green—picante y sin picante! They also offered a bottle of crema and a bowl of fresh pico de gallo. They left me to use the condiments at my discretion. Next time I’ll use more pico because that was sooo good! Anyway, my food was so delicious and hot and I really enjoyed it. Glad to sit there and take in the good food, and the wonderful ambience of the warm, breezy day. Glad I finally got out to this place. I’ve been a local for 3 years and it was my first time, but definitely won’t be my last!

By the way, if you support little businesses like this in Coney Island, go out and support them! They even deliver! And remember, if you want the Bowery to continue existing and places like Doña Zita to be around for generations to come, DO NOT support the casino being built here. The entire Bowery will be flattened and much of the remains of Coney history will be destroyed. Support local! Support Doña...

I come to this place once a year. Their prices go up every year and are ridiculous. I order a gordita with chicharon and they did not have chicharon available. I decide to order chicken flautas. After 20 min. wait, I get a plate that looked like a large salad. After digging under strings of Oaxacan cheese, black beans, 2 slices of tomatoes, large strips of avocado, grated cheese and cream, I finally find the flautas. Theae are actually deep fried chicken tacos--not flautas. Just returned from Mexico and had real flautas. They are long, thin rolled up deep fried tacos spread with cream, shredded lettuce and cheese w your choice of spicy salsa. Anyway, the tortilla tasted rancid and the chicken inside was overcooked and flavorless. I was so hungry and tired of waiting, I did not get up to complain. This was more like a taco salad. Their green sauce was not spicy at all and my husband ordered a cemita which was mediocre and flavorless. The only plus was a very good tasting Jamaica water. Better off going to Nathans next time. Not a place...