Xochitl Taqueria — Restaurant in New York

Good Mexican food for a reasonable price. I can't say that it is 100% authentic, but I'd still say that it does Mexican cuisine justice. It's obviously always going to be WAY cheaper if you just head to Jackson Heights, Queens and buy Mexican food from a street vendor, but for what it is, a sitdown restaurant in Brooklyn, the prices aren't half-bad.

Yes, I had Don Julio tacos with a hard shell, but tacos taste great in both hard and soft shells and today I was just feeling for a crunchy one. They tasted great. No complaints.

The trio of salsa chips were good, but even for someone who enjoys spicy, I thought they were very high on the heat scale. The salsa verde was the most palatable one because it was the least spicy, but the other two salsas were super spicy. The morita salsa (the dark brown one) was arguably the spiciest but because there wasn't a whole lot of other flavors in it besides JUST spicy, it sorta hits you in an unpleasant way. And given that it costs $5 for a lemonade, I was trying to resist quenching my thirst to cool the heat and had to pour a glass of water which thankfully they had on the table already. If you're not VERY into spicy food, I would skip this one.

The flautas, beans, and rice were all great. No complaints. Flavorful and satisfying.

The mole poblano was also good, but not great. I've had homemade mole many times and it tasted 5x better than what I had here. That's not to say this one was BAD, but it isn't anything like I'm used to. There's more of a sourness to this one and I'm used to a more gentle, sweet taste. The homemade mole that I normally eat also has chicken that's so tender it falls off the bone super easily. The chicken that I had here, on the other hand, was pretty stiff like what you'd expect from baked chicken. If you're familiar, with authentic mole, I probably wouldn't get this, but if you're looking to get a grasp of what mole is like, it's definitely an option.

As for the atmosphere, it was colorful, friendly and inviting. Our server was pretty attentive which should be expected because it's a small restaurant, but it's still something that's worth noting. And as always, I do a restroom check in my reviews because I want to get a grasp of the cleanliness of the restaurant and they definitely passed the test.

I would come back here if I'm in the...

Really solid midscale Southwestern US style burrito joint. Good food, great service, comfortable decor, and generous portions at a reasonable price. I’m about 80% sure it has some connection to Aroma Mexico, my favorite South Slope lonely truck stop / Mexican restaurant that shuttered around 2018, because all of their unique menu items are near identical and I’m so happy I can eat them again. (Particularly their signature burrito, the Xochitl Special Is Off The Hook, which is exactly like the Aroma Special Is Off The Hook and is just as aptly named.)

It’s unfair to compare this spot to pricier Mexican restaurants on quality or authenticity, or cheaper places on quantity. But it remains the most satisfying spot in the neighborhood to fill a hungry stomach, especially if you haven’t eaten all day. Way better than Chipotle, at a...

Honestly, one of the best happy hours on smith street. Bartenders are great at making drinks and the service is pretty great. No matter who is working, I have the confidence that any of the workers will give you the best service no matter what! I usually come for happy hour but occasionally will come outside of happy hour just to enjoy a good environment. Environment is very welcoming. Come get your happy hour drinks with you and your friend and you won’t be disappointed. Usually like to come for guac and chips with my happy...