El Parador Cafe

If you feel like a taste of Mexico, this is the one. Culinary specialties in generous portions at friendly prices. Don’t miss the Grilled Double Pork Chop or the Chicken Fajitas. Service is superb. Highly recommended!

A great place for a nice dinner and drink. There are free tortilla chips and salsa to snack on whilst you enjoy your drinks and wait for the food to arrive. The food itself was really good - especially the mole chicken!

El Parador Cafe is a solid Mexican spot in this neighborhood. Strong neighborhood vibes; It feels like a local spot to come for drinks or dinner. They have a happy hour, a number of different margaritas, and a very decent food menu. Reservations are smart, but waits for small tables are usually not too terrible. They have a large dining room, a bar, and a basement with a lot of seating as well.

I can see the history of this place but its very dark inside almost feel like a cave. But the ambience was nice and things were still bright enough with the tiny lights on ceiling. Attentive staffs they were all friendly but the portions were crazy. Pretty smol for the price and the flavors werent anything crazy. It was good tho, frozen margaritas were nice the mango flavor was just right. Guac and salsa were nice and they had diced jalapeños. The bathroom location is downstairs nd interestingly decorated w the ceiling low and sticker full. Bright and calm and away tho.

I visited with my family today, not only was the food DELICIOSO but our server Bautista was fantastic!

This was one of those great finds of a restaurant we didn't realise was so close to where we live. Been here several times now and the food has been consistently excellent. My favourite dish has to be the fajitas, but the tacos are good as are the enchiladas. All of them are big portions and come with lots of rice and beans. So, go hungry if you're visiting. The spice level of the dishes were just right for us, in that it's reasonably mild. Okay, probably not the spice level of normal Mexican food, but given the target market you don't want to blow your customers' heads off if they're not used to overly spicy foods. One of the interesting things they provide with the tortilla chips is a warm salsa. Unusual, but very pleasant. The tortilla chip basket gets replaced even before you finish it, so you can munch to your hearts content. Though I'd recommend stopping so you can eat what you ordered! The staff are very friendly, speedy, attentive and professional. The decor is very homey, lots of fun lanterns which provide an inviting vibe to the place. When it gets busy it can get a little loud. It's great for weekend brunch as it doesn't get too crowded. Apparently, it's the oldest Mexican restaurant in the city and with food as good as they produce I can see why they're still around.

I make sure to stop here for dinner every time I'm in town. My grandfather has been coming since the 1960's and we love keeping the tradition alive. The menu is always fresh and original, portions are great, and the drinks are delicious. Worth the stop every single time!

Nice place with good food. Friendly and helpful personal. Fresh made guacamole and fried ice cream must have.

If you feel like a taste of Mexico, this is the one. Culinary specialties in generous portions at friendly prices. Don’t miss the Grilled Double Pork Chop or the Chicken Fajitas. Service is superb. Highly recommended!

A great place for a nice dinner and drink. There are free tortilla chips and salsa to snack on whilst you enjoy your drinks and wait for the food to arrive. The food itself was really good - especially the mole chicken!

El Parador Cafe is a solid Mexican spot in this neighborhood. Strong neighborhood vibes; It feels like a local spot to come for drinks or dinner. They have a happy hour, a number of different margaritas, and a very decent food menu. Reservations are smart, but waits for small tables are usually not too terrible. They have a large dining room, a bar, and a basement with a lot of seating as well.

I can see the history of this place but its very dark inside almost feel like a cave. But the ambience was nice and things were still bright enough with the tiny lights on ceiling. Attentive staffs they were all friendly but the portions were crazy. Pretty smol for the price and the flavors werent anything crazy. It was good tho, frozen margaritas were nice the mango flavor was just right. Guac and salsa were nice and they had diced jalapeños. The bathroom location is downstairs nd interestingly decorated w the ceiling low and sticker full. Bright and calm and away tho.

I visited with my family today, not only was the food DELICIOSO but our server Bautista was fantastic!

This was one of those great finds of a restaurant we didn't realise was so close to where we live. Been here several times now and the food has been consistently excellent. My favourite dish has to be the fajitas, but the tacos are good as are the enchiladas. All of them are big portions and come with lots of rice and beans. So, go hungry if you're visiting. The spice level of the dishes were just right for us, in that it's reasonably mild. Okay, probably not the spice level of normal Mexican food, but given the target market you don't want to blow your customers' heads off if they're not used to overly spicy foods. One of the interesting things they provide with the tortilla chips is a warm salsa. Unusual, but very pleasant. The tortilla chip basket gets replaced even before you finish it, so you can munch to your hearts content. Though I'd recommend stopping so you can eat what you ordered! The staff are very friendly, speedy, attentive and professional. The decor is very homey, lots of fun lanterns which provide an inviting vibe to the place. When it gets busy it can get a little loud. It's great for weekend brunch as it doesn't get too crowded. Apparently, it's the oldest Mexican restaurant in the city and with food as good as they produce I can see why they're still around.

I make sure to stop here for dinner every time I'm in town. My grandfather has been coming since the 1960's and we love keeping the tradition alive. The menu is always fresh and original, portions are great, and the drinks are delicious. Worth the stop every single time!

Nice place with good food. Friendly and helpful personal. Fresh made guacamole and fried ice cream must have.

Haven't been here in a long time and I brough my partner for the first time. The atmosphere is really nice and romantic. The staff was super attentive and fast service. Got the jalapenos with peanut butter because those used to be my favorite and they did not disappoint. I would recommend half peanut butter and half cheese. The cocktails were great, we tried the mezcalita and the frozen mango margarita. For entrees we shared was the chicken mole that was excellent and the shrimp quesadilla, also pretty tasty. Everything was so good we went for the fried ice cream, a very yummy end to an overall really good meal.

Love this place. Been a million times but tonight was terrible. Maybe new owners? Waited forever for everything...table, menus, drinks, chips, food, Bummer. But I'll be back.

I really wish I could give 'em 5 stars and be absolutely in love with El Parador. But strike one on the first thing I ordered- a "tamarind marg in the rocks" Super fresh lime juice, but wayyyyy too much of it- just tasted like I was suckin on a lime. I drank it and moved on to my next drink... the salsa. Hell yeah I drank the salsa. That stuff was fantastic! A bit different than your typical salsa, very good, nice kick, sweet onion, fantastic! Brought a whole second cup of it home. Next was the black bean soup, enjoyed the hell outa that too, wish there was a few more chunks from the top throughout the entire soup (avocado onion sour cream). Delicious and understated in the best way. The Ropa Vieja was everything it needed to be and the sweet plantains were up there with the best I've ever had. The beans were somehow super light and airy .. everything was, didn't sit like a brick at all. A lot of the flavors were muted but all in all it was a god meal. Just wish I didn't spend $15 on one of the worst margs I've ever had in my life but uhhhh Oldest Mexican joint in the city I'm told, everything was good except for the margarita and chicken in the fajitas (sorta weird n chewy I'd like to try some other things but I'm not sure when I'll be comfortable spending that much money on it lol- probably soonish though :)

This is a great place. The food is excellent, the service is great, and the people who work here are FUN! Go and be happy! Patricio

had nice attentive staffs and the guac and salsa were pretty good. They had frozen margaritas nd mango flavors were the best. Interesting bathroom set up in the basement the decors were cute and the ceiling was little. Food was just ok in my opinion the portions were smol for the price we paid. My saute shrimp meal came in a big plate but not too much on it. The flavors were familiar and it was tasty but i was pretty shocked. Chicken fried the parador was nicely flavored and seasoning go deep but it was tangy citrus flavored interesting take of an in the middle too.

01/26/23: Another great meal had. Yummy scallop salad. Not bad for $20. Decent amount of scallops. Cooked just right. Love how you are greeted the staff is awesome. Good place to catch a lunch special. Will keep on returning especially when earning Seated $$. Download, use code Michelle1454 you'll be glad you did!

A treasure & the oldest continuously operated Mexican restaurant in NYC. Built when kitsch was big, the booths, wood beamed ceilings are incredible. The food is old school do if that's not what you're looking for the oh well. If your good with that this is a delicious dining treat. Ate: Chips & salsa(gratis) Black bean soup Mussels Sweet potato mash Total: $28 before tax & tip The soup was solidly deep, creamy & delicious with bits of avocado- yum as were the mussels & mash. I will definitely be back!

We came here for the happy hour, which is pretty good. $7 for a straight (no ice) margarita, $9 for a slightly larger margarita with ice, and a good sangria. I would recommend the sangria (1/2 and full pitcher) if you're looking to share among a group. The happy hour is at the bar area only, and you can't reserve. Although there is extra seating at the bar area. Food wise, we had the tacos from the happy hour menu as well. They were pretty good and I would recommend.

Went here during Happy Hour and dinner with friends on a weekday. Andrew at the Bar prepared our Margaritas on 1st round and made it good. Service was up to par (5 Star for me). On the 2nd round one of the server made it, but it's bland, I told Andrew about it and he quickly fixed and replaced the tasteless Margarita. I had the Seafood Paella and it's soooo good (if you don't have seafood allergy, try this). We also ordered Mole Poblano de Pollo and definitely a must to try too. Overall great food and Kudos to Andrew for 5 Star Service to our group!

Fresh, reliable, affordable mexican food. The shrimp quesadilla in delicious. The plantations are so tasty. The salad is fresh. Their homemade dressing is delicious. It's great for a date night or the perfect delivery. Reheat the food to get the most bang for your buck. Def recommend!

I ordered chicken enchiladas. the flavor was good, but I found multiple little chic bones in my food. glad I didn't swallow the.

True upscale Mexican! I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and inventiveness of the cuisine here. Simply delicious. If you think you know what a good quesadilla is.... I invite you to try the barbacoa and watch your bar raise! A fabulous and spacious oasis in Murray Hill.

Stopped by the other day for lunch, and this place did not disappoint. Location itself is spacious nice bar and the vibe is nice They stop serving lunch around three so we got the dinner menu. App House chips and salsa 4/5 Fresh chips, warm salsa. Can't go wrong, only thing is there was meat in the salsa so if someone is vegetarian, be aware of that.. Mains Steak burrito - 5/5 A great burrito that didn't have a crazy amount of stuff, covered in a red sauce. The red sauce was good and it was all wrapped in a thinner smaller tortilla. The state was amazing! Good quality meat, perfectly cooked. Chimichanga burrito -4/5 This was a fried burrito. Traditionally with beef. Well flavored flaky not too oily and the meat tasted good. Can't go wrong with this option Both of the items came with rice and beans, 3/5 They were OK, nothing extraordinary. Dessert: We had their tres leches, 4/5 Great, great consistency, flavor and moist. If it was a little more wet, I would have given it a five.

Stumbled into this spot while living in Murray Hill and boy was I happy to find it. El Parador is the oldest Mexican restaurant in NYC and it's no surprise it's lasted the last 60+ years. Food is great, service is good and the ambiance is cool, especially considering you're in a restaurant just off the Midtown Tunnel. I honestly still think about their chimichangas and look forward to stopping in when in the area.

I just love this place. The taco combo plate is giant. The garlic shrimp has large delicious shrimp. Everything is wonderful. Love the fresh fruit margaritas.

Had dinner here this evening - it was fantastic! Wonderful food, wonderful service, wonderful atmosphere. So incredibly friendly! Really enjoyed the shrimp fajitas and shrimp quesadilla. Flan among the best I've had. Grilled tuna tacos were perfect. Excellent, reasonably priced wine. We look forward to coming back!

Ohh this is one of the most authentic mexican food we found and apparently its been here for years. Craving for hard shell tacos and some good guacamole we googled and found this gem. The servers were amazing and they know exactly what we want.

Cozy and great environment when you walk into the restaurant. Food was amazing!! Will be back for more

Mexican restaurant, open since 1959, with a solid menu of traditional Mexican foods & margaritas.  The place is very reasonably priced All meals come with complimentary chips and salsa, which are very tasty I sat at the bar and got a chicken quesadilla, which was small but mighty The staff were very friendly Bib Gourmand 2018, not in 2019 8

As a Californian who now lives in New York, it's been really hard (impossible) to find Mexican food here that compares to what I'm used to. This place is the closest I have been able to find in all of the city. Margaritas really good too. The ambience is really nice too, feels like a true old fashioned Mexican/ Spanish restaurant

This place is a joke. They have the audacity to charge an ABSURD amount for the tiniest portions ever with zero accompaniments. For example, we paid $26 for I kid you not 3 fish tacos that were two bites each and had ZERO toppings!! Just a small piece of fried fish on a small tortilla. The chicken quesadilla was also similarly highway robbery - $17 for the world's smallest quesadilla that was simply chicken and cheese. No salsa, guac, sour cream, NOTHING! An extra star ONLY because the margaritas were the only thing that was fairly priced at $14/each and at least those were strong and delicious. A big fat AVOID!

Yelp found us this place for dinner on a Saturday evening. A bit unusual for either a Mexican or Spanish restaurant, kind of a mashup, seemed to us, but good! They start you off with a bowl of tortilla chips and a small dish of cooked, warm, salsa, that the menu says is their non-vegetarian recipe from 1959! Waiter said there's chicken broth in it, hence the not vegetarian. There are raw salsas available for an up charge, but we stuck with the original, different but tasty! We ordered a half pitcher of sangria, which was a light red, filled with chunks of lemon, lime, & orange, and went down easy! Mmmm. I couldn't resist the gazpacho, not always on the menu, and I loved it. Mostly puréed but with some tiny chunks of veggies and a thick texture. Very very good! My husband asked if they'd make a paella without chorizo, and that was no problem - plenty of seafood on that lovely yellow rice; of course I tasted (ate 2 of the mussels and some of the rice) and it was a good paella. My entree, the black bean and spinach enchiladas, was okay, underwhelming. Two enchiladas with just a dusting of queso fresco. Usually enchiladas are buried in too much melted cheese; these erred in the opposite direction! But the spinach tasted fresh, and it was overall enough with an excellent tomato sauce and a side of slaw. We were full, so we passed on dessert. We'll definitely go again, covid-permitting! We sat outside because even though we're fully vaxed, no longer comfortable going indoors. that this will eventually go away! Anyway, do try El Parador!

My experience with El Parador Cafe is unlike any other Yelp Adventure I've ever been on. When my husband and I popped into this location we were first seated across from the bar on a small table for two. Personally, whenever I go out to eat, those small tables for two barley fit everything I order on it and so I asked our server to be moved to the back / main dining room which looked like it was closed. I had seen one or two people pop around back there so I assumed it would be fine. At first the waiter paused and said that it was closed for private dining - my first thought was that someone is getting proposed to back there, a few minutes later our waiter came back and said that we would be allowed to move there if we promise not to take any pictures. At first I was confused, but to get to the bigger table I agreed. As soon as we got back there I locked eyes with THE EMMA WATSON. My literal childhood idol - I couldn't believe it. My husband and I ordered a pitcher of red sangria which was super refreshing and light. My husband ordered the Fajitas De Pollo which came out looking quite average, I ordered the Short Rib Tacos (2 tacos) super delicious though I wish it came with 3 instead of two. Overall amazing experience - will definitely return!

The absolute best Mexican you're going to find in New York City. I cannot give a higher recommendation for food, service and atmosphere. Make sure to make a reservation--walk ins on Friday/Saturday will have a long wait time, though it will certainly be worth it!

I'll Parador did not disappoint-- their upscale authentic Mexican style food is unique and rich. Their margaritas were very good too. I would recommend this restaurant for either a casual dinner or a more formal meal!

Fantastic service and rather good Mexican food. Came around 715pm and it was rather busy and remained busy. You get a free bowl of chips and salsa to start. The salsa is warm and Smokey in flavor. I wish the chips had salt on them. I got a frozen margarita for $12. It was actually pretty good. For dinner, I got the chilaquiles de Liza. It is a chicken casserole with blur corn chips, tomatillo, and sour cream. I think they originally forgot my sour cream, but got some later. The staff mixes up the dish and serves a portion of it table side to start. The dish reminded me a lot of spinach and artichoke dip, but was rather good. It needed more chips imho, but the serving size is plenty for two meals. My friend got the steak fajitas and they were the standard affair served on a sizzling plate. Came with guacamole, sour cream, and some spicy sauce. Would recommend this place. It was busy and had a nice overall appealing decor.

We came here on a Sunday afternoon, and given it was during Valentine's Day weekend, we were surprised at how few people were here. Nonetheless, it did mean our service was quicker than if it were fully packed! We ended up ordering a tamarind margarita, the chef's combo (chicken enchilada & beef picadillo enchilada), and the ropa vieja with plaintains. To start, the tamarind margarita tasted very mediocre. It seemed like a mid cocktail. However, the plantains and the enchiladas were so delicious! The ropa vieja was good, probably above average, but I would probably order something else if I came here again. My husband stated the beans tasted like they have been on the floor for a long time and then reserved onto your plate, so I don't recommend getting any beans here. Overall, it was a pretty solid experience! We've always wanted to try out El Parador Cafe, and we're glad we did! There could have been some improvements to our food, but for the most part, we enjoyed eating here!

This place is near and dear to my heart because it's one of the first restaurants my boyfriend and I went to together. Since then this has become our favorite Mexican restaurant and we come here often. The service is familial and warm and we're always treated with care when we dine here. The history of El Parador is really beautiful and we're so happy to continue to support such a special long lasting treasure in Manhattan. I stand by the fact that they serve the best margaritas I've ever had in my entire life and their sangria is on point as well. My boyfriend loves the taco tray which gives you a little bit of everything. We also love the shrimp fajitas, the elote and the fresh guacamole. We will continue to come here and if you've never been do yourself a favor and go!

Great services, tasty drinks (spicy margarita is delicious and strong according to my wife) and the staff is very polite. They didn't have Vermouth for a Manhattan I ordered so they comped my substitute drink order! All online ordering, which makes service fast for food and drink. A lot of out door seating; indoor seating was available and limited. Street closed off to cars, which is also nice. Couldn't stop staring at this wall art and running scenarios on how it was conceivably created!

Its a cozy place. We arrived after lunch hours (at 3) that are not written "in stone" on the menu, and while the place was next to empty we were specifically told that lunch is over. Had the chicken quesadilla with a tiny rice/beans side. And while the taste was great, prices for such portion are up there. Doubt I will be coming back there.

It was our second time in the restaurant. We usually do not go to the same place twice but this happened by accident. Place is pretty decent. Food is very good but service is very bad. You wait 10 minutes for a menu and it is Monday 7:30 pm. You wait very long for guacamole, like 30-40 minutes. After we finished our main courses, we waited like 30 minutes with dirty plates on the table. And again it was Monday. Food was pretty good that is why 4 stars. They had specials for dinner, pretty good salmon and blue crab enchilada. Tres leches cake was great as well. So not a single complaint about the food, it was pretty good. The problem is slow and inattentive service.

Very mediocre. Surprised it's still around. The ambiance is poor, as is the outdoor seating area. Food is bland, likely nutritious but not much better than I could do at home. Surprised it has been around for so long.

Stopped in here for a quick lunch before an appointment today, and what a find!  It is a lovely space that exudes warmth and hospitality.  It has an old and comfortable feel to it, as though it were an old friend. And having been around since 1959, it kind of feels that way when you walk in. To have survived in the Big Apple that long is perhaps the best testament to its owners' knowledge and skill of how to run a superior restaurant. For me, it is the best Mexican food in the tri-state area.  From the moment I stated that salsa, I knew I was in for a special meal.  Never had salsa that delicious.  Then came the guacamole, the black bean soup, the grilled corn with cotija and cilantro (UNBELIEVABLE!), and the huevos rancheros.  All incredible.  The portions are large, the prices reasonable, and the service is friendly and accommodating. The place is easy to miss, so keep a sharp eye out for it.  But whatever you do, don't miss it!

A solid hole in the wall find for folks that need to be near the midtown tunnel or the ferries to NJ. Met a friend for lunch. The guacamole, cotija corn and salsa were all super yummy. I also enjoyed my Baja fish tacos. Ambiance is really low, but if you are looking for tasty food and decor isn't necessary, this spot is a solid choice.

Meh mexican. Decent portions of acceptable, but not particularly great food. Service was much better than the food.

Tucked away and hidden but food was delicious. The place is dimly lit but spacious. Great for big or small groups!

My friends hosted a going away party for me here 3/4 and we were treated like Queens! Food was delicious, drinks were great ( I especially loved the white sangria). Wait staff and bartender pleasant, professional,and very attentive.I did not arrange the party but was told that the restaurant went out of their way to be accommodating and helped my friends make all the arrangements (from a distance )with great communication throughout. We had a private room downstairs that was festively decorated and perfect for our group of 20 to mingle. I had a wonderful night and i cannot say enough good things about El Parador!

Excellent food and great service. Salsa and guacamole are really outstanding. Cool vibe inside as well.

Great classic old school Mexican restaurant that's been around since I think the 1950s and it has that old NYC vibe inside the restaurant. Good food, good drinks, excellent service and they don't rush you out like most NYC restaurants. I don't have anything negative to say about it, highly recommend it.

We have a tradition now when a particular group of friends come for a visit, we try a new Mexican restaurant. El Parador was next on the list. This far flung restaurant on 34th Street claims to be one of the oldest running Mexican restaurant in the city. The dimly lit quite interior full of artwork adorning the walls. Seating was comfortable enough. We didn't feel squeezed in and quality of noise was good, at a nice level. Our dour waiter greeted us to get our drinks. Margaritas of course! The menu is a bit more than the usual Mexican staples. Yeah, it has the enchiladas and quesadilla but it offers some interesting appetizers like stuffed jalapeno with peanut butter. I found the guacamole to be slightly chunky and a bit of heat. The staff constantly refilled the chips and our water was topped off. Portions are plenty for the price I thought. The taco tray is a fun way to make your own taco with a group. The fajitas was presented on a sizzling hot plate but wasn't sizzling when it came out. The others decided upon the special that evening of Chef's combo. It looked good and our friend clean his plate so it wasn't so bad right? My go to is the shrimp/steak combo. I thought it was pretty good coming with a large side of beans/rice and usual fixings for it. Still, didn't beat my favorite place for fajitas but did a good job compared to others I've tried. The tres leches cake was moist and so good as well as the flan. (We shared) The margaritas were just right. It wasn't some over sweet pre-mix concoctions that some place use. I can see why El Parador has lasted on the ever changing landscape of NYC restaurants. Pleasant if not a bit dour service. Food, while on the pricier side was good in a relaxed dining experience. My only quibble? Can they get a new interior exit door next to the coat closet? It looks like a non-descriptive brown bathroom door a subtle reminder that you are about to go back the concrete jungle.

7:00 reservation for 2 and there was a nice couple behind us with no reservation. We were given the table next to the door, which I typically wouldn't mind, but it was a bit chilly so before sitting down I asked if we could sit somewhere. We were told there were no other tables, but we could wait at the bar. After sitting down at the bar, I went downstairs to the restroom and saw that the couple that was behind us was seated already... Hmm, strange - red flags. I came back upstairs and they had given us chips and salsa at the bar while we waited. Nom nom nom, here I am chomping down on these chips and salsa because I'm starving after a long of walking around the city. We finished a basket of chips then our table was ready. Out comes another basket of chips and salsa. Still waiting to get the menu and we're talking and chomping. Out comes the menu and alllll the way on the bottom it says the house salsa is NOT VEGETARIAN. Well, FML. I'm a vegetarian. I'm hoping that that's not the salsa they gave us so we wait until the server comes out and he says yes.The conversation went a little something like this: Us: Does this salsa contain meat? Server: Yes, it has chicken. Me: I'm a vegetarian. Server: Then, you don't eat it. Me: I already ate it because no one told me. Server: We don't tell anyone, it's written on the menu. Me: We didn't receive the menu until afterwards. Server: *shrugs shoulders* No apologies. Nothing. However, he did bring out another veg salsa for me, which was fresh-tasting and delicious. Then, when our enchiladas came out, it came out with rice and beans. No one told us it had meat until we asked when he finally came back around... Came home and threw up and have had an upset stomach since. Not because the food didn't taste good (I have to admit the salsa tasted great), but because I've always been a vegetarian and my body is not use to having meat. We always check the menu online before coming into restaurants to see if they have veg friendly options (which they do- they have an entire veg menu), but the online menu did not indicate that the salsa or the rice had meat. First Mex restaurant that I've ever had this issue. The rest of the food was good, and the ambiance was romantic and enjoyable; however, I'm disappointed in the lack of consideration for someone's dietary restrictions.

This restaurant is like a quick trip to Mexico. The only thing I didn't like was the salsa, but everything else made up for it. The salsa was very liquid and it was spicy but not very flavorful. The guac was so fresh and creamy. My favorite was the small taco tray which was a massive platter of high quality ingredients and warm tortillas. The food was amazing enough, but the drinks were even better... I recommend the skinny margarita. It is going to be hard for me to try other Mexican restaurants after this experience.

This restaurant is so authentic on the inside! They brought out the chips and salsa super fast (almost before you were even seated). However the rest of the meal was so slow. It was just me and one other person and we were there for a full 2 1/2 hours. Perhaps because we sat at the bar... maybe they thought we weren't going to order food but we had to ask to order & then ask again for the check. However, the enchiladas were very authentic and really good.

In the past I've called "El Parador" the best kept secret in the neighborhood. The restaurant was extremely busy tonight and I was grateful to eat indoors but my enchiladas came out lukewarm and that's unacceptable. * vegan dishes offered is a plus * waitstaff could've been more attentive (they seemed stretched thin)

Very solid Mexican restaurant in Murray Hill. The menu is on the pricier side but the food is quality. Btw, you can ask for Pico de Gallo along with your salsa.

We first ate here for a wedding reception and loved the drinks, the super fresh and tasty cilantro and sauces in the soft tacos, and the great vibe. We go back whenever we come to NYC from Philly!

Great Mexican restaurant in Midtown. Guac was delicious and fresh. Sirloin steak Fajitas were 10/10

This is our go to Mexican spot and it might be the best one in the city. It's been around forever, and the food is consistently good. It usually gets pretty packed during the weekends, so I recommend making reservation ahead of time. The moment you entered the doors to El Parador you feel the great and lively atmosphere. If you have some time before your dinner reservation they have a great bar and serve even greater margaritas. Strong and very good. As any good Mexican place, they serve delicious guacamole, so definitely order this as an appetizer. Another great choice is the queso fondido, I don't think it's on the menu, but you can ask for it. It's basically melted cheese but oh so good. My absolute favorite to order for the main course is the taco tray it comes with chicken, chorizo, beans, tomatoes, guacamole and tortilla - basically everything delicious. It's a big plate and can definitely be shared by two people. If you are into chicken the pollo parador is great and one of there specialties. This takes abut 30 minutes to prepare but it's worth the wait. You can't go wrong with this place. Everything I've tried on the menu is of excellent quality and the service is constantly great. We always end up staying much longer than expected and I think that says a lot.

Absolutely gorgeous Mexican cafe close to east river and homely vibe. They have plenty of seating indoors including an adorable basement area with cute decor. The food was really tasty and really reasonably priced. The complimentary chips came with pico de Gallo which I really appreciated. Hope to come again to try the drinks