Maizal Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Bar

I was so happy to find this place in Astoria. Our server was excellent, knowledgeable, and had great recommendations. The food was terrific!
The shrimp and plantain appetizer was amazing, we enjoyed the mole dish and was so happy to have such beautifully cooked shrimp.
I really enjoyed so much of my experience here. A few of the steps of service were off — we received our appetizer before our drinks, and had to request share plates several times .
The churros were outstanding. (just uncomfortable to eat without share plates). .
I can’t wait to come back here!

I am a constant Unilocal user.. (ask my girlfriend) she thinks it’s an obsession, how ever I never write reviews. After visiting Maizal I feel compelled to write one. First thing noticed when walking in it is very clean open and well lit. Second thing, we were greeted instantly with smiles and all, sat down and we were explained the menu… typical Mexican cuisine /​with their own twist and additional items. At the time we did not know but it was happy hour and it was Sunday night at 830… we are not drinkers so we did not take advantage of that deal but for you boozers out their you can enjoy. We decided to go with the 3 course prix fixed menu. Two price options 25 or 32… can’t go wrong with the amount of food you recieve. Our waitress, I never got her name but was the sweetest most attentive we’ve had in a while. Our glasses were never empty we were never left looking for anything all the subtle little things that are not done any more. The décor is inviting and warm.
We fell in love with the paintings even asked if they knew where they got them and they said they would find out and have the answer for us next time… even if they don’t the thought was nice lol …
My three choices:
1– Chorizo & Potato Empanada (unique) w/​fresh guacamole (fresh and creamy) and salad
2– Braised Beef Short Ribs w/​Tomatillo Sauce (banging) Rice and Beans and Sweet Plantains
3– Tres Leches Cake…(moist)
*** If you like hot sauce… theirs is fireeeeeee
OTHER MEAL
1– Flautas and salad (crispy and frsh)
2– Shrimp Tacos (2. and lots of plump shrimp) and rice and Beans
3– Churros w/​Carmel sauce (crispy and fresh)
Sorry for the ramble, I hope this review was helpful I just felt the need to report great service and give support to this establishment. Overall this place was great we have alrwady decided to come back and jump into different items on the menu… enjoy!

I enjoy this place. They décor is beautiful and the staff are very friendly and helpful. They had several gluten free options to enjoy which is always a plus. The place is small and intimate. Try the tacos, you will thank me.

While on a conference in NYC, My darling daughter said she was going to take me out for dinner, and to pick a place. Maizal stuck out because it was close to her, because of the almost unanimous high ratings, and because we both enjoy a good Mexican meal.
Our evening started on a good note because we found parking right next to the restaurant. My daughter, her room-​mate (my ‘other daughter’) and I were greeted with a sincere welcoming smile, and invited to sit. We decided to have drinks and share two appetizers. All three drinks — a Lime mojito, cranberry mojito and a jalapeño margarita, were expertly prepared, presented, and enjoyed. The appetizers — a freshly made guacamole and a pair of potato/​chorizo empanadas, were outstanding. The guac was not beaten to a creamy pulp, but left on the slightly chunky side, which added to the feeling of being invited in someone’s home, instead of a commercial establishment. It was perfectly seasoned to our liking, a medium hot spiciness. The empanadas were hot, and crisp on the outside, and the filling had us all looking up at each other as we took a bite and said «Wow!»
Entrees. I had Steak Ranchero — a grilled marinated skirt steak served alongside sauteed shrimp, cooked with jalapeño skins, tomato, onions, fresh cilantro and a shot of Tequila. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a steak so much. The rest of our small group ordered the Mole Poblano Chicken Enchiladas and Fish Tacos. They used spiced flour and fresh grouper for the fish tacos, and the mole sauce on the enchiladas was absolutely impressive.
The place was not very busy, but there was a steady stream of people who braved the cold to partake in the warm, cozy atmosphere, the warm, friendly waitress, and the outstanding experience of an affordable, genuinely Mexican restaruant on a Wednesday evening.
Maizal-​Tov!

My friends and I went to Maizal last Friday night to celebrate a recent engagement and had a great time! Gena was extremely helpful and accommodating reserving our table for 8 people and even allowing me to bring a few table decorations early and arranging for a celebratory toast of Cava upon our arrival. The food was all delicious and the service was friendly and welcoming. We’ll definitely be back!

This place is awesome and has become our go-​to spot for Mexican in Astoria. Nice ambiance and great date spot. My fiancé and I have been here a couple of times over the past few months. The food is delicious and the service is excellent. We usually split the single avocado guacamole as an appetizer. For entrees, we usually split 2 of them and are satisfied. I highly recommend the skirt steak, shrimp fajitas, steak fajitas, or the tequila and lime fired shrimp. Also, for drinks, they make great margaritas. I highly recommend the margarita classica, jalapeño margarita, or the margarita superior. This place is great and if you’re craving Mexican and happen to be in Astoria, then look no further and definitely check this place out. You will not be disappionted!

Booked a large party here (18 people) for a Friday night. The casual party menu was great: enough options at a good price for everyone, and it definitely eliminated any questions about the bill at the end of the night.
We went with the unlimited red sangria option as an add on, and the waiter wasn’t cheap with it. Pitchers kept showing up at the table, so no one’s glass was ever empty. In fact the waiter was attentive the entire night.
And the quality of the food was great: the guac and the spicy pork had a lot of flavor. The tres leches cake was amazing too. And if it’s any indication of the quality, the other 17 people were impressed with their grub choices as well. The churros and ice cream looked awesome.
I definitely recommend this spot for just a regular dinner out or a party.

Yummy! So authentic that sometimes the food was strange to me, and I consider myself to be well-​eated.
The sangria was delicious and not too sweet, after two I was sufficiently buzzed and happy. We got 1 avocado guacomole for 2 people which was a hefty portion, and then I had the Enchiladas Rojas O Verdes while my bf had the Mole Poblano. While mine was delicious, the Mole was too authentic. It was interesting, but I still liked as an experience. We also had the Mexican Hot Chocolate which is a MUST TRY, and the crème brûlée. A fluffy cloud of yum.
Service was polite, warm, and speedy. This is a great place for dinner and brunch in Astoria.

Aside from the décor and ambiance, I wasn’t really impressed with this place. We ordered the guacamole which was not bad but nothing you can’t get at another Mexican restaurant. I ordered the enchilada mole dish and the sauce was way too sweet like a lot of unnecessary sugar was added. I was disappointed since I’m a huge fan of mole. My partner’s grouper dish was mediocre, nothing special. The overall service was not bad, but no one came to check on how we were doing after we were served. My biggest complaint about the service was that it took about 40 minutes for us to get our entrees, which made us late for our the new James Bond movie we had bought tickets for at the theater nearby.
This isn’t the worst restaurant I’ve been to, but there are so many better options in the neighborhood that I most likely won’t be back to this place.

Pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. It tastes more like authentic Mexican food than your kitschy chains and Tequila Sunrises. Still not quite breaching upon my love for Fonda but several notches above Taco Bell. That’s a horrible comparison. The interior of the place is chic and modern with old Hollywood starlets on the walls. I probably didn’t order the best thing on the menu, but the pork quesadilla was solid with flavorful pulled carnitas and came served with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream. My dining companion had ordered the shrimp fajitas and as he was half-​way into his meal he naturally asked if I was going to «Yelp» his dinner. In which I gasped and pulled out my phone in embarrassment and took a haphazard half-​eaten couple of photos. They also serve you a complimentary basket of home-​made tortilla chips and an incredibly addicting spicy and smoky salsa.
I think what impressed me the most about Maizal were their margaritas. I’m not the biggest marg fan but damn, these were delicious. If you get here unrealistically early on weekday evenings (before 6pm at least on a friday) they are significantly marked down to only $ 5. Think Sundays-​Thursdays their happy hour runs longer. I had went with a pomegranate margarita and it was smooth as juice with probably a significant pinch of quality tequila. While he had gotten a spicier pineapple one I believe and the name escapes me but it was lined with smoky salt crystals and it was a great drink. Definitely a quality Mexican spot I’d check out again.

If you like Astoria, Mexican food (guacamole and tacos in particular) and an amazing happy hour drink selection (delicious mojitos and spicy margaritas), you will appreciate this place.
I’m not the biggest fan of their décor in the back, it’s a rather down-​to-​earth place, nothing fancy. But if you are looking to just hang out with friends and/​or have a quiet casual date, do check it out.

Stopped in for lunch and grabbed 2 sets of tacos (steak and grouper), both were good, but the grouper stood out a little more.
Guacamole is solid, but quite lemony. It could probably use less lemon and more avocado.
The empanadas were delicious and tasty, but a bit small and you only receive 2.
The margaritas were on happy hour and were pretty solid.
Service is excellent, food and drinks were decent, and the décor was nice. Overall a 3.5−4 star experience as I was satisfied all around.

Another yummy Mexican place near my old apartment! (Alas, none near my new apartment — come to Ditmars, Mexican food!)
I went here for an early Saturday night dinner with my hubby after my girlfriends recommended it and said there were vegan options. Once I went on Unilocal and saw that there were also jalapeño margaritas I was sold. I was a little confused about the outdoor seating designation on Unilocal though — there are 2 tables next to the open air non-​wall, but I don’t think that really qualifies.
But I digress! The guac was fresh and you could choose your spice level. I didn’t love the tortilla chips but that is what the guac is for. We each got a different margarita and both enjoyed them, and some of the other cocktails look really tasty as well. Husband got a special, stuffed poblano pepper with shrimp, chorizo and potatoes and liked it. I got the vegan enchiladas which were fresh and tasty. Really nice to have an explicitly vegan option, as opposed to having to clarify no cheese, are the beans vegetarian, etc. You could also get other options though — veggie fajitas, or tacos or a burrito with no cheese. We were stuffed, so didn’t get dessert.
Liked the décor — the front part was airy and light and the back had a cozy feel. Service was very attentive and friendly — our waiter was really helpful and had a sense of humor. In fact we had a couple of different people stopping by to ask if our order had been taken, if we had drinks etc, which was nice but I would have preferred if just one person (our waiter) had done it since we kept having to repeat ourselves, and weren’t quite sure who to order from.
But small gripes for an excellent overall experience. We will definitely be back. And vegans take note — even though there aren’t vegan options on the brunch menu I asked our server and you can order off the regular menu to get vegan option.

Another reason to stay close to home. What a fantastic meal! We started with the stuffed plaintain w shrimp appetizer, moved on to the daily entrée special Lobster paella, then opted for the beef enchiladas with mole sauce. Dessert was a perfect flan & outrageous Tres leche cake. We loved the mango margaritas.
Everything was terrific including the service, which is too often lacking in Astoria. This place will be a new «go to» for me, as there were so many other intriguing choices on the menu. The simple solution is to get a group together so your choices can become a tasting event. Prices are reasonable, especially in light of the high quality. I just might have to force myself to go for brunch tomorrow!

I loved the décor of this place from the pictures I saw on Unilocal before going. It’s not the best Mexican food though in Astoria. The food was a little bland and a little over priced for the portions. The waitstaff though was great and their drinks are pretty strong.
I would probably only go back for happy hour

Drinks: Patron Margaritas!!!
Appetizer: Spicy Pork Super Nachos (super good, the cheese melted on top was not overwhelming. Pork was not spicy, so don’t be worry for those Unilocalers who cannot eat spicy foods. Also, served with sour cream, pico de gallo & guacamole on the side)
Entrée: Chicken Fajita!!! AMAZING! I would go back again just to eat this. Not only does it have the traditional grilled onions and red & green peppers, chicken, beans, and sour cream. They had sweet plantains that was wrapped around the yellow rice. That was the best part because it gives your fajita some sweetness! The chicken was grilled just right, not dry at all! The ingredients all wrapped together had me very satisfied. I also used their green sauce for dipping my fajita. The chicken fajita platter was a decent portion of food!
Our server, Matthew!!! He was so welcoming. He consistently checked in on us to see if we needed anything else and made excellent recommendations for drinks & entrees. WOULD DEFINITELY BE GOING BACK FOR THE DRINKS AND THE CHICKEN FAJITA!

Maizal is basically the definition of an upscale, not-​so-​authentic (but yummy nevertheless) Mexican restaurant. Their food selection is Mexican (enchiladas, burritos, etc) but it’s definitely more toned down to cater to a more diverse crowd.
I happened to walk by this place and was craving Mexican food at the time so I decided why not? It was dinner time on a Sunday, so unfortunately I was unable to order brunch but their brunch menu sounded delishhh! Would love to come back for brunch if I lived in the area. Happy hour is al day Sunday to Thursday, 4 – 6 on Friday, and 12 – 6 pm on Saturdays, and it only applies if you sit at the bar. Atmosphere was pleasant and trendy, with wood trim everywhere and ambient lighting throughout. There’s even a sidewalk area where customers choose to dine in when the weathers nicer out.
What we ordered:
Enchiladas (with the red sauce) — I ordered this with a side of mole sauce, and lemme tell you, the Mole sauce is a MUST TRY. It’s not particularly spicy and has more of a rich chocolatey taste to it, but it adds a punch to anything you add it to and honestly makes me feel like I’m eating dessert for dinner haha. The mole sauce is definitely a standout selection at Maizal and would recommend it to anyone!
Guacamole– good. Texture was on the chunkier side, and taste is pretty good, although not the best I’ve had. Portion is slightly small for the $ 8 you pay but it is filling and yummy.
The service here is welcoming and friendly. Our server was checking up with us very often and wasn’t annoyed when I kept asking him to explain certain dishes. Also, keep in mind that Maizal doesn’t allow any outside food or drink inside their restaurant so if you’re carrying any drinks with you, they make you throw it out. Overall, had a great dining experience here and would love to come back during brunch to try their Mexican-​fusion style brunch.

Overall, I was very impressed by my visit to Maizal. The menu is a bit pricey for Mexican food, but there are some golden items, such as the burritos, that are really quite reasonably priced. Before diving right into the more expensive items, my friends and I selected nachos and burritos for a recent visit. Both were really well done.
Honestly, my spicy pork burrito at Maizal is one of the best I’ve had. It was very neat (burritos can easily fall apart if they are haphazardly rolled) and so flavorful, between the juicy meat and the perfectly seasoned rice. I also loved the salsa verde served on the side. Maizal makes a really rockin’ burrito!
I also tried out the margarita special of the day, which featured hibiscus. It was sweet and tart and absolute perfection.
We also polished off a decadent piece of tres leches for dessert. You really can’t go wrong with tres leches, and Maizal hits the nail on the head with dessert as well.
I was really pleased by my experience at Maizal. The food is excellent, service is great, and the décor is really colorful, yet refined. Maizal is a lovely higher-​end Mexican eatery in the heart of Astoria. Definitely two thumbs up!

I can understand the mixed reviews — but I personally loved this spot. First, the décor is just beautiful and romantic. Perfect for a nice birthday dinner or romantic meal, or just a friend catch-​up, as was my case.
Second, the servers are all very nice and good service.
Third, loved the food — which has lots of options, including VEGAN ENCHILADAS!
Fourth — amazing drinks.
A little on the pricy side, but really good experience, so worth it.

I don’t know what took me so long to come here! Stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night. I’ve only walked by a few times, but never noticed how big the restaurant is. It extends all the way to the back with lots of seating.
Tacos are pretty expensive for two small tacos with not a lot of flavor. I didn’t try, but that’s what my sister said. Flautas were alright. Could’ve also used more flavor in the chicken or the sauce.
But the real winner was the garlic shrimp stuffed plantain! Ever since I saw it on the menu, I knew that’s what I wanted. It’s large enough for a meal, for me at least. Good sized shrimp, cheese, sauce, and a delicious, roasted plantain.
Free chips and salsa to start. They do charge you if you want extra. We should’ve tried the guac, but we already ordered so much food.
Service was sub par. It was almost decent at first, but basically disappeared as the night went on after we ordered our food. Not sure if there was only one server on for the entire restaurant?
There was this green sauce that came with the fish tacos that was really good!
Prices are a little more than your average Mexican restaurant, but Maizal is delicious and you should definitely go check it out.