Barrio Chino

Absolutely loved this place! Amazing margaritas and the food was delicious! We were lucky enough to grab seats on an early Friday evening, but the place is tiny and fills up fast, so I expect there is typically a wait.

I came here about 3 times and was all so amazing. I came here one Friday night around 10pm and was still 1:30 wait… but was still nice to get drinks from other places.
I love their elder flower margarita to start and their homemade guac with fresh chips!!!
Their tacos are nice to share (bit expensive). Enchiladas Verdes was delicious with their special sauce and something with shrimp with tomato sauce? Both were really good to share too.
I always recommend this place if anybody’s looking for a nice, cool and hip Mexican restaurant.

Came here for the first time a while back with my friend because I was craving tacos. I would have to say the food is not too memorable and is something I would just pass on a regular day. First, the place is very easy to miss, there’s no name on the outside. I had to look at the number and the menu on the window to see the name. It looked like an abandoned store on the outside. It is very small and cramped inside. People sitting at the bar are literally right behind the people at the tables. No space for walking through or pass them. My friend and I got seated pretty quickly but at the bar because the tables were either reserved or already taken. We were ok with the bar, just wanted to eat and chat. It was too loud to chat. I got tacos and I don’t even remember what my friend got (that’s how memorable the food was). I did like their margarita, I got one with some weird fruit name flavor. The tacos were small in portions and not quite worth it. I mean the food wasn’t bad, but it’s not something I’d go back again for. It’s still worth three stars though!

Ok. Been meaning to stop in here. Great margaritas. Simple, but fresh tacos. Guacamole salty but yummy. Chips great. Salsa even better. Cool little spot with big windows and a chill vibe. Worth checking out for sure.

LOVE!!!
I love tacos and I love small chill restaurant. Came here for brunch and it was awesome having tacos for brunch. Wanted to try their ceviche but that’s only served for dinner.
Ordered gucamole and chips for starters and it was amazing. As an entrée I got the El Pastor tacos which came 2 on an order and it was super tasty and delicious. My friend ordered soup because she was fighting a cold and she said it was pretty flavorful for such simple dish. Also service here is super fast and the waiters and waitresses are super nice and not always on top of you, if you know what i mean.
Can’t wait to go back for dinner!

Guac, margaritas, and fish tacos — sign me up. Barrio Chino is a place I will definitely be going back to. The margaritas are strong but extremely delicious they have many flavors, but I went with the signature lime. My table demolished their guacamole in minutes — pleasing even the most difficult Texans/​Californians who rarely will go to any Mexican Restaurant.
As for the tacos — I like to consider myself a fish taco connoisseur. I literally ate every bite. They were perfectly seasoned and not doused in sauce.
The vibe of this restaurant/​bar is phenomenal. Definitely a good first date spot or a place to bring friends. The restaurant is very unassuming in nature. There is no sign on the door and the dim lighting at night brings great ambiance to the conversation. The staff is also extremely friendly and knows the menu so well.
I would highly recommend!

I’ve joined the millions who have become taco aficionados haha
Overpriced tiny tacos (Title)
The tacos here are mediocre and TINY! I mean seriously, for $ 8 (the cheapest) two tiny tacos isn’t going to cut it, in a city where several taco spots and trucks exist. Not sure how anyone actually feels full after eating at this spot. I had to order another round of tiny tacos to feel somewhat satisfied. $ 16 for 4 tacos. I’m sorry, WHAT?

Thanks to Elton W’s review I decided to come here! Got here before it was a long wait and were seated at the end of the long communal table. Definite cool, slight hipster vibe, but I like that relaxed, laid back ambiance compared to other places we could’ve visited. Our server was super friendly and helpful.
Chips and guacamole are exactly as other Unilocalers have described, delicious. The chips are served hot, perfectly salted and thicker than what you usually get at most Mexican restaurants. These are the ones I look for when I go out for Mexican food! The guacamole was chunky and delicious. Perfect. The salsa they serve on the side is also good.
As per Elton’s suggestions, I went with the enchiladas verdes. My mouth is drooling right now because I wish I was eating it as I’m typing this review. See picture of the dish! Also had the steak tacos and the al pastor tacos. You order one type of taco and get two to an order so we placed two taco orders. The tacos were so good. The steak, outstanding! Very flavorful.
Had the hibiscus margarita, top shelf margarita, and the ginger mojito, all were delicious.
I look forward to coming back!

I came to this place with two friends on a Friday after work. We got there just in time before the crowd came and were seated right away. This place is not huge but it is cozy I would say. I had the guacamole & chips to share and we all liked it. The drinks were good and my favorite was the jalapeño margarita. My friend and I got the camarones borrachos which was delicious and the other got the steak. Both dishes were great. We were very happy with the waitress came by just enough and the overall vibe was good. Looking forward to being back.

This is a winner! I loved this small, hip Mexican restaurant. It’s really dark but has a cool, romantic-​y vibe. The set up is cool with a large communal table in the middle, a large bar with plenty of seats, and smaller tables.
They have a list of unique margaritas. I got a vanilla strawberry margarita that was served with sugar on the rim. I can’t wait to return to try more of them.
We started with chips and a salsa assortment (which costs a couple of dollars) but totally worth it. There were 3 different ones– a green one, a tomato one, and a roasty one.
I order their molé enchiladas ($ 15) that were absolutely fantastic. It was a decently sized portion served with cabbage on top, and refrigerate black beans. I was so full afterwards!
The combo of the food, drinks, and ambience is a recipe for a return trip!

This was a random little enclave of delicious food. I went here for brunch once with my boo on a summer day, they had the front open so you could dine al fresco kinda. The inside is very small but it didn’t bother us as we where sitting at the bar, which surprisingly had enough room for us. I ordered the enchilada with Mole Sauce, and OMG was it good, the sauce was so rich and flavorful and not too overpowering, we also got chips and Guac, but for some reason the guacamole was SPICY AS HELL. I think there where a few stray pepper seeds up in there, but if thats your style then forget I said anything ;)

Barrio Chino = Chinatown in Spanish. There are a few ridiculous reviews asking «why is there no Chinese food?» It’s just a cute Mexican taco bar located in Chinatown. Too much onion in the guacamole. Tacos are tiny. There are only 2 tacos per order. Some reviews say 3 tacos… that’s not true. Fish tacos were a let down, soggy and not flavorful. Don’t get them. But you should get the steak tacos — those were delicious. Best steak tacos I’ve had. Margaritas are on point.

Oh my goodness, I fell in LOVE with this restaurant. I highly recommend if you’re looking for great food, ambient, and service! Overall experience: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
I walked in for dinner on a Monday night with my boyfriend and we were greeted as soon as we walked in. Our server was incredibly helpful with questions we had about the food and drinks. Service: ¹⁰⁄₁₀
For an appetizer, we ordered the chips and guac. Honestly best guac I’ve had. Chip portion is a little small but you can ask for a refill for only $ 3. I ordered the enchiladas verdes (my favorite mexican dish!!!). My boyfriend ordered the pozole. Let me tell ya, the food was sooooo GOOD. The food was authentic with lots of flavor. It’s a little bit pricey but so worth it. Food: ⁹⁄₁₀
The place itself is a little tight and small. I didn’t experience a long wait or line, but I suggest arriving early if you’re coming out for brunch.
Last but not least, the watermelon margarita is to DIE for! You won’t regret ordering! Thanks for the great food and service Barrio Chino!

Love this place
Barrio Chino is easy to find in the LES. The food is amazing and the staff is friendly and attentive.
It may be tiny in size, but it sure does pack a punch with it’s food! My friend and I each had the chicken tacos 3 per order, and an appetizer order of chips and salsa and a side of guacamole. They do charge you for the chips and guacamole but everything is reasonably priced. We did not order drinks and everything came out to just under $ 36 for the two of us total.
The tacos were pretty good but the guacamole was to die for! I literally fell in love. My friend and I could not get enough. Seriously! Definitely a must when coming here. That alone was good enough to make me come back here!
The staff was so friendly and really treated us like valued customers. The dining area and bar are a bit tight but it is manageable. I would certainly not hesitate to come back here and try the other items on their menu. I definitely recommend this place.

What a happenin spot. We dropped by here after going to a Lower East Side Tenement Museum tour.
The price for our meals were very reasonable and the portions are just right. Not too little and not too much so I feel disgusting.
I had the 3 tacos with pork, cactus and beef and it was all good.

This had been strongly recommended by a friend so I’d been wanting to go for a while. 45 minute wait on a Friday night so we went off for a drink somewhere and came back to a nice table when called. Which is all fine.
The guacamole was really good, which should be a given in a nice mexican restaurant, the hand made tortilla chips were a great added touch.
Unfortunately I was really underwhelmed by everything else. The pork tacos were cubes of meat rather than juicy slow cooked shredded pork like normal, and were pretty dry and not tasty. I had the barbeccoa slow cooked duck which was ok but over salted and not amazing.
The prices are pretty good, not excessive.
I would go back on the strength of my friends recommendations to see if maybe they were having an off day but so far not so good.
Update: I went back and tried it again and was equally underwhelmed.

Recommended by a friend. It was my last day in New York and my travel companions left in the morning — so I was flying solo.
I made the trek to the LES especially to go here. So glad I did. The jalapeño margarita was perfect. Spicy, sour and not overly sweet. For lunch, I had the enchiladas verdes — on the bartender’s recommendation (although she said it was a toss up between that and the Al Pastor tacos). So good — the chicken was flavorful and the verde sauce and cheese were a perfect, gooey mess.
Love the space too — very chill and unassuming. The bartender was super nice — she asked what was on my agenda for the day. Obviously, she was being very considerate since I was dining alone.
Fantastic experience. I’ll have to return the next time I’m in NYC.

Prob as good as you can get in Manhattan for Mexican food at a nice dinning place.
Gets crammed though so get in early or prepare to wait for an hour+
Their jalapeño infused margaritas are legendary.
Their hot sauces are real (ask for the actually spicy one).
Only place I’ve seen molletes in the USA ever. Sounds like a great place for breakfast/​brunch.
I’d give ‘em 4 stars but I’m very picky with Mexican food and also it’s not cheap (not too expensive either) plus it’s so hip now the crowds really annoy me. It’s NY though, I shouldn’t don’t them for that — still doesn’t help.

I know, I know, enough with the reviews of Mexican places! I had to review this though because it was too good not to! This place had been on my list to try for some time, but because I’m not in the LES too often for dinner, I hadn’t had the opportunity to try it. After having been here though, I’d make a special trip back to the neighborhood just to eat here again.
This place is a small, casual Mexican spot in the LES that has a cool atmosphere and delicious food. I came here with a friend early in the evening, and we were seated quickly. When I say this place is small though, I mean it is small. There were only a few tables (with additional bar seating), and when we left, a line was forming. They take reservations though, so I’d suggest making them. The physical space has a nice mix of Mexican and urban elements… perfect for a Mexican spot in the LES.
The drinks here are great. They have more than ten different types of margaritas, and if they are all as good as what I ordered, I’m sure you can’t go wrong. They have some unique flavors and of course, more traditional flavors too. The food was also excellent. Almost everything on the menu is less than $ 20, and I definitely would have paid more for food this delicious. I started with the guacamole, which was perfect, and I also had the fish tacos. I wouldn’t have changed anything about the meal.
With friendly staff, a casual environment, and delicious food and drinks, I can guarantee that I’ll be coming back here soon.

This place gets crowded so make sure you get here early or late. It’s really good, and consider it one of the best for Mexican in the city, thus, my 5-​star rating. I’m picky when it comes to Mexican as my mom is from Mexico and I grew up there as well as in Texas and lived in California.
I really like their enchiladas verdes, chorizo con huevo, and carne asada tacos with sliced avocado, as well as their chips (which are real, handmade) & guacamole. Plus I think their salsas are very good as well, almost exactly like my aunt’s in Mexico, and like that they only serve corn tortillas, no gringo-​flour ones.
And even though I don’t think this is the best Mexican I’ve ever had in my life, I do think that it’s one of the Top 5 Mexican spots in Manhattan, maybe #2 or tied with Ofrenda as the best. And, as with anything in Manhattan, good Mexican is going to be expensive, remember, you’re not in Texas or California where most dishes are under $ 10 for excellent food. So, if you want good Mexican along with a good scene, you’re going to have to pay for it.
Other places I think are the best in the city are La Esquina, Ofrenda and Toloache. I also like Tehuitzingo, but that’s a different ball game, as its not a nice, sit-​down place like these are.