Calexico - Me gusta!! I don't frequent Brooklyn as much as I'd like to, so when a friend of mine scheduled a live music show over at Matchless I turned to Yelp for help and uncovered lots of positive reviews for Calexico, so I figured I'd try it out. Very glad I did! Thursday night at 7 PM and the place was busy, but not too over-crowded. My date and I waited just a short time for a table and the hostess was so sweet and smiley it didn't bother me at all. Upon sitting down at a table at the cute outside patio, our equally-as-adorable waitress pranced over and suggested a frozen margarita. They were delicious, as was the guacamole we started with. Simple but flavorful. I got a bean burrito bowl and my date the carne asada burrito, and both of us just about cleared our plates! The food was very, very good. So full of flavor! Sometimes I have a hard time finding high-quality Mexican food but this definitely satisfied. And service was fast!! Maybe 10 minutes after placing the order I had my meal in front of me. My favorite part - the adorable mini-mason jars and water carafes. I'm easily pleased, I know, but such a cute touch. Definitely recommend this spot! And if possible, sit outside on the patio for an awesome atmosphere. read more

This is our go to restaurant. I wouldn't be exaggerating when I say that we visit this place at least once a week. I am usually very adventurous with food and never order the same thing at a restaurant, but this is the only place that I would order the pollo quesadillas over and over again. Although, I must say that they use to serve us a bigger side salad with quesadillas. I definitely miss that and hope that they will up the amount of side salad on the dish. Fish tacos and pulled pork tacos are great. The dinner salads are amazing as well. read more

Ugh worst burrito ever The wet sauce was like marinara Rice was the main ingredient. SO much rice. Asked for light rice and it was still way too much. And they got my order wrong (added cheese when I asked for no cheese) but at least were nice and accommodating over the phone. (delivery) Will not order or go there again. Only tried because florentinas was closed read more

The burritos are pretty good and that deserves another star. Sometimes the burritos are 4-star and sometimes they are two star depending on who's making them and how generous they are with the protein. The special enchiladas are also recommended. Read my previous review for more details on the tacos. read more

Good food. I've eaten here quite a few times and the food is really good. I'm just pissed off right now because... It's Tuesday evening 8:30 - I cannot get them on the phone at all. It's just ringing and ringing. A guy picked up one time, mumbled something about "Greenpoint" I think and then hung up when I didn't answer him fast enough. Nice. Subsequent calls back have netted me 5 minutes of ringing...Guess I'll just order online ... oh wait. They don't do that. C'mon get with it fer chrissakes. Put me on hold - SOMETHING. Screw it. Calling Papacitos. read more

One word: Crack sauce, also the shot and beer for 5$ doesn't hurt. Chicken quesadilla with crack sauce is my favorite here. Also try the chicken torta and fries. Amazing! read more

The food is good but ordering it over the phone may take 10-15-20 minutes. They will put you on hold over and over and over. Then they will tell you that actually your order is completely FREE! And then will call you back 40 minutes later and say that there was a glitch in their system so the order wasn't free and ask for your credit card number... And then put you on hold again. That was kind of a f... up thing to do, but whatever. read more

First time at Calexico last night with my best friend, she's been a few times before and she's always talking about it. The food was great, the margaritas were bomb and the service was the highlight. Sean was our server and he was awesome! He was supper attentive and was handling other tables as well. I hope to return soon! read more

This is probably the hottest spot in Greenpoint right now. Kind of reminds me of Bonita on Bedford (which is closed down now) but with a better bar scene. The food is better than their carts in Soho. But instead of waiting on line in the street, now you can wait while drinking house made margaritas (ask for the spicy one). The menu is basically a taqueria for now, but I hear they plan on having a more robust menu down the line. For my money, the taqueria formula is fine. The last time we went, there was grilled octopus and Oysters on the specials menu. They were both surprisingly good. The grilled corn wasn't as good as Bonita used to make it, but then that may be nostalgia talking. The house "crack" sauce is pretty addictive. We ordered a side of it just to dip the tacos in. We also tried their selection of aged tequila which were as good as many high end single malts scotches I've had. Overall, I would make the trip out to Greenpoint again. read more

Did I really just read that Chipotle has better / more authentic food? That is simply ridiculous. And yes, everyone needs to chill out about the wine. It's a Mexican restaurant, order the Jalapeno Margarita. I've eaten at just about every Mexican restaurant / food truck in NYC, and Calexico has always been the most flavorful and consistent in high quality food. The Greenpoint location holds up to that statement. I finally got a chance to eat their last night, and it was an overall excellent experience. It was busy, but the wait for table was still under 15 minutes. Really good staff, truly excellent service. I recommend the black bean burrito (or tacos), and the watercress salad. read more

Calexico is a damn good restaurant... It's lively and has a great vibe. Young, hip, fun and attractive crowd. I really like going here. The food is great. I love the chicken and fish tacos. I also love the burritos. In fact, it's one of only two places that I actually eat burritos (The other place is Endless Summer). They have excellent guacamole with chips at a perfect price point too. You definitely get your money's worth at Calexico. Another thing I love about Calexico is that they have a great selection of artisanal and standard hot sauces which really gives a nice touch of versatility to a Mexican-style dish. They have a great beer selection and good margaritas too. However, I must admit that I am extremely disappointed with their Tres Leches. I'm something of a Tres Leche connoisseur, so I can be very critical. It's just too overdone. Way too much going on that you lose sight of an amazing, classic dessert. Also, it's too soggy and the frosting is run of the mill. They need to simplify and upgrade it. I won't be ordering Tres Leches again until they do. Might I suggest they go down a few blocks to see how Rosarito Fish Shack is doing Tres Leche, which is among the best I've ever had. ****UPDATE**************3.27.2012*************UPDATE*************3.27.2012 Good news and bad news... Bad news first: Calexico has done away with their selection of artisianal hot sauces. Apparently, they were too expensive and had too short of a shelf life. Bummer! This sucks ass! Good News: Calexico has done away with their old Tres Leches and upgrade to a newer, more natural and refined version, which is a significant improvement upon the former. It was served simply with mango and a modest amount of frosting. None of the jazz that came with the last iteration. It's still not as good as Rosaritos, but it's definitely something I feel comfortable ordering again and recommending to friends. I used to eat dinner at Calexico, only to walk down to Rosaritos for dessert. That won't be happening anymore. read more

Calexico is the best. Specifically this Greenpoint location. The only real reason I ever have for not going to Calexico is that I have only just eaten there the day before. Their quesadillas are amazing, the chipotle crack sauce is what I really look forward to. The recent smoky queso dip special is to die for. It's kind of dark in there, even in the day around lunch time, but thats all good. As for their takeout, I find that the quesadillas are what travel best. Never not happy with a meal at Calexico. read more

I decided it was finally time to make the trek out to Greenpoint to try one of my favorite food carts, now in a restaurant...WITH MARGARITAS! The staff had the same friendly vibe I've come to expect from the SoHo carts. I ordered the carne asada, like you should if you have any idea of what you're doing, and to no surprise it was amazing. If you're looking for the real stuff, this is your place. If you prefer good wine and no waiting, maybe you should just eat at home. Muy bien, hermanos! read more

The chipotle pulled pork is tops; and the elote (corn) with crema, cotija cheese, and spices wins every time. I was thrilled when this place opened, because coming from Texas, I need more (and better) Mexican food. This is it. So far I've tried the tofu asado, steak asada, chipotle pork, and chicken asado tacos, and they were all tacos I'd eat again and again. The guac is expensive but tasty. The chipotle pork torta is the best pork sandwich I've had in New York. The drinks are good, the service is friendly, my only complaint is it gets crowded. read more

Wow, forgot the fact that I ad given this joint a less than favorable review once already. Seriously, the service is better than nothing but there is a whole range of eating something better than nothing in Greenpoint/Williamsburg. Tried the delivery tonight. Never arrived. This place over run with "oh why bother." Try Don Panco's if you want the el' caliente. read more

I've given it 3 stars because the food really is good. It all has an authentic Mexican, casual, homey taste and quality, with a bit of a late-night drinker's feel to it - aka that "crack sauce", which as far as I can tell is essentially a chipotle en adobe flavored mayonaisse. While some of the food might not be perfect for my taste, i.e. the salsa pipian is slightly too tart in my opinion, the avocados could be mashed down slightly more for the guac, and the carne asada is a bit dry, overall the food is very satisfying and matches the decor and vibe of the place very well. It misses points on the consistency of the service. Of the three times I've been there, only the first was satisfactory in that aspect. On the second my girlfriend and I waited uncomfortably long to be noticed by a host, and once seated, had no idea who our actual server was throughout the entire meal. On the third visit I went with a couple people, and we sat in the patio out back. It was a Saturday, and completely packed, so it's understandable that the service wasn't pitch perfect. But, it was plain bad. No rudeness to speak of, just general neglect and carelessness clearly caused from an overall chaos that was occurring between the servers and runners - at least out in the patio. My advice based on 3 visits: go on a weekday, sit inside, order the deliscious margerhitas, and have fun with the various treats tucked away in all corners of the menu. read more

I was just here for the first time the other day and have been dreaming about the pork tacos since. (Unfortunately I live about 2.5 hours away) The service was fast and the food was awesome ! Everything was fresh and delicious! Definitely recommend! read more

I love calexico so much that I beg my husband for the tacos. Yes sometimes the take out staff is blasé and rude for some reason (obviously working at a take out counter is on par with Gossip Girl teen attitude) but whatever I live through it - the wait staff and bartender have never been anything less than sufficient in my visits although I have friends with significantly less satisfying interactions - So all that is fine - tofu tacos are my favorite food group. But. What the hell. Is going on . In their bathroom! Every time EVERY TIME I go there and use the bathroom it stinks like bum piss! Like, so bad I GAG. Wash my hands obsessively and hope it doesn't cling to me like some horrible cloud of hobo. Please de stink your bathroom!!!! I want to feel happy about my life! Don't get in the way of that! Ahhhh read more

*Updated to let everyone know that El Toro Taqueria on Driggs has a killer burrito for $6. Compared with Calexico's $10.89 pricetag, it is a steal. Plus, its a better burrito anyway.* Let me start by saying that I go here because they are the closest thing to my apt, and in some situations I am too hungry to think clearly. They make an OKAY (note: not great) burrito, and are usually less filling than the price tag would have you expect! (same goes for tacos) I mean, if i'm paying $10 for a Carne Asada burrito, this thing better not only taste good but should come with some f!#$% carne. That goes for everything else they do... premium pricing, mediocre taste and lacking substance. "Oh, let's price it high and serve dainty portions to act boutique!" I'm on to your ploy, Calexico. And whatever their "special" sauce is for $1 is like mixed sour cream with freakin canned garbage chipotle. Weak Sauce, y'alls. read more

The bueno: - 5 dollar modelo/tequila special to kick off the night - the grilled elote...this is one of the most embarrasing foods to eat in front of a dinner date. Corn on the cob slathered in mayo. Their version is well worth the potential loss of respect. - steak burrito... Well seasoned meat. Cripy tortilla. Yes. - only a 5 minute wait for a 2 top on a Friday night the malo - spotty service - it felt disorganized and somewhat chaotic. We were not served 1 of the 2 appetizers ordered. - the dining room isn't large and, as you can imagine, they've tried to cram in as many tables as possible . Problem being that the tables were arranged in a tight, maze-like pattern which didn't allow easy passage to the servers. It was an annoyance because my jacket was frequently pulled off the back of my chair by the servers' feet as they passed. Overall, really enjoyed the food but, I'd recommend this as more of a midweek spot. read more

I have had a hard time finding great Mexican food anywhere east of the Rockies, but this place is awesome! I've eaten here 3 times and everything I've tried is excellent. The tacos are a great value for what you get! The ingredients are super fresh, both the avocado sauce and crack sauce are amazingly delicious. Overall, the menu is creative and authentic, the food is fresh and flavorful, and you can't beat sitting on the back patio on a warm summer evening. read more

This is a go-to good-food-that-won't-break-the-bank spot. It's fresh, it hits the spot whether you're looking for kinda-healthy or seriously-deadly, and the drinks are pretty tempting too. Service ranges from fine to really nice. The only downsides: it's often crowded and kind of noisy. read more

Victoria is the a pleasure to deal with. Polite, friendly, a complement to the establishment and part of a great set up in Greenpoint for Calexico read more

Delicious beers and fun waitress Natalie. Good happy hour and tacos that were awesome. Nice selection of tacos and other foods. Chips and salsa seemed endless but didn't ask for another round. Nice, respectful and comfortable atmosphere! Would totally come back here soon! read more

Went for happy hour, margaritas were great and so was the service. Great environment and will definitely go back to try other stuff on the menu! read more

This place is what you call a disappointing Mexican experience. I've never had such bland food in my entire life! The tacos aren't that satisfying and neither are the portions. However the drinks are okay here an so is the service. Hence why I gave them to stars. If you looking for quality food please do yourself a favor and visit Acapulco restaurant on clay street and manhattan Ave. read more

Check out the nachos. So delicious! I always have to split it because it's plenty. Good strong 2 for 1 hh drinks! One of the top Mexican spots in Greenpoint. read more

Muy Excellente! Great food. Juicy meat. My fav drinks. Cute staff. read more

Decent food, their special sauce is very good. Could be so much better. Hoping for some creative Mexican inspired food on this side of Greenpoint sometime soon. read more

Calexico internet ordering system = gift from the mayan gods. I'm one of those people who 2 out 5 times has to leave a shop in Greenpoint just before ordering because I don't have any cash. It has also prevented me from ordering delivery at least 2 times a month. Not anymore. Calexico has a virtual monopoly on my business because of the simple and effective online ordering website they have. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The downside to ordering is that the food has been pretty lukewarm and the fries are a little soggy from being poached in their plastic containers. Honestly, I could care less. Just throw a little more "crack" sauce on there. Come for the fries, kill for the crack sauce. read more

Our new favorite restaurant in Williamsburg! Great service and a cool atmosphere. The food was exceptional, my boyfriend says it was the most authentic Mexican food he's eaten in New York. He had the cheese quesadilla and the carne asada taco, I had the Cali burrito bowl. The best part: each table comes with a large selection of hot sauces. The food was very affordable and worth every penny. We will 1000% be coming back the next time we are in town. read more

Calexico may be on Manhattan Avenue but it's not in Manhattan. The food is good but is it worth a trip to Brooklyn? It's definitely good but to be honest, I've had cheaper and better tacos at taco trucks in NYC. The prices were a bit of a surprise but not a complete shock. Greenpoint has become very expensive. It's no longer the gritty warehouse neighborhood it once was. The hipster influx, condos and development are growing, and the old timers are slowly disappearing. The Greenpoint neighborhood is charming but has issues - google "Meeker Avenue plumes" & learn about the toxic waste lurking beneath. But don't let that ruin your burrito or guacamole - which are quite delicious at Calexico! And you have to try the drinks, especially the non-alcoholic ones. The aguas fresca (literally "fresh waters" in Spanish) are excellent here. I tried the Hibiscus. It reminded me a little of one of my favorite Peruvian drinks - Chica Morada - for some reason. Sweet and refreshing - perfect for an autumn Indian summer night. read more

I order a steak bowl, it only lasted 5 bites and it was over. The food portion is way too small for my liking. Since i was still hungry i decided to try out the chicken taco. Same story here, the taco was poorly made and it fell apart right away. That taco only lasted me two bites. Before you say i have a large mouth. Compared to a Chipotle Bowl this is about one third of the portion with the same price. The bartender Drew was awesome on the other hand, kept asking if the food was alright or if i needed anything else. read more

I used to love Calexico - especially the one in Red Hook. I work in Long Island City so I started going to this one (usually for take-out). It was never quite as good but it was good enough. Yesterday was so disappointing that I think I am done with Calexico. First, the tacos were not tasty. The carne asada had good flavor but it was very fatty and I ended up spitting a bunch out. Tacos are not supposed to have lettuce and tomato unless your restaurant name is Taco Bell. When I came to pick up the food I asked if I could get an order of chips and salsa. Easily obliged. But a small order was shockingly seven dollars. Seven dollars for a small bag of chips and a small amount of salsa. I literally felt violated after I saw the bill. There are so many better places for Mexican food in the city and I will be going to them from now on. read more

Love this place!! The elote is sooooo good, you guys. I know you're probably supposed to use the second taco for a backup but I straight up made that taco into two. I got the carne asada and it was juicy juicy! That salsa is delicious, too, and the chips were hot and fresh. I love the atmosphere in here as well. Great vibe, attentive staff, clean place and delicious food! Go here if you get the chance. read more

Calexico fills the Chipotle-shaped void in Greenpoint in all of our Mexican-American food-craving hearts. I would have liked to try the most interesting thing on their menu: the carne fries, but I wanted to give their burritos a spin first. I should have gone with my intuitions, because I got the chipotle pork burrito bowl and it was just okay. It wasn't bad, but I just have Chipotle so ingrained in my impression of what a burrito bowl should taste like that the bowl I got at Calexico seemed heavy and overly rich. Some lettuce and some other greens would have lightened it with a touch of freshness. I also got a white sangria, which was reasonably strong but not very tasty. I might come back here for the carne fries, though, but I'd take Chipotle over Calexico any day. read more

I love this place but the girl with the platinum blonde hair and black roots was really rude. Not just to me

DELICIOUS. But I mean, come on, everyone knows this by now. I work in DUMBO so I've waited outside in the blazing heat by the taco stand for some tacos. Being able to bike 10 min from my apt and sit down comfortably enjoying the food is way better. Don't ask me about the sauces, because I am a weird eater and typically only use sour cream -- but everyone else seems to be going caa--raazyy for them all. Whatever they season & marinate the chicken in, is incredible. I need to try the elote. I wrote that as a reminder to myself. K, catch you later. read more

I really don't want to admit this, but here goes... In the battle of Greenpoint Mexican fare, Calexico beats Papacitos by a nose*. It's now my go-to spot for a seriously flavorful, heartily-packed burrito, perfectly-stuffed grilled quesadilla, or delicious taco. Hell, even the chips and bean paste they put out before the meal was killer. I'm hooked. *EXCEPT Papas still has a better fish taco. And it's grungy and it makes you feel dirty to order there ("wet and nasty" anyone?). So, there's your consolation. read more

I have been to the Calexico cart in Madison Square Park, and it is my favorite burrito in the city. I had to grab a quick solo dinner in Williamsburg/Greenpoint, so I decided to check out Calexico's Greenpoint brick-and-mortar. I tried a frozen margarita, and it was like lemonade. They went down just too easy, and just 2 of them gave me a little mini-buzz. I ordered the chicken quesadilla, which comes with a little salad. The salad dressing was pretty great, and there were even some grilled corn kernels hiding in the salad. The chicken quesadilla was "rolled", which means it came out more like a burrito and less like a typical flat semi-circle. It also means that the tortilla was still soft and fluffy, not burnt and dry like so many flat semi-circle quesadillas. The chicken was cooked particularly well, and had a nice savory quality to it. And the whole thing came with a side of crack sauce, which is like a spicy mayo. God I love crack sauce. I sat at the bar, and the bartender was attentive. I guess the only down side is the Greenpoint "trying to make it in show business" factor. Happy Hour is from 4-6pm, and honestly, who can get out of work and to Greenpoint by that time? I work in LIC, a few stops away on the G-train, and I couldn't even get there before 6pm. I also overheard a waitress's conversation about how actors don't act in the summer, and she doesn't want to act anymore anyway, so she's working on her script, but she's losing motivation, and will she be doomed to forever just be a waitress, while her creative talents go to waste?? Guh. read more