It was our first time here. We ordered the chicken mole, queso fundido and tres leches. Service was outstanding, and the vibe here is calm. We were here for happy hour which I highly recommend. I would definitely come back here again. read more

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I would not recommend eating here if you are hungry. I had the $14 quesadilla and it was smaller than a kids meal portion. The food took forever, and my wife's burrito was very small as well. If you're in to fufu food maybe you will like it, but if you're hungry and want a meal - skip it. read more

Covacha - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

This place was super mediocre to me. It's one of those places that looks so fresh and innovative, and yet all the flavors were a little off. The ash guacamole is creamy but not very flavorful, while the fish pezcadillo and the smoked pulled pork were okay - the mahi mahi was fishy and the squash blossoms they mention on the menu were nowhere to be found. Would not come back or recommend. read more

Covacha - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

The Chilaquiles were superb! Loved the cozy atmosphere in this restaurant. Will be back when I return to NYC.

I was so excited to check out Covacha on UWS! The menu looked amazing, and we were hungry. We came for brunch and ordered a ton of drinks (bloody mary, margaritas, spritzes, etc). Drinks were pretty good and unique. Bloody mary is really spicy! We also ordered guacamole tradicional, guacamole with ashes, and esquites to start. My boyfriend and I shared the huevos con chorizo and enchiladas, along with rice and beans. Food was good, but nothing to write home about. The burrito was pretty bland, couldn't taste the chorizo flavor much. Enchiladas were good, but was missing something in the sauce to take it to the next level. The meal was satisfying but pretty average. The restaurant is nice though, probably a good option for happy hour. Service was also great, even with a large party! read more

Covacha - Chicken Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

Most items we tried on our first visit are excellent or very good. The cocktails and guacamole leap out for praise. The guacamole is especially smooth and the pickled vegetables, an element of one of three guacamole choices, this one being Garden, are excellent. Filling out our dinner: shrimp al ajillo, mole dulce. Cocktails are the spicy reaper, jamaicon, and vieja escuela; all excellent. Dinner total, $105, with $50 on food. BONUS: good value TIP: Like so many restaurants, post-pandemic service can seem slow but everyone there is doing their best TIP: Call for reservations read more

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It was fine. Came for the Bib and left with an affordable meal that wasn't a Bib. Brussel sprouts weren't cooked long enough and our quesobirrias were good but not great. The chicken needed more flavor. The mushroom ones were very good. But, for what lacked in food was made up for in style. Very cute space. read more

Good food and decent cocktails. Love the fact their birria is chicken broth based instead of a beef consommé without missing a beat on something truly flavorful. I recommend the quesabirria with chicken and their charcoal ash based cocktail. I'd avoid the ceviche. Sounds great on menu but execution felt lacking. read more

Is just ok nothing special I got a black quesadilla super simple with beans I meant very fancy decorate but is just. Una quesadilla con frijoles!! Not worth for the price read more

We loved our meal here! The flavors are amazing!! The Guacamole Ashes had a smoky flavor with a hint of spiciness (possibly chili oil?). I enjoyed the charred pork but definitely want to go back to try the orchard, a vegetarian dish. The chocolate mousse melts in your mouth and has a hint of spiciness. We left talking about how we have to come back for brunch or lunch to check out other offerings. (Only thing I didn't like was Michelada. I could have just ordered a regular beer) read more

I came to Covacha with a large party to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. We had around 12 people and our reservation was around 7pm. We arrived a little bit after 7pm but our table was not ready yet so we were directed somewhere else in the meantime while we waited and were asked if we wanted any drinks. This restaurant is really cute on the inside during nighttime. There are lots of pretty lights and all the decor gives it a very trendy, young, and lively ambiance. We were finally seated around 7:35 and our server came by to get our drink/appetizer orders right away. I ordered a Jamaicón which was a very nice drink that had hibiscus and tequila (would recommend if you like hibiscus a.k.a jamaica, as we call it in Spanish)-- this drink was very flavorful, and had nice smokey hints from chili powder on the rim of the cup. Not sweet and very good! My boyfriend got a margarita which I tried and I thought it was a little bit on the sweeter end but still pretty decent. We also had some guac and chips in the meantime which we had ordered. The chips were good: they had a nice crisp to them and did not feel stale/had a perfect amount of salt so that it was not overpowering with the guac but also enough that you could eat them on their own without anything else. The guac was pretty standard and okay! In terms of food, we all ordered different things and they coordinated it so that all the food came out at once which I appreciated. Some of the dishes I tried: Mahi Al Pastor Tacos: three tacos come in this plate. I thought the portion size was pretty generous and that they added a good amount of fish to fill them (I feel like at most places this is not the case so that was good). The corn tortillas were just okay and felt a little flimsy/lacked flavor but also I am from California so I have pretty high standards for my Mexican food. That being said, I thought the flavors of the fish and other fillings were good with the mix of smoky spices and sweet hints of pineapple which felt very refreshing. Chicken Quesabirria: I have only had birria tacos once in my life in Queens so I am probably not the best gauge for the quality of this but I liked this a lot better than the mahi tacos! The birria flavor was very good and it went so well with the chicken and melted cheese. The consome/broth that they come with has a nice umami flavor with some fat in it that goes very very well with the cheese and meats. This tortilla might have been mildly fried which helped give it some flavor. Really liked this. Refried Bayo Beans: I got this as a side to try and I thought they were okay. I was expecting the decadent, fatty refried beans that I am used to but these felt very low in the fat content (which is probably better for my health but was just not exactly what I was hoping for.) They had a strong flavor of cumin and a little salty hint from the cotija which was nice. I added them to my tacos and they both elevated each other! Would recommend this if you get the fish tacos. The beans did not feel heavy and felt pretty healthy overall. Papas Machas: my boyfriend ordered these and they were also okay. The potatoes were pretty soft even though on the menu they describe them as "crispy". They were pretty spicy and well flavored though! Wished these had been a little crispier since that would have been delicious. Portion size for these was pretty generous too. Overall, I think this is a good place for a big group celebration. The ambiance is really nice and the service is attentive. The prices are also pretty reasonable for the portion sizes that you get. There are plenty of options on their menu for different dietary restrictions too plus good cocktails so it makes life easy on everyone! The food is okay and has it pros and cons but that has been my general experience with Mexican food in the city coming from the West Coast. However, I think most people in my party were content with it and everyone found something to order/ had a good time which is what matters! Not sure I would seek it out again solo but I will definitely return with big groups for good drinks and a nice ambiance in the UWS. read more

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Came on a Saturday looking for good Mexican food and sadly were deeply disappointed. My partner and I saw plates coming out after we sat down and were a little nervous on how good the food actually was so ended up ordering one popular item - the quesabirria. As soon as it came, immediately saw the tortilla was raw - not cooked the beer was just "ok" and the sauce was oily. Needless to say we didn't order any more food items.... Now the drinks: 1. Jaimaicon- was their saving grace such good flavor and a nice balance I could drink multiple of these - highly recommend 4/5 2. Michelada - my boyfriend was even more disappointed when this came with no flavor. A watered down Bloody Mary mix if you will - would not get again 2/5 Service: when we walked in we were ignored, multiple people bounced in and out without asking if we've been helped. We waited 10min to be recognized and helped - almost left when this occurred but decided to give it a shot. Overall if we were in the neighborhood for drinks would come for the jaimaicon but would not go out of my way. read more

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The food, drinks and desert are great! Nice neighborhood spot to visit. I recommend the Buñuelo dessert.

I came here for brunch. We were seated quickly. I ordered the Chilaquiles they were just Ok and you have to pay extra if you want it topped with an egg. The Chilaquiles lacked a little bit of kick and flavor, but they did offer me a spicy salsa that made up for it. I highly recommend the enoki mushroom tacos. They were not lying when they describe them as crispy and I liked the pickled red onions on top. Lastly, I had the cauliflower tacos. They were good but nothing special. I thought the bar area looked really nice. read more

Covacha - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

We made a visit here after a morning at the American Museum of Natural History. It was a close walk and not too busy. It's right next door to Shake Shack. The service was very nice and they helped us even without a reservation. The food was so good! It's a Mexican fusion--so fresh! We ordered the flautas meal, the fish tacos, and the barbacoa burrito and ate everything. The only thing I will say is that I do not consider this a kid-friendly place. They have no kid menu and it is very hard to change the meals to meet a picky eaters' taste. We actually ordered some food from Shake Shack for pickup and then brought it over to our table for those who were too picky for the menu. Other than that, I highly recommend Covacha! Great job and great food! read more

Covacha - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

I love their ashy guacamole And the burritos are great The service is excellent and in the back the bar room is cozy and inviting read more

A small (think vertical) but cozy restaurant on the Upper West Side near the museum of natural history. We walked in at the tail end of Saturday brunch. Honestly, I think the brunch menu is a bit limited but this only whets your appetite for another visit. I had the Huevos Rancheros with the spicy red sauce (it could be spicier, for me). Go green if you want a milder flavor. My husband had the egg/chorizo burrito and my brother had the chicken enchilada. We ordered the ashes guacamole too. It's a wonderful version of guacamole with a distinct smoky flavor. All the entrees were delicious and enormous but beautifully presented. Oh and one more thing this restaurant makes their own tortillas! Order it as a side and take it home! read more

Covacha is amazing. I love to go here for an after work drink, especially during their happy hour which is amazing and the drinks will absolutely hit every single time plus the food is great and the service is always on point. read more

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This is a very cute spot. We stopped in for brunch with no reservation and were seated immediately. My 2 adult kids ordered Yaka-Tinga and Enmoladas. The Enmoladas were good; spicy mole sauce was pretty sweet, but tasty. Yaka-Tinga is listed under "Burritos" but came out as 3 separate lettuce wraps. Also, he asked if the beans and rice were in it or on the side and when told in it, said "no beans and put the rice on the side" but then we saw on the bill that we were charged for a side of rice. Also, my 12 y.o. son (who is picky) ordered a side of white rice which came with corn in it. Not a huge deal but normally a side of white rice is just white rice. Last, I ordered the Chilaquiles Rojas which say "crunchy" in the description but were completely soggy. Not bad tasting but not a crunch to be found. Service was ok but we had to ask for water twice. Overall, an $85 brunch that was underwhelming. PS - they do not offer soda or juice which is odd for brunch. read more

Covacha - QR code for menu - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

Heard about this establishment thru a friend. We came to see for ourselves and we loved it. We tried different plates with our family and everyone loved their selections. The enchiladas are excellent. So is their fish, Zarandeado and the mole. It's a must!! The food and service is excellent. It's a very nice ambience. read more

Covacha - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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We dropped by for happy hour tacos and margaritas. Though creative, the tacos fell flat, with what I found to be below-average tortillas and pretty muted flavors. Service and decor are nice, though! read more

Good food! Pricier side, which makes sense because it's nice quality. Lunch specials are slightly smaller portions but come with rice and beans so still manage to be quite filling. Server was efficient and it was a great, laid back but cute spot right across from the American Museum of Natural History to grab a quick bite before heading in! Wish rice and beans portions were a little bigger but delicious nonetheless read more

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They served chicken to me I have never ever had chicken in my life, I specially mentioned to the waitress that I am a vegetarian person and prefer no meat!!! So much of carelessness in such good ambient restaurant is completely intolerable. Besides giving complimentary dessert over an emotional distress is completely unacceptable!!! read more

Good service, tables are alittle close together but it is NYC so to be expected. We came on a Sat. around 5pm. Wasn't too busy when we first got there but filled up as we ate. We had esquites ( mexican corn) and the tomato soup as an appetizer. Both dishes were really good. Corn could have been hotter but still very tasty. My husband loved the soup - said it got better as you ate it. I had the Quesabirrias ( chicken) for main. Loved the tortillas and chicken was tender and flavorful. My husband had the Flautas which he also said were great and really liked the black bean sauce on the bottom of the plate. We had chocolate mousse for dessert. Overall, a great meal and we will definitely come back! read more

Short review: Good cocktail (tepache,) good food also. I think they need to increase their spice level a bit but overall not many complaints. I went to this very tasty Mexican spot with a group of 3 others a couple weeks ago. The place was busy and loud (but not unpleasantly so) but there are a couple tables upstairs which are far enough away from the action. As I was waiting for a bit, I tried their tepache cocktail from their friendly bartender. Tepache is a traditional usually non or barely alcoholic fermented pineapple drink and I usually love it. To make it alcoholic, they added Cascahuin tequila but you can also order it as a mocktail. For a bit of style, they added lime a well as an "ashes rim." The ashes made from some type of chili (perhaps blackened poblano but unsure) had an interesting color and unique style/flavor but they made the drink a little bit messy and I would have almost preferred it without it. Maybe a salt rim or something would have worked better. Still delicious and worth it (for $16 or $8 without the alcohol.) I started with the esquites or grilled corn off the cob with chipotle mayo, lime juice, tajin, crumbly cotija cheese, fresh epazote, and morita oil which was $12. I prefer esquites over elotes/the regular grilled corn option due to the usual creaminess and the spice and this was a pretty good version. They had an adequate amount of cream and a good amount of sourness but I would have preferred a lot more chili. I'm unsure if they are toning down their spices because of the area but it was still good. Another person got a salad which they liked a lot. My main dish was the barbacoa tapatía or over roasted beef shank roasted overnight with radish and jalapenos served with black beans and tortillas for $31. The meat was tasty and not as overly fatty as some of the other reviewers have said which was pleasant though some of the pieces could have been a bit more tender. The radish added some extra flavor while the black beans were fine. The tortilla was also fine as well. Overall the main dish was good and two people could easily split this and get two appetizers or something similar and have a nicer cheaper meal. Another person got the quesabirrias which are available traditionally with beef but also with mushrooms or chicken as well. The consommé it comes with tends to be made from beef bones also so I am unsure if the mushroom version is fully vegetarian. I tried a bit and it was tasty. The last person had a salad as their main dish (different from the other person) which they liked also. For my dessert, I went with their unique take on a tres leches or three milks cake which was a deconstructed version with mascarpone cheese, milk caramel cajeta, whipped cream, and pumpkin seed crumbs which was $12. The portion size was nice and it was definitely different. The top part wasn't super sweet while the cajeta added some good sweetness. Definitely lighter than most tres leches I have had and this isn't a bad thing. Another person had a chocolate dessert which was fine but I heavily preferred my own. Overall the food is good here. The portion sizes are reasonable for the higher prices dishes and the appetizer/dessert were quite reasonable for the Upper West Side. I think they could increase the heat level if they're trying to advertise more traditional Mexican food but I understand the level chosen for the local area. Still not many complaints. I can see why others like this place. Mid 4 bumped up for the general quality and friendly staff even if my main dish wasn't as worth it. read more

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Food and service were great. I recommend this place and would absolutely go back if in the area.

One of the best Mexican restaurants in NYC! Covacha is delicious, gluten-free friendly, and has fantastic service. Their Ashes Guac is fantastic, and quesabirrias is one of our favorite menu items. For this type of quality, Covacha is a hidden treasure, and it is pretty easy to get a last minute reservation at this gem. In my opinion, Covacha is far above other favorites like Atla and Empellon and in line with Cosme as the best Mexican restaurants! Not to mention, they have a fun happy hour at the bar and great ambiance! read more

Covacha - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

We found this restaurant walking from the American Museum of Natural History. We were a group of two families with little ones. Great food and great service. They stored our stroller and were very helpful in seating 3 toddlers. My only recommendation is to have a dish or side that's toddler friendly. Overall great ambiance and amazing customer service! read more

Covacha - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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Slid in off the street for lunch while visiting over holidays. All 4 of us really enjoyed our meals-Birria, flautas, couple lunch specials. Ambiance casual and laid back but cool vibe, service very nice & helpful. Prices reasonable for NYC. No reservations needed. Looked up Yelp comments before walking in so felt confident-didn't disappoint! Yay! read more

Came here for Sunday brunch with a friend. It wasn't super packed and the decor was eclectic and fun. I got the brunch burrito with eggs and chorizo and my friend got the mushroom birria tacos. Both dishes were very tasty and filling. The service was nice and timely. I'd like to come back for dinner at some point read more

Fun vibes and good, fresh tasting food. We had a reservation for 1pm on a Friday, and it was not busy so we got a seat by the window. Because my date is vegetarian, we shared the guacamole ashes and the enchiladas veg (mushrooms instead of meat). The ashes were a unique take on normal guacamole, though I wish the distinctive taste was brought out just a bit more. The house chips that accompanied the ashes were the platonic ideal of a chip - the perfect combo of crispy and salty. The enchiladas also tasted great, especially the mushrooms. Great service and overall enjoyable experience. read more

Covacha - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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Today I took my family for a Valentines Lunch We orders three appetizers Octopus guacamole and Tuna All excellent my daughter had the taco trio my son had the soup and I had pork belly with rice and a side of awesome soup I apologize for not remembering the exact names The photos should help The food and service were delicious and the pricing quite affordable Can't wait to return read more

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Great spot to grab lunch after hitting the history museum. We got sat at the community table around 4pm on a Saturday. The sangria was yummy, food was delish! I really enjoyed my cauliflower tacos, my hubs enjoyed the chicken burrito he got but said mine was a tastier entree. Cool place to check out! I really like the decor inside as well. read more

The place was super busy. If you're looking for something different from the usual tacos or fajitas, this is the place! I would describe it as elevated fusion Mexican fare. Everything was absolutely delicious. We ordered several dishes including the pork belly something.... Yum!!!! Service was great. Highly recommend! read more

Covacha - Pork Belly made in heaven - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

We came in because there was a Yelp offer of a free shot of tequila and we are glad we did! The cocktails tasted great! I ordered the octopus salad. My date got the birria tacos. Happy with the service and food! read more

Covacha - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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Long story short, Covacha's really got ya if you're looking for Mexican food with a twist. Unfortunately, it's not exactly down my alley. The establishment itself is very delightful. Lots of decorations, colors, and interesting seating arrangements that make the experience of being there something to consciously take in. The service is also exceptionally polite. I ordered a chicken quesabirria and a chicken burrito for a total of $34. The quesabirria was an interesting ride. The first bite was explosive with flavor: the chicken, cheeses, and accompanying ingredients came together for a strong sensory start to the meal. However, this wasn't very consistent. In the next two quesadillas I found that the flavors were dwindling a bit but the cheeses were there to maintain the texture. I also found that the birria broth was heavily seasoned, which isn't necessarily bad, but it took strong precedence over the flavors of the quesadillas. It was hard to find a nice overlap between the two flavors. I ordered the chicken burrito after because I felt that the Quesabirrias weren't super filling, but that's my own appetite attesting to that. The chicken burrito was an interesting arrangement to say the least. I felt that the ingredients included (carrots, cabbage, etc) didn't really mesh with the burrito the way I would've wanted them to. Additionally, the pieces of carrot were notably large. I found myself crunching on bits of carrot after chewing on the relatively soft or nonresistant chicken, tortilla, cheese, etc. This threw off the texture a lot for me. Maybe small slices of carrot arranged throughout the burrito would have executed the recipe more effectively. The accompanying sauce was also really soupy, but it didn't bother me a lot in terms of its texture. The taste was more spicy than flavorful though. Overall, if you're looking for traditional Mexican cuisine this place may not be for you. I can surely appreciate their creativity and recommend this place to people seeking a new experience. read more

Covacha - Chicken Burrito - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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Cafe Frida reinvented! Covacha now has an exquisite and fresh menu. The "ashes" touch to the food and drinks, make food extraordinary from anything else we have ever tasted before. Drinks: Their tepache Jaoibol substituted with mezcal was fire and the black dust drink was made with the right elements, giving it a nice after taste. Food: The guacamole was very creamy. We ordered Pulpo macha and let me tell you, this was my favorite plate of them all. The pulpo was very tender and full of flavor, great choice of meal for someone looking to eat something very fresh. The barbacoa tapatia was delicious, but served in a very small portion. Overall, really good food and very fun concept. read more

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I had a mixed impression of this restaurant I had the enmoladas with mushroom, which were very tasty. The mole had a really flavorful blend of spices. The price was a bit difficult to justify given the smaller portion sizes. read more

Stopped in here because they had vegan options. I ordered the vegan tacos, the cauliflower and mushroom, both really satisfying. My niece had a quesadilla with a side of rice and beans and was a happy camper. My husband had a fish taco I believe and was happy. The place is really cute and service was good. Good spot. read more

Super delicious Mexican restaurant that has a unique vegan menu. Tried the jackfruit tacos and they were super delicious and flavorful. The jackfruit was cooked perfectly and had me fooled it wasn't meat. Only downside it was $19 for 3 and not filling, but I'd definitely order again anyways. The traditional guacamole was okay, a little skimpy and lacking heat and I felt there weren't enough chips (or tortilla shells) to complement it. For $15 I was expecting a little something more. Frozen margaritas were excellent and very strong. You could tell they use quality silver tequila in them too which really makes a difference. I'd definitely return again soon to try the other items on their vegan menu since all the other food around us looked very unique, healthy,, and fresh. read more

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