Hey there, Mexican food fan! Do you like tacos? Do you like tacos so good they stop time and space? You do? Then this is the place for you. Hand made tortillas, juicy slow-simmered chicken, fantastic sauces will make you cry and miss mother Mexico. Oh, and it's also a grocery store. read more

El Azteca Mexican - Killer Food - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

I came up to Poughkeepsie from the city on a Saturday night to run the Walkway over the Hudson marathon the following day. I wandered the city for quite a while looking for somewhere to eat that piqued my fancy. I stumbled upon this on my way down to the river and was SO happy I did. I was pretty hungry (as a marathoner normally is) so I ordered the grilled chicken tostadas (2), fried plantains with sweet cream dipping sauce, and guacamole and chips. The whole order came out to $19 which seemed like a fair deal for the huge amount of food I received. The staff actually tried to give me three sets of cutlery, but I was like no, this is just for me. Overall, great portion sizes, super friendly staff, and very affordable. This place makes me want to visit Poughkeepsie again! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Tostadas, guacamole, and fried plantains by the Hudson - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

The best Mexican food I ever tasted! The food is delicious and very well prepared. Worth the 45 minutes trip from where I live. Highly recommend. read more

El Azteca is a gem on Main Street - super fresh, super authentic Mexican food. No liquor license yet, but plenty of sodas to buy & free fruit water. SO who's from Southern California (& knows Mexican food) had the chicken enchiladas- he raved about the freshness and quality. I had the chicken and avocado quesadilla, which came with rice and salad. I could barely finish it, but I had to, it was so delicious!!! While we were eating the chef came over to ask how we were enjoying our meal (it was quiet), which was a nice touch. I have to say it wasn't our first thought for an early lunch, but it will be next time. Outstanding! read more

Restaurant / Mini Grocery Store Got some tacos here, steak and al pastor. Both were decent and had a lot of flavor going on. Bean and rice were on point. Also had the Horchata and that hit the spot on a hot day. They have a full menu here, so plenty of options for all. read more

If you're looking for great, authentic Mexican food at reasonable prices with fast, friendly service, look no further! I kept passing by this spot for years on my way to other places, but only recently did my wife and I decide to go in on a whim. I'm not one to regret the past, but I am kinda sorry I didn't come in here WAY sooner. We've been back nearly every other week since. EDIT: Since posting my initial review I'd like to add a few things. We've gotten to know the staff and owners a bit better since we've now become regulars. I don't want to get overly poetic on Yelp, but this restaurant perfectly encapsulates the beauty of the American Dream. Owners Clara and Alejandro have been in that location for years, but thanks to their hard work and dedication to putting out excellent food, they've now expanded their restaurant to take over the place next door. They've worked so hard for so many years to make this happen, and I get happy every time I think about how that hard work has paid off for them. The decor is amazing - even in the dead of winter, walking into El Azteca is like stepping into a bright, inviting summer's day. What's even more impressive is that so much of that decorating and furnishing was done in-house! If Alejandro and Clara ever stop cooking (which, please God never let that day come), they have a great career ahead of them as furniture makers! TL;DR You cannot go wrong at El Azteca. Seriously. Just go there already! read more

Food is usually very good.... the exception is the enchilada dish, gross.... tacos al carbon is unbelievable.... Don't order an appetizer, it has never ever come out before the meal.... even when I have asked for it to come out first it comes out all together... They charge for water!!!! They used to have a pitcher and cups near the door, no more.... ridiculous read more

El Azteca is probably one of my favorite restaurants. Their food is always good and I love how many vegan options they have! I've been there countless times and have never disliked what I got :) read more

Absolutely love this place. I always get tacos Mexican style & it's a simple yet amazing dish. Bring friends here all the time bc of friendly staff. read more

When we saw the 4.5 star review, my fiancé and I got super excited. What we got though was pretty underwhelming. It's a cute little place, a little kitschy but in a pleasant way. The wait staff were friendly, and the menu looked promising, but the food was honestly bland. We ordered carnitas tacos and steak tacos, the steak was definitely better than the pork. The meats were under seasoned, and my "guacamole" was just unseasoned smashed avocado. We also got the queso fonditio, which came out so thin we couldn't keep the cheese on a chip. Probably good for a quick drunk bite, but not fantastic food. The one exception flavor-wise was the rice and beans, which were a really pleasant surprise. Super satisfying. read more

This place is amazing. Authentic Mexican food at a great price point. The outdoor patio area is beautiful. I love ordering their mango water and chorizo tacos. The guacamole is always fresh and so are the chips. Definitely worth a shot, they also do taco Tuesday!! read more

Had a shrimp enchilada with mole that was wonderful. Some of the best mole since my last visit to Oaxaca. The food is fresh and the staff is friendly. We had a great time! read more

Fun colored chairs, painted murals on the walls, and lots of sunlight makes for an upbeat mexican deli and restaurant. Started off with some Al pastor tacos which were made well. They had mexican or tex-mex options which included tomatoes and lettuce. Their salsa on the table in mason jars was a little less, but still flavorful and made with fresh tomatillos and cilantro. Food came out quickly and for the price the portions were unassumingly large. Fresh pulled chicken, avocados were scant, but there. Chips were extra after the first amount our waiter brought out but $2 were worth it. Ate til I was stuffed and finished the entire dish. Definitely worth a shot if you're craving some authentic mexican food. They also carried some not-so-common Jarritos flavors like grapefruit, lime, and tamarind read more

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The food, the interior, the service are all great. Very nice on the inside and extremely clean. The veggie tacos were great, the rest of the menu looks good too. read more

The special drinks go fast so get them! I tried the horchata and it was really good, but the mango and citrus drinks looked better! Get them fast because they seem to sell out early. We tried the mole chicken and jalapeño cheese tamales. Both tasted great. I'd like to see them serve the tamales in the husk. There is something ritualistic about peaking off the husk. Mexican pizza was yum yum. Ground beef is worth a taste but next time I'll try some pork. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

Homemade horchata was slammin. Al pastor tacos were on point. Rice, beans, guac all amazing. Great ambience. Love this place.

The food is authentic Mexican and it's decent but definitely not worth the high prices charged. The service is not very good. My friend and I walked in and I saw a total of 8 or 9 tables, which were a good distance apart. There were 4 tables occupied. A young lady, Clara(?), pointed to 2 different tables and told us we could sit at either one. We chose the table on the back wall and I sat facing the door. There was nothing on the table. We sat there for about 7-8 minutes before Clara came over with a small basket of chips and two very tiny containers of green and red sauce. The containers were so tiny we had to break the triangular shaped chips so that we could dip them. The dipping sauces were good, but definitely not enough for the amount of chips we had. Clara did not bring napkins and she did not ask us if we wanted something to drink. Clara came back a few minutes later with our menus. She was the only server there and she was quite busy with take out orders and restocking desserts in the cooler. After about 10 to 15 minute Clara came back to take our orders. We ordered some Authentic Guacamole with chips. My friend ordered grilled chicken tacos, Mexican style with soft tortillas. I ordered the Shrimp Fajitas. Clara was about to walk away when I stopped her and asked what kind of drinks they had. She rattled off a list so quickly that I had no idea what she said. So I asked her specifically about the homemade drinks and she rattled them off so fast that the only words I could understand were, "Oh" "Tamarind" "Pineapple" and "Watermelon." We ordered the watermelon drinks. Another 10 minutes went by and we still had no napkins, silverware or drinks and we had been there for about 40 minutes already. I motioned to Clara who was across the room and asked her if she could bring our drinks. She acted slightly annoyed, but she did bring our drinks. The homemade watermelon drinks were delicious. They looked like watermelon slushees. I have no idea if there was anything other than watermelon in the drinks, which were brought to the table in Mason type jars with lids. Clara sat the drinks on the table and walked away. An older gentleman, who was cleaning tables, walked by and I asked him if we could have straws. He asked Clara to bring us straws. She responded to him, again, sounding slightly annoyed, but she eventually brought straws. About 10 - 15 minutes passed and our food came. I received 2 plates. One with the shrimp, onion, grilled tomato and grilled sliced jalapeños. The second plate had my retried beans, rice, salsa, lettuce and a dollop of what appeared to be sour cream, but wasn't. Whatever it was, it tasted heavenly. My friend, who ordered the grilled chicken tacos, received a plate with what appeared to be a very large burrito. I motioned to Clara again, as she had quickly walked away, and told her my friend had ordered tacos. Clara kind of looked at me like I was crazy and started saying something with a look of disbelief. She finally picked up the plate and took it back to the cooking area. Another 10 minutes went by and Clara brought out the plate of grilled chicken tacos saying it was a mix up in the kitchen. My friend liked her tacos. I liked my fajitas. Even though we ordered corn tortillas, we both got flour tortillas which would not have been a big deal if the service had been better. The guacamole was just okay. A little on the bland side. The portions were average size. The flavor was good. The price was outrageous!! Chicken Tacos $10 Shrimp Fajitas $19 (way overpriced) Guacamole w/ chips $10 (extremely overpriced) Watermelon Aquas Fresca $5 each Total Bill $52.98!!!! Overall, I would rate the food as 4 stars (good but not great) and the service as 2 stars, which balances out to the 3 stars I rated the entire experience. I did feel sorry for Clara, who runs the floor which includes eat in and take out customers. She is very sweet and friendly, when she's not slightly annoyed. We left her a very good tip. We will not be going back. There are too many authentic Mexican eateries in the City of Poughkeepsie, with good food and a heck of a lot cheaper!! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

My friend and I spent the weekend in and near Poughkeepsie, and went to El Azteca for dinner on Saturday night based on reviews here. It lived up to the reviews! My shrimp tacos were superb - fresh and flavorful. The salsas were delicious and my friend's chicken avocado lime soup looked amazing. The service was definitely on par with the great food. Our server was very friendly, welcoming and knowledgable about the food. If I'm ever in the area again, I will absolutely go back for a meal. read more

I was in town a few days for work. I actually asked some colleagues who live in town if they recommended this restaurant and their response was no because of the area it is located in. Nevertheless, I decided to get lunch at this place and I was SUPER satisfied. My waitress Rebecca was amazing and super friendly. She let me pick where I wanted to sit since the restaurant was pretty empty. After bringing me water she recommended an agua fresca (similar to a juice or smoothie). I asked for the Watermelon flavor and it was delicious which made her really happy because she had made the agua fresca herself. Afterwards, I had the Guacamole as an appetizer and the Enchiladas Suizas as an entree. The food was really good and the portions were just right. Before leaving I decided to try another flavor of the agua fresca and I went for the Tamarind flavor. This flavor was good but not as great as the watermelon flavor. Overall, my waitress Rebecca made this place great for me, so I recommend this place to anyone visiting or living in the area. As I sit here writing this, I am actually finishing up my second visit (two weeks after my first visit) to this establishment. Rebecca was great again and so was the agua fresca and food. read more

Our server (the owner's daughter) was delightful and fun. She made great recommendations. We loved the cucumber lime fresca and the entrees we ordered. Very authentic and very delicious. I will return next time we are in the area. read more

Really good authentic Mexican food here. The cooler is full of fresh lines, cilantro, tomatoes, and avocados. Makes Sense since the food is so fresh. Get the Empanadas. read more

El Azteca Mexican - Menu cover - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

Great little Mexican place with colorful interior! Order the mango drink and keep the mason jar. The guac comes in a cute little car and is a very generous portion! loved it! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

Delicious authentic Mexican food. You won't regret your choice to eat here. Edit: went back this last week. Delicious once again. read more

Azteca never disappoints. The staff is so friendly and sincere, the food is outstanding. Over the years they have expanded and done many renovations. The inside and outside dining are beautiful. Favorite items, al pastor Texas style tacos, chimichanga,tamales, plantains, chicken tortilla soup, street corn, rice pudding, mango salsa, the Cuban platter, and many more! Been going there for over a decade. Just stopped in tonight (July 2020) and their social distancing was very organized and easy to navigate. I will continue to support this business, as they have been continually and consistently amazing for many years! Very quick efficient take out & delivery. read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in the area for extremely fresh & quickly prepared made to order food. You can't go wrong here . Everything is wonderful , highly recommend the enchiladas mole & guacamole. Excellent rice and beans. Rebecca always makes it a good time and makes us feel like valued costumers! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

Lengua quesadilla (4 stars): really glad this place had lengua! Decent amount of mostly tender lengua, although there were a few pieces that were maybe a little too small and were overcooked. Really cheesy. Large portion Chicken lime soup (3 stars): with shredded chicken and rice. The broth was decent, but the chicken was pretty dry. I think the rice is the same as the rice that came with the quesadilla. If they made menudo I would be all over that! Salsas (4 stars): decently spicy. The red was more flavorful but both were great. Came free with warm tortilla chips Atole drink (4 stars): was like a warm rice pudding drink. A little on the sweet side. Nice for the cold rainy weather Service was fast and friendly. Large wall of hot sauce with water tank. Nice amount of seating. read more

I attempted to go there for lunch today. Not crowded but I sat for over 15 minutes and no one came to the table to take my order or even bring me water. When I finally walked out, they looked at me like "Why you leaving". They helped everyone else who walked in. WTF?? read more

After the first time I was skeptical about trying this spot again. Totally different experience this time. This time everything was spot on. Rebecca is a treasure and saved the day last time and was so happy to see we returned. Chicken Burrito was flavorful and a real handful. Three small beef tacos were also very tasty. We had a mango pineapple juice that was also great. After my last review management contacted me the next day to further clarify and asked for a second try. Glad we did! I'm sure we will be back. (One star off as the prices are a little high, no liquor and the tacos could be larger) Five stars to Rebecca!! read more

We stayed in Poughkeepsie 3 days, and ate here every time! The food is authentic and delicious, the outside eating area is comfortable, the staff and service were great. Moderate prices and good value - if I drop by Poughkeepsie again, I'll eat here for sure! Highly recommend. read more

Great spot love it, authenticMexican food. Great taste, Great service, the atmosphere it's great and fast service, a most visit place.

I was in Poughkeepsie this past weekend with a volunteer group for the Special Olympics. We needed to find a place that would seat a group of 16 on a Saturday night. This place accommodated us, and then served us a DELICIOUS dinner. I am a huge Mexican food aficionado. I've traveled extensively in Mexico, and grew up in Texas. This place has AMAZING Mexican food. I had vegetarian enchiladas with mole sauce, and they were smoky and spicy and rich and delicious. Plus they serve Mexican Coca-Cola, which was a wonderful bonus. The service was fantastic, and the owner came out to say hello to us. She was so sweet. Plus they made it very easy for all of us to pay our bills separately, which is a HUGE surprise for a group that big. If you are in the area and looking for a place to eat, give this one a try. It is FANTASTIC. read more

El Azteca Mexican - Vegetarian enchiladas with mole sauce, and an honest to goodness Mexican Coca-Cola. (Cane sugar instead of HFCS. Yay!) - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

When we come home from Boston for a visit. A Must Stop. The best! This place is bright, warm, friendly , and the FOOD IS STELLAR read more

My friends and I went here for lunch the other day and I was happily surprised how accommodating the employees were to special dietary requests. They shared the ingredients of any menu item I asked about and they made recommendations about what foods could be made vegan. Our waitress was so friendly and welcoming and I really liked that they offer complimentary chips and salsa at the table. I ordered some veggie tacos with rice and beans on the side. Everything was really good and the decor of the place cannot be beat. It was so festive inside. I felt happy as soon as I walked in. Will definitely be back whenever I go to Poughkeepsie. read more

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The food is so satisfying. Great vegan/vegetarian options! I recommend the soy chorizo tacos, w/ onion & cilantro. Their tres leches cake is addicting. I just love this place! It's huge, vibrant, and beautifully set-up. Everyone who works here is super nice too. Such a gem. read more

Outstanding authentic Mexican, the best in Poughkeepsie. The music in the place is sometimes very loud, but otherwise a nice setting. The chicken tortilla soup at $5 ($3.50 on Wednesdays) is meal in itself and such a yummy bargain. read more

Came here for the first time on Cinco de Mayo and wow! The food, service and ambiance were all really great. They even gave us free shirts and cups to celebrate the holiday. Everyone was very attentive and the food was very fresh and authentic. read more

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El Azteca is the best Mexican place I've been to in ny so far. The food is fresh, the guacamole is so original, and they have Guava Jarritos! This place feels so authentic, the staff are so kind and the restaurant has a very home feel. I ordered the Baja burrito and it was so damn good! read more

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We were looking for a quick bite while in Poughkeepsie and we came across this restaurant. The food was amazing! The service was great too. Absolutely loved the fried plantains. I will definitely be going back the next time I'm in Poughkeepsie! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

This place is such a gem! I'm lucky enough to be able to dine here pretty much weekly for lunch. Incredible flavors! Authentic Mexican food! Fantastic friendly staff. Sunny atmosphere. It's an instant pick-me-up to any day! read more

El Azteca Mexican - Mexican Near Me - Poughkeepsie, New York

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Honestly this place has great food and some of best service iv ever had is from this place right here, the decor is awesome, art on the walls is super neat. I would recommend the spicy pork tacos and the Elote. read more