Been going to the UWS location for years but I was in the area needing to kill time so decided to stop in for Happy Hour. Sitting at the bar, it was only me one other patron and the bartender (with the host nearby). Had a great time talking, it was a slow day so we all really had a great time. I went with the white queso ($8) from the HH menu and then tried the fried cauliflower($9). They were good, breaded thickly with a great spicy sauce. All went great with a beer on tap, whatever was on HH that day. read more

Javelina - White Queso - Happy Hour size - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

See all

About once a year I get an overwhelming craving for fajitas, and Javelina seems to be one of the best places in the city to find them. Conveniently located near Union Square/14th Street on the Lexington Avenue Line, Javelina is fairly easy to get to from Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. The restaurant itself is downstairs from the street, but not quite a basement. There is a bar when you first enter on the left, and tables back to the kitchen. The space is usually quite loud, and it can be a bit cramped at times. Don't be surprised if you find yourself raising your voice a bit to keep up. Upon seating, you will (eventually) be offered chips and salsa, and someone will take your drink order. Things can take a bit of time here, especially at busy times, so do not expect the top tier of restaurant service by any stretch of the imagination. The menu features fajitas, and I cannot imagine ordering anything else. The queso is a lovely appetizer, though the trio feels a bit small for the price. If you order fajitas, you will notice another shortcoming of this restaurant, the tables can feel a bit cramped. This is something that comes with the territory in Manhattan dining but do not feel surprised if you end up having to rearrange things on your table to accommodate a delicious platter of sizzling fajitas. The fajitas themselves are fine, and probably the most consistent I've found here in the city. I would not be surprised if there were better places for fajitas elsewhere but in my research this seemed like the best option. Requests have been missed before in my experience (I recall ordering a certain salsa that never came) and because the waiters seem a bit overwhelmed, it hard to address it before you'd want to eat. Overall, this place will scratch the itch for fajitas, but the service is lacking. I'll probably find myself wanting fajitas again in the future and return, but every time I visit I find myself just a little bit disappointed that a good restaurant is not great. read more

See all

Nothing too exciting to say about this place. Very generic american food that tasted great but nothing worth going into a restaurant and sitting down for almost two hours. Theres definitely food at home. All jokes aside everything tasted fantastic, in regards to presentation and temperature and in its entirety. Definitely not at all Tex-Mex food. Queso sampler was very tasty and my boyfriend really enjoyed his cilantro and avocado margarita ! Service was meh nothing special. read more

Javelina - Queso Sampler - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I have never had tasteless Tex Mex before. We had the stacked brisket with carboard meet. Mole poblano was bland and the guacamole boring

Had a reservation on a Saturday night, didn't seem like we needed it though. Quick service and very attentive. They give free chips and salsa which is amazing! Not the best salsa I have ever had but for a free item I am not complaining. The white queso is good and hard to find up North, but it did the trick. Not quite the same as white queso in the south but fulfilled my cravings. It was a decent serving size as well. We ordered the Al Pastor tacos and chicken tacos. I really recommend the Al Pastor tacos, they were amazing, so good. The Diet Coke is just a can poured in a glass so no refills sadly. The grilled chicken tacos were okay, could have used more cheese in my opinion. Overall though, a great little restaurant in nyc! The ambience was also nice and very clean :) read more

See all

I have been on the hunt for some good queso in NYC and I think I may have found a new go-to here at Javelina! We were able to walk in on a Thursday night with no reservations. The restaurant itself was medium sized, but the tables are definitely close together. The service was exceptionally fast, and almost immediately after we sat down we got chips and salsa. I would absolutely recommend getting a queso as well even though the salsa was excellent. I opted for a classic chicken quesadilla and I loved that it came with sour cream, guac and pico. I think a quesadilla is a good benchmark of a Tex-Mex place (because if you mess that up, I can't trust you) and they passed the test for me! I definitely will be back here, and I absolutely recommend it for anyone in the area looking for some solid NYC Tex-Mex. read more

Javelina - White Queso - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Service: 3.5/5 Food: 3/5 Nothing special. Fairly standard Tex-Mex food. I think the place is mostly for vibes + happy hour/after work drink attendees. What I Ordered: - Complimentary Chips + Salsa: small kick, we still ate 4 bowls - Chicken + Shrimp Fajitas: shrimp was a little salty, chicken was tender, came with a good spread of sides, guac oxidized quickly read more

Javelina - Chicken + Shrimp Fajitas - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

We had such a great experience here for dinner tonight. Ordered the Fajitas and the tacos. But what made the experience was Neiro, the busser/runner! He was so kind, attentive and made such an effort with us. We asked for something and he had it for us in seconds! They need to give this man a raise or make him a server for being such a hard worker! 10/10 service! read more

The food was solid, it hit the spot. Free chips and salsa, clean environment. Very fast service. Don't expect the greatest meal ever, but it'll satisfy your tex mex craving. read more

Fun fact: I HATE it when restaurants are stingy with the AC on scorchingly humid days. As soon as we walked into Javelina on a muggy day that would've made the Amazon jealous, I knew I was in for a nightmare of a dinner. There was no discernible air con, and all the diners looked like they had just finished a HIIT workout. Shiny and sweaty...yuck! The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't remarkable enough to overlook the fact that I was melting. Our Habanero Queso with Chorizo was proper spicy, but that actually made the experience worse, since we were chugging (and requesting) ice cubes every 20 min. In fact, the ice cubes didn't last longer than 5 min before they were gone. The Veggie Enchilada and Steak & Shrimp Fajitas were both fine as well, and if I hadn't been broiling, I might've been able to enjoy them. For what it's worth, service was pretty attentive and friendly. They seemed almost apologetic about the humidity, but not enough to either turn on the AC or explain why it wasn't on. In sum: hot, spicy Tex-Mex in 95-degree humidity. Not my cup of horchata, but maybe others can stand it. read more

See all

Delicious food especially the chicken/steak fajitas which come steaming hot and great service

I wanted to life this place but outside of happy hour, food and drinks are pricey and all right. Next time I will try to come before 6 pm! I had the Bob Armstrong with white queso as suggested by my server but it wasn't that great. I wished I went with the cheddar. As for drink, the frozen margarita was decent. It definitely had the right amount of the sour mix and the tequila. For cheese dip and the drink, the bill came out to $32 :/ read more

See all

Javelina is by far the best tex-me restaurant in the city. Far from the generic tex-mex you see creeping in your neighborhoods. Generous portions, albeit decent wait times, there isn't much to complain about aside from the automatic 20% gratuity for large groups. \-(**)-/ read more

Service here was very quick! I tried the chicken taquitos appetizer, but it filled me up. I don't know exactly what was in them but the flavor was good! If you're looking for a Tex-Mex spot in the city, this is not a bad place to start! read more

Javelina - Chicken Taquitos - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

As a native Texan who's been searching for halfway decent Tex Mex in NYC, javelina is the only place I've found that comes even close to replicating the flavors of home. I also really appreciate all the Texas decor and accents: the king of the hill restroom signs, the shiner bock on tap, even the free chips and salsa (charging for chips is a hangable offense in Texas, yet every other place in NYC loves to nickel and dime you on this front). The fajitas were a large portion for two and a good value - the chicken was a bit thin but the steak was excellent. Service was prompt, with frequent refills of chips and drinks. read more

See all

Got home from a trip to Austin and was like, where do I get queso in NYC?? Javelina fit the bill. Easily made a reservation for a weeknight and tried: + Frozen Prickly pear margarita + Frozen mango margarita + Bob Armstrong queso + Skirt steak fajita + Javelina salad I've had better margaritas, but the food was really solid. The queso in particular was awesome! Reasonable prices/portions for the area, too. read more

See all

Very complex flavors created as authentic a flavor as I've had in nyc. A bit pricy for such an approachable menu otherwise I'd eat here twice a week. read more

The kitchen shows what food can be while servers show what service can be. The service performed with exceptional speed and every worker seemed genuinely happy. This restaurant creates interesting dishes and I'm pleased to have it nearby. Their cooking creates perfect flavors. This restaurant will get another chance. read more

- free chips and salsa - amazing free salsa - fajitas were filling and large protein portions were provided - they messed up our order but didn't charge for a plate due to the delay - excellent margarita Overall, good service. Good food. Amazing salsa. Can't wait to return! read more

See all

Tried Javelina twice this week- really good Mexican food in Manhattan! Tastes as good as the west coast street tacos! My favorite is the brisket tacos ( soft and juicy with lots of flavor). The Al pastor tacos were tasty too but I love the brisket tacos! Also enjoyed the tortilla soup, Queso was addicting too. Forgot to take pics but definitely give it a try! read more

I held off commenting until I'd eaten here enough to form a solid opinion. Everything about Javelina is phenomenal....the food, the decor, the ambiance and the service. The plates are well-portioned and the service is friendly. Food took its time reaching tables and drink orders piled up. I truly value this restaurant, and you'll see why soon. read more

Came here the other day for the Tippler. Unfortunately, the Tippler is only available on their UES location. Anyways, we got some food and had a decent time! We ordered fish tacos, margaritas, and the churros. The fish tacos were pretty decent. They come in portions of 2 or 3. 2 is perfect for a light meal. However, you may want to do 3 if you're famished. Margaritas are definitely heavily poured and delicious. The churros were a tad disappointing. They were fried, but came out pretty soggy. It comes with a side of ice cream. You get the choice of dulce de Leche or chocolate. Definitely get the dulce de Leche. As for the service, it can be a little slow. However, I would cut the staff a lot of slack. They were clearly understaffed and extremely busy. IG: @QueenOfAdventureNYC read more

Javelina - Churros with dulce de Leche ice cream - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

Javelina made even simple dishes taste complex and special. Their creativity shows in the presentation and taste. All dishes have incredible flavor harmony that wows with each bite. The team member treated us with particular courtesy. I intend to return here. read more

Javelina has a great happy hour offering with rotating cocktails depending on day of the week, beers, and also house margaritas from 4pm - 6pm on weekdays. I got the house margarita while my friend got a beer. Upon being seated the host did let us know that we needed to order an appetizer in order to sit at a table vs the bar, so we ordered guac which was good. Perhaps the best part about Javelina is that they bring you free chips and salsa. That alone will be bringing me back over and over. The indoor decor was vibrant and bring and service was good. There are multiple locations in the city so check them out if you need a happy hour spot. read more

Javelina - Margarita - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant can host larger parties which is nice if you're planning a group dinner! I got the Al pastor tacos which were yummy and juicy. When you order three tacos, it comes with rice and beans and you get to choose between Spanish rice/jalapeño rice and black beans/refried beans. I was full after the three tacos and couldn't finish the rice and beans it came with. They have a good selection of margaritas, but I ended up choosing a cider which was good. Also loved the chips and salsa they bring out to the table! I asked for no cilantro and was that there still would be cilantro on the guac but they can remove the cilantro garnish on top, but sadly when my tacos arrived they had cilantro on top. read more

Javelina - 3 Al Pastor Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

The restaurant delivers for family groups. All food here demonstrates excellence. This place clearly attracts many customers. I recommend Javelina for both their food quality and staff performance. Hearty support of this spot. read more

Javelina is usually my go-to delivery order when I am craving nachos (which are stellar), but last night my partner and I decided to go in person and try some of their other dishes (that maybe don't travel as well) and we were not disappointed! We ordered the queso sampler (the Bob Armstrong with white queso was my favorite) and steak+chicken fajitas. They also give you a starter of chips and salsa - needless to say, we were stuffed by end of our meal and had lots of left overs. The portions were massive (although prices to match that). Everything was delicious, however our queso came out a little cold, which was odd, and many of the chips we were given for dipping were crumbs. Service was friendly and attentive too! Would def go back again - and potentially for HH, which looks like the real move here. Splitting some chips, queso, guac, and some margaritas with some mates. read more

See all

Had a fine dinner. Service was ok if not a bit lackluster. I had a bowl of chicken veggie soup that was ok enough. The fajitas I tried were bland. Guacamole was just ok, I've also had much much better queso. They asked for our us to leave our table right when we were finishing up. Felt lame. I would never choose Tex mex when visiting New York but friends organized this dinner. Waste of precious NYC meal. Now I'm sad. read more

See all

I come here all the time, happy hour, dinner, brunch whatever. It's always a good time, I was a there yesterday and Jessica (bartender) I hope I got the name correct, she was great, super kind and just a pleasure. We moved outside because it was just so cold inside and we got dulce as our server. Not sure if she was having a bad day or just hated us but she wasn't that nice lol, I asked if she was okay and she said yes but her energy/attitude towards us said otherwise. Aside from that mishap with our server, food was great as usual and the drinks were perfect. Will obviously be back, javelina has theeee best queso around. read more

I visited Javelina on 4/9/25 I was serviced by Kayla, and she was so great. Kayla was very attentive and the overall service was great. Our food came out prompt and hot. Micah also checked on our table a few times to make sure we were good. I had a great overall experience. read more

Very bad service. We were never checked in on after ordering our food. I ordered a Diet Coke and never received it and we never received water refills the whole meal. The waitress never even came up to us again during our entire time there. So disappointed as we have really enjoyed their food in the past. read more

Pretty good restaurant with great vibes indoors. Quality mexican food and great margaritas. Very nice service. Would recommend. read more

See all

I want to start off by saying that is the best Mexican restaurant I've had in NYC. It's classic Tex-Mex with great prices and huge portions. I was looking for a place to eat and walking into this place on a whim. In addition to free chips and salsa, which seems to be less and less common in the area, the white queso was out-of-this world good. My partner got the chicken fajitas and the portions were MASSIVE and the best deal we've gotten on food in the city. It's a very laidback atmosphere that's rather inviting. We're already making plans to return since the food was great, affordable and great service to boot. read more

See all

Popped in for a quick dinner on a Thursday night. The place was LOUD and busy, but we got a table without a reservation. The free chips and salsa were very good and I could have quite easily eaten another portion. I got the quesadilla, which was very nice and a good portion size! Everyone seemed to be getting fajitas and queso, so I'd go back and try those things. It's a fun restaurant and I would recommend. read more

Javelina - Quesadilla - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

We were graciously invited back personally by the owner, Matt. All of our concerns were addressed and fixed! The manager on duty, Theresa, was amazing and made sure we were seated promptly. Our server, Eric, took amazing care of us the entire time! There is also a new White queso with brisket on the menu that we got to try. It was Excellent and might be a new favorite, besides the classic Bob Armstrong of course. Our margaritas and fajitas were a 10/10 as usual! Thank you, Javelina for caring about your guests and being an amazing restaurant! There has been a Texas sized hole in my heart since I left the last review. I am happy to say that we will be back to eat again soon. (-: read more

Fajitas no longer have red peppers?! Red peppers made the fajitas (getting rid of the green peppers would have been better). Not sure if I will order from here after this change, I've been a customer for years :( read more

Have been here numerous times, they always try to accommodate walk ins, which is nice. Haven't had a bad service, both at the bar and table. I loved their Javelina salad with shrimp, shrimp tacos and fish tacos, my friends had some other meat dishes and everyone liked what they ordered. It's a solid and reliable 3.5 stars. read more

See all

Honestly it's pretty hard to find good Tex Mex options in Manhattan and this really checked the box for me. The variety and flavor of the many quesos were great, and the menu has all the Tex/mex classics you would hope for. I would call out the serving sizes are pretty large, so less is more when ordering. Pretty big inside so guessing wait times don't get too long. read more

Javelina - Queso Sampler - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

See all

A Tex-Mex haven in Manhattan, Javelina hit the spot for a recent Saturday afternoon happy hour. We enjoyed margaritas and real deal queso (as good as any I had back home) with a side of fresh flour tortillas, at their cozy bar. The service was a healthy dose of Texas hospitality, with our friendly bartender giving us samples of special marg creations, like strawberry and avocado-cilantro. A perfect, no-frills spot for any Texan lost in New York. read more

Amazing service, fantastic drinks, delicious food! Wyatt and Micah were great, were so attentive and personable! Will definitely be back, their bottomless brunch hit the spot, and the food was perfection! read more