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    La Palapa

    3.7 (803 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order La Palapa Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    LA PALAPA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - La Palapa

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    Barbados Burrito Bowl + passion fruit & watermelon margs
    Tina M.

    Grade is pending but still it's worth the visit. Walked in from the rain for drinks ended up ordering food and was NOT disappointed. The shredded beef (barbacoa ) was on the drier side but still was tasty and with the tortillas on the side I was able to keep my food off my clothes. The happy hour is the star off the show with the frozen margs being a favorite. Server was nice and attentive like I like them and again the margs were marginggggg lol. And the decor was super cozy I look forward to them getting their grade, I mean either way I'm coming back but still lol

    BEC with Avocado
    Jane L.

    My friends and I stopped by La Palapa for brunch before seeing a show in the East Village and had a positive experience overall. The food was pretty tasty, albeit somewhat pricey given what we ordered ($21.50 for breakfast tacos or a breakfast burrito, $16.50 for a BEC with avocado, $16 for guacamole, and $8 for esquites). No sides included. The cocktails were good but seemed to be somewhat weak. The service was great--very attentive, friendly, and welcoming. I would come back for dinner or for brunch again if I am in the area.

    Tacos with teenie weenie shrimps. Quesadilla in the background.
    Tanya R.

    Found my way into La Palapa on a Friday night after getting tipsy for hours at another spot nearby. We stopped in for a few light bites after one in our trio raved about the tacos. We were seated in this cute and busy place right away. We ordered tacos and a quesadilla. I was immediately disappointed in my shrimp tacos. They were prepared with those tiny, little, canned looking things. Everything else was perfect. The accompanying yellow rice and black beans were well done and flavorful. The dipping sauces were all delicious. The ice water even tasted extra clean and clear. Those toddler shrimp though-gotta go! I would definitely revisit La Palapa and I'm drinking next time for sure. Every other table was joyful and shaking with boozy laughter. I like that.

    Pepito Sandwich
    Chris D.

    Always love it here. Not sure why it's so quiet for brunch as it's a fab deal. Good food, lovely staff and tasty food. I have been going here for years and I'll keep going!

    Chips, Queso w/ salsa (pico de gallo)
    Elaimey P.

    Went there on Halloween night. I had a passion fruit margarita. It was really good, the drinks came out looking very cute. We had the chips and queso, I liked it. Nothing special tbh. Tacos were just tortillas and chopped up shrimp. Personally, not worth 7-7.50 per taco. The price of what you're paying, for me, doesn't really matched the quality I was receiving. Our server was awesome though! Very attentive.

    dining area
    Kaitlyn S.

    delicious mexican spot with a great variety of vegan options and cozy ambiance! i got the vegan taco platter which came with 3 tacos with black beans, corn, avocado, a side of beans & pico and two delicious salsas. we also had chips & salsa and a mango happy hour margarita which were great as well. good price for this area! my only critique is that the menu is a little confusingly worded, but not a huge problem since the server cleared it up for us. just something to possibly tweak for clarity

    Huevos rancheros
    Laika P.

    Went with my sister for brunch before heading to an event nearby. The staff was super welcoming and warm. We ended up sitting in the seats in the indoor patio which was a really cute vibe. We ordered the huevos rancheros which came quickly! I'd never seen them with so much sauce but I love sauce so I was content. My sister, on the other hand, did not however she did acknowledge that this is the more authentic preparation. I would've taken the sauce to go if I could've :). We also opted for bottomless drinks which included margs, mimosas, and bloody's. We tried the hibiscus margarita and were totally unimpressed however, the mimosas did the job. The service and deals alone are enough to bring me back.

    Burrito Bowl, one steak one Barbacoa

    Ashley and Jose were the absolute best!! The food is soooo amazing and staff is so caring. 10/10 recommend Shoutout to Judy the manager! Best place ever

    Guacamole mango auga fresca
    Mahika A.

    I came here with a friend around 7 PM on a Tuesday evening. We just wanted to find a place to sit down and read our books and we walked by here and it looked really cute inside. The inside is very dim and has a nice intimate experience and the patio seating feels great when the weather is nice. We were lucky and we didn't have to wait for a seat at all. We got the guacamole and vegetarian enchiladas to share. The food was delicious and fresh! The mango aqua fresca was not that great. It wasn't sweet and didn't really have much flavor. It also watered down very quickly so maybe try a different drink. I would definitely come here again for the food and maybe happy hour drinks.

    Rebecca P.

    Not bad! Good deal for a pitcher of margaritas. You can get on the rocks or frozen for $34. And there are different flavors! I've had the classic and the mango and both are good. I got the brisket and skirt streak tacos, which were good but a little dry. Also I think maybe a little expensive.. 2 tacos for $14. The guac and salsas were fine. Good devices, cute ambiance.

    Guacamole and jicama veggies to start
    Bing R.

    Food here is authentic Mexican well prepared and presented. This is my second time to come here. Each time is excellent! Everything they serve is homemade including the dips for the chips - green and red salsa pus some spicy one. The tacos are very authentic. One is made with beef that is simmered a long time and shredded. They serve interesting drinks I would not have combined but taste fabulous. This was a special event with a menu.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Barbara S.

    Gracias! You made our day!

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    6 years ago

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    Barbara S.

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    16 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best Mexican in NYC! Mexico City style!! Enjoyed the guacamole with crudité vegetables, and the enchiladas fundidas are OUT OF THIS WORLD !

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    Barbara S.

    Thank you for the lovely five star review! We appreciate your support!

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    If you like authentic Mexican food then this is THE place on LES for you. Great menu and the salsas etc are top notch

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    Barbara S.

    Thank you for the five star review!!!! We appreciate your support.

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Barbara S.

    Thank you for your review and support during these crazy times!

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Really great service and food, went there for bottomless brunch. Ashley was our server and she was amazing! Definitely going to come back!

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    5 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Excellent food and service. Waiter was very attentive and patient. Food was very good and Mango Margarita was excellent!

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Doesn't look 5 star from the outside but I'd give it 6 if I could. Amazing food and staff. Warning: The torta is tremendous

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    Barbara S.

    Thanks! You made our day!

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    12 years ago

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    Barbara S.

    Thank you so much! You inspire us!

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    12 years ago

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    Page 3 of 21

    La Palapa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - La Palapa

    What's gluten free and/or celiac-friendly on the menu?

    Thanks for asking! The majority of the menu is gluten free at La Palapa and we have many options that are celiac-friendly. Let your server know and we will be happy to put a menu together for you.

    Can you byob?

    Hello Alisson, Unfortunately our liquor license doesn't allow BYOB. On occasion we allow a special bottle of wine for a corkage fee of $15 per bottle.… 

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    Cinco De Mayo

    Cinco De Mayo

    4.6
    (39 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I had been doing banking errands most of the morning today, and I was hungry, and craving good…read moreauthentic Mexican food...specifically birria tacos. A quick internet search led me to this tiny little takeaway window. There were a few people waiting around for their orders, but the service was quick, and super friendly. The birria was amazing, super tender, perfect seasoning and came with two sauces for dipping. Unbelievably flavourful, and an impressive serving size. Great value for the money. Truly authentic Mexican street food. I'll be back.

    Cinco de Mayo landed on my radar when a bunch of us at work were looking for a place to grab some…read morelunch. We had our usual list of spots in Midtown East, but this time we wanted something a little different. We ultimately landed on Mexican, however even then there were several spots to chose from. One of my colleagues found CdM, and since we had nothing to lose we decided to check it out. In terms of physical space at CdM, there is very little; this is actually a walk-up spot hence it is solely a takeout restaurant. The menu is pretty straightforward - lots of Mexican staples with a good variety to choose from. The burrito bowl looked good so I decided to go with that - I was given choice of protein (I chose pastor) and types of beans (I chose black). The bowl was really good - all the ingredients tasted fresh and they were generous with the portion. They added sour cream to the top of the bowl and it came with a side of salsa verde which I thought was a nice touch. We also ordered some bags of tortilla chips to share - these were my favorite kind as they were semi-thick and super crunchy. Overall, I had a solid experience at Cinco de Mayo. It definitely hit the Mexican craving spot and I would have no qualms returning for another meal.

    Photos
    Cinco De Mayo
    Cinco de Mayo Plate
    Cinco de Mayo Plate
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    tán By Chef Richard Sandoval

    tán By Chef Richard Sandoval

    3.9
    (247 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    I had this place bookmarked for a while. Finally came for my birthday dinner. It was a rainy…read moreevening and I was hoping there'd be umbrella sleeves offered. I didn't see any but saw buckets for umbrellas. I opted not to leave it there since I didn't wanna forget or risk someone taking it. I took it upstairs with me. My friend had arrived and was seated. Apparently, they do offer sleeves because she got one. But the 3 people who were at the hostess booth failed to offer me one. The beautiful ambiance will get your attention immediately. It is a stunning space. The tableware was gorgeous as well. We waited for our last friend to arrive who was almost half an hour late before ordering (we thought she'd arrive sooner). Our server, Matias was gracious about it the whole time. What we ordered: Drinks: Passionfruit Margaritas & Mojito - we were happy with them. Tlayudas, Guacamole y Salsas - this was really good and a great option for the table to share. The homemade chips alone were excellent. Liked all the different dips. Guac could've used some cilantro and more acid/spice. Tán Ceviche - I loved this. Super fresh and great flavor. Could use a touch of acid. My entree was the Shrimp & Crab Enchiladas - This was pretty good. The sauce could've used some spice and some acid to cut through the richness. My friend ordered the Yellow Corn Soup as part of her meal and she did not like it. She said it was too sweet which I thought was strange. I tried a spoonful and I agreed with her. It needed a savory note and again, acid would've done wonders. Also, the crab was a bit fishy in this. She enjoyed her tamal though. I tried a touch of the sauce and it was delish. My other friend had the Quesabirria which she was also happy with. To sum up: Ambiance: 5/5 The space is undoubtedly gorgeous. Food: 4/5 Beautiful presentation on everything but each dish lacks an element or two to make it a home run. Staff: Wait staff 5/5. Downstairs staff (greeters/hostess) 4/5. Needs to be more on point like offering customers sleeves for umbrellas or pointing out the buckets to put them in. At some point through our entrees a group of 3 women were doing a 10-minute photo shoot by the stairway where our table was. Absolutely inappropriate behavior and a manager should've stopped it. Camera flashes all up in our faces while we're eating wasn't cool. Overall, still a great elevated Mexican cuisine option. The slight tweaks would make this a 5 star place for me. I'd return to try more things.

    What a GORGEOUS space. Whoever interior decorated this restaurant deserves their tens because it is…read morea spectacle. I had only seen daytime pics, but being there in the evening is a treat. If you are someone who is looking at an aesthetic place, this is a top contender. Unfortunately, I would say this place is better looking than the food is good. The food was fine, appetizers were all fresh but lacked any real depth in flavor. I wasn't too thrilled with the bone marrow I had either (but the tortillas come in the cutest basket). Personally, if it wasn't for the drinks and the space, I cant say this place is worth it - you're not coming here for the food. Another little complaint I have is the women's restroom on the second floor - right by the door is a floor to ceiling mirror which I understand was included to make the space seem bigger, but my friends and I agreed that it is a little misleading - I kept wanting to walk into it thinking there was more space there and not wall. I would recommend maybe putting a decal on it to clearly show its mirror.

    Photos
    First floor Lum
    First floor Lum
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    Rosa Mexicano

    Rosa Mexicano

    3.6
    (192 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Surprisingly happy with the happy hour we just had here. We sat at the bar and the server didn't…read moreseem too friendly, and I hate when they do this but they refuse to give you the happy hour menu while at the bar, during happy hour. After asking for it we ordered a pitcher of sangria and a few apps. The sangria was very small for the $24. We got the nachos with chicken, wings with the chipotle sauce and shrimp diablo. The nachos were not your typical plate, but my wife was thru were delicious, you just have to "deconstruct" the presentation. The wings were so much better than I thought. The meat fell right off the bone and they had so much flavor the shrimp were also delicious.

    Our server looked like the long lost son of a very recognizable actor which everyone enjoyed once…read morethe comment was made. Decent size Mexican restaurant with some seating in the front and a handful of tables in the back dining room. We started with chips and guac. The guac is large so I understand the price. It was very good. No complaints. The chips could have used more salt though which is always a concern. You'd think Mexican spots would have a tortilla chip down by now. I ordered a steak quesadilla. The steak was tender and had pretty good flavor. I just wish there was more. Especially considering the price. Certainly not a bad quesadilla but the value wasn't quite there. Still, a fine option if you want Mexican food and you are in the area. I'd say the 3.5 rating is pretty spot on.

    Photos
    Kitchen counter.
    Kitchen counter.
    Birria Quesatacos ($22)
    Birria Quesatacos ($22)
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