Wow! This is officially my new favorite spot! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing. My…read morefriend and I tried the fish, ribeye, shrimp, octopus, and lengua tacos, and every single one was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. We also had the Ceviche Mixto and Aguachile Mixto, and they were incredibly fresh, vibrant, and delicious. The fresh oysters topped with guacamole were fantastic, and the oysters served in a michelada shot were next-level--such a unique and delicious combination! The restaurant is clean, beautifully decorated, and has an authentic Mexican taquería vibe. The Mexican music playing in the background made the atmosphere even more enjoyable. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients in every bite. I already can't wait to come back and work my way through the rest of the menu. If you're looking for authentic, fresh, and flavorful Mexican seafood and tacos, this place is a must-visit. I highly recommend it! Try it now before everyone discovers it and it's impossible to get a table!

Taqueria El Buchon: A Birria Revelation (and a Masterclass in Hospitality!)…read more My usual Mexican food pilgrimage involves a bit of a trek. Still, on a recent, intense QuesaBirria craving, the thought of a long drive was about as appealing as a lukewarm taco. So, I did what any smart foodie would do: hit up Yelp and Google for "Birria Restaurant Staten Island." Taqueria El Buchon popped up with reviews so good, I practically tasted the birria through my screen. "Alright," I thought, "let's give this a shot." And oh, am I ever glad I did! From the moment I rolled in (walker and all!) to the moment I reluctantly waddled out, I was utterly captivated. First, let's talk about the unsung hero of my visit: the gentleman (whose name I regrettably didn't catch, but he deserves a medal!) who served me. He didn't just serve; he served far and beyond. This man was a hospitality wizard, attentive without being overbearing, and genuinely made me feel like the most important diner in the room. And speaking of delightful surprises, let's dive into the chips and salsa. Forget those sad, bagged imposters from the supermarket. These, my friends, were the real deal. The salsa was a vibrant fiesta in a bowl - bursting with fresh cilantro, chunky onions, and ripe tomatoes. But the chips? Oh, the chips! Crispy, fresh, with that perfect, satisfying crunch that screams "homemade." The waiter confirmed they whip these beauties up fresh right there in the restaurant, and you can absolutely taste the difference. Seriously, a must-try! Now, for the main event: my QuesaBirria. This wasn't just a taco; it was a work of art. They were thoughtfully cut into perfect triangles, like a gourmet quesadilla. This ingenious design meant a flawless "plate to mouth ratio" - no embarrassing meat or tortilla shrapnel decorating my shirt, the table, or the floor. While I love a good messy taco as much as the next person, this elegant presentation was pure genius. The portion size was generous, and the blend of tender meat and cheese was simply divine. The consommé? Flavorful and rich, a true tasty companion. My only tiny wish (and I mean tiny, because the taste was absolute perfection) was for a few more strands of birria meat in the broth/consommé, as I've encountered at other spots. But honestly, it's a minor quibble in an otherwise flawless performance. The ambiance was just right. The music was a tad loud, but when it's tasteful Latin beats, who's complaining? Certainly not me! My Latin roots demanded a little chair jig, and I happily obliged. (Don't worry, it was subtle... mostly. lol.) But the true cherry on top of this already fantastic experience happened on my way out. A lovely young lady, without being prompted, graciously got up from her chair, greeted me with a warm smile, and opened the door. In a world where genuine kindness can sometimes feel rare, this was a truly delightful and happy moment. I thanked her, and now, reflecting on it, I wish I'd tipped her just for that thoughtful gesture. If I could give Taqueria El Buchon 10 stars, I absolutely would. Thank you for the exceptional service, the incredible food, and the heartwarming hospitality. You've won a new loyal customer! PS: almost forgot: I also absolutely enjoyed the whimsical salsa bowl; it was definitely unique and so cute! I want one. :-)

This place is nice and delicious. Sick spot. Ambience is fun. A ton of options. All clearly made…read morefresh. However portions smaller than other places. I left hungry after paying for $20 of food.

My favorite taco shop on the island. They have the best…read moreaguas frescas and freshest Guac. The service is quick and efficient. This is a no muss no fuss mom And pop spot with a fun and beautiful decor. To go or to stay the food is great.

If you want authentic Mexican food, this is the place. If you're looking for Tex-Mex, go to…read moreChipotle. There's no shredded cheese or baskets of chips here--just real Mexican dishes done right. The tacos and burritos are great, but don't sleep on the dinner plates. In our house, the steak and onions are a favorite every time. My personal go-to is the squash blossom quesadilla--don't ask, just order it (and always ask for extra sauce). One heads-up: they're cash only.

I went to this place based on reviews but was highly disappointed. I ordered bistec tacos. The meat…read morewas somewhat good and tasty but the rest of the food and experience was awful. The meat came in huge pieces, it should have been chopped smaller. The tortillas are huge, they were very basic, lots of cilantro, not enough onions, lemons were dry, tacos were basically dry unless you use a lot of salsa. I will say the salsa was okay but hardly any flavor. The ladies never checked on me even though I was the only one there. I paid using Zelle. They never came out to confirm my payment or anything so I left. I wouldn't recommend this place at all.

****3.5 actual rating***…read more I had really high hopes for this place because it was recommended by someone who lives in the area. It was fairly easy to find and we found parking right away. The place itself is decently sized but has pretty dim lighting. The price point was pretty affordable and they have a pretty extensive menu of both food and drinks. We ordered 1 steak taco, 2 chicken tacos, 2 al pastor tacos, 1 steak quesadilla and a chicken nachos. The chicken nachos was the most expensive but it was HUGE and this was super yummy. I highly recommend the chicken nachos, they gave a lot of toppings and the chips were super crunchy and the flavors went amazing together. Everything else was just okay. I found the taco meats pretty dry and a bit lacking in flavor but the al pastor was def the best one out of all the tacos. The quesadilla was just okay in my opinion, nothing too special but not bad either. I would probably come back to this place if I am in the area but mainly for their nachos.

Hey guys, this delicious restaurant has moved! They are now located at 6 Decker Avenue!!…read moreIt's become like a general store with a delicious restaurant. San Miguel is truly one of only three Staten Island Mexican restaurants that truly serve authentic Mexican food! The best way to experience them is by calling ahead of time, ordering your food, and then picking it up. Whatever we have ordered has been absolutely scrumptious! From their pillowy, creamy yellow rice and their smooth beans, to their wide assortment of boba fide, typical dishes, such as huaraches, enchiladas, tacos, tortoise, etc. The enchiladas come in a choice of green or red sauces, and I must say the red sauce was the best molè sauce that I have ever tasted. Get yourself a San Miguel meal, with a Mexican soft drink, and you'll be in one of those little towns in Cabo in no time.

This is my new spot for lunch on weekends when we take the kids out on the ferry to SI from the…read moreBattery! We were browsing the outlet mall and lunchtime hunger cues kicked in. My kids wanted Shake Shack but Hubby and I decided we wanted something else. The Burrito Shoppe was close by (about a 4 min walk) so we placed an online order. I stayed with the kids so they can eat their lunch and Hubby walked over to pick up our food. After the kids ate, we found some benches with plenty of shade for them to play so Hubby and I can eat. I'm usually a taco/burrito/empanada gal but I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla weekend special primarily because I knew my kids would want to take bites. I was not wrong. My youngest two (2 and 4) tried guac again and actually liked it this time, after sooo many tries! The leftover tortilla chips were great for snacking on the walk/ride back and I was pleasantly surprised at the portions of food, sour cream, guac and salsa that came in our order. I was sharing with my kids and it was plentiful to keep all of us full. The quesadilla was well seasoned, cheesy, and had a good amount of stuffing inside. Next time, I know I'm trying the empanadas!

I have to say I love this place, they are very unassuming but it gets the job done. Always a great…read moreplace to get a nice lunch, their quesadillas are very delicious.

I was staying in an Airbnb, so I ordered delivery. The food came, and overall, I was very, very…read morehappy. I ordered three items. The Esquites, also known as "corn in a cup",, the chicken tostone tacos, and a beef empanada. The corn was delicious. It was a very large portion, the corn was very good, and the cheese played against the mayonnaise very well. Just an absolutely delicious dish. I liked the tostone tacos a lot. I love plantain, and I have never had. Tostones before. They were great. The chicken was tender, and played well with the rest of the ingredients. It also came with a crema to put on top. Crema it is so much better than just regular sour cream. I also liked the lime to squeeze on it, it provided a nice pop of acid. The one thing I didn't really care for was the empanada. It tasted good, but it was way too oily. I could see it in the container, and then when I picked it up, I could just see the oil on my fingers afterwards. It was a little bit of a letdown. Overall, though, a good meal at a decent price. I had enough for dinner, a midnight snack, and breakfast the next morning. Thank you

Parked nearby and grabbed a quick snack of cheese quesadilla and chicken empanada. Got the jarritos…read moreguava (but forgot to ask them to open it so doh). Got the salsa verde to dip dip. Everything came out piping hot in ten minutes tops. Delicious stuff. Recommend when in the area. I ate too fast to take pictures sorry.

We ordered a steak burrito, a seasoned pork taco, a Cuban and papa nachos and let me tell you, we…read morewere NOT disappointed! The food was plentiful and delicious! Will definitely be ordering from here again! Wow!

Overall: top place for Authentic Mexican food! Prices are perfect, portions were huge, service was…read moreso kind. Food: the sampler was huge and had so much to try! The Birria Tacos were filled! Maybe a little more salt but the sopa was perfect. Churros crunchy and sweet comes with 4 and an ice cream scoop. The chocoflan is a special and they only have it sometimes. If they have it try it! Service: the restaurant owner was so kind and showed us pictures of all the foods. Inside: nice pop Mexican music, originals, and remixes. They also have outside seating.

Consistently delicious! This spot never disappoints...when I'm not eating there, I'm thinking about…read moreeating there.

Tacos, Horchata, Quesadillas, Everything on the menu is perfectly made. Prices good too. Never had…read morea bad order from them.