Food this good should be illegal in the state of New York. I would of course be a criminal and violating the law regularly. Everything is consistently fresh and amazing. The mushroom tacos, chicken bowls, shredded chicken tacos, plantains, tostones...all flavorful. I really enjoyed how the shredded chicken was also grilled. Nice touch. The inside is like a kaleidoscope of colors. You'll find a little bit of anything and everything here. Aditionally, the folks running the shop are so friendly! You also won't feel robbed in regards to the prices and they'll still give you some fresh hot chips and salsa when you sit down. read more

Hands down the best Mexican food in all of Long Island. Great ingredients and authentic recipes. It's not easy finding good Mexican joints around and this one checks all the boxes. read more

Puerta Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

Small but mighty ! Cutest little Taco Shop in East Rockaway. Food was absolutely delicious and authentic which is hard to find in this area. Menu was huge with plenty options for everyone (Vegan as well). Staff were friendly, attentive and swift. I loved all the Mexican decor it really makes the place feel like you're in Mexico. I can't wait to come back and try more food. I highly recommend stopping in if you're a Taco Lover. Oh and the Birria Flautas were 10/10 read more

Puerta Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

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How this place has over 4 stars is beyond me. If you expect a quesadilla to have cheese...don't. I had the plantain quesadilla and the plantain was dry dry dry and tasteless, and there was BARELY any cheese. My husband had the birria quesadilla, which also barely had cheese and the meat was disgustingly dry. The guacamole is made of all limes and no avocado, at least that's what it tastes like. Gross. And a small side of it is $4 which is absurd. We had the carrot cake for dessert which was probably the best dish but it was old and you can tell it's been sitting there. read more

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I came here specifically to experience my first taco Tuesday. The place is packed, no parking if any. Totally cluttered in this place. 39 minutes waiting to be served. A party of 4 came in 5 minutes behind us. We were seated 10 minutes before they were seated. Their order was taken before ours, I guess because a worker greeted them, and they were repeated business. I hate to say it, but I felt discriminated against and yes, we were the only brown people here. The waitress was clumsy and overworked dropping cups of ice and soda. I requested to speak to the manager. 10 minutes later she never came. So, we walked out. I drove 40 minutes just to bring them business. I had to drive to Tepache Taste of Mexico @ 47 Franklin Ave in Valley Stream. A way better experience. I wish I could give 3/4 star! read more

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Visit Date: July 25, 2025 I had to drop off a return through FedEx and there was a small business that accepted FedEx returns in the same shopping center that Puerta Mexicana was located in. Fridays or Saturdays I usually treat myself to lunch out. I felt like Mexican so I stopped here. I needed quick service to get back to work on time and they provided. My food was made pretty quickly. I didn't really like the chips too much otherwise I would have given 5 stars on my review. They seemed a little bit stale and not as salty as I would have liked them. The shredded beef quesidilla was slamming! So good! It had the right amount of cheese and lots of shredded beef. The flavor of the beef was great! I ate it with sour cream. Besides the chips this is a great place to eat. Relaxing, Cool Decor a full bar if you want a drink, good food. I can happily recommend eating here! read more

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Still love this place - the nachos are great, I would eat them there. The birria bowl is massive, it's tons of really tender shredded meat over rice, beans, salad - highly recommend. The mole is rich, for a small kick to it and is great over a burrito. The skinny margs are also really good. They do have Happy hour and other specials on their menu, fyi! read more

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Ordered from this place a few times. I ordered the steak bowl with extra steak and they are very good with the portions! I had enough for 2 meals! The prices are cheap, but the food is high quality! This will be my new goto place! read more

Parking is plenty being in a strip mall. 3 of us went for a late lunch meal. Sadly there was no price reduction for lunch versus dinner meal or pricing . Staff was very courteous and attentive to a point. Music is on TOO loud and despite asking them to lower the music, they either forgot or didn't care. Made conversations very difficult. My dish had meat that was overcooked and very stiff and hard to eat. Disappointed in the meal. My associates said their meals were "ok" but not great. I had to ask twice for water despite the restaurant having no other customers. Sadly, I cannot recommend as I will not go back. read more

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Tried for takeout and thought the food was excellent. Very authentic tasting Mexican American food with a more extensive menu than similar types of places. The carne asada in particular was very flavorful and not too fatty. Will return. read more

Puerta Mexicana - Inside - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

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How does Puerta Mexicana get an overall rating of 4-1/2 stars on Yelp?! Obviously people who have rated the restaurant with 5 stars don't know about good Mexican food. We tried Puerta Mexicana last night having driven by it nearly every weekend and the place looks fun - it's decorated brightly with glistening lights and colorful pictures on the wall. The atmosphere is lively and cozy - it's a small place - seats about 16 people. (Ambiance: 1 Star) The service was fast and efficient. Our waitress moved quickly to greet and seat us, take our order, serve our food, while managing other tables, making drinks, answering the phone for take-out orders, and getting them ready for pickup. She was a whirlwind of activity getting everything done quickly. Seeing her in action was like watching a hurricane. (Service: 1 Star) The food was bland and tasteless. Our appetizer of fresh guacamole dip was like eating lumpy green mud - yet we liked that it was served with plantain chips. My wife's entree was the Crispy Shrimp Taco - deeply fried which resulted in a dry and crunchy pieces of shellfish. It was lacking sour cream or some sauce to add moisture and taste. Her margarita was a pre-mix out of a large bottle - which she ordered two because her meal was so dry and tasteless. My entree was the Steak Fajitas. It did come out hot and sizzling and smelled good - but lacked taste, and the steak was not skirt, but a thinly sliced, tough-chewing, and over-cooked piece of meat. I had to add salt to each bite just to give my meal some flavor. Again, it was not served with lettuce and sour cream. Overall, our meals were a complete disappointment. (Food: 0 Stars) We really wanted to like this place - it's a short drive from home and we enjoy good Mexican food. Unfortunately, Puerta Mexicana did not deliver a satisfying experience - and for us, "It's a one and done." read more

This restaurant has the best Mexican food around here good service great food and great drinks I recommend you guys coming here you.

We ordered from Uber Eats once and were hooked! We then went to the restaurant and it exceeded our expectations! So cute, colorful, cultural and extremely clean! The staff are very accommodating and friendly. This is one of my top 3 places to go! read more

Order tacos de birria. Don't forget to have sangria! The red sangria! Northern style burrito is amazing! Fantastic service! This is my favorite place! read more

The guac and Platanos were delicious. My husband got an enchilada which he liked. My margarita was a bit too sweet. Will definitely be back to try other options on the menu. read more

I enjoyed eating their food and the churros especially were amazing. They were crunchy and not too sweet. I like how they give a small complimentary consome with your tacos. read more

Puerta Mexicana - Tacos de birria (3) tacos and CHURROS with side dipping sauce - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

The food is always fresh and delicious! I especially love their sweet fried plantains and tres leches cake! Nice size portions and fantastic ambiance if you are going to dine in. read more

Ehh, claims to be authentic, but it's really not. Tacos lack flavor/seasoning. Very bland overall. Definitely made for the caucasians. Drinks were okay. read more

Literally everything about this restaurant needs improvement. This is, without a doubt, one of the worst places I've ever eaten in. We were the only diners there at the time, and the place is the size of a living room. Yet, the servers managed to avoid eye contact. The Mexican rap music was too loud. I asked them to lower it, since we were the only diners. It got turned down and then up five minutes later. Most importantly, the food was horrible. For example, the pulled beef had the texture of sand and didn't taste much better. The "guacamole" was a little cup of green mush which was actually pourable. It was like green mud. Even Taco Bell is better. For real. The waiter and waitress were both failures. I hate to give a bad review to a small business but this was just horrible. read more

I shared the shrimp tacos, the birria quesadilla, and the poblano tamale. Pretty good Mexican fare for a suburban restaurant. This would definitely BBS one of my go to spots if I lived in the area. read more

Nice, small place with authentic Mexican. Sizzling steak and peppers, guacamole and crispy shrimp. Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday "Happy Hour", $7 margaritas $5 beers. Not crowded and noisy. Well decorated. Will return read more

Food and service were Amazing. I had the guacamole and also the Birria tacos! Very filling and delicious. Couldn't drink today but look forward to returning and having a margarita as they looked delicious. read more

Puerta Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

The food is so fresh and authentic! The spinach enchiladas are amazing. Fresh chip, and fresh salsa. The decor is fun and bright. read more

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Spot is banging, everything is fresh and made in house, used to have to travel to Jackson heights for Mexican food until I found this. Service is always good, and the decor is very traditional. read more

Wow! This is our second time at Puerta and DO NOT SKIP THE MARGARITAS!! Some of the best I've ever had. Some places when you get the flavors margs it can get too sweet but was very impressed by Puertas flavored margs (the passion fruit was my favorite) and they have a long list of flavors. And don't get me started about their birria. Such good flavor and goes so well with their salsa. We got the quesadilla de birria this time but may try the burrito version next. The service has always been so lovely here. 12 minute walk from the train station, it's a very good spot to stop by after the beach before heading back to the city! read more

I continue to enjoy my meals here. The service is always pretty fast and they always greet you no matter how packed they may be. Friends that I have bought here always enjoy their meals and want to return. Glad this business is still around. read more

Great food delicious nachos and wings. The bathroom is clean and the decorations look nice.

Excellent food, service, and very friendly I loved the Mexican decor and music.. great ambiance read more

Great spot for some real deal mexican cuisine in east rockaway. The restaurant is a quaint size with about 8 tables inside, 3 tables outside and a 3 person bar. The inside is decorated with beautiful colors, paintings and lights! The service is friendly, fast, and ready to accommodate to put tables together for larger parties. The food and drinks were awesome! We split a nacho plate, had steak tacos, tamales and enchiladas. My favorite were the steak tacos, well cooked steak and fresh guacamole served with lime wedges. We also had red sangria and margaritas, the sangria was light and the margaritas were crisp. Highly recommend this spot if you are in the area. Cheers! read more

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Good vibes resonate here immediately upon entering. With indoor and outdoor seating as an option I recommend seating inside to take in the sweetness & authentic beauty of Mexican decor throughout this enchanting gem. Listening to brilliantly beautiful music softly through speakers in the background is homage to the beautiful world within what life brings us occasionally. Food is delicious front to back of every menu item available. Super fresh ingredients create superb flavors throughout every dish ordered. This is one of my favorite stops globally for so many reasons. It's spotlessly clean to begin with and its menu excites interest at every step. The food is just simply delicious, even interesting & colorful in its presentation. The value for price is way higher here than so many restaurants it's not even close. More than anything else is a staff & owner management team who have so much respect for each other as well as a responsibility of producing their personality of authentic Mexican cuisine to all at the highest levels of quality. I love & adore this restaurant, its ecosystem of responsible ethos for delivering delicious authentic quality of Mexico today, tomorrow & forever read more

For Mexican food this is pretty darn good! I had the birra tacos and shredded chicken tacos both super delicious! The green salsa that comes on the side goes well with the tacos- I highly recommend! read more

Puerta Mexicana - Birra Tacos de birria (3) tacos - Mexican Near Me - East Rockaway, New York

Excellent food, service and margarita's. Very nice people who own it. Ambiance is very nice with beautiful chairs and tables. read more

Food is inconsistent, service will depend on the server atmosphere can be loud and overwhelming on busy days and nice and calm on no busy days. Although drinks and guacamole are at point. Will come here when I feel like having some "close to authentic mexivcan food" read more

Super authentic Mexican food - the prices are so fair and theres SO many great choices of appetizers to share with friends. The menu will astound you!! My girlfriend is vegetarian and what I loved about this restaurant is the amount of vegetarian options they have, not just because they have them, but because they are actually really good quality. She really enjoyed the tacos de berenjena. It was really well made and it's clear that every single dish on their menu is a great choice and great quality. Also, the inside is very pretty. Great vibe. read more

A five-star rating must not be given unseriously. Needless to say, I'm dead serious about Puerto Mexicana's five stars. If you are looking for authentic and delicious Mexican in a festive setting oozing Mexican cultura, this is the place. Adorned with enchanting decor and infused with fiesta music evoking its vibrant culture and history, this little Mexican spot in East Rockaway NY takes you on a sensory trip capped by a treat to your sense of taste.They start you off with complementary chips and salsa. The menu is expansive with dishes not found in your run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurants. The tacos de birria although not the best I've ever had were excellent. A sandwich made with plantain instead of a bun stuffed with shredded beef was also impressive. Smoked pork chops plate with rice and beans served with corn tortilla elbowed out others as my favorite dish. Appetizers like elote (Mexican corn covered in cheese) and tostones were all first-rate and delicious. The drinks are creative and tasty like the Coronarita - a giant frozen margarita glass with a tiny Corona bottle stuck in it upside down. This place is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants you could ever find. Come early if you want to get a table without waiting. read more

Our favorite local Mexican restaurant. Had many great meals here with the family. Watch out for the drinks. They are strong!!!!

The service staff is very friendly. Food is always fresh, and prices are good. The restaurant is small and cozy, and the decorations and music are so fun! I love coming here! If you're in East Rockaway and you love Mexican food, you have to stop by Puerta Mexicana! read more

Stopped here because the reviews are great! When we got here for lunch, the place was pretty packed, which means the reviews must be right. We were seated right away, there is outdoor seating also available. We ordered the guac and chips, which were delicious. The guac was very creamy which was very good. It did have a decent amount of onions, so if you're not an onions fan, I guess order without. We also ordered chicken tacos and some potato flautas. Every thing was delicious. I am also obsessed with Tajín, so I randomly asked if they have and they sure did. So I drenched my food with some Tajín and oh my goodness it was to die for! Honestly, not many Mexican restaurants have Tajín so you know this place has authentic food! The service was great and very fast. They also offer all day drink specials on tuesdays and wednesdays ($7 any flavor, including pumpkin spice lol). They also have Mexican candy that you can buy as well. They have a pretty decent dessert menu, that includes flan, rice pudding, churros and tres leches cake. Overall the place is small but feels homey. It is decorated with cute Mexican paintings. Overall great experience! Would come back for sure! read more

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We love taking friends and family here! We find that the Birria is the best around and always recommend it. We have even ordered it for the table in addition to our taco orders. (My fav is chorizo and potato) read more

The food is always on point here. The service is top notch. I always try something new and I am never disappointed. The inside decor and ambiance makes you feel like you on vacation. Great hidden gem ! read more