If you're looking for a swanky, sexy, spacious south-of-the-border restaurant with bougie frozen cocktails and $20 bowls of "guacamole made table-side," then Sabor is not your jam. However, if its authentic, homemade Mexican food that you crave, then look no further. Upon moving uptown, I wasn't too familiar with the Mexican restaurant-landscape, save for Toloache, which isn't very affordable. I wanted to find my go-to spot; somewhere I could order delivery or casually swing by to dine-in without hesitation. Or a fully made-up face. Nothing too fancy, but also somewhere with waiter service. A tequila and mezcal selection wouldn't hurt, either. After scouring my local options and cross referencing them on numerous websites, I came upon "Sabor A Mexico II." Having seen a picture on Yelp of what appeared to be a house-made hard-shelled taco (shell) stuffed with meat and all the fixins (lettuce, shredded yellow cheese, pico de gallo) - coupled with the restaurant's crappy 3.5 star rating (What the hell do UES gringo's know, anyways?) - I knew that I needed to take an even closer look. The menu read like that of any authentic restaurante: Chilaquiles - Aguas Frescas - Tamales - Chile Rellenos, etc. It was even sprinkled with a few random items that weren't (authentic), such as Calamari and Chicken Wings. My first experience with Sabor was a delivery order, which arrived on time and was comprised of: Cheese enchiladas with red guajillo chile sauce - perfectly cooked and seasoned Mexican rice and refried pinto beans that weren't completely pulverized - a hard-shelled taco (the shell was definitely homemade, btw) generously filled with stewed, shredded chicken breast and topped with all the fixins - and tortilla chips. Everything was warm, intact, delicious, and as authentic of a meal as something I'd find in Texas or California. The only thing that I found odd was the addition of rice in my taco; since it was placed at the base, perhaps its purpose was to serve as a buffer between the chicken and the shell to avoid becoming a soggy mess? Still high on momentum from my deliciously successful delivery order, I asked my cousin if he'd like to grab lunch with me at the restaurant. Located just a few steps below street level, Sabor is easy to miss! Blink once, and you'll walk right on by. To the right of the front door is a teeny tiny patio housing a table for one very luck party; once inside, the intimate dining room is festively decorated in bright colors and adorned with Mexican relics. Based on my observation, the space can comfortably seat approximately twenty guests (give or take). Larry and I were seated immediately (12:30PM on a Sunday). There were three other patrons in the restaurant and we were all being waited upon by a friendly male server. We promptly ordered sodas and a basket of chips and salsa before placing our entree requests. While Larry opted for the hard-shell chicken tacos, I chose the chile relleno plate (a "chile relleno" is a poblano or Anaheim chile pepper stuffed with cheese, in this particular case, dipped in an egg batter and deep fried), which was accompanied by rice, beans, and tortillas. "Wow," he exclaimed with a full mouth, "these tacos are fantastic!" Larry later gushed that Sabor's were the best (tacos) he's had in NYC. And speaking of, my chile relleno was not only the most authentic and delectable that I've had in the tri-state region, it's one of the best that I've tasted, period. Texas and California included! Instead of being filled with a congealed, yellow cheddar, the poblano was stuffed with a white cheese that was akin to Chihuahua (cheese). Unlike Tex-Mex renditions that I've had in Dallas and Houston, the egg batter that encrusted the pepper was incredibly thin and light, not thick and fluffy/cakey. Crowned with a ladle of warm, garlicky tomato salsa, I finished every last bite - and rice kernel - on my plate. Returning to Sabor is all I've been able to think about for the past few days. With plans to visit again on Sunday with a girl friend, I look forward to sampling the restaurant's margaritas. read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - Chile Relleno platter with rice, beans, and tortillas (not shown) - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

They really overpriced My order I thought was only 13.75 ( base on google menu) same plate on here is 16.75 But I was charge over $ 20 why I really don't knot But they charging over I really don't recommend it read more

Had to venture into the city today to bring a friend some things that had been sitting around waiting for their new home and after I dropped them off she suggested we grab some food. Now with my not being up in this part of the city all that much I had to trust her judgement in this culinary mission, but to her credit this particular friend is adept in matters food. The place is in a word quaint based on their being about six small tables which is nice if you get there early enough but not if there is a wait. Fortunately there was only a couple of people inside when we arrived and we were able to order quickly. They had a wonderful selection of tacos on the menu so I opted for the chorizo one in a soft taco and we decided to share an appetizer of chicken enchiladas. For my main meal I had what was listed as a Burrito Loco and this had a nice kick to it. It was a shredded beef mixture inside the burrito with a good level of heat (and yet I still put some hot sauce onto it because that is just what I do). All in all, very tasty and very filling. Didn't endeavor any dessert but I know for sure I will return here if I am interested in Mexican fare and am in this vicinity. One negative was that we did not get any chips and salsa put on the table. Since I love that stuff I was slightly annoyed. read more

FYI, there's a $15 min for credit cards! I got the lunch deal-$8.50 for a steak burrito with some juice thrown into it (she gave me fruit punch). I also got a huge tub of guacamole with chips, which were yummy! read more

So I just moved from Cabo San Lucas, BCS back to the states and really haven't been craving much mexican food! The other day I was walking down 77th and smelled the pork cooking and had to try the place out. Authentic pork tacos with just the right amount of meat...brought me back to the place I loved. read more

mehhhhhh Still on the hunt for a good burrito in NYC does it exist? Well I know it does NOT exist at Sabor a Mexico. Our waitress was nice, relatively quick service but lackluster burrito. Lame. read more

I found this place during my touristy exploration walking in the neighborhood. The place was little, nice and clean. There were only few people ~930pm so I didn't have to wait for a long time and my dishes came out soon. I was kind of surprised that they never offered any chips and salsa like typical Mexcian restaurants, later noticed on the menu that they have to be ordered. They also have a minimum $15 order. My enchiladas, tamalas were good and would have been nice if they had some more spicy kick. read more

Love this place. Quality, authentic Mexican food in the UES, fresh and tasty. Not as fancy as Rosa Mexicano, but waaaay better than Taco City or your average hole-in-the-wall/used-to-be-chinese takeout type establishment. The restaurant is teeny tiny, so we've only ordered delivery. I'd say be prepared to wait, however the wait will definitely be worth it. read more

If you have been searching for those authentic Mexican flavors that make you come back for more, this is the place! This place never disappoints me... it's small and cozy. The food is delish. Staff is very nice. Homemade chips and salsa. Tacos, enchiladas, chimi's, fajitas, fresh margaritas, etc... yummo!!! read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - They show soccer games when there's a match. - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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Amazing food. Nice little selection of tequila. Awesome service. Will definitely come back for Sunday happy hour. I love the patio. read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

Small, quaint restaurant with authentic Mexican food. The chimichanga is so delicious!

Charming space w great ambiance. I'm surprised it's not three money signs though. No complimentary chips and salsa Instagram upperfeast. Free chips and salsa aren't a must but seems to be a staple of any great Mexican restaurant.The food is great chips and guacamole are really good but also ten bucks. Two tacos and rice and beans were delicious but also expensive. Really nice service too. Price is the reason it's not a 5 star review. read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

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This place sucks. I ordered tacos, but in a lettuce wrap instead of on tortillas, which 4 other Mexican places in the neighborhood will do without batting an eye. THIS PLACE, however, called me to give me major attitude about. Apparently, they only have chopped lettuce... WTF. The woman was condescending and terrible. She literally said to me "that would be like ordering a hamburger without a bun... it's not a burger anymore." Obviously she has NO idea how half of NYC order their burgers. So many other great Mexican options in the neighborhood, the inflexibility of this place will keep me from ever ordering again. read more

They have hands down -THE BEST- al pastor tacos I have ever had, and I have had a lot. Stopped in by sheer chance since I was in the area for work and wanted to grab a bite to eat and I am overjoyed that I did. I would go far out of my way to return again. Don't go expecting a fancy 5 star restaurant but if you are ever near by 100% give them a try, you will not be disappointed. Staff is very friendly, and prices are very reasonable for the upper east side, and its well worth every penny. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. read more

DO NOT EAT HERE. This is the absolute biggest rip off in Manhattan. Specifically the nachos. These nachos came in a round tin that wasn't even full for $15.50 (see attached picture). By the way, these nachos were soggy and disgusting. We ended up throwing some away. The burrito was also really average size but for $18.50 I expected more. I didn't take a picture of it since they delivered my food one block away in 55 minutes on a Thursday and i was starving. Bottom line, don't eat here, and tell your friends not to eat here. read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - Ridiculously expensive Nacho California $15.50 - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

I used to live near Sabor A Mexico 2 and ordered takeout beef chimichangas from them a few times (this was pre-COVID). Since moving, I tried a few other places that offer chimichangas but was really let down in comparison! The ones at Sabor A Mexico 2 had the perfect crunchy fried exterior and was not dry at all -- but the added homemade sour cream and red sauce added a lot too. From what I remember about the UES, there were very very few places that actually offered ground beef chimichangas, so if you are in the mood for this, I recommend Sabor. read more

I love this place. The pozole is some of the best I've ever had. The staff are really nice and there is good COVID seating. Highly recommend. read more

We came here for dinner this weekend. We've been to the Sabor in East Village, and I think that the two menus are pretty similar (as opposed to the other Sabor on 90 & 1st). The service was pretty bad throughout - the waitress was having a pretty loud personal conversation with a friend at one of the tables, and it was really hard to get her attention throughout the meal to place our orders, or ask for water. The party that came in after us actually had to go up to the bar and call for her to bring them menus after they waited 10-15 minutes without being helped. Still, this is the best casual Mexican I've had in the Upper East, comparing against Calexico, Cascabel, Ziggy's, and the other Sabor. We got chips and salsa to start, and split a veggie tamale. The salsa that came with the chips was awful - really watery, with no taste except for a slight bitterness. There were whole corn pieces which were the only saving grace. We ended up tracking down the waitress to ask for hot sauce and doctoring the salsa a bit, though it still wasn't great. The chips, on the other hand, were warm and tasted good after we added a sprinkle of salt. The tamale was really good, and was stuffed with a generous amount of sautéed vegetables and cheese and covered in a really good sauce, definitely the best tamales we've had at the three Sabor locations. I ordered the veggie enchiladas with green sauce (you have a choice of red / green sauce or mole sauce). This was a generous serving size - it came with two enchiladas, rice, and beans, and I wasn't able to finish the sides. The green sauce was subtly spicy but super flavorful, and the enchiladas were overall pretty good. At the end of the meal, we ended up having to wait 15 minutes for the check as the waitress entered the order incorrectly, and then made drinks for another table before going back and keying in the one correction to our tab. If the service and salsa had been better, this might have been a four star review. Nevertheless, best spot for casual Mexican on the Upper East that I've been to so far! read more

I selected a 2 because I couldn't select a Zero Star option. The food is honestly good so props to the chef, if I were to give him advice I would say work at a better restaurant. Now here are the issues: 1. They are so nice to give you complimentary Chips and Guacamole when you walk in (how nice of them) they are also so nice to charge you for that complimentary Guacamole (what a great deal)! The waitress comes over to explain why we were charged and tells us that she asked if the guac was good and because we said yes that means we wanted to pay for it! 2. The portions are smaller than a happy meal at McDonald's! Do you want $15 nachos with three strips of chicken, melted cheese and 20 tortilla chips on a plate! Wow another great deal! Overall if you want good Mexican food that's authentic go to Calexico down the street, it's amazing, worth the wait, if you want a burrito go to chipotle, if you want a Taco Go to Taco Bell. If you want shitty service come here and enjoy what Sabor A Mexico can do for you!!! read more

Hurts to give a hole in the wall establishment a mediocre rating but the portions are so small here! I've been here a couple of times and surprised at how small the portions are. Margaritas are good though! read more

*2.5 Stars, Delivery Only* I have walked by this place a few times, and it always looked really fun inside. Eager to try something new, we ordered delivery last night. It arrived promptly, and warm. However, that's where my praise ends. To start, we chose chips and refried beans. The chips were pretty good and definitely homemade, but lacking salt. The refried beans were worse, lacking salt, seasoning, and flavor. They were so bland that I considered reheating them on my stove and doctoring them up myself. That trend continued as I moved on to my chorizo burrito. The rice and meat were overwhelmingly dry and unseasoned, as was the entire dish as a whole. I wasn't impressed. I'm no stranger to subtle flavors (Japanese food typically excels at subtlety, and I love Japanese food), and I'm not a proponent of over-salted Chili's style Murica-Mexican, but unfortunately, Sabor A Mexico was exceedingly dry and bland, and therefore I will stick to Dos Toros and Calexico for my local Mexican-ish needs. read more

Fine example of good quality Mexican food at a great price. 3-5 $5 Happy Hour and $25 for a bucket of 5 beers special! Excellent Sangria made perfectly. read more

Don't bother to eat at this restaurant. The quality of the food has gone down. Way down. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and their was hardly any chicken in it. The tortilla was hard to chew and the entire quesadilla tasted like it had just been reheated and not freshly cooked. It's the same as eating at Taco Bell and expensive for the quality and quantity of food you're getting. I won't ever go back. I feel like I wasted my money there and it was a big disappointment. read more

Sabor A Mexico is fucking good Mexican. Although the service is spotty, the food will not disappoint. I find myself craving Sabor's thick guacamole at all hours of the night, and feel blessed I live across the street from the place. Yes, it's a little hole in the wall on 77th street between Second and Third. In warm weather there is one table outside, but generally, patrons have to make due with the cramped quarters and few seats. Do not come to Sabor with a party of more than 6, I have no idea where they would seat you. The restaurant is decorated with festive nicknacks, but the real charm lies on the menu. Serving up typical Mexican cuisine such as enchiladas, tacos, and tortilla soup, Sabor A Mexican also has more authentic ox-filled dishes that I, sorry enough, steer clear of. But let me tell you, the chimmichanga was heavenly, and the tacos are divine. The meat is really spicy and the rice perfectly seasoned. The yellow salsa and hot chips on the table is delicious, but they will charge you for seconds without telling you. The service does not speak English that well, and you might find yourself with a bill slightly higher than you planned on. Well, nobody's perfect. Sabor A Mexican sure isn't, but its guacamole comes pretty damn close. read more

This was a yummy hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with about 6 tables and a small bar. A dinner meal cost about $14-20 per person, and mixed drinks were $8+ (beer was cheaper). I got an appetizer quesadilla for my dinner and it was tasty! My friends both got huge burritos that they seemed to enjoy. Also, chips and salsa were free and plentiful. The bathroom was VERY small, but clean. read more

Yummy crispy tacos. Minus two stars for the poor attitude of the lady who took my order. She almost seemed annoyed that I was ordering food at her restaurant, even though I paid in cash and ordered something simple. read more

I would not recommend this place, possibly the worst meal I had since moving to the city 3 years ago. Margaritas are made with a store bought mix and the fajitas were not edible. read more

Went to this place about two times with a couple of friends and both times we have agreed that the portions are super small and that the food is not that great. I got a Red Sangria once and its the worst thing ever. The owner I must say is pretty nice and conversational but I believe the younger girl who appears to be her daughter is a little rude and clueless. One thing I do recommend is their flan is delicious but then again every thing is so small including the place. read more

I give this three stars because it is "A-OK" but I wouldn't run around saying "I'm a fan." Anyway, I'm from southern California so my Mexican food standard is not only specific, it's pretty high up there. The other night I was craving tacos--a chronic issue for me--and finally caved and placed an online delivery order from this restaurant. The rest of my review should be read with the understanding that I did NOT dine in the restaurant itself. I usually avoid Mexican cuisine in NYC because, well, frankly it's a joke. But, the menu here had some promising hints: tacos served with cilantro, onion, lime and radish. That's how it's supposed to be, and at under $3 a piece, I went for it and ordered four total: Al Pastor, Carne Asada, Bean & Cheese and the Pork Taco Loco. Shortly after placing the order the tacos arrived and I was pleasantly surprised to see quality meats and seasonings. REAL corn tortillas (quite possibly home-made) and simple meat fillings. None of that BS rice/lettuce crap that passes around these parts. Just the basics, with the promised relishes. Even the salsa was real, and I ate all of the tacos knowing that I had finally found a place that served them up ALMOST like they do in California. read more

This place is...horrendous. Allow me to set up the scene, if I may. I was walking home from work and thinking of what to get for dinner for the night. While on the phone with my GF we decide that we're in the mood for Mexican (we are huge Mexican food freaks so this is not surprising). As I'm walking along and chatting with her, I get a flyer shoved in my face for Sabor A Mexico. Instead of getting our usual Blockhead's or MXCO delivery fix, I decided to shake it up and try this place out. HUGE. MISTAKE. We ordered the Nachos Tijuana (chicken nachos) and Nachos California (ground beef nachos) that were to be "topped with refried beans, jalapenos, guacamole, and cheddar cheese." What we got in real life were stale tortilla chips, with meat, 3 beans on top of some nonsense that looked and tasted like Velveeta. Color me livid! Here's the thing: I would fully expect a place that employs natives of Mexico to actually have good Mexican food. Quite the opposite. This is the worst Mexican I have had in my life. When I called to complain all I got was, "Sorry, we can't issue refunds because you used a card." WHAT?!?! What kind of shoddy ass business can't give a refund for crap food, regardless of payment. After threatening to go back to the restaurant with my food to SHOW THEM how nachos should be made, my GF reeled me in and said the best revenge would be a poetic Yelp review recounting my rage and disappointment. So, here it is, my friends. For decent Mexican food, DO NOT GO TO SABOR A MEXICO ON 77TH ST. You'd be better off running to Food Emporium, getting a can of beans, tortilla chips, a bag of shredded cheese and making something yourself. EPIC. FAIL. read more

I'm surprised by the widely varying reviews. Perhaps it's significant that those who know authentic Mexican food rate it very highly. I've been here twice now and enjoyed both visits immensely. It's like eating at a friend's house - good wholesome food served straight from the kitchen with a lovely smile. Prices are reasonable too. Looks like I'm going to be a regular! read more

Sabor A Mexico 2 - Mexican Near Me - New York, New York

Note before reading. I like their food, however the two star rating is for the extremely high price for Mexican food. I came to terms after ordering from here last night, that this place is a giant rip off for Mexican Food. See below. My Fiancee and I are frequent seamless order-ers at Sabor a Mexio II, and the food NEVER disappoints. We usually get a bunch of Tacos, both hard and soft. I prefer the Al Pastor, The Chicken soft taco, for hard tacos, the ground beef and the chorizo. Actually, I find the Hard tacos to be the best thing on their menu. They also have good tamales. My girl, prefers their chimichangas which are also pretty tasty. After years of ordering Tacos and the same old same old, i was in the mood to venture and try something different. So I ordered the Camarones al Mojo de Ajillo. It's shrimp and garlic sauce, served with Tortilla's and rice and beans. Sounds delicious. I was pretty pumped for it as well. The food arrives, and i open up my dish and see 6 small shrimp all curled up lonely looking in their Garlic Sauce. The rice and beans portion was on the smaller side as well. 16.95 for this dish. Now, I don't have a problem with the price point had their been six nice size shrimp, however I do have a problem when i'm getting ripped off. I had called the restaurant and explained this, and the MexiCAN'T on the other end of the phone didn't really seem to care all too much. I thought maybe there was a language barrier between us, but he knew exactly what I was saying. He told me " That's what we charge and if I don't like it, too bad for me." Soooo, me being the person I am, told him "too bad on him, and I'm writing a bad yelp review and gonna cancel the charge on my AMEX. F that guy/ So the convo ended by him saying he " has my address, and will never deliver to us again". YEP BLACKLISTED by Sabor a Mexico. lol This place rips you off, but their food is good. so if you wanna pay 7 bucks for 2 soft tacos with very little meat or 16.95 for 6 small shrimp, order from here. The food is good but just not worth the price point, IMO. read more

Overall: This food is REALLY good but if you're like most and want to have a margarita with your meal you are paying $15 for a standard ass marg. Given that we're in the UES I'm not shocked, but I definitely will not do that again. Food: We had the guac, mole, nacho situation, and a burrito. It was all delicious! Guac not worth the expensive price I remember. Environment: This is a real highlight of the restaurant, aside from the amazing food. Small space with only about 6 tables so it can't get too loud. It is a NYC definition of cozy. read more

Let's face it; a lot of what goes into Mexican food is not that expensive (meat, cheese, rice, beans...) so why is it so hard to find a Mexican place on the UES that doesn't charge obscene prices for general combinations of the same items? After years of experimenting I finally went here and I will now end my search for good Mexican food in not only the UES but NYC in general. To start, you certainly won't suffer from sticker shock here (the price of a margarita could be lower, but they do get the blend of flavors to be in perfect balance, so I can't complain). The food though, is amazing. While my girlfriend has experimented with both chimichangas and burritos (both excellent and not at all greasy as with some other places), I have remained consistent in my choice for their tamales. They offer both a chicken based one and a pork based one and both are fine examples of authentic Mexican, but the pork is not to be missed. The pork tamales is served with a rich mole sauce which complements the corn/pork mixture very well. The place is not very large and cannot accommodate a large group, but it's perfect for intimate evenings. read more

Worse case scenario experience. We were two people who wanted to share one of their special entrees of multiple tacos, rice and beans. That order was rudely refused. There were multiple tables empty, so it's not like they were busy either. Hope management is aware that they refuse business, as they just lost mine forever. read more

Wow. What a gem. Super nyc whole in the wall style and very authentic recipes. Reasonably priced for the area and really friendly service. I ordered the pozole and was blown away by the flavor. Highly recommend for a casual night out or order to go. read more

Great authentic Mexican food. They have chiles rellenos and chilaquiles!! Hard to find on the UES. The fajitas were very good and not greasy! Guac and salsa was very good! Black bean soup was a little watery but everything was fantastic!! Definitely coming back! read more

A+++ Great service and delicious food. Will definitely visit again soon!!! Thank you!

After a long and terrible Mexican-food famine--you know, being stranded in Upstate--I seem to be easily impressed. A little piece of ripe avocado or a hot, fresh tortilla, and I'm good as gold. Sabor a Mexico, for delivery at least, is where it's at. A bit on the spendy side, the food is still well-worth it, in my opinion. My mole burrito (hold the lettuce, light on the rice) was absolutely delectable! Perfecto! It also came with guac, pico, and CREMA, all of which were pitch-perfect. And chips. Yum. I would definitely order again. Will you deliver to Albany? read more

As we say (in our head and sometimes out loud), "Good, not great." Consider this my counter-review to Blockheads. Sabor A Mexico II (don't forget the "dos") is for those times you don't want to wait an hour to dine at one of Second Avenue's "scene" Mexican dining establishments. Ahhh, another Friday night, another casual saunter down to Second Avenue. Let's admire the two foot-wide "Euro" sidewalks (an optimistic take on subway construction, non?) and the crowds gaily about their weekend plans. "Oh look darling, another hour-plus wait at Blockheads? Why, what about Cascabel (Cantina and/or Taqueria), and MxCO? Also hour-plus waits? Peace." [Consulting Yelp app on iPhone...] "Shocker... no wait at Sabor A Mexico II." "Sa-what A what?" Given that I've lived in the Upper East Side (quite nearby, too) for a hot minute and never noticed Sabor A Mexico II in its cute/cozy basement location, I was rather pleased to happen upon it and find an open table for four at 8:30pm on a Friday night. Yelp was like "It's ite," so we figured "why not" and it was rather "ite," indeed. My friends and I ordered the California-style Nachos which did indeed seem to have some sort of Velveeta/Cheez Whiz-type topping on them which was rather shocking given the actual Mexican-ness of this establishment. I mean, really Sabor A Mexico II, I was all braggish about how I haven't eaten Taco [Hell] since college way back in '07, but "ya killed me." These are like, legit Taco Bell nachos, dude. Don't do it, OK? It's a BAD idea. I had a "chicken fajita burrito," which was good. Exactly the same size as a Chipotle burrito, but on a real plate with a couple of cute accoutrements, so a 50% markup (over Chipotle), it is. Actually, the burrito was mostly full of rice which was kind of annoying. Service and the atmosphere were both quite satisfactory. The cute little dining room is actually charming in a way. Long story short, if you don't feel like waiting an hour or so for a better Mexican restaurant nearby, this'll certainly do it. I'd wait though. Seriously. read more