Listen, I don't know what kind of bruja kitchen magic they're working with at Casa Real, but these…read morefolks are faster than my tío peeling out of a parking lot after a family party. You can order 47 enchiladas, a taco tower, and a whole mariachi band -- it still shows up in like... 2 minutes flat. I blinked and my plate hit the table like ¡pa-pow! We rolled in deep -- hungry, dramatic, and skeptical -- but Casa Real doesn't miss. Food's legit tradicional, not that frozen microwave vibe. Think real-deal molé, juicy al pastor, and rice that didn't come from a box with a cartoon sombrero on it. Drinks? También fuego. Margaritas colder than your ex's soul and strong enough to make you text them anyway. They don't play. You order one, and suddenly you're fluent in Spanish and making bold life choices. Inside? Clean, bright, and cute as heck. It's giving abuela's pride meets HGTV en español. Even the bathroom smelled like lavender and redemption. Boomer-approved AND TikTok-worthy. Service? Next-level amable. They treat you like familia, but like the good kind of family -- not the one that steals your lawn chairs. Our server remembered our drinks before we sat down. I'm suspicious they've got cameras in my fridge. Prices? Bruh. You could feed a family of six for the price of two lattes and a muffin. I don't know how they do it. I'm not asking. I'm just coming back every week. Final Verdict: Casa Real is fast, friendly, and freakin' delicioso. Whether you're a boomer, a Gen Zer, or just someone who appreciates not paying $19 for sad tacos, this place is the move. Come hungry. Leave happy. Question how they got your food out before you even finished ordering. ¡Viva Casa Real!

Just a group of three girls searching for margaritas and authentic Mexican food! Our server was…read morescarce through out the dining experience. However the dining room and to go orders appeared non stop and she served us everything with a smile. The queso dip was more bland than I expected, no Chiles or tomatoes. but had a creamy stick to the chip consistency. You can notice the chips are made to order and served piping hot. My double beef enchiladas fell apart easily and the beef did did not offer any particular flavor. The yellow rice was very fluffy and not gummy like some places. They offer a pretty good deal on margarita pitchers too. The large raspberry on the rocks runs 30$. My friends liked their entrees, chimichanga with rice and salad and also a flautas combination. The total tab for the pitcher queso and 3 entrees was 99$ and we had left overs for later.

I ordered 2 burritos. Rice and beans, cheese, pico de gallo, guacomole, sour cream, jalapenos and…read morecilantro. I went over it with the person taking the order three times. When I got all the way back to the South End of Albany, I opened my burritos to find this: beans, a little bit of cheese, some cilantro. That's it. I called immediately to tell them what happened and she told me to drive back and hung up on me. I called back and asked if they could deliver because I can't drive 30 minutes, Nope.

La Mexicana is not just s specialty grocery store, it is also a hidden gem Mexican restaurant. The…read moreunassuming restaurant entrance would have you thinking it isn't open but, I highly recommend venturing in and trying their authentic menu. The menu is small but very every thing I've tried has been absolutely delicious. The servers are such a delight and happy to answer any questions you may have. I always get tacos (as an appetizer) and then either a burrito or chimichangas. The sauce on the chimichangas is out of this world, the best queso I've had. Stop over to the grocery store and pick up some tamales for later, they store very well in the freezer.

Great place. We've been for Mexican groceries (I don't know anywhere else around you can get a lot…read moreof the peppers etc) and for another time for takeout tacos. We brought the tacos over to The Other One brewery next door (which they allow) and had a fantastic date night. The al pastor was delicious, we both found the barbacoa a little boring and I'd skip the guacamole entirely next time. However the house made tortillas and other bread goods are so soft and flavorful. We'll be back.

I have been looking for a decent taco joint in the area to replace my favorite (La Plaza in…read moreCleveland, OH). This is it! I tried the lengua, al pastor, and cochinita tacos with rice and beans. Muy delicioso! Be sure to try the hot sauces too.

Amazing!!! Hands down, this is the best Mexican restaurant in the Capital District! Love the…read moreauthentic Mexican food, service, and the birthday send-off! We will be back for a 3rd time!

Food was mediocre at best, possibly terrible. Who uses mozzarella in Mexican food? Not Mexicans,…read morethat's for sure. It got worse at home when my wife's stomach was in knots all night. Service was completely inattentive. And the drunk lady screaming in the bar was a bit much. Never again.

Los Chamos ("the kids/the guys") is a Venezuelan restaurant on State Street. This stretch of…read moreSchenectady offers some diverse family-owned restaurants - Pakistani, El Salvadorian, Jamaican, etc., to name a few. In this case, the cuisine offered at Los Chamos is Venezuelan. Upon entering the establishment, I noticed a music/karaoke machine in the front corner. Tables were interspersed in the main area which surrounded a bar and ordering station. A preteen sat at one of the tables, playing on her phone. A young man worked the ordering station. Early on a Saturday afternoon, noticing a fridge with beers displayed, I ordered a Modelo and looked through the menu. I ordered a Chile Colorado and empanadas con pollo to go. Two things right off the bat - 1. First taste - It was good food. It was satisfying in a way that spoke of generational recipes rather than or despite culinary training. It is soul satisfying stuff. 2. If you can finish this meal in one sitting, good on you! Generous portions and the heartiness of the meal add to the "warmth" of the experience. A couple of details - the mayonnaise-based sauce for the empanadas was something I'd never tried before - lots of garlic, cilantro, a bit of water to loosen it, maybe some vinegar for acid...I liked it. The braised black beans had a little chili heat to liven it up. I'll definitely go back. I may not be fluent in Spanish or be knowledgeable about Venezuela but I find the food to be inviting and soulful.

It is good to see, at long last, a Venezuelan restaurant in New York's Capital District. You may…read morefind yourself meandering by on the State Street sidewalk, with tumbleweed of cigarette butts and trash blowing across your unsheathed feet, and pass by Los Chamos. It is indeed worth going inside for a delicious meal. Los Chamos' menu has a good selection that includes many traditional Venezuelan dishes: pabellón, arepas, cachapas, tequeños, empanadas. There is also an extremely disconcerting section of the menu devoted to seemingly-Mexican dishes. Perhaps that is to attract customers in an area with a smaller Venezuelan population and a small population of people who are familiar with Venezuelan cuisine. I don't know. But I also don't care. I was, of course, able to sample the pabellón criollo and the tequeños. Astoundingly, tequeños can be a good indicator of quality in Venezuelan restaurants in the US, and these ones pass the test. They also have moñongos, an item from Zulia (and it shows) that is effectively a thick tequeño with ham and plantain and meat as well. Healthy? Tasty. The venue has a decent amount of seating and the staff are friendly. They also sell a small selection of Venezuelan products, such as ovomaltina and Savoy chocolates. If you live in the area and have never tried Venezuelan food, now is your opportunity to do so. It's not spicy either, for those of you with weak stomachs. Overall, I would highly recommend Los Chamos. Hopefully their business succeeds.

This is a great breakfast spot with a Mexican spin on some of our favorite breakfast entrées. Huge…read moremenu with plenty of delicious choices. Service was quick and efficient. And the prices are super reasonable. I look forward to coming back again.

This is my favorite spot locally. Huevos Rancheros is my go-to breakfast here dine in AND take out…read more Great service, friendly people, and prices are hard to beat!

We were in town helping our daughter move into off campus housing nearby and the woman at the…read morecoffee shop next door recommended Viva Cinco de Mayo. My expectations weren't too high because I didn't know if Albany had a thriving Mexican community. Viva Cinco de Mayo blew me away! We sat in a comfortable outdoor dining section. Our waitress was extremely helpful! The menu was extensive and felt authentic to me. My daughter ordered chips and queso, clearly house made chips were outstanding! Her chicken and cheese quesadilla was also delicious. My wife and I shared some of the best tamales we've ever had! So fresh and vibrant, chicken with green salsa. My wife enjoyed three tacos and the sangria. I absolutely loved their pozole with mole sauce! The hominy was perfectly cooked. Their fresh Tamarindo juice was also delicious! Truly an awesome lunch!

Nice restaurant to get Mexican food. Not very busy on a weeknight, many to-go orders. Excellent…read morefood, big portion and perfectly seasoned. I like my huge plate of chilaquiles, big portion of steak and chips. They know how to cook rice and beans here. Rice is not too mushy and soft, just the right texture. I wish I had room to try their tres leche or flan for dessert. Next time Service could be more attentive. I think if you know some Spanish that would be ideal, because they got my order wrong. Parking, just street parking. you should able to find some parking on the street nearby

The advertising sign at the front of the restaurant highlights pupuseria and Latino food. OK,…read morethat's what I ordered. Pupusa - El Salvadorian specialty - griddled corn masa cake. Other ingredients like cheese, beans, greens, and/or meats are mixed into the masa and cooked on a flattop until crisp on the outside. Since the "mixins" are varied, these are made to order. I had a Revuelta (queso, chicharron, beans) and a queso loroco (flower bud of a vine which grows in Central America). The tastiest portion for me were the almost burnt caramelized cheese bits on the outside of the pupusa. Honestly, the loroco was more of a textural component rather than a taste. It seemed mild. I'm sure they were canned. I don't think loroco grows around this area. The pupusas were served with a cabbage slaw (curtido) and a light tomato salsa. Pernil - a marinated pork shoulder, slow roasted until tender then usually blasted with high heat to render crispy skin (cuero). Slow roasted tender pork - yes. Rendered crispy skin - no. The generous portions of yellow rice and refried black beans rounded out the meal. One thing I noticed, the refried beans had a very slight sour note, vinegar or age, I don't know. I still ate them. No ill effects. Conclusion: I'd go again.

Food was great but the waiter I had was not so great ! She was so dry . The place was definitely…read morewas clean