Located in the bustling East Village, stepping into Yellow Rose transports you into the West (with a little throwback vibe as well). Like usual in NYC, the storefront is relatively skinny and packed to the brim with diners, so I would recommend always getting a reservation. With a party of 8, we explored various dishes on the menu with everyone leaving in a positive tone. Each dish was filling, tastey and unique. Even the "standard" red salsa was nothing but, packed with flavor and spice. Any breakfast sandwich is worthy of a second trip but the star of the meal were the kolaches.... Please order a kolache. So sweet, so unique, yet perfectly balanced with dough. read more

We went to Yellow Rose because of the lore, the mystique, and the promise of Tex-Mex. My partner and I are Mexican Americans from Texas, and not just any part of Texas... the border, less than a mile from the Mother Land of the Mexica. In the early mornings, after drunken benders that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, we felt the pangs for breakfast tacos, authentic burritos, and greasy plates loaded with huevos à la Mexicana, frijoles, and rice. Mexican diners along the border were headquarters and we were the fucking Mexican Power Rangers. For us, the term "Tex-Mex" was worse than a misnomer. It was a Yankee term used pejoratively to describe The Great Beyond, the Abyss that stares back, except we are the Abyss, seething, yearning for nuance and complexity in Gringolandia. We left Yellow Rose with that same yearning, asking ourselves "What the hell was that?" Chips were stale, a forgivable offense if the salsas are good, which they weren't. They were sweet and flavorless. The mole was gross and my version of good mole comes from a glass container, sold in bulk at Mexican grocery stores, admittedly offensive to the great moles or Oaxaca. What does that tell you? Imagine if Michael Jackson had an impersonator. Now imagine the impersonators impersonator. What do you even call that? It's not a cheap imitation. It's your drunken uncle "moonwalking" to Three Doors Down. He's at his local dive bar, it's closing time and he's crying while half drinking a beer. I love you unc, but it's time to go home. Now, I know what you're thinking. Who does this Mexican think he is, what gives him the right, and wHy iS hE sO mEaN? Let me just say that these questions are stupid and I won't entertain them. Do I have a well thought out response? Yes. Am I lazy? Watch it there, buddy. Texas (once called Tejas before gringos took it over) is a liminal space, a Mexican state colonized not by the US, but by Taco Tuesdays, your racist aunt who DoorDashes green enchiladas on Saturdays and scoffs at Mexican gardeners on Sundays, and the bipedal ancestors of Governor Greg Abbott. The food, however, is beautiful, from the swampy wetlands of Houston to the blistering desert heat of El Paso--Mexican food has a unique expression anywhere you land. Yellow Rose is your drunken uncle. It's closing time. He doesn't have to go home but he has to get the fuck out of here. read more

Texas themed. Intimate vibe. Food was decent. That cornbread and the frozen marg was amazing. Nothing else was outstanding. Service wasn't the best in my opinion. We asked to be seated at the empty window seats for our reservation, which they declined for whatever reason. No problem. But the waiter barely checked up on us... read more

Finally returned for dinner here. My boyfriend and I put our name in at 7 PM on a Thursday and got texted/seated an hour later. Skillet cornbread, chicken mole enchiladas and barbacoa taco were all solid, but the star was the Texas sheet cake. So good! read more

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This was between a 3 & 4 star for me. There were some highlights and some swings and misses. First, a cool vibe with a bar and a single row of tables along the wall. Service was acceptable, but nothing over the top. The waitress did not introduce herself and did not check on us as often as she should have. We had the "damn good margaritas." They were darn good, but again not great. Chips and salsa good, arancini was awesome. Then the very mixed reviews. The carnitas taco was amazing. The barbacoa was almost uneatable and I left half the taco to be taken away. BTW the waitress did not ask how the food was. My daughter had a bean and cheese taco that she enjoyed, but neither her nor her boyfriend enjoyed the potato taco. Bottom line, we came because of the Michelin review. Given choices in the city, we will probably not go back, but there are some terrific bites. read more

I found myself at Yellow Rose to celebrate my brother's birthday - he had been eyeing this place for years and the opportunity finally came up to check it out. I'm not a Tex-Mex connoisseur, but I was curious to expand my palate - so off we went. Yellow Rose is located in a busy area super close to Union Square. Like many other Manhattan restaurants, the space is kinda long and narrow - but doesn't feel cramped. The decor is super casual - lots of medium wood tones with a large bar to the left and tables along the opposite wall. The menu isn't large - outside of some starters and sides, the only real mains are tacos. There were, however, a few specials in case tacos aren't your thing. First, though - a drink. I had a spiked Cherry Coke which was flavored with actual cherries - super refreshing and not overly sweet. We decided to start with a few apps - the cornbread, Spanish rice arancini, chips and salsa, and the queso fundito. All of these were very good - the cornbread and queso fundito were the strongest IMO. The former was super indulgent, topped with lots of butter can candied nuts to make it super sweet and rich. The latter was really flavorful and paired well with the chips. I decided to go with tacos for my main - they have several varieties and you're basically able to order them à la carte. The chicken fajita ones were speaking to me the most - they also had a variety of salsas and toppings to add so I went with sliced avocado and salsa roja. The tacos were really good - the chicken and veg were full of flavor and the salsa really complemented them. They're served in homemade soft tortillas which really elevated them to another level. We opted for dessert - I went with their blue cake (I honestly forgot the full name) - that was served with blueberry compote and cream cheese frosting. It was really good - honestly I was surprised, as dessert always runs risk of being an afterthought. Service was good, everyone was friendly and food came out at a good pace. My only issue here was the air conditioning, or I should say lack of it. It was a hot day and it was quite warm in the dining area. Overall, though, I had a good experience at Yellow Rose. The food is quality, and I would definitely return for more tacos. read more

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Came for brunch. We ordered a few dishes to share. Start with the shiner beer queso. The mix of cheese, beer, jalapeños, cilantro was so good. I could have had a second serving. The chilaquiles are outstanding! Chorizo breakfast taco, and the beans & cheese taco are really good. The roasted tomato Bloody Mary was one of the best I've ever had. Total bill $74 before tip. Not bad. We left full. Service was great. read more

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Yellow Rose is currently my favorite restaurant in NYC. I'm a big fan of Southwest and TexMex cuisine, and Yellow Rose does the trick and then some!! I'll start with the drinks: You can't go wrong with any of them. Of course, most of you will be drawn to the Margaritas (as I was), so go for it! Their 'ritas are amazing, and they should be enjoyed! For apps, try the nachos. They are the single layer type, and you can literally taste every ingredient in each bite. Get the steak variety, as the steak is tender, tasty, and succulent. As for mains, try any and ALL of the tacos... and get all of the sauce add-ons so you can try them all. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!! Note that the tacos are huge, but I'm an EATER, so I'm okay with it! =) Finally, DO NOT SKIP dessert at Yellow Rose. The Texas Sheet Cake is life-changing. And, yes, that is olive oil the cake is floating in on the plate. Ummm, yes!!! Get yourself over to Yellow Rose! You will thank me! read more

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Cute Tex mex place. We came by for dinner and were lucky enough to get seated without a wait. I'd recommend getting a reservation if you can, since they fill up pretty quickly. The tacos and chicken wings were pretty good. Come by if you're able to grab a reservation. read more

Had a great time at the Yellow Rose last weekend! Had to wait 45 minutes for a spot, but it was so ok, the service was so sweet and accommodating! We sat at the bar and really enjoyed the dim lights, and fun art/tv! We got the Spanish rice arancini and I was obsessed! Definitely recommend going just for the appetizers and drinks, the tacos were super good as well, but the appetizers really made the meal! read more

Yellow Rose - Ambiance - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is an absolute must for anyone visiting NYC but especially anyone missing Tex-Mex. The queso could have been a bit thicker but the flavor was so comforting. The tacos and enchiladas helped combat the home sick blues and the playlist felt like it was plucked from my childhood memories. Our server was pleasant and our food arrived quickly. read more

Yellow Rose - Cold Shiner Bock - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

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I would say that the food is a five, the service a four, the noise level a two (well, I suppose the noise is at 100, lol!). The food is delicious. I especially enjoyed the Texas sheet cake--the drizzle of olive oil and flakes of salt--whew!!! I did find the noise overwhelming--I was catching up with an old friend and we had to kind of shout at each other--I still enjoyed the experience, though--next time I will just try to eat earlier or later to avoid the rush. read more

Food and drinks were pretty good. I liked the margarita. It wasn't too sweet and actually it tasted pretty strongly of tequila. The texture was also good. The vegan queso was surprisingly pretty good and I liked the chips. The salsa was ok. Service was good. The restaurant was super loud. Loved the vibe though. read more

Yellow Rose - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

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Ya'll - we're cooked. That Honey Butter Fried Chicken Biscuit is surely the result of a deal with the devil. There was Jimmy Page's devil-contract in 1968. Michael Jackson's in 1979. Taylor Swift's in 2014. And Yellow Rose in 2020. There's a non-zero chance that eating the honey-buttery oozing biscuit sandwich is tantamount to tattooing the mark of the beast on your stomach lining, but forgive me Father, I've sinned. I'll sin again. And again. And again. read more

Yellow Rose - Honey Butter Fried Chicken Biscuit - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

Great Tex mex place in the East village! Happy hour ends at 6pm which is definitely on the earlier side. There are some drink and food deals. I highly recommend their queso and dessert! The service was great and super speedy. read more

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Service was on the slower side but food is authentically Tex Mex and I especially enjoined having decent flour tortillas !

Came here with friends who are locals because this is one of their favorite spots. The restaurant itself is small and very well decorated to fit the tex-mex theme. We thought service was okay - we ordered chips and queso, 2-3 tacos per person, and later some corn bread. It felt like we watched tables who ordered after us all get their chips first while ours came out slow with no spacing between the appetizer and tacos. For the food, the flavor of the beer queso was very good. I tried the bean and cheese taco and chicken verde taco which were equally 4/5. The star of the show was the tortillas which were excellent. We also had the cornbread which was a very good balance of sweet and salty between the caramelized walnuts and salty butter. My wife had the barbacoa taco and papas tacos which were both only okay taste wise . They do really loaf up all the tacos with a large amount of filling which is nice. We were a bit confused when asked about allergens - we mentioned that my wife has a peanut allergy to the server and their response was if it is okay for there to be potential cross contamination where peanuts could get into the dish on a shared prep space, which is not our general familiarity with cross contamination risk, this would just be containing peanuts. We were confused how to answer and they did tell the kitchen about the allergy for us but my wife was eating nervously the whole time waiting to see if she would have a reaction or not. More confidence in the answer from the server would have helped. I'd come back for the quesadillas and corn bread. The bathroom is clean, make sure to respect the pillsburry dough man tribute ! (see photos) read more

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Absolutely adore Yellow Rose every time I visit! Being a native Texan there is nothing this place misses when it comes to the food. Nails it on everything with the menu and flavors of the food. The FOH team does a great job sharing recommendations and being so attentive! Even the ambiance itself has great easter eggs that tribute to the history or culture of Texan which I love. For anyone or any native Texans looking for great eats, can't recommend this place enough ! read more

Yellow Rose - Carne Guisada Tacos Barbacoa Tacos - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

Came in and sat at the Bar last Sunday. Willow, our bartender provided excellent service and cocktails. Bradford the Manager also provided some helpful recommendations. Food was great with our favorite being the Charcoal Grilled Chicken Fajita. We will definitely return to ry the rest of the menu. read more

We've been to Yellow rose 3x now, and have loved it each time. The food is fantastic Tex Mex, and growing up in the midwest a long time ago, the most available "Mexican" food was Tex Mex, and it was usually a bad version of it. Having a *great* version of Tex Mex at Yellow Rose really makes me appreciate why that type of food exploded across the US in the first place. These aren't sad bland flour tortillas lazilly filled with canned beans, they're perfectly cooked high quality flour tortillas with incredibly flavorful beans. The slow cooked meats and chorizo are of the highest quality. The cocktails, michelada's, or just plain Lone Star beer all go perfect with the food. Today we had a noon Saturday brunch there, and their breakfast tacos were also fantastic. The place is always slammed and the service can be super busy, but it's always high quality and pleasant, and the kitchen usually gets the food out really fast. The ambiance is that of a 70's/80's tex mex bar (I assume from south Texas?), great vibe. read more

A cute cozy spot with vintage quirks and deco! Came for a birthday dinner with a preset menu offering starters (Little Gem salad, Spanish rice Arancini, Lonestar Beer Queso) and variety of tacos (Bean and Cheese, Papas Rancheras, Shredded Chicken Verde, Beef Barbacoa). I enjoyed the queso and house chips - very moreish with the just perfectly salted enough, crispy chips! The tacos came in by type around 4-5 on each plate - because it was Saturday night, I assumed the kitchen was busy but it was frustrating to have the plates come by in separate times. One friend was vegetarian and she had to wait for the Bean/Cheese or Potatoes tacos to be served. The tacos were decently stuffed but the flour dough made it more filling - having had munched on the queso/chips, I was full after 1.5 tacos! read more

Yellow Rose - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

Quick post work dinner turned into a two hour affair. Amazing service. Staff was so considerate after a bar patron had one too many elsewhere. Delicious food (coming from a critical, houston native). Will 100% be returning and recommending to everyone! read more

Have been needing and wanting to find good Tex Mex in the city and wow! Yellow Rose hit the spot. It's a smaller space but packed with personality. The menu isn't huge but the offerings during lunch were stellar. The Spanish rice arancini were delicious and innovative. I had the mirror message cocktail which was refreshing and delicious but I would be remiss not to mention the Barbacoa. DELICIOUS. Will be back! read more

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This place has a Michelin Bib Gourmand and was excited to try it out. I got the: ARANCINI** Honestly liked this more than my tacos! It had a nice fry to it, was warm and cheesy, and such soft, tender risotto inside. Such a nice contrast of textures and served with a green sauce which I don't normally see but was so herbaceous and lovely. Really great. TACOS I got two tacos - one carne asada and the pork one. It was good, though i've learned I'm not a huge fan of flour tacos though that might be the tex-mex way. I thought it was good, but nothing to write home about especially since they weren't the cheapest tacos. My favorite tacos in NYC are $5 each and still stand as competitive with LA tacos, which on average are just WAY WAY better than NYC's. All in all, I would come back but maybe for a drink and some apps. read more

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Only got the texas chocolate sheet cake slice, which is thought was very expensive (~$15) for the size, but it was really good. With candied and salted pecans, it was such a great bite!! The softness and contrast in texture / taste was so good. Definitely not a cheap bite, but would recommend a one time try. read more

The outdoor seating isn't comfortable. They have 2 tables for people to sit outside. The staff is just okay, some nicer than others. The menu was dirty. I liked the margarita and the steak quesadilla. Service is quick. They don't rush you. Prices are fair. It was a fine experience, didn't hate it but didn't love it. read more

Yellow Rose - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

everything was okay but nothing great in my opinion!!! the food: two beef tacos, ceviche, little gem salad, and the arancini (fried rice balls). the taco meat was really soft and good, but doesn't come with a lot of fixings which is not my style. ceviche texture was not the best. but i did love the little gem salad and arancini! the drinks: i got the cucumber cocktail and it was great :) the space: colorful but a little loud the service: pretty attentive! read more

Yellow Rose - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

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I've been coming here on & off since Yellow Rose opened. I really really like their vegan queso & chips. Recently, I came by on a Thursday evening to get takeout. The restaurant wasn't overly crowded so I grabbed a seat while waiting. Shortly after, a waiter (manager?) asked me to move since there was a reservation for the table. (Fair enough) I asked if I could sit in another chair while waiting for my order. He told me there wasn't another chair (even though a table had just vacated, so i could have sat there). I have a (non-visible) disability, which makes it difficult to stand for prolonged periods. I told him that, so he then went off to see what he could do. Folks shouldn't have to TELL restaurant staff that they have a disability. If they are waiting for their food & ask for a chair, assume that they need a chair--whether they have a disability, are pregnant, are elderly, or are just plain tired. We're not asking for a chair just to make staff move furniture around. Again, I have been coming to Yellow Rose intermittently since it opened & would like to keep patronizing it. But please instruct your staff to do better, re: disability accommodations. It really sucks to have to justify an accommodation request to a server/manager when all you want to do is not potentially fall over while waiting for your order. read more

The vibe is chill, cocktails were delicious, and the chocolate sheet cake was the best slice I have ever had in my life. Everything else? Meh. Queso was bad, tacos were fine, mole was not particularly flavorful. read more

Really great meal and excellent service. We had the place to ourselves at 5pm on a Monday. Husband had steak fajitas, which he proclaimed as the best he's ever had. I initially thought I'd get tacos, but it was cold and the duck soup sounded good. It was pretty salty, but very rich and satisfying, with a piece of crispy duck skin on the side that was stellar. We also had the queso and chips -- definitely reminiscent of the kind I'd eat a lot of growing up. The sheet cake was delicious -- I haven't had a slice since I was a kid. I should have tried their beans and rice -- I really can't sign off on a Tex Mex joint without trying these. But this meal was good enough that we'll be back to do so. read more

This place is incredibly busy and sells out of items fast (for good reason) so get here early. The service was efficient and friendly. The atmosphere is cozy with bar, counter and table seating. I got the chorizo, egg and cheese taco which was outstanding. Will be back here with others to share some plates. read more

Yellow Rose - Chorizo & Egg Taco - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

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A little piece of TX in NYC - Love it! As a native Texan, I'm always looking for good Texas food - especially breakfast tacos. I'm not talking breakfast burrito - if you're from or have frequented Texas (especially South TX) you will understand. I heard about this place a few months ago and finally stopped by this weekend to satisfy my breakfast taco craving! Super cute inside. Not huge but a decent amount of tables, 10-ish bar seats and a seating area outside. Service was nice. Brunch menu was pretty small but that is okay by me as I came here knowing exactly what I wanted. Lots of fun cocktails available too. My bf and I each had a carne guisada and potato/egg taco with bacon added. They did not disappoint! My bf said it was the best he's ever had! I wouldn't go that far as it's hard to compare with getting in TX, but I thoroughly enjoyed and will be back! So, if you're a displaced Texan or just looking for some good breakfast - give them a shot! I can't wait to come back to try lunch/dinner and especially a slice of good ol' fashioned Tx sheet cake (IYKYK)! Oh yeah, I also had a michelada which was great too! Tasty, spicy, but not over the top. Served with Lone Star! read more

Service was good. It's a smaller space but we went later in the afternoon( 4pm) so it wasn't busy so we weren't squeezed. I had a reg frozen margarita which was good. They have the lunch menu until 5 so pretty limited menu. I had chicken chalupa plate which was pretty good. It was sloppy to eat. My husband tried barbacoa, bean/cheese and chicken taco. He would have liked lettuce/tomato on the taco but thought the meat was plentiful and good. Beans needed salt but otherwise, were ok. read more

Maybe Yellow Rose's charms would land better for me if I were nostalgic for Texan culture. It's a different take on a Mexican restaurant, I'll give it that, and for that alone, Yellow Rose deserves to be in the firmament of NYC restaurants. There are also a lot of great plant-based menu items, so that's a big plus in my book. But I don't think you need to rush out and come here unless you're homesick for the Lone Star State. The food was good, but not a revelation. My standout pick: the arancini, which had a delightfully complex, meaty flavor against the bright cilantro crema they were bathed in. The cornbread was also delicious, although I had forgotten the deeply problematic chokehold that sugar has on the Southern US since I moved here from Arkansas in 2012. Seriously, that appetizer could easily have been a dessert. The tacos are what everyone says to get here, specifically because of the tortillas. And I get the hype: they're chewy, thick and redolent of oily goodness, almost like a paratha or a roti skin. But, what to get in the tortilla? The bean and cheese taco might be a classic, but I kept glancing at the Taco Bell next door while eating it and remembering post-XC-meet meals from high school. Maybe not all dishes should be fueled by nostalgia. The potato ones had a more flavorful tomato sauce, but I doubt I'll be thinking about either one a day from now. The cocktails were very solid, although my husband pronounced the first margarita (advertised as "damn good" on the drinks menu) a "waste of time". He cheered up considerably after switching to the frozen margarita, and I had a cucumber-infused tequila cocktail that I thought was subtle and excellent. Ultimately, there's a lot to like here. I go to enough Mexican restaurants in NYC to be glad I checked this off the list, but for me, it doesn't rise to the level of a must-visit. I keep comparing this to Ursula, also a left-of-normal Mexicanish spot that's a postcard to a particular US state's cuisine (New Mexico.) Ursula's nostalgia is so compelling that it won this Yankee over immediately. At Yellow Rose, charmed though I was, I felt like I was on the outside looking in. read more

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This review could really just be the quintessential "10/10, no notes--perfect meal." Still, if you're coming here for details, i feel as if I should explicate a bit more... Now you might have to wait for seating--the took our number and gave us a 90 minute estimate, but it was much shorter--only one drink's worth at a local bar. Sat at bar and started off with a perfectly crafted cocktail, the Cowboy Line Cook, a wonderfully complex blend of smoky mezcal, spicy poblanos and umami tamarind. While all the food was excellent, you simply shouldn't miss the creamed spinach and Swiss chard quesadilla if available. What a rich and luxe twist on a traditional quesadilla, all nestled in one of their excellent handmade tortillas. Beef and shredded chicken tacos were on point as well. Finally, we also ordered the Hot Skillet Cornbread. They advised it was made to order and might take some time, but it was not only worth whatever wait there might be, but it effectively functioned as dessert, and allowed the excuse of another drink pairing with the luscious, moist cornbread subtly dusted with honey and spices. read more

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Cozy and quirky spot! The highlight (& reason for coming) was the chocolate cake - so decadent and yummy. I also got tacos (bean + cheese and potato) which were solid options but not standouts. read more

Yellow Rose - Texas Sheet Cake - Tex-Mex Near Me - New York, New York

The hype about this place turns out to be completely justified. The workers are efficient and personable. You won't leave hungry with these servings. The place delivers across the board. The online ratings were accurate. read more

The tacos at Yellow Rose are substantial and flavorful. A filling lunch. It is a younger crowd here on a Saturday afternoon. People in their twenties and thirties. Although there are a lot of conversations going on, the space is not too loud. Service is great. They could see I was ready for the check, so the folks at the host stand took care of it so I wouldn't have to wait so long for the bartender who was tied up doing other things. I remember the tortillas being lighter and crisper on a previous visit but these were still good. read more

I used to say that Electric Burrito and Los Tacos were the only great mexican restaurants in NYC - that was because I had never been to Yellow Rose. Tacos were amazing, the tortillas really stand out. I had lunch here but would love to come back for dinner. read more

I have been craving breakfast tacos, so I took to Yelp to find this gem. We went here on a Saturday and got there around 11:20. We sat down at the bar right away and the place was packed! It's a cute place, not very big, but the atmosphere is great. The queso was insane and the tacos were amazing. The flour tortillas were so delicious and fresh. The drinks were great too. The bar tender was so friendly and overall we had a great experience. Will definitely be back! read more

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