Chela & Garnacha
“Great tacos, great margaritas, super attentive and nice staff.”
“The Michelada is a must get for any Bloody Mary lover, as well as as the Intrincadas.”
“My boyfriend and I had the zucchini quesadillas, adobo taco, bistecca taco, and the pescado taco.”
Chela & Garnacha
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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I was super excited about this place since it had so many different tacos. Overall, this place has very flavorful, unique toppings with a kick. However the meats were dry and lacking in flavor and the quality of the meat was poor. I might come back, only because there were so many unique tacos on the menu.
Volcanes (carne asada)- this was the best dish, although it was a little pricey. The beef on this was very tender and juicy. It came on this crispy tortilla topped with fried cheese, salsa and avocado. It was so good!!
Bistec en pasilla- the beef was dry, it did not really go with the toppings.
Adobo- the pork was also a little dry, it needed more sauce.
Camaron adobe adobado- It came with a big shrimp but the toppings actually overwhelmed the shrimp and you can't really taste the shrimp.
Cute little spot on 36th Ave with great vegetarian meals! I gave up meat for lent and this is a great place to find filling affordable vegetarian options.
My girls and I do an annual Galentine's…. Due to the frigid weather our normal 10 girls plus group turned to 5. When we arrived we ordered guacamole and chips. The guac was pretty good it had pieces of jalapeño and a good amount of garlic and lime flavor. I was so hungry I ate most of it and the girls had to order another. The guac was also only $8 which was a good price for the amount it brought.
As the main dish, I ordered zucchini flower quesadillas. The dish came with three folded quesadillas that looked like empanadas. It had the perfect amount of spice drizzled with sour cream to help balance the heat. The price was also good at $8.95. I felt like I ate so much and spent only $12 altogether after splitting the guac and chips prices with the gals. They all enjoyed the unique take on the tacos with the fried cheese and also were filled to the brim.
We wanted to try the Mexican hot chocolate for dessert but were left with no room. The only thing that took away from the experience was how cold it was in the restaurant. I cannot blame them much because there was a below 20 degree wind chill outside. Perhaps returning when it is not so crazy cold out would provide for a more pleasant time. Lots more I want to try! A great find!
Don't let this restaurants small, casual digs fool you: Chela & Garnacha boasts some of the best nachos I've ever had. I was a big fan of their now-defunct food truck, Mexico Blvd. (RIP), and was pleased to see that their headquarters offers even more delicious, affordable options. My favorite? The shrimp tacos (they are coated with a fried cheese… #gamechanger). And don't be deterred by the spot's Astoria address: it's worth the trek no matter where you live.
The Spot is Ok nothing that blows my mind, the Guacamole was average (Small) portions! I had a few of there tacos, only 1 taco was worth eating *Camaron Adobado (Adobo shrimp, guacamole, wrapped w/ crispy cheese)* was actually really good Thanks AmY C…
I also had a Bistec en Pasilla Torta Sandwich
(Top round steak marinated in a drunken beer & a whole lot of toppings) it was Good but soO Salty!
Small intimate setting restaurant, with limited seating & Whack Margaritas w/ alot of Juice, definitely not worth it… Overall it's a ok spot to bring a date & eat very salty food w/ Water Down Margaritas.
FYI: Good selection of tasty homemade Hotsauces w/ a nice kick!
We walked in on a Saturday around 7:30. We got the last 2top tables easily but the restaurant was busy. I don't know Astoria at all but this place gave me a good food impression of the area. You can order the margarita in only two ways-classic and spicy. I tried both and if you love margaritas with a spice kick to it, you'll like the spicy one. They were $8-9 which is very nice compared to Manhattan drinks. Sadly they aren't that strong however.
I loved their fresh guacamole. It had the perfect pinch of salt in the guac and chips. It's a pretty decent size for $8.
The pescado taco was awesome! The fried wild cod is so crispy and fresh and really goes well with the fresh lime and baja slaw. The fish is big and the other ingredients in the taco are given a lot so it's hard to wrap up the taco for a good bite.
I loved the Al Pastor taco even more! This taco includes marinated pork tenderloin and two thick slices of fresh pineapple. I added cheese to this for 50cents and it was the smartest things to do. The cheese is cooked crispy and rly brings the sharp taste to the taco and blends in perfectly with the sweet pineapple. This one as well was so big and hard to wrap.
The tacos are about avg $5 and it's awesome. It's a really cute place and pretty popular. Our servers were very friendly and checked back on us multiple times even though it was so busy at one point. I wish they also had sangria but I recommend chela and Granacha.
Fun and cheap Mexican food that definitely has a family touch to it. The tacos are priced a la carte, but even one is a tasty enough treat worth stopping by for. The tortas (sandwiches) are where the real money is though.
I got the steak torta and it was absolutely delicious. If you're into spicy food be sure to ask for some of their hot sauces on the side. They can get quite hot. The beer list is also pretty unique, a lot of bottled Mexican beers. Not a place I would take a date, but a good hangout spot for sure.
Excellent Mexican food! This is unabashed Mexican food, not Tex-Mex, not Californian (as they mention on the back of their menu)! Strong flavors, good ingredients, and cooks who know how to use fire.
I was here for book club, as part of a party of 12. Even though we basically took over the whole space, not once did the waitstaff flinch, and we got everything we asked for.
We started with the chips and guacamole while waiting for the rest of our party to show up, and the guacamole is full of avocado, as it should be. I ordered three tacos: the shrimp adobado with crispy cheese and avocado, the fish taco, and the nopales. I was a little disappointed because in my head, I'd been choosing between the nopales and the hongos, and I'd made up my mind to get the hongos but accidentally ordered the nopales, so when it showed up, I was confused until I realized what I'd done. The nopales were the weakest part of the meal, because I was expecting mushrooms, but also because the shrimp and fish tacos just blew me away. The shrimp tacos reminded me of the fried shrimp tacos you get from taco trucks in Los Angeles, that are fried with avocado within. This was not a fried tortilla, but the shrimp was perfectly cooked, and the crispy cheese was an excellent touch. The fish taco was well fried and so crunchy! This is probably the best fish taco I've ever had. Sigh.
The next time I go back, I will probably just triple down on fish/shrimp tacos. I hear the meats are good too, but I don't think I'll have enough room for those until visit #4, which is when I expect I'll probably have had enough seafood tacos and will want to try their meats…
Also, to note: they appear to not have a liquor license, so their margaritas and bloody marys aren't made with liquor — it's likely to be made with something that is classified as wine with regards to alcohol content. I still enjoyed my tamarindo margarita, but i'm not sure I would get it again. I'd rather just spend $2.50 and get a bottle of tamarindo Jarritos!
The shrimp taco with crispy cheese was the highlight of my meal. The pieces of shrimp were substantial and fresh; the casing of cheese added a nice flavor and bulked up the otherwise small taco; and the sauce on top was spicy and flavorful. I also tried the Adobo taco and the El Pastor taco. Both were very good, but the shrimp taco is the one that would keep me coming back.
If you decide to order the salsa on the side, ask the waitress to point out which one is the spiciest. Although I never shy away from spicy foods, this salsa made my eyes water, nose run, and tongue feel numb. If you're sensitive to heat, skip this step (and be wary of the spice in other parts of your meal).
Service was prompt and pleasant. The interior was colorful and nicely decorated. Chela & Garnacha is a great spot for a casual date night in Astoria.