El Atoradero Brooklyn
“Their blue corn tortillas are fresh, legit, and the perfect vehicle for juicy, porky meats, and the salsas are on point as well.”
“They don't have a liquor license here, but there are plenty of wine, beer and beer cocktail options.”
“I also tried a Bistec Cemita ($12), which was similarly amazing.”
El Atoradero Brooklyn
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Will travel for tacos.
This is what I kept telling myself as I made the hour long journey out to Prospect Heights.
After trying nearly everything on the menu at El Atoradero, I'm happy to report that the trek was worth it. When I say everything on the menu I'm not kidding. Our group of 7 definitely over ordered a bit, but we had no regrets.
Amongst all of the meaty, cheesy and blue corn tortilla goodness some standouts were the carnitas tacos, chorizo smothered nachos, and mole drenched enchiladas. Along with their menu staples (think traditional tacos, nachos, quesadillas, etc) they also have different dishes on special that rotate daily. Which reminds me- we also tried the ribs and meatballs. Oops. Oh wait, I think that there were quesadillas and chips and guac thrown somewhere in the mix too….and flan.
They don't have a liquor license here, but there are plenty of wine, beer and beer cocktail options. My chelda was sort of like a hybrid beer and margarita and was tangy and refreshing.
For authentic Mexican eats, this is definitely worth checking out. Maybe next time I'll just stick with part of the menu instead of the entire thing.
Phenomenal Mexican food! I felt like I was transported to a cozy restaurant in Mexico City. Mole kicked ass. Guacamole superb. The vibe is awesome-super friendly and attentive. Owned by a couple Jewish guys with a love for comida tipica and a chef from Puebla. This is the new spot! Run don't walk.
Met up with a friend who knows his way around Mexican food. When he recommended this place and said that they had some of the best Mexican he'd had in Brooklyn, well, who was I to turn down that ringing endorsement?
Flautas? Amazing. Squash blossom quesadilla? Don't mind if I do! Fresh blue corn tortillas really brought all of the food to the next level. The staff was wonderful, friendly and knowledgable, and the owners stopped by our seats at the bar to say hi. You can tell they put a lot of thought and hard work into the place and it comes through in the decor, the food, and the general atmosphere. I'm going to have to start making flautas in my own kitchen; when I inevitably fail, I'll come back here to get some more.
I came here last night with my boyfriend, after weeks of wanting to try it out. I've read mixed reviews as well as great reviews, and ended up very satisfied with the whole dinner! The hostess and our waitress were both really nice and approachable, and the space was clean, fun, and casual. The inside is pretty small, with a group table and bar seating in the front, and a few tables in the back. The patio is really delightful, seating about 15 people. It's small, peaceful, and comfortable. No rickety chairs and uneven gravel.
We were able to sit on the patio and quickly ordered sangria, their special wine slushie, and three tacos each, with rice and beans on the side. The waitress was really nice and even offered to take the slushie off the bill since it came out watery. We declined since it was still really yummy. I felt that the waitress really went the extra mile and it felt sincere. I noticed that she offered to go down the entire menu and translate for people, as well as bring samples of drinks.
For tacos, I had the carnitas, shrimp, and steak. All were amazing and filling. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and their sauces added extra flavor. The rice and beans weren't your every day rice and beans either. The rice was fluffy and the flavor was nuanced, and the beans were moist and tasty.
It seems that they have one dessert each night and it differs from night to night. Last night they had a banana rum flan, and I'm so glad we ordered it. It was probably the best flan I've ever had–not too sweet, lots of flavors going on, and the perfect texture.
The vibe here is pretty much perfect and great for any occasion, as was seen by the people around us: a couple, a couple with a kid and a baby, and groups of friends. Perfect for date night or family night!
Washington Ave was BUMPIN' on Friday night, but no place more so than El Atoradero. I joined my group after the rain washed the sticky heat and the sweat sheen from my commute away. Nothing could get me down!! I happily squeezed onto the edge of a packed table with a family of the sweetest, warmest strangers imaginable and waited almost 30 mins for a potent Mezcal Margarita with salted rim. As my group and I were chatting away happily buzzed, I noticed a hoard of smiling people started to gather outside the place. I was shocked at the lack of hateful stares or attempts by our server to kick us out. Who wouldn't love this place now??? My only regret is not eating, since it's ranked on the top 100 list of places to dine in Brooklyn and Peter D., our Elite YELP BK leader, already sang the authenticity of their Al Pastor in his review. I'm mildly ashamed I had no appetite, but it gives me an excuse to return (as if I needed one)…
I was excited to eat here – it's literally down the block from me and the reviews were so good, I had to try.
Me and The Mr. had dinner. It was good. I wouldn't say it was the best Mexican in New York City, but it was very very good.
We went earlyish on a Sunday night, so no wait for a table. Our waitress was sweet, explained all the unfamiliar terms in their menu and despite clearly being a bit harried, was responsive.
Started with Guacamole and chips – which were handmade and still warm from the fryer. Delicious. We supplemented with a trio of hot sauces/salsas that aren't on the menu but you should ask for.
The Mr. had a carnitas quesadilla which was fantastic. It came in a big freshly made blue corn tortilla. (We could see the chefs making the tortillas from our table). The meat was flavorful, slightly smokey and correctly fatty. The cheese, which was draped over the pork in a silky stretchy spread was delicious! Buttery and mild, it tasted the way you imagine cheese should always taste but rarely does. That was balanced by some seriously hot pepper tucked in the cut. Man, we had to negotiate over who got the last bite.
I had the braised pork ribs, which came with a flavorful rice and beans. The sauce on the meat was multilayered tomatoey goodness. The meat itself, again, was very good quality and cooked very well. Falling off the bone, fatty, tender. The beans had a slight mole quality, giving an unexpected depth of flavor that played nicely off then acidity of the pork braise.
Looking forward to coming back and trying other items on the menu.
I heard about this place opening recently, and I couldn't wait to visit! I stopped by many times on the street, and the place was HOPPIN. Came with my partner and a friend a coupla nights ago. Our server was friendly and witty, and I happily ordered a bottle of my favorite beer, Bell's Two Hearted Ale. Then I saw the eye-popping price: eight bucks?! I might expect something like this in Midtown or some other fancier, pricier restaurants or neighborhoods, but this didn't seem right. Maybe eight bucks for a PINT of Bell's.
(Truly, I could order delivery Mexican from Citrico across the street, purchase a six-pack of Bell's at Prospect Heights Beer Works for $12, and watch Netflix and chill. But I guess that isn't the point of restaurant eating, and, oh, even as I type I am envisioning the owner or manager writing one of those Yelp messages to me. I'm not hating…you don't need to explain it to me.)
After ordering our drinks, it took what felt like a solid 7-10 minutes to put in an order. (Granted, we weren't ready the first time our server came by, but it felt like a long time without a polite acknowledgement). Our server then proceeded to explain every item on the menu, which was kind, because everything was written in Spanish, but it seemed like an unnecessary burden on the server to explain 20+ dishes. Perhaps the menu could be revised to give a description in English. It would save time (probably why our server was AWOL–he was explaining every dish to another table). It took a very long time to get our bill as well.
The food was excellent, I will give them that. The tortilla chips are fried on-site, and they still had a little frying grease on them–delish. Their green chile salsa is AMAZING. Best I've had outside New Mexico. I had the cheese enchiladas with mole. Apparently people come here for the mole. It's very rich, and has everything but the kitchen sink in it. De gustibus non est disputandem, but I guess I don't love mole.
Definitely check this place out for the delicious food. They might still be working out the kinks, so I look forward to an opportunity to visit again in the future and bump up the stars. Right now, the price of bottled beers and the laggard service knocked em down a star.
Brooklyn is blessed with having a decent selection of Mexican food, but you can never have enough of a good thing. To that end, El Atoradero is a good thing.
Come here for the tacos. Stay because you want more tacos.
The al pastor was a favorite. Crispy. Spiced well.
Carnitas were also great.
Had the chicken tinga because I couldn't resist. Not as delicious as the other two, but still good.
We also shared the enchilads de mole poblano with chicken, and it was way better than the photos may suggest. Some real sweetness to it.
We came on a weeknight, so it wasn't as crowded as it can get. Sat at the bar and just shot the shit with one of the owners Josh (from Dassara) and the bartender Cynthia (who is tiny but feisty).
Anyway, you want to go to El Atoradero.