Dear Rufino
Mexican · New York
About Dear Rufino
Nestled in Hell's Kitchen, Dear Rufino Taqueria & Bar offers authentic Mexican cuisine in a charming, welcoming atmosphere. Known for exceptional flavors and great cocktails, the restaurant features a focused menu where every dish excels, from rich mole to standout bowls like the al pastor. Guests p...
Nestled in Hell's Kitchen, Dear Rufino Taqueria & Bar offers authentic Mexican cuisine in a charming, welcoming atmosphere. Known for exceptional flavors and great cocktails, the restaurant features a focused menu where every dish excels, from rich mole to standout bowls like the al pastor. Guests praise the fresh corn tortillas, lovely portions, and attentive staff who create a fun vibe without being pretentious. Whether enjoying lunch or dinner with outdoor seating, solo dining, or delivery, visitors appreciate the authentic taste and consistent quality. Located conveniently behind major venues, this accessible spot delivers fast service and memorable meals that feel both special and affordable for everyone.
What Customers Say About Dear Rufino
Dear Rufino is a highly-rated Mexican restaurant in the Theater District, known for its authentic and flavorful food, quick service, and friendly staff. Standout dishes include tacos al pastor, enchiladas verdes, and tamarindo margaritas. A great spot for a pre-show meal or drinks.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Visit during happy hour (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 6pm) for $5 frozen margaritas.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Dear Rufino
Dear Rufino is located in New York, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- The Actors' Temple (A 215m) — historic building in Manhattan, New York, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
- Substation 13 (A 314m) — edificio en Nueva York, Estados Unidos Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
- iglesia Luterana de San Lucas (A 352m) — iglesia de Manhattan Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Religious Buildings
- St. Benedict the Moor's Church (A 230m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Church of the Assumption (A 267m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Times Square Church (A 289m) — templo de culto cristiano ubicado en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos
- St. Adelbert's Church (A 325m) — church building in Manhattan, United States of America
- Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (A 352m) — church in New York, United States
Parks & Gardens
- Ramone Aponte Park (A 219m) — park in Manhattan, New York City, United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- The Platinum (A 314m)
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Dear Rufino
Dear Rufino New York Reviews
What a wonderful place! Real authentic Mexican food, great service and such a relaxed atmosphere. The best tuna tostada I had in New York, the Aguachile and Pastor Tacos were incredible too, accompanied by a refreshing michelada. Outstanding quality of the fish, will be back for sure
Solid tacos and drinks at a good value. We got the suadero tacos and carnita tacos, and both were delicious with the avocado salsa and habanero salsa. The Micheladas are only $8-$9! Has plenty of outdoor seating in Worldwide Plaza to enjoy a nice weather evening. If you're looking for a casual Mexican sitdown spot, Dear Rufino will do the trick.
Authentic and delicious Mexican, fast and friendly service, unbeatable location with a relaxed atmosphere in the plaza. Very happy they moved into the neighborhood - I’m already a repeat customer even though HK is brimming with great options.
Dropped some people off at the show and found this little gem right behind the entrance to the venue. It’s a smaller space, but charming. Loved the food, authentic corn tortillas, lovely portions and prices. Stop in, if you need a friendly place to pass some time and grab some refreshments.
Loved my experience at Dear Rufino Taqueria & Bar. Great food, amazing drinks, and a really fun vibe. Everything felt well done without being pretentious, and the staff was welcoming and attentive. Perfect spot to grab tacos, cocktails, and enjoy good energy. Will definitely be back
Had the bowl al pastor — the best thing I’ve eaten in New York so far. Juan was great and suggested the bowl because it’s bigger than the tacos, and it comes with beans, salad, rice, and Guac. Great decision, right by theaters and close to the subway — definitely stop by for a bite or a margarita if you’re in the area!
Me and a couple of friends dined there. Great Tacos and great cocktails! Service was also very quick and attentive, we had an amazing time. It has quickly become our go-to spot
We stumbled upon this place and were stunned! Fantastic food, fresh, flavorful, and quick service. Would highly recommend, do not miss this spot! The pork tacos, veggie tacos, fresh guacamole were unbelievable!
This restaurant offers great food at a good price. We tried lunch here and loved the food and experience. The menu is rich, and there are enough options for everyone. We couldn't try the bar, but I'm sure you won't be disappointed. We arrived around 12 and quickly got the table, as it was not busy at 12. It's got busy from 1 PM onwards. The staff is attentive and quick. The tables are well maintained and has enough separation. What deserves a special mention? The food is amazing, prepped with attention to detail. What could be better? Nothing, they are doing a great job.
I just visited and was blown away by the flavors. Every dish I tried was delicious, but I have to highlight two that really stood out. The mole was exceptional; it had a depth of flavor that felt rich, earthy, and perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy. It’s hard to get mole just right, but they nailed it. The carne asada tacos were another standout, featuring a crispy cheese crust that added an incredible texture and unique flavor, taking the tacos to another level.
I been to Mexico a couple of times and I never enjoyed the food like I did here!! The taste of the food it’s top, the soup the tacos al pastor, the shrimp ceviche, churros and please ask for the tamarindo margaritas the best of the best, and the service it’s amazing you feel at home, Andres is amazing !!!
They're new and may already be one the best authentic Mexican in Hell's Kitchen. The menu is small which means there's not a lot of room for bad dishes and so far, everything has been great! My favorites were the Tacos de Bistec con Costra de Queso (skirt steak tacos) and Camarones al Chipotle (big shrimp with a nice chipotle spice). Also pretty good were the churros and the chips and guac (both seemed freshly made!) Everything seemed to be made with fresh ingredients and the chef claimed to use a bunch of family recipes which seems believable. Great news addition and worth visiting!
The food is fine here but not very flavorful. Much better places in the area if you want Mexican food. Prices are average. Service was good, everyone's nice and attentive. Food came out pretty quickly. The thing I like is tacos are sold à la carte so you can mix and match. Churros were fresh and hot - highlight of the meal!
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About Dear Rufino
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322 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019
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322 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019
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historic building in Manhattan, New York, United States
park in Manhattan, New York City, United States of America
church building in Manhattan, United States of America
church building in Manhattan, United States of America
templo de culto cristiano ubicado en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos
edificio en Nueva York, Estados Unidos
church building in Manhattan, United States of America
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