The horchata at El Aguila is indescribably incredible! My friends and I were visiting New York during a particularly hot weekend and the ice cold horchata gave us a boost when we were at our lowest point in the day.

The al pastor is amazing , and had great sauces to go with whatever meal you get. Staff is super friendly, this is a hidden gem in East Harlem for quick meal, it's part of my regular rotation.

I come here everyday ordering a chicken burrito. It is so good. I love the environment

Awesome authentic Mexican! No flour tortillas here so don't even ask. This was my first time ordering from here and the chicken tacos were awesome.

This is a terrific cozy little restaurant that has amazing tacos. The pastor, lengua, barbacoa, and the asada were all amazing and my partners had similar success with the larger burritos as well. The staff are friendly and the location is very conveniently located next to an MTA stop

I love the deliciously hot tostada with al pastor my favorite and it never let’s me down. I’ve been coming here for years the tamales are also one of my favs if your lucky to get some before there sold out. When ever I’m in the neighborhood I drop by and enjoy the authenticity of the food at El Águila. 🤗👍

Always quality home made style food. They always clean the grill between orders and change gloves when handling different items such as meats and veggies. I always come here when getting off a shift at the local hospital near by.

Authentic Mexican restaurant serving fantastic foods. Highly recommend tacos al pastor, carnitas, and pollo. Looking forward to eating here again!

This is a great place to get actual authentic Mexican food. They have a range of hot sauces to choose from and the ingredients are fresh. The tacos have a good amount of meat and are served hot. The People serving are very attentive and kind. I would definitely recommend for delicious tacos and a tamale or two! But hurry up they run out of tamale quick.

Stop in for a quick chicken torta. Automatically know this was a hit with the old lady at the first station making the food. Automatic banger grandma cooked it to perfection served fresh made fresh and made with amor. Amazing food

My teenage daughter said the chicken on the tostada was the best chicken she's ever tasted. Fantastic homemade salsa selection

Stellar Mexican food. As close to west coast street burritos as you can get! Only missing the California burrito! Pastor pork is so delicious! And if you never had horchata you must try it here it's is amazing! Never been disappointed at this place!

Incredible food and service. There’s no sit down, which means all the concentration is on the food. As a corner lot, you might expect the food to rely on traffic. But it’s fresh, incredibly tasty, and authentic. Fast food, incredible prices, and wonderful service. Need I say more?

I’ve been to El Aguila numerous times and can say that the food is amazing, authentic Mexican food with a variety of sides and sauces. I’ve had every meat except for the pork and they’ve never disappointed. Food is VERY consistent, well priced as well. Right in the corner off the 6 line, you can’t miss it. 10/10.

The best tamales ever. Fresh , hot and extremely tasty authentic. Someone in the kitchen knows their tamales.Chicken quesadilla so yummy . I even didn’t need the sauces , when everything was perfectly to taste.

Hidden Jem. Omg, u can tasted the love and spiciness

Great tacos and good workers! Cheap too

One of my favorite places to get authentic Mexican food not too far into East Harlem. Very low key with a take-out/family-owned feel. Be prepared for none of the staff to speak English, so if you don't speak Spanish use hand gestures. Recommend the Oaxaca cheese and the tamales.

Honestly, the best tacos Al Pastor and asada tacos in NYC. Superior to Tacos #1. The staff makes the dishes to your individual request. And are very nice. Really would love to know if the company offers catering of private events.

great nachos, fresh tacos, and very cheap prices

El Aguila is makes delectable food at inexpensive prices, and easily outclasses any generic Mexican cuisine restaurant like Chipotle in all forms. I got a chicken burrito for $7.50 and considered getting a tamale to actually fill me up, but once I saw the actual size of it, I knew I didn't need anything else besides an ice-cold horchata to wash it all down.

Fresh food. Clean environment. Good prices. Love the service and selection of meals.

It's always a good day when we stop by this place for lunch! The tacos are superb and very reasonably priced. Also recommend the aguas frescas.

Burritos and music the best. I'm not mexican but start loving it...

Torta milanesa de Pollo without the jalapenos! Best torta I've had in a long time!

This beautifully authentic Mexican food restaurant is so good 😊! The food is always slamin' and the service is top tier!!! They don't have through the roof prices. I 💯 RECCOMEND this place to anyone looking for a Mexican restaurant for the family or to rely on when a craving takes over 🤤.

Food is Absouletly divine. The chorizo tacos was delicious very spicy and tasty. The prices also won't break the bank which is an added bonus

Although they include everything, inside the Quesadilla, I always request for them to place it separately in my plate. Without no hesitation, they comply. I either purchase the Shrimp Tacos or Shrimp Quesadilla. Both are yummy.

Lots of menu choices, yummy food. Good hot sauce and aguas frescos too!!

Over the years I’ve compared any taco, burrito, or torta I ate against this place and still have not found an equal. Even on an off day or during a rush, the food is well-prepared (meat is flavorful, sauces are vibrant & spicy) and fresh (including the produce, you can taste it in the onion, tomato, cilantro, guac etc) and portions are solid. I’ve also only experienced great service. Recently I called to ask for sauces in a delivery order I’d placed online and the lady was more than friendly and accommodating about it. Ordering in person is also smooth. Never feel rushed to choose anything and they always double-check if it’s con todo or if something is sold out. Cashiers are remarkably warm to the point that I recognize them quickly by their smiles! It’s a fairly busy restaurant so I don’t take it to heart if the cashier is short with niceties or is rushing.

I've had a very tiring morning and ate no breakfast so I stopped here randomly and I could've cried tears of joy eating my chicken quesadilla. Like, it was so delicious and now I wish i lived in the area! Great establishment.

Delicious food! So good! And at great prices. Always for takeout. Service could be better, I've even seen them close earlier and ignore delivery people at the door trying to get their orders.

Solid food solid spot. The veggie tacos was nice, delicious, affordable. The horchata, as my friend describes, tasted like Christmas... It tasted like a Yankee Candle. It was amazing. They have a few tables and chairs. You can easily join in on a person not occupying the whole table. Good quick and quickly dine in spot. (Right by the subway too)

Such good food! I always come when I’m around the area! Definitely recommend!

El Aguila has amazing Mexican food, very tasty and the portions are generous. Ideal place after a late night out with friends, and the staff were nice.

As a Californian, easily one of the best burritos in NYC. staff are super nice and incredibly efficient. I feel sorry for them when some picky customers think they have the right to boss them around asking for 10 different modifications to their meal… Be quick, be kind, be humble. Much like the incredible staff and delicious food of this fine eatery. Definitely coming back.

The Best authentic Mexican food in NY. No complaints and the customer service is professional and nice. I will be back!

Great, authentic Mexican spot for quick eats. I always get the al pastor tacos from here and they're very good. The portions are generous and 3 tacos will make you full. The service was also quick and nice. They have some tables outside for people to eat but it's more of a takeout place.

Great place for quick bites!

This place is just perfect. Tacos are so good... Also, price is affordable. Seats are limited but it is so local and good, too😁 We wanted to try everything but we are not that heavy eater🤣🤣 We will definitely go this place if I go to NYC again. This place is must. 👍👍👍👍👍

Best quesadilla I have ever had on either coast. Amazing, genuine Mexican cuisine. Simple, affordable, and delicious!

Excellent food for a very reasonable price. Service was very friendly. There is some seating, but not a lot.

Omg I feel like I'm home (Los Angeles - the mecca for Mexican food outside of Mexico). The decor, the music, the no frill $3 tacos are all on point. Conveniently locates off the 103 stop on the 6th train, the place is a 24 hora hole in the wall type place. I'll definitely be returning. I just broke my intermittent fast- but it was all worth it. + service was great + min. $6 credit card charge

Honestly one of the best and most authentic Mexican street-food style restaurants in the city. The food is fresh and tasty, and while they have a bit of seating, many choose to buy as take-out. The owners and workers are friendly and outgoing folks, and it’s become my go-to for a quick bite after work. If you’re around 103rd, you’ve got to stop by!

i went with a couple of friends (two) (one of them spoke spanish) and he ordered for us in spanish even though the lady working at the order stand could speak english, it just made it all feel so much more authentic. the atmosphere is amazing, im not mexican myself but it feels very cozy, looks clean and the staff are all nice people. they also have spectrum news ny1 on the television, which is pretty good too. the food is amazing, i had a chicken burrito with pinto beans and pico de gallo. my friend had a carnitas taco and my other friend had a chorizo burrito, with pico de gallo. for the price per person, you really get a lot of food. the Abuelita making the food behind the counter makes it with love.... i can really tell. the grillmaster does do a great job at cooking, i dont know what they do to the grill but the chicken had a really nice smoky flavor and texture, it tasted amazing, and didnt leave me feeling heavy or weighed down like other foods do. i didnt have indigestion or heartburn from it. I read some reviews about seasoning but i dont really get it, all of the food presented was seasoned perfectly and leaves me wondering what they do to it. to me, the burrito is perfect, it doesnt need any sauce to make it taste good, its good on its own. however the red sauce on the tables really amplifies the flavor, and also further brings out the flavor of the smoke. i dont know how they get it to taste so smokey... it really does taste like a grill, but thats not a bad thing. after i was done eating, which i was dining in with my friends at the authentic stools and tables, some of the burrito was falling out of my tortilla (which was very soft and nice) into my plate... which made me sad..... but it was also happening to my friend with his chorizo burrito, but thats because theres so much food in the burrito. i cannot complain. i also tried jarritos for the first time, it was great. overall the food, service, price and aesthetics are great, if you come alone you can get a hot meal for cheap... or with friends, enjoying wonderful songs playing over it all.

Aidan Cusa

Delicious Mexican food with reasonable prices. There isn’t much sitting space but it’s okay. Great portion sizes and music in the store.

Mauricio Varela

This place is amazing for authentic Mexican food. I love the food and the service, everyonehere is super nice. I highly recommend the chicken tinga nachos with extra cheese, tamales, and steak burritos with queso Oxaca all are amazing!.

Nicholas Hester

Best tortillas in Manhattan!!!! Oh my word this was so good. I had 2 carnitas tacos, 2 asada tacos and 2 pastor tacos. All fire. The 3 salsa were very good. The plan jalapeño was my favorite. The red was good but so so so spicy for my palette. 100% must stop for Mexico food in Manhattan

Q's

We loved the food! Great portions with great prices. We got the salad with chicken, tamal de rajas(jalapeño and cheese) and a tostada de tinga (chipotle chicken) which had great amount of toppings. All so good def stopping by when I’m in the area again. ✨

Michael Tran

Walked in for lunch because I heard they had $10 burritos. The place is no frills and has a warm vibe. Bought a chorizo burrito and had to add extra steak, along with a tamarind agua fresca. Loved the burrito, and it was so much, I only finished half and saved the other half for later. It was fresh and delicious. The agua fresca was not overly sweet and refreshing. Next time I'm in the area I'm definitely stopping by again

A HDEZ

I will say it again: Chipotle has nothing on El Aguila's burritos. Anything with carne asada is out of this world. Right across the 6 train stop at 103rd St. on Lexington Ave. Prices are fair, as things are going up. Amazing, authentic Mexican food. Almost forgot there are no restrooms. The food is good enough to give it a 5-star rating on everything.

Paradorn Rummaneethorn

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Mexican food around UES / East Harlem. Truly amazing Mexican food at amazing value. Came here because some hispanic friends recommended it with their approval. They were absolutely ON POINT. I came with my girlfriend for Sunday lunch - we got a goat torta, asada quesadilla, verde tamale (green sauce & chicken), and large horchata (everything came out to around to just ~$34 and were were stuffed). Everything is truly amazing and we didn't wait long at all for the food - the goat does have a bit of smell if you are sensitive to that, otherwise I absolutely loved it. They were really generous with the protein quantity as well. The horchata leans towards the sweeter side but it was a nice complement to the meal. And last but not least, they have three amazing sauces that you can self-service: green, green & avocado (def give this one a try), and red (spicy). They were absolutely phenomenal sauces that took the meal to another level. Fair warning that it's quite spicy so if you don't enjoy spicy flavors as much as I do, please always sample a small amount first before committing. In terms of seating - there are about three small tables with 3 chairs to each, so don't come in fully expecting to be seated. You might need to take this one to go. Bonus #1: there's a small 5% discount for students (and I think veterans a few other groups as well, there's a sign on this next to the cashier) Bonus #2: there's a nice carrot cake spot close by called Lloyd's Carrot Cake cafe for some dessert afterwards :)

RD

I’m so happy to have found this gem nearby. They have different tamales and agua frescas regularly. So far my favorites are the cactus pineapple agua fresca, watermelon agua fresca and the jalapeño y queso tamale. The rojo and verde tamales are also very good. Flavorful and affordable, tysm!

claribel pons

A Gem in Spanish Harlem. The Custer service was great. The food is even better. Nice quiet spot with indoor seating facing windows. You can eat and people watch. I had a Toscana with everything. It was huge flavorful and filling. If you like spicy like me, I suggest the jalapeño and avocado sauce. RECOMMEND

Arturo Sevein

I tried their torta and absolutely loved it, the cheese they use gives it such a delicious flavor! I also had the carnitas tacos and the red tamales, and everything was really tasty. The service is very quick, which I appreciated. They could improve a bit on customer service, but the food more than makes up for it. I’d definitely come back for more tacos. The prices are affordable, and everything tastes 100% Mexican. Highly recommend!

Li

I’ve been coming here for 12 years back when they had their location on 116th street and Lexington. I wish they would open another location there again (it use to be 24 hours). They have the best food. The cashier was super nice and sweet to me.

Al Z

Stumbled on this restaurant on my way to the Museum of the City of New York. Forgot the name of the dish but it was with roasted pork and it was delicious. The serving was generous considering the price was around $10 only. Didn't end up going to the museum but walked away from the Upper East Side happy.

Meg Bagadion

Portions were huge! We ordered Al Pastor burritos and tacos. The marinated pork is delicios. Location is just across a subway station.

Maxwell Lee

Small but cozy lil spot right by the 103rd St 6 train station. Portion sizes were huge (they really fill you up on the rice & beans) and everything is pretty tasty. Very affordable prices too!

ReedH

The tacos here are awesome! The corn tortillas themselves should get six stars. I had a carnitas, asada, and Al pastor. All very good, the meats were tender and flavorful. Among them the asada was probably my favorite. I also had a horchata which was excellent. Also, a chicken tamale which I was less enthused by - a bit too much masa for me. Tacos here though are a home run!

Peter Joe

Excellent! I'm a big fan of Los Tacos in the city, and this place is on par! Less commercialized, VERY authentic flavor, and more meat options. I recommend you get the tacos with pollo, asada, or al pastor. They're all good. Spend a few extra bucks and get the horchata drink too- well worth it!

One of the best spots in Spanish Harlem. I try to regular here as often as possible. Burritos are on point and the tacos are well worth what you pay compared to anywhere else

This place is so great it makes me wish I lived up here. Super delicious , authentic Mexican fare. Not much atmosphere but there are tables and it’s not the worst place to sit down. In any case once you start eating you’ll forget what the place looks like because everything’s so good.

Best burrito I've had in the city! Finally, a place with enough spice! A small but good sauce bar. This is what Chipotle aspires to be. What Chipotle lacks is authenticity. La Aquila is the real deal! I'll be back!

This place on the corner of 103rd and Lexington, puts you deep inside of Spanish Harlem, even if you are in walking distance from Mount Sinai Hospital, the Museum Mile and the Central Park Conservatory. This is a great cheap food option as was clear by the constant flow of deliveries being taken out by Uber Eats. It has a real Mexican feel to it and reminded me of roadside taquerias in Mexico and markets in Mexico City. The food is delicious, we enjoyed the guacamole and various tacos. But the reason to go back is the fresh tamales in three different varieties for the incredibly reasonable price of $ 1.50 - steaming hot, spicy, perfect for the kind of cold and rainy Friday afternoon we came here, or whenever you need to have something warm and nourishing in your stomach.

The food is really good here...always get the carnitas burrito and my coworkers love their tacos. Staff is pleasant and friendly in many ways too. Whenever I want to take a walk to go for lunch, this place is always on my short list.

Love the tamales, burritos and nachos from here. Always fresh ingredients and I love their house made sauces. Go during the evening/night shift. They are always friendlier than the day shift and they make prepare the food better as well! Other than that this is a great go to when it's late and you want some good food to hold you down better than some random late-night sandwich (not that there's anything wrong with that either)

I went there with one of my friends he introduced me to this place. I'm not usually skeptical about places that I go to eat because I am a true New York. But it just maybe something on this day that I decided that I did not want to eat. Breakfast food it might no to have been the place it could have been me. I just know I'd never give it a few chance to tell you. Is this a good or bad place to eat because it's certain things when I walk in the places if I throw some type of ordee Well I see something that turns me off. I don't think I will eat at that place at the time

Very nice folks but I didn't like the food much. Burrito and taco dough weren't that great. The filling also was unexciting. Maybe just got unlucky but I'm not sure I'll go back.

For sure an authentic taste prompt friendly service with a smile. Very convenient to the Beth Israel hospital. If you pay cash there is a small discount. For this neighborhood this restaurant is a solid choice.

Great food, very authentic Mexican food, and very fresh! Ideal spot if you're in the mood for Mexican late night after drinks.

Very solid burrito. Nice people.

I tried 3 tacos: al pastor, asada, and lengua. I liked lengua the best. I also had the pineapple aqua fresca which was meh. The tortas cubana was good but VERY messy to eat.

Dorothy Rose

I've been coming here for about two years now. I love the authenticity of the food. Never knew I'd love a jalapeno with avocado salsa. Awesome stuff. Personally I love their goat meat burritos

sky unidentifiedstorm

Large menu of assorted Mexican dishes made to order. Cooked right in front of you. Fresh ingredients you can see and select for your dish. Large portions. Food is delicious. Small seating area. Friendly staff.

+7

Great tasting food. The tacos are a bargain but come without condiments and the condiments don't come cheaply. Expect a menu item to end up $2-$5 more expensive than expected at the register due to 'add-ons'

Food was awesome. Affordable pricing. Customer service not their priority. They need to work on their customer service skills. Not as friendly as they should be. No greeting and no eye contact from cashier. No Thank you, have a nice day or enjoy from her.

Food tasted authentic and there's a good variety but customer service needs improvement. Everybody working there seems really unhappy, especially the woman at the cash register.

Authentic tacos but didn’t do it for me. Just all small things adding up that it wasn’t great.

Food is really decent but service is terrible! We've been going for three years and the girl at the register has a serious attitude problem. Argumentative and just wants to watch videos on her phone. Last time I called to order ahead the counter person said "That's it?" and hung up on me... Have endured many incidents without complaint, but enough is enough. Go for good Mexican food, but know you're rolling the dice on some serious disrespect ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I picked up food here for a picnic and the food was okay. I picked up two burritos with barbacoa, guacamole and horchata. The burrito was very plain and so was the guacamole. The horchata was way to sweet. I know its supposed to be sweet and the ice waters it down but I let all the ice melt and it was still very sweet. I would not go back to this restaurant.

Jigar Patel

I really wanted to like this place. I will say the salsa bar is fantastic and the burrito was pretty decent. However the one thing I just can't wrap my mind around is why the veggie burrito is more expensive than a chicken burrito. The veggie burrito doesn't include sour cream in it while the chicken burrito does. Sure the veggie burrito has guacamole included in it while the chicken burrito doesn't, which would level the price. I asked if I can get sour cream in my veggie burrito and the employees + cashier told me it's an extra charge. I asked why would a veggie burrito not have any sour cream included in it while every other burrito (that has meat and is essentially more expensive to make because of that) has it included free of charge. They also had no idea. I can't stand a place that makes it more expensive and difficult for a vegetarian to eat at. Please fix this, it's just simply annoying and incorrect.

The tamales were bad and were too much masa, I regretted my decision a lot because it didn't even seemed cook or prepared properly. I'm sure the rest of the menu is good, just not the tamales that was my mistake.

The food here is good by Mexican standards, but the staff IS more preocupied to listen to their music. Each time you order, you have to yell above the sound of the music. The girl at the grill is very rude and keeps overexplaining everything, please. I'm mexican also...

Not crazy about their burritos but I return for the tacos. They're great and their customer service for me is always on point (good). Recommend the jalapeño sauce does the job and not too spicy. Update recently got 4 tacos cause it's been a while, ya found multiple bones in my multiple tacos. Please fix this or care to check the food a lil more before serving for the next person. I'm done eating here.

Lived in the area for 16 years this is my second time here and got carnita tacos and the tortilla was soft on one side and the other was hard they didn’t even heat up the meat well, I paid extra for avocado and they didn’t even give a full slice of it just a tiny piece. Also got horchata juice and they put everything in a small bag which was broke so once I picked it up it fell and they blamed it on me so they didn’t give me a new one. 🥲 I just threw the spilling juice in the garbage and left. I’ll just keep going to my usual spot up the hill or the one near my college. 🤷🏻‍♀️ same price and better stuffed tacos.

First we watched as they were really about to throw a kids food away because she was short .35 cents. Trying to call her mother she asked can I bring it back to you and they actually said no, so we cover it. I then get my order of carnitas tacos and a fish taco. Why is my carnitas tacos like eating pernil. I wanted to exchange it but clearly they acted so petty over a child and .35 cents. Forget it.

I used to enjoy coming here, but the portion sizes of the food have recently changed while the prices increase. It's no longer worth it. The atmosphere is terrible, and the employees have a bad attitude. The food is not made with love. I am never coming here again. There are a lot of great Mexcian restaurants in NYC I advise you to avoid this one unless you want your pork undercooked. As someone who works in customer service, I know you are supposed to put the customer first, but here, that does not apply.

The WORST service. The cashier clearly doesn't care about you. Literally wont be coming back because of how rude she was. The restaurant lost money in my food that was late and lost a customer. I’d love to come back a day she isn't there, the food looks good but if you order andI something goes wrong you're screwed. She hung up on me, didn't answer when I called back 🤣 just awful service

How can you call yourselfs a 100% Mexican restaurant, if you don’t have anything traditional including traditional breakfast burrito????

The chicken here tastes stale. The texture is very hard. Other than that great customer service. Very nice people.

Amanda Williams

Just went and ordered 2 burrito bowls, 1 chicken and 1 steak. Besides the food being mediocre at best, it was the rudeness and audacity of the workers that really stood out. Being a manager in the restaurant business myself, the importance of a customer’s food allergy must always be taken into account and also very seriously, which is exactly what just happened to me. I notified the lady packing my food that I have severe allergies to avocado to which she completely ignored and continued to make my bowls right next to the avocado on the line. I would not recommend this place to anyone, especially to people who have allergies like me. These people don’t care and all they want is your dollar.