El Atoradero Brooklyn

Ditto to those who applaud the homemade blue tortillas stuffed with perfectly seasoned fillings. I had the carnitas, shrimp and hongos… prospect heights has a new king of the taquerias… I used to frequent la superior in Williamsburg and this definitely rivals it in quality! Will be back again and again…

I wanted to like this place, but my chicken enchiladas were FILLED with chicken bones. Almost in every bite. I was so grossed out that I had to stop eating after the second of four. Only giving two stars instead of one because the mole sauce was good

Chef Lina brings an authenticity to her cooking. The staff brings a real «bienvenida”(welcome) to the restaurant. My spouse and I enjoyed the opening appetizer of calabasa (squash) with chicharrones (pork skin) in a blue corn tortilla. It is enough for two persons. Accompanied by three varieties of salsa (sauces), the flavors come together no matter your heat resistance quotient. There is a sauce for everyone.
Tuesday night’s special was the Mole de Pipian. This is a specialty of the Mexican state of Puebla, though you will find variations in Oaxaca. The green mole sauce covers two pieces of chicken cooked to perfection. Rice and black beans adorn the beautiful mexican plates.
My entrée was a platter of Enchilidadas de Mole con pollo – traditional rolled corn tortillas filled with chicken and covered in a rich, velvety mole sauce. Immediately, you can taste the not-​overwhelming tastes of cinnamon, cloves, and most important — chocolate.
We are well traveled all over Mexico. Atoradero brings the best of our heritage country to Brooklyn – its food and its people.

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 décor, 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!

Everyone else seems thrilled, but I thought the food was outright inedible. I ordered the mole enchiladas; the tortilla was dry and crumbly, the mole uninteresting, and I have never, ever in my life seen an enchilada made with Caribbean white cheese. And $ 17.00 for four enchiladas? And that’s it – no beans, no rice, no sides. Just four awful enchiladas for $ 17.00. My side of flats came soggy, lukewarm, and filled with the same queso blanco as my enchiladas. Ugh. Disgusting.
Will never return.

I didn’t hate this place. Nor did I love it. It was just alright for me:
Vegetarian Nachos were clearly made with fresh ingredients and I liked that the beans in the black bean component were ever-​so-​slightly firm, a sign to me they were cooked from dried, rather than canned. But they just tasted like something was missing. Was it pico de gallo? Pickled jalapeño or ripe olive slices? Honestly, I couldn’t tell. Between the darkened dining room, the dark blue corn chips and the black beans nestled below them, it was tough to make out all the ingredients. All I know is that the various (delicious!) salsas that were brought to the table later for our mains, would have gone a long way toward perking these Nachos up. For $ 12 (or another $ 3 to add meat), the portion also seemed on the smaller side.
For our mains, we got a variety of tacos to share. Best of the bunch were the Shrimp and the Chicken Tinga; both proteins were well-​cooked, with fresh, vibrant flavors. The vegetarian Mushroom & Spinach was dull and soggy, while the Chorizo had a very off-​putting, almost perfumey flavor. I’ll be the first to admit, I am not up on my pork-​based tacos… so that being said, the Carnitas were way too fatty and «porky» for me, though I liked the tender, less overtly «porky,» Al Pastor. Hubby pointed out that the tortillas seemed to have an identity crisis, with some being soft and pliable, while others were too firm and chewy, and some both at the same time. I applaud the concept of making tortillas in-​house, but these, sadly, did not blow me away.
I really felt for our server, who was forced to translate parts of the all-​in-​Spanish menu to us and I am sure many of her other tables. She handled it efficiently and expertly.

For starters, the food here is fabulous. Very flavorful, fresh, and generously portioned. We will definitely be going back. The downside, and the reason I knocked off a star: The menu is written exclusively in Spanish. Now, I do speak And read Spanish, but I still needed help deciphering the menu. Maybe Spanish/​English would be a good idea. I think it would just make the ordering process a bit easier. Also, be prepared. The restaurant is extremely small and seating is very cramped.
We were there on a Saturday night, the restaurant was packed, and there was only one server working the entire restaurant. Regardless of this, we had great service!

I kinda don’t want to write this review because I know I’ll get a lot of backlash from the other excited Unilocalers. But here I go, gonna keep it short.
This is a good americanized-​Mexican restaurant. Food is good quality, and really tasty. But it’s not authentic. How do I know? Well, I was born and raised in Mexico. So I obviously got super hyped when I heard about that raging new place in my neighborhood. But by now I should know what to expect from a Mexican restaurant in which the kitchen is full of white guys (and no, I don’t feel like in a pueblito. That’s just racist, Unilocaler).
Have tried food from there a couple of times. The tacos are good, but the pastor disappoints (if you want real, legit pastor, go to Taco Mix on East Harlem. Good stuff!). The tortas are huge which is always good, the mole was tasty, the horchata tasted like made from concentrate.
Overall it’s a good place and I will go back. If you enjoy Mexican food you’re bound to enjoy this place, so give it a try. Just not authentic. Also, be patient. They are short staffed and so they take their time.
Sorry, I’m a super snob when it comes to Mexican food. I just know how it tastes, and how it doesn’t. That’s all.

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.

Oh. My. God. This place is ABSOLUTELY stellar. I am still kinda in shock that I’ve gone here twice this week because I’m super picky about Mexican food and have yet to find a place in New York that compares to California or Chicago in terms of authenticity.
First things first, the place is located in the best neighborhood ever and has this beautiful ambiance that feels like you’re in the Southwest with a hint of a pueblito in México. The staff is amazing and makes you feel right at home, which is not typical in Brooklyn where the food could be amazing but you’re still waiting a good 2 hours to get your check ;). Third, THE FOOD. How could I not have mentioned that already? For starters, the chips are homemade and blue tortilla and oh my God the guac. I had flautas for an appetizer and, guys if you go, try the cheese flautas. How did they combine the best homemade tortilla chips I’ve ever tasted with the perfect kind of cheese to influence every savory bite? Of course, guac in the middle + a little salsa on the end just to remind you that they want you to enjoy every second.
Okay, since I’ve eaten here twice, let me just say that all the entrees are delicious. I especially liked the platos (most of which come with rice and beans) because I had to give the beans a go. I swear, they put the magic of mole into those beans somehow. I asked them for secrets and they said next time I should sit at the table nearest the kitchen so I could watch. I obviously did the second time around and I FOUND OUT THE SECRET but I won’t dare tell you (you have to check it out for yourself!) I’ve gotten two chicken dishes since I’ve been there — cochinita pibil and mixiote de pollo and both are fantastic.
All I have to say is GO HERE NOW. I heard there’s a brunch. Maybe let’s go? Third times a charm.
Enjoy y’all!

The best brunch I’ve had in the neighborhood!
The mimosas were strong and delightful.
My meal, everything I wanted: seasoned, spicy, and delicious!
I had the rancheros and I cleaned my plate
Kudos to the staff and the chef! I’ll be back for brunch here again.

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 Unilocal 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.

After trying their carnitas in the Bronx and hearing of their opening nearby, we had to check out their other offerings, so we sampled basically all of the meat tacos available on our visit, and each was excellent. Salsas were also very good, albeit not necessary and placed over the edge of our table. Service was spot-​on, ambiance was subdued with green glasses and a candle, ahd the glossary on the wall is a nice touch, though folks still had to ask the server for details on some of the menu (presumably daily specials that didn’t warrant space on the chalkboard). They seem to own the outdoor space behind the dining room, so that’ll be a great place for al fresco Mexican once the time comes.
‘They open at 5PM, not AM as indicated here, which is perfect for an early dinner.
See the photo receipt for a great Tuesday 3÷8÷16 dinner (the menu changes daily, which threw off some regulars near us, and is posted to social media).

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.

Facts About El Atoradero, in order of importance:
1. They have the real-​deal al pastor. Have you never had al pastor? You sad, pitiful creature. Al pastor is the exquisitely succulent shavings of pork that can only be created by rubbing the meat with spices and chiles, layering it onto a trompo and letting the world’s best fruit (pineapple) drip down on it from above as it rotates and slowly caramelizes. When you carve off thin slices of meat that is simultaneously tender and charred crisp, you have al pastor, The Taco of the Gods.
2. Their chorizo tacos are nearly as good as the al pastor.
3. Their phone number is 718−399-TACO, clearly asserting their taco dominance over the area.
4. Their blue corn tortillas are fresh, legit, and the perfect vehicle for juicy, porky meats, and the salsas are on point as well.
5. Fat-​lovers should opt for the carnitas, the pork cubed rather than the more common pulled preparation.
6. They have other, non-​porky things to offer. Quite honestly, I wasn’t wowed* by any of the other food, but I don’t really care. I will return for chorizo and al pastor tacos (and maybe some albondigas), and ignore everything else anyway.
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*By all accounts, their mole is some of the best around. Personally, I don’t like chocolate that much, and I’m definitely not into throwing it into my savory food. To each their own though.

we arrived hoping to have a quick meal and asked the staff to recommend us dishes that would be able to be made quickly (give or take be done in an hour with dinner) — they recommended us two of their plates which were specials of the day — carnitas & the oxtail stew. and the al pastor taco. The bar tender actually said the stew takes 2 minutes!
lo & behold, 20 minutes go by and i am told that they are out of the stew. i was given a small bowl to taste & i wish they hadn’t. it was the dregs of what was left & there was much more fat than meat.
because they were out of my dish, i ordered another al pastor taco & guac with chips. this was after a good 5 – 10 min of trying to catch the bartender’s attn after giving up hope that the bartender would remember i had yet to order my meal. i ended up taking both of these to go.
the al pastor taco was delicious. meat was tender and it was just the right amt of pineapple. i also love that they make their own blue corn taco & chips. the guac on the other hand was a really small amount.
when the bill arrived, the stew was still on there though the bartender had comped the 2^nd al pastor taco. it was one of those pile-​up dinners.
all in all, there are a lot of mexican places in the area. this place has much better ambiance (read: date) than others around. given a choice, i’d still default to chavelas as being one very well oiled & delicious machine.

I stopped in at about 8:30 on Sunday night and ordered 3 tacos and a cemita to go. The place was fairly busy, but I ordered immediately, and the friendly hostess told me it would be 20 – 25 minutes.
I came back 20 minutes later, and unfortunately watched the place start to empty out as I waited another half an hour or so, and finally got my small order after about an hour wait.
But it still deserves 5 stars. Because the tacos are really as good as you’ve heard and read about from when they were being made at their original location in the Bronx. I tried a Bistec, Chorizo and Al Pastor Taco ($ 3 each), which are made on their incredible fresh housemade blue corn tortillas, and are possibly the best tacos in NYC. I also tried a Bistec Cemita ($ 12), which was similarly amazing. It’s a giant, perfectly assembled, beautiful sandwich, well worth the 12 bucks.
They are apparently still in soft open mode, with a more limited menu, and obvious kinks to work out in terms of being able to deliver food in a timely manner when they get busy, as I noticed them apologizing to several customers for the long wait times for food. Maybe wait a week or two, but definitely make sure you get here soon for some of the best Mexican food around.

When one enters a five star rating on Unilocal,the reminder text says «Woohoo! As good as it gets!». Which is cute and all, but was that brunch spot where the waitress comped your last two rounds of mimosas really as good as it gets?
Well El Atoradero is really as good as it gets.
No qualifiers either. This isn’t just «good for New York Mexican food» or «Good for American Mexican food,» this really is as good as it gets. Chef/​owner Denise «Lina» Chavez is as passionate about her food as a 16 year old girl is about gathering comments on her Instagram.
There are a lot of Mexican food places in Prospect/​Crown Heights. Mexican is in right now. I remember seeing a map somewhere that showed 11 places in the neighborhood. But when the wave dies down and some of the lesser places fall by the wayside, Atoradero will remain. If someone makes a better mouse trap (or in this case taco) the world will beat a path to your door. And Atoradero does, so get on that path beating!