El CoCo Mexican Grill

We had vegetarian burritos which were bland. Vegetarian food is often hit or miss but even trying to add any of the vast assortment of their in house salsas could not help the flavor void. The salsas had no flavor either, no spice, no kick. For 8.50 you’d expect at least the satisfaction of a fast food restaurant. Not here. Nice environment, friendly staff, boring food.

I came here for lunch today with my mom & we enjoyed it! I was attracted by the empanadas but ended up ordering a vegetarian taco and a side of rice and beans, all was good & I really liked the taco. The grilled veggies were well seasoned and it was tasty (some veggie options at other places can be bland so I was very happy!). Good prices too, my meal came to about $ 8 which I think is decent for New York City! We also had chips and pico de gallo which was good. The waitress was sweet and even let me charge my phone behind their counter. I would definitely come here again to try out the rest of the food!

We’d support them more if they ever answer the phone. On several separate days over the past months I can never get through

Generic food. Could have made it at home and it would have tasted better. Not worth your cash. The waiter was very nice but that doesn’t help the food unfortunately

I went there for the first time and the place was deserted. I ordered he whole chicken with rice and beans and watched the cooks heat the entire chicken in the microwave while they watched tv on their phones. They wore NO GLOVES and one of them even touched money!!! When I asked about the microwave, they said they’d have to do it that way or I’d have to wait 25 minutes for the chicken in the oven. I chose to take it home and heat it in the oven myself. Needless to say, I will not be going back. One star because the food tasted pretty decent after all of that.

I love Mexican food and always try to support a local business when I can. I went to El Coco for the second time and realized why I do not frequent this establishment.
— No issues with the service, I grabbed some takeout and the woman behind the counter was quite pleasant.
— A nice range of tacos, burritos etc. I ordered the «Slim Burrito» which sounded like a nice meal on paper but ended up being very bland.
— The first time I came they had a great selection of salsas, this does not exist anymore. All they gave me was some green salsa.
The place has potential but in my opinion needs to add some more flavor to their food or bring back the wall of salsa.

I will change this review if I get an apology.
Treated terribly by the woman at the counter here.
I live in Chelsea. I have for the last six years. The other day my husband, sister, and her husband and I all went out to try El Coco. When we arrived there were a bunch of drunk twenty somethings on the sidewalk encroaching on El Coco’s door. El Coco, furthermore, had piled up its tables and chairs. Despite the weird atmosphere outside (Il Bastardo was having one of its crazy day parties, of which we would never be a part – PS: we are in our late 30s, 40s and 50s)
I walked into El Coco anyway, moving aside a drunk girl, to ask whether we might sit down and eat. The Girl at El Coco manning the counter said, you would be able to, if you guys wouldn’t be taking up the whole sidewalk and blahahahah (couldn’t remember all of it, but all of it about us being the people making life difficult for the restaurant). Appalled, I said «I’m not with them! I Live int eh neighborhood and we came out to try your food. We like to support local places. The girl just smirked at me, smiled, no apology, clearly still thought I was with all the drunk 20-​year olds lying on their stoop, and said nastily «You can still get takeout.» I was so insulted I said no way. So much for supporting local, neighborhood restaurants.
Sorry El Coco, but that is a very, very bad policy. In trying to defend yourself from some bad customers (I don’t understand why they are bad but I guess perhaps they are drunk and maybe rowdy?) you turned off a real potential and local customer.
Apologies welcome. Otherwise, everyone steer clear unless you want to be treated by stereotypes and prejudice.
Best,
Leia

A quick bite on the go which I usually use them for; but found five charges from them on my credit card today when I have not been there for at least a week. Watch your card activity after eating there.

it was my first time ordering, and decided to try a new place since my go to taco place closed in the neighborhood. I loved their chicken empanadas, but the beef empanadas were not to my liking. The delivery was fast and pleasant, what a great first experience. I definitely will be ordering again !!

Ordered Chicken for Lunch on Wednesday. I waited at the counter for 10 minutes and was shocked it was taking so long. Turns out the cooked chicken was being «warmed up». They had the chicken in the microwave for 10 minutes. It was more a burnt carcus than a meal. Photo shows it all. It looks like a great joint for a frozen margarita some cheap beers, but stay away from the food.

I ordered the Baja Caesar Salad and the Chicken Empanada delicious!!! The salad was fresh and I love how the chicken was prepared. i think this will be my new spot… However the delivery guy did not have change and that gets on my nerves

Eh it was pretty subpar. Given my recent bad experiences with chipotle I’ve been trying to branch out, but this is not the place to do so apparently. But hey, I tried!

Empanada was delicious
Burrito was good
Service was bad
The restaurant needs another person who can help serving food, refilling water or taking orders.

Love the relaxed chill of this place– tacos tacos tacos!
They have a huge variety of sauces from mango-​habenero, chipolte, red, green, so many to choose from!
Very reasonably priced. Lots of locals and good food.

I ordered the chicken quesadilla to go. They were the best I have had in a long time. They came with a chipotle dipping sauce. super yummy
I have no complaints

Looked me in the face and locked the door at 9:52pm as I was reading the menu on the window. A guy who crossed the street ahead of me had just walked in and I could see him ordering at the counter. Seriously, if I had just J-​walked 7^th ave then I could’ve had some tacos tonight? Apparently these guys just pick arbitrary times to close and don’t need business.
Best part, I live down the street and this would’ve been my first time trying them! Screw this place, three guys inside stood around and saw me as I had to walk off hungry. I’ll starve before ever giving my money to this place.

DELIVERY BEWARE!
The food, when delivered fresh is great. Only problem is they’ve taken a few liberties with their delivery estimates lately which makes for an unpleasant experience. Nobody wants to call the restaurant to find out where their food is and be told ‘it should be there soon’. It ‘should’ have been here 20 minutes ago based on the delivery quote and when it arrives it’s beyond cold and there’s not much you can do about it outside of requesting a credit from Seamless. Beware if ordering later in the evening and I’d absolutely call (not that you should have to) on the early end of the delivery quote to make sure your food is out for delivery… I’m still waiting as I write this, now 25 minutes past the estimated time (and they aren’t answering their phone).

My friend and I came here for lunch today and LOVED IT! We love tacos and are happy we found a great place to fulfill our taco cravings that isn’t claiming to be Mexican yet run by Chinese people. The staff was so friendly and attentive and the prices are great so you can’t go wrong. I honestly couldn’t find anything wrong with this place so all those negative reviews below could just be from high-​maintenance people. Stuffy isn’t my style. Just saying…
No it’s not a fast-​food place, but it’s not really what you would think of when you hear «Mexican Restaurant» either. It’s a casual sit down restaurant. Place looks like a hole in the wall (a clean one!) and it’s a little tight but I don’t care because the food is great. Food wait time was a little long — could be quicker, but they’re still new and figuring things out so whatever. It sure does beat Taco Bandito AND Chipotle in the taste/​authenticity department. We got more food here for our money than you would ever dream of at Chipotle.
For $ 30 total we got 2 appetizer empanadas, 4 tacos, and 2 dessert empanadas. I’d say that’s a pretty darn good deal for NYC! They don’t have their liquor license yet but will start serving drinks next month. :)
Short rib taco = amazing
El Dorado taco = amazing
Pork empanada = amazing
Mama empanada = it was ok — not my fave, but not bad!
Cheese & Caramel empanada = amazing (FRESH CARAMEL)
Plus they have many fresh salsas to choose from with your order.
Not sure what my friend had but we’re definitely coming back next week to try some more off their menu!
**Outside they had a sign saying they now serve enchiladas with rice & beans which isn’t printed on their menus yet! Totally getting those next time.
Enjoy, and you’re welcome!

The best I can call this burrito is mediocre.
I ordered the grilled chicken East LA burrito, which really lacked flavor, aside from the salsa (which was tasty). I was expecting «grilled chicken» to have meant a chicken breast cooked on a grill that is cut into slices… instead it was shredded chicken served cold, and which I suspect was dished directly from a can onto the burrito wrapper.
The service is super-​nice, and the ambiance looked good (I got my food to-​go, but the small room would be fine for dining-​in). The side of chips included with the order was generous, as was the 2 sides of salsa.
If you’re stumbling home drunk and need some beer-​munchies to soak-​up the booze, this place will suffice. If you’re looking for anything beyond «drunk-​chow» or «eat so you don’t vomit later» food, then you will do much better at any of the other taco/​burrito-​places that abound in this area.

A nice work spot for a quick lunch or dinner. Great interior décor with nice paintings. Ordering take out is in the back and the service at the tables was prompt and nice. Affordable items throughout the menu.
Go to items i would say are the burritos. Quality ingredients which are super fresh. I ordered the 7^th Ave Burrito with ground beef. The tortilla is super soft crisped up enough and held perfectly together for the burrito’s interior. Nicely flavored ingredients of beans, cheese, lettuce, and came with sour cream and a nice orange freshly made hot sauce. I think it had hot orange peppers that were made in it. Definitely a sauce you can’t go wrong with on your burrito. Comes with a side of tortilla chips. A nicely portioned lunch meal at a great price.