La Esquina Introduce
In the bustling metropolis of New York City, finding an authentic and welcoming spot to enjoy a meal can be a delightful discovery. La Esquina, located on the Upper East Side, is just such a place. Far more than a typical Mexican restaurant, it's a vibrant hub where the rich, bold flavors of Mexico come to life. The establishment functions as a full-service Mexican restaurant, a lively bar, and a go-to spot for some of the city's best tacos. Its atmosphere is a perfect blend of casual and cozy, making it a great place for everything from a quick lunch to a relaxed dinner with friends and family. The trendy yet comfortable setting draws a diverse crowd, from local residents and groups to tourists and families looking for a delicious and genuine dining experience.
La Esquina has earned a reputation for its commitment to high-quality, flavorful food. The menu is a comprehensive tour of Mexican cuisine, featuring a wide array of options that cater to various tastes and preferences, including numerous vegetarian options. Whether you're in the mood for a classic starter like freshly made guacamole and chips, a hearty burrito, or a selection of their signature tacos, the food is consistently prepared with care. The restaurant’s dedication to providing an authentic experience is evident in every dish. The culinary team focuses on bringing traditional flavors to the forefront, using fresh ingredients to create a memorable meal. From the spicy kick of a jalapeño-infused margarita to the comforting warmth of a quesadilla, La Esquina offers an experience that goes beyond mere dining—it's a celebration of Mexican food culture right here in New York. The lively bar scene also adds to the appeal, making it a popular choice for those looking to unwind with a crafted cocktail or a glass of wine.
Strategically located at 1402 2nd Ave in New York, NY 10021, La Esquina is easily accessible for anyone in the Upper East Side and surrounding neighborhoods. The location is convenient for both residents and visitors exploring the area. Its prominent spot on 2nd Avenue makes it easy to find, whether you're walking, taking public transportation, or driving. For those with mobility needs, La Esquina demonstrates a commitment to accessibility with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, and seating. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone can enjoy a meal comfortably. The restaurant’s large outdoor seating area is a major highlight, especially during warmer months. It provides a wonderful, airy setting to enjoy food and drinks while soaking in the vibrant city atmosphere. Customers often praise this feature, noting that it's perfect for sipping margaritas and sharing appetizers on a beautiful day.
The services offered at La Esquina are designed to provide maximum convenience and a great dining experience for all.
Services Offered:
- Dining: Offers both lunch and dinner service with comfortable table seating.
- Outdoor Seating: Provides an extensive outdoor dining area, perfect for enjoying a meal in the open air.
- Takeout & Delivery: Customers can order their favorite dishes to enjoy at home, with both takeout and delivery options available.
- Catering: La Esquina also offers catering services for events and parties, bringing their delicious food directly to you.
- Bar Service: A full-service bar is available on-site, serving a wide selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
A number of features and highlights contribute to La Esquina’s popularity and positive reputation.
Features / Highlights:
- Diverse Menu Offerings: A broad menu includes starters, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and more. It also features comfort food, quick bites, and small plates, accommodating various dining preferences.
- Impressive Drink Selection: Known for its bar, La Esquina offers a wide range of beverages, including signature margaritas, wine, beer, cocktails, and hard liquor. Non-alcoholic options like Mexican sodas and horchata are also available.
- Casual and Trendy Atmosphere: The restaurant’s ambiance is a key draw. It's welcoming, cozy, and trendy, making it a great spot for various occasions.
- Fast Service: Customers frequently mention the fast and courteous service, making it an ideal spot for a quick lunch or dinner, even on a tight schedule.
- Accessibility: The establishment is fully wheelchair accessible, from the entrance to the restrooms and seating areas, ensuring a comfortable experience for all.
- Family-Friendly Environment: La Esquina is good for kids and provides high chairs, making it a suitable choice for families. It is also LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space, fostering a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
Contact Information:
- Address: 1402 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021
- Phone: (646) 613-7100 or +1 646-613-7100
What is worth choosing from this restaurant? La Esquina is a fantastic choice for anyone in the New York City area seeking an authentic and enjoyable Mexican dining experience. The delicious food, extensive menu, and inviting atmosphere are the top reasons to visit. For first-timers, the tacos are a must-try. Options like the Bistec con Queso and Carnitas tacos are highly praised for their rich flavors. The burritos, such as the Brisket Burrito, are also a popular and satisfying choice. The beverage menu is another key highlight, especially the margaritas. Customers rave about the spicy jalapeño margarita and recommend ordering a pitcher to share with a group. The Coconut Flan for dessert is a perfect finish, with many saying it rivals the best they have ever tasted. The side dishes, particularly the Moros y Cristianos (rice with black beans) and Elote Callejero (street corn), are delicious additions to any meal.
While the lack of a modern waitlist system on busy nights is something to be aware of, the quality of the food and the overall experience more than make up for it. The combination of a cozy atmosphere, fast service, and a truly delicious menu makes La Esquina a standout in New York's dining scene. Whether you are looking for a quick bite, a full-course dinner, or a place to enjoy a casual drink with friends, La Esquina delivers on all fronts. Its wide appeal to different crowds—from solo diners to large groups and families—solidifies its position as a go-to spot in the city. The genuine taste of Mexico, paired with a lively and welcoming ambiance, makes every visit a memorable one.
La Esquina Menu
STARTERS & BOWLS
- GUACAMOLE $14.00
- CHIPS & SALSA $9.00
- SIDE OF SALSA $5.00
- CLASSIC BOWL $14.00
Lentil and Bean Salad, Roasted Squash, Oyster Mushrooms, Lettuce, Pickled Onion, Avocado, Rice
- ENSALADA DE LA CASA $12.00
- SOPA DE TORTILLA $12.00
BURRITOS & FLAUTAS
- BREAKFAST BURRITO $9.00
- BRISKET BURRITO $12.00
- FLAUTAS $10.00
TACOS
- BISTEC CON QUESO TACO $6.00
- BRISKET TACO $6.00
- CAMARONES TACO $6.00
- CARNITAS TACO $5.75
- COLIFLOR TACO $4.50
- PESCADO TACO $6.00
- SHIITAKE TACO $5.25
- TINGA DE POLLO TACO $5.50
- TACO SPECIAL $18.00
- FAMILY MEAL $48.00
QUESADILLAS
- BISTEC QUESADILLA $14.00
- BRISKET QUESADILLA $14.00
- CARNITAS QUESADILLA $13.00
- CHORIZO QUESADILLA $12.00
- QUESO QUESADILLA $9.00
- SHIITAKE QUESADILLA $12.00
- TINGA DE POLLO QUESADILLA $12.00
- QUESADILLA SPECIAL $19.00
TORTAS
- LA ESQUINA BURGER $19.00
- VEGGIE BURGER $18.00
MAINS/SIDES
- BISTEC $29.00
- ELOTE CALLEJERO $6.00
Grilled corn, queso cotija, mayonnaise & chili powder
- ESQUITES $7.00
- PLATANOS $7.00
Fried Plantains, Salsa Verde, Queso Fresco
- EJOTES $7.00
Grilled string beans, lime garlic dressing
- MOROS Y CRISTIANOS $6.00
Side of rice & black beans topped with, pico de gallo & queso fresco.
- SIDE RICE $5.00
- SIDE BEANS $5.00
- SIDE GUACAMOLE $9.00
- FRIES $7.00
- TORTILLA CHIPS $4.00
- SIDE AVOCADO $5.00
- TORTILLAS $4.00
COFFEE AND DESSERT
- TRES LECHES $10.00
- COCONUT FLAN $9.00
- MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE $7.00
- DRIP COFFEE $5.00
- TEA $5.00
MARGARITAS
- SEXICO $14.00
- SEXICO PITCHER $56.00
- MEZCAL SEXICO $14.00
- MEZCAL SEXICO PITCHER $56.00
- SPICY DAISY $16.00
- SPICY DAISY PITCHER $65.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA PASSION FRUIT $16.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA PASSIONFRUIT PITCHER $65.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA MANGO $16.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA MANGO PITCHER $65.00
- PEPINO DIABLO $16.00
- PEPINO DIABLO PITCHER $65.00
- LA PINA FUERTE $16.00
- LA PINA FUERTE PITCHER $60.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA BLOOD ORANGE $16.00
- EL MACIZO CON FRUTA BLOOD ORANGE PITCHER $65.00
WINES
- AH SO VIURA AND GARNACHA BLANCO (WHITE) $12.00
- AH SO, GARNACHA ROSE (ROSE) $12.00
- GOTHAM PROJECT, CABERNET SAUVIGNON $12.00
SODA AND WATER
- MEXICAN COKE $4.00
- JARRITOS $4.00
- COCA COLA $3.00
- DIET COKE $3.00
- GINGER ALE $3.00
- JAMAICA $8.00
- HORCHATA $8.00
- STILL WATER (SMALL) $4.00
- STILL WATER (LARGE) $8.00
- SPARKLING WATER (SMALL) $4.00
- SPARKLING WATER (LARGE) $8.00
- LEMONADE $8.00
- GINGER BEER $4.00
La Esquina Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
La Esquina Photos










La Esquina Location
La Esquina Reviews
margaritasguacamolebowldrinksfishmusictortilla soupelotefrozenwalk
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1My husband and I had a concert at the Bohemian Hall right around the street from the La Esquina. We only had an hour for a quick dinner and found the La Esquina. Wow we are pleasantly surprised with their cozy ambiance and great food. My husband had a beef brisket quesadillas special that came with moros y cristianos (rice w black beans) and I had two carnitas. They were so delicious we devoured them. I was planning to taste his rice side dish. But it was so delicious I finished it👍🏼. We had an enough time left to ordered and finished a delicious coconut flan. It reminded us a flan from PR.We will definitely come for a quick taco/quesadilla night here again👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
March 14 · Gina Lee-GlauserThis place always is a great stop! I love how much outdoor seating they have, especially on a nice summer day it's wonderful to sit outside and sip margaritas with some guac! I recommend the spicy jalapeño margarita for drinks, it does have a nice kick! Go with a pitcher if there are 4 of you or more, def worth it. I love their queso flameado, top it with mushrooms and it's a great combo - almost feels like you're eating a quesadilla :) Overall: Good guac, great steak and shrimp tacos, love the mushroom add on option to anything!Wish they had a better wait system, on busy nights it would be nice to leave my phone numbers / have an app to let us know when our table is ready. Right now it's all done via a list so you have to stand and wait.
August 14 · Sarah LoboWe’ve been coming to this neighborhood restaurant for years. It use to be one of our favorites. The food was authentic, well priced and plentiful.Ever since they renovated, the portions are half the size (and more expensive) and it’s just not as fresh. This has been the last few times we went. So disappointing . Last night the steak in the taco was like shoe leather- so tough and no flavor. Their sopa de tortilla (which was one of our faves) is now half the size with less chicken. Guacamole portion is so much smaller as well.The music was BLARING; and in a small place like that it’s just unnecessary. Turn it down so that your customers can enjoy and converse. We liked the choice of tunes; just not the volume. Service is always good as are the drinks.
May 18 · Lee VFood is good but a bit pricy for tacos. 2 tacos was 15 dollars. Horchata was watered down.
November 30 · S SCute informal Mexican joint.Good salads, tacos and traditional dishes at a reasonable price
April 23 · Andrés Berl
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