"When Barrio Chino first opened, it was one of the key cool spots on the Lower East Side - with lots of people talking about how it was the city’s best Mexican food. So naturally, no one could get in without waiting hours for a table. Nowadays, the food is still excellent (get the enchiladas verdes), and while you’ll probably encounter a wait, it won’t be a plan-ruining one. The space is tiny and loud, but it’s a fun place for a small group dinner (or a later-in-the-game date when you don’t really need to hear each other talk anyway)." - bryan kim, hillary reinsberg