El Camion Cantina

We ordered two mezcals with a beer and a queso fundido with veggies and it was amazing, love the vibe, love the food and the service was amazing Mariana was the best waitress ✨💖

I’ve come here probably a dozen times since 2015. Always fantastic. The huevos diablos is one of the best brunch dishes in the city imho. And $7 cocktails is tough to beat!

Have lived in the East Village for a long while and eaten here more than 20 times. My favorite Chicken Mole $25 was dried out and hard to cut into, though the sauce was great. My friend’s Chicken Enchiladas $19 were literally strung out dried and served cold. Sent them back and the new ones weren’t much better. (And didn’t get anything taken off the bill for sending cold food back.. !) Such a disappointment. What happened to this place we used to like so much ?! The cooks don’t care anymore ? Just slap food on a plate. The only saving grace was the lovely waitress. Avoid this place. Go to Yuca on Ave A & 7th instead. The food is fresh. Tonight at El Camion it felt like we were served unloved leftovers.

Overall, the food felt overpriced and the portions weren’t very big as you can see from the chimichanga plate I ordered. The restaurant is small with tight spaces but it was clean and service was timely. For the price paid for food, portions should be bigger and have better flavors.

Yelp's platform connected me with my new favorite place. The mood lifts your spirits and the staff responds quickly. Be sure to try what made this place popular. The employees combine warmth with support. This spot deserves to remain open.

One of the few places that has dos equis on tap to go along with their great food! Their brunch menu is solid but dinner had a bit more selection. Had their diablos huevos which were awesome, spicy enough without drowning out the other flavors. Fish tacos are crispy and flakey and the skirt steak perfectly cooked. Drinks are well made as well. Lastly their home made hot sauce is fantastic! Perfect spice level with lots of flavor.

Went on a Friday evening with family. We got there just in time before it started getting crowded. We had a amazing time. Place has such a cozy vibe, and food was great. Will be going back!

This place was an absolute slam dunk! Amazing Spanish food for good prices and when I went the atmosphere was super laid back. Unbelievable service, got our food in probably less than 15 minutes and the staff was very nice. Highly recommend!

The food and atmosphere was amazing. My party and I got the grande margs and we were feeling it! We had Arianna as our server and she was the best! Loved the food, atmosphere and ambiance! I recommend as prices are reasonable as well!

Wasn't planning on coming here but plans changed and it all turned out fine. Was a group of 6. The tables were all squeezed in there so we couldn't really move our chairs or else we'd hit people around us. The staff was friendly, took our order quickly and food and drinks came out not long after. Their tamarind wings and fries were great, tasted liked a sweet bbq sauce. We didn't see our server again until thru took the plate away so we didn't get a chance to reorder drinks. Would come back if in the area again.

try the yucca fries! and the micheladas! servers and bartenders are always very welcoming and kind.

El Camion Cantina offers a satisfying brunch experience with a comfortable atmosphere. The menu has a nice mix of Mexican-inspired options and classic brunch fare, making it a good choice for a group with varied tastes. We came here after the local spots around were packed. The Steak and Eggs Dobladas was flavorful, with steak wrapped in soft tortillas and topped with a tangy green salsa, crema, and cheese. I would order another dish to try next time. The Camion Burger was well-cooked and came with melted Oaxaca cheese, adding a nice depth of flavor. The fries were crispy and seasoned well, but one small critique would be the lack of condiments served with the burger--some ketchup or a house sauce on the side would have been a nice touch. The Huevos Diablos had good heat from the chipotle hollandaise, and the eggs were poached nicely. The roasted potatoes were well-seasoned, and the small side of greens helped balance out the richness of the dish. I loved it! A side of corn muffin was a simple but enjoyable addition, and the coffee was strong and smooth. I loved the corn muffins the best. However, I don't think it's made fresh. It's so symmetrical. Service was friendly and efficient, and the overall vibe of the restaurant was relaxed. It's a good spot for a casual brunch, especially if you're in the mood for something with bold flavors. A few small tweaks--like offering condiments with the burger--would make the experience even better.

Consistently good casual spot for great tacos and margs. Usually a really fun crowd/vibe

The food is exactly what you would expect with Mexican cuisine. Nothing too crazy - everything was delicious and well portioned. All my friends liked their food as well & I would definitely come back here. I came on a Monday night and there were still people drinking and having fun. I would like to come again on a Thursday/Friday night! The service was amazing and they made sure we had everything we needed.

We arrived around 4pm on a Saturday afternoon. Our plan was let's get a drink and relax. We were seated immediately and menus distributed. We decided to order a regular guacamole and drinks. I had the large skinny margarita, the drink was perfectly balanced and had a nice kick. Everyone was happy with their drinks. The guacamole was served with a small bucket of chips. The chips were the right amount for the guacamole and salsa. The guacamole was really good, the right amount of tomatoes, cilantro and onions and lime it was well balanced. The chips were warm and the saltiness was perfect. Unfortunately the salsa was watery and lacked any sort of spice. I would come back to try a proper meal

The carnitas and fish tacos are decent! Bf orders the queso fundido with chips and Tortillas. My fav was the coconut margaritas. Food prices were fair. This is one of those places you stop into after you've been drinking and need something to help you sober up. Customer service was awesome.

Three things granted this one star: Took over 25 minutes to feed the only group of black people in the restaurant. The food was mediocre bland seasoned chicken and the food kept falling apart. Last but definitely should've been first, the cockroach I saw crawling off this lady jacket and on the floor into the kitchen. The waitress killed it right by the entrance to the kitchen.

Super cute little lunch spot! My colleagues and I ate here during a work trip, and we had a blast. The drinks were delicious. A bunch of us tried the spicy hibiscus - warning it really is spicy. But so so good. We got 3 different things of tacos - bc you only get one meat with your order, no mix and match! Someone got a buffalo chicken quesadilla and I ordered an enchilada. Everything turned out great! There was a slight confusion between cheese and melting cheese on top of the enchilada but the flavor was still great and the server definitely tried to make sure all was well. The prices were fair for the amount of food as well. Definitely recommend for a fun lunch!

Good food great drinks. Wish they stayed opened later. Nice staff wish they treated their loyal customers to some type,of rewards or happy hour.

On a quest for Mexican food in NYC, it leads you down many paths of disappointment. Yes you can find the best tacos, but finding sit down tex mex is hard to come by. That is until finally wandering into the Mexican place I had passed by so many times. This place is very very good. I got the chicken chilaquiles and the sauce was very good and the amount of meat they gave was very generous. Everyone I went with liked their food. The search is over!

Always wanted to try this place out . Highly disappointed. Ordered the Nachos . Literally one spoon of guacamole and pico and pickled jalapeños . No beans and the pico was not fresh . Al pastor tacos : decent flavor... wouldn't get it again Yuca fries - HORRIBLE taste like they purchased prepackaged one from the supermarket and just deep fried it . Chimichanga: asked for beef and I got pork . Flavor was ok. Drinks were good , servers were very nice . Ambiance was what I was expecting. But they definitely need to step it up with the food !

As someone from Texas living in NYC for over 6 years I have been looking for good Mexican food.This is some of the best Mexican food I have had! I have tried multiple Mexican restaurants throughout the city and all have sucked! Glad to have found this hidden gem!

I was not impressed with this place at all! I think the fact that they had a limited late night bar menu just after 10 pm made it underwhelming because it is small. The waitstaff let us know this is what they had available, which applies to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But we are already tired and settled in to try to make the best of it, so we did not leave to go and check out another spot. Unfortunately, I did not realize they had a C until I went to write this review and saw the grade in the health code rating. We shared two large chips and guacamole and the Little Fluatas- fried tacos with chicken. The guacamole was decent. The Mini Fluatas got soggy pretty fast. No bueno.

If I could eat one type of food everyday with no weight gain, it would be nachos! I. Love. Nachos. Their nachos were OK. I expected them to be more flavorful because the chicken looked like it had a good marinade on it, but they were rather bland. The margs were delicious though!

The food here is amazing and if you're a drinker, you will not be disappointed. The ambiance is a chill vibe with light music playing in the background. It definitely was a vibe! The service, however, is a few steps behind. We sat at the bar and from the minute we sat down, the bartender had some serious attitude. There was a couple next to us who also had a hard time with this bartender. Like she didn't want to be there at all. Then, we all start talking and are having a really good time. We started to laugh hysterically. It's one of those moments where you find something so ridiculously funny that you can't stop. That was us, here she comes, waving her arms telling us to keep it down because there are other customers in the restaurant. Who, the couple who was laughing with us? That really turned the entire vibe off. It's a shame, such a wonderful night turned bad because of one person.

Who would pay more than $30 for an entrée at an East Village hole in the wall? Zero atmosphere, sad decor, basic menu, no curb appeal, and genuinely terrible service. There are much better Mexican options in the neighborhood. A Mexican joint should be fun, and this place isn't.

Decided to pop in for a quick lunch. Cute but small seating area. Food and margaritas were good and the Latin music was a plus+++ nice vibes.

Really tasty tacos & delicious margaritas to quench the thirst. The carnitas tacos in particular were a favorite!

El Camion Cantina is a go to spot in the East Village for a reason! It's is all around great and all of my experiences here have been fantastic! The service is amazing and the pictures of the food and drinks speak for themselves! You have to come for their giant margaritas- perfect for any night out! This deserves a spot on anyone's list of best Mexican spots in the city, and I will be back so soon!

Came here after the event at Boris and Horton. We sat outdoors for the dogs. The waiter was friendly and took our orders. But there was another staff that was bald and he gave some nasty looks or attitude when we asked him. The guacamole was good. But everything else was not good. We were the only ones who sat outside when the bald staff gave a mean look to us. But then other customers came with their dogs outside and you can clearly see that man not being able to do anything in his head besides make faces. The other waiter who served us was more helpful and friendly and that's why the 2 star. Or else it would have been a 1 star. Everything was pretty bland. Nothing special about the food here. First time here and last time here. Expected more based on the good reviews from the food and the other staff.

COVID Report: As of mid-February, El Camion has both indoor and covered outdoor seating. Awesome Mexican spot. My boyfriend and I easily walked in on a weeknight and sat outside. I tried: + Frozen passionfruit margarita + Guava margarita + Cheese nachos + Al pastor tacos + Cod fish tacos The highlights were the nachos and the fish tacos. Definitely would recommend.

We love this East Village spot for it's good food and strong drinks. Service is fast, food is solid, and drinks are strong. We always find ourselves coming back!

Coming here based off the Yelp opening hours, I soon learned the long way the restaurant actually opens at 12PM instead of 11:30AM on a weekday. Despite that setback, the El Camion staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. I did come here to try their Huevos Diablos, but was kindly explained that was a part of a whole separate weekend brunch menu. Nonetheless, my friend and I scanned their QR code menu and settled on Guac & Chips ($7), Carne Asada Quesadilla ($14), and Al Pastor Tacos ($12). The Guac and Chips was a wonderful portion and came in a cute pail with some salsa as well. The guac was super fresh and I loved the spicy cilantro kick of the other sauce. The Carne Asada Quesadilla was my favorite. The tortilla was super thin compared to other places, but the steak was bomb. Bouncy, chewy, charred, and cheesy, this is definitely a must get. The Al Pastor was also good, although it wasn't as hot as I would have liked, but it was just as meaty and charred as the steak, and the spice was solid as well. I appreciated the hand sanitizer station right next to the bathroom. They also feature paying through their iPad, which made things super fast. Everything looked so good, I would 100% come back for their other amazing options and drinks.

Came by on a Saturday afternoon to take advantage of the outdoor seating under the shade. Not too many people outside, while the staff came by often despite the crowd indoors. Wanted to try something different, so settled on the Pork Shank ($20) and a Passion fruit Margarita ($15). The margarita is balanced and not syrupy. Pork shank is a massive chunk of meat smothered in thick gravy with a side of mashed potatoes. Parts of the shank were definitely tougher than others, but an overall good cook. The sauce paired nicely with the potatoes though it was a lot to fully finish. Took a little bit of time.to get the check, yet service is all in all solid. Be warned, some areas of the outdoor seating can get really sunny during the afternoon.

We came here once during COVID and it was originally a lackluster experience, but now they seem to have stepped up their game! Last time our portions were small and in disposable containers, but this time we definitely got our money's worth. For food we got the large chips and guacamole, it came in two little buckets which I thought were very cute. Plenty of chips and a huge portion of guac which was so tasty. I also got a mojito and it was absolutely delicious, I definitely recommend. For my main I got the steak nachos and they were SO GOOD. The steak was cooked perfect and everything was warm, fresh, and delicious. The portion was huge, my only suggestion is I wish there was more toppings, I had plenty of plain chips under all this! Either way, still super good. Overall, our server was very nice, albeit a little slow but it was Saturday night. We will definitely be coming back, the food is so worth it

The Yelp info is NOT accurate! El Camion opens at 12, not 11:30, on Fridays!! Upsetting that I had to wait 30 minutes for my food order. I ordered the cod tacos, it came with 3, and was very tasty! It tasted best with the spicy sauce and has a ton of flavor. The only thing is... after eating it, I got a stomach ache? It definitely wasn't due to any other foods and nothing about my eating habits changed. But it also could've been just me!

I came here after a show because as my profile implies, I love tacos and Mexican. It was pretty packed so I sat at the bar, but with all the windows it's a great people watching space. I ordered the combo chicken and shrimp fajitas, which came with black beans and Mexican rice, as well as the margarita over ice. The food maybe took about 10 minutes and came out piping hot. They initially give you 4 mini tortillas and you can order an additional four more for $1.00. The shrimp and chicken were well seasoned, and the veggies grilled to perfection without being raw or mushy. The tortillas stuck together a bit and I had a hole in one because of it, but I was able to use it to scoop the food. The beans and rice were flavorful, and you also get avocado, salsa, and crema to top your tacos with. Overall, the food was delicious and the vibe chill. I'll be back next time I crave tacos.

I wanted to like this place, but there's some hidden pricing and a lack of transparency that ultimately made my experience sour. I walked here last night in search for good frozen drinks and Google maps led me to this place. I ordered the Strawberry Banana drink in 24oz., which is $20 on the sign listed near their door. When I signed my credit card receipt, I saw the final total as $23.95. I didn't think much of it until I got back later, remembering that the pre-sales tax price was $20. I'm unsure what else was included in the total as the drink was ordered to-go and I couldn't dine outside in their space. Service fee? Automatic tips? I don't know. Even with NYC taxes, the final price should be $21.77 (at a rate of 8.875%). As for all restaurants and businesses, TRANSPARENCY in pricing is important! I do feel cheated and I hope that this review can motivate the restaurant to be more transparent and encourage other fellow diners to be careful about what they end up paying.

EL CAMION HAS THE BEST NACHOS IN THE CITY. Let me tell you why: every chip has cheese. I love nachos and consider them to be an important food group, so I am absolutely crushed when an establishment jips me on cheese and I'm just left with chips. BUT NO SIR NOT HERE!!! Every chip is gifted with toppings and cheese. I actually had toppings and cheese leftover after I ate all the chips, I mean can a nacho love ask for more? Side shout out to their mojito, 10 stars.

Came here yesterday for a quick bite to eat because my boyfriend and I wanted something light and we passed this place and decided to eat here. On the inside and outside it was very cute but immediately upon arriving, the staff was not very friendly and gave off the feeling that they did not want to talk to us past taking our order. My boyfriend got the fish tacos and I got the chicken burrito and for the price we paid it was NOT worth it. I wish I took pictures of how it came out, but I could have made better burritos/tacos at home. The tortillas tasted stale, food soggy and not good at all. Left very unsatisfied and with a stomach ache. Would not be coming back.

Terrible customer service and terribly managed. Ordered my food through them and they said that they never received it after I showed up. Also told me they did not even know when they would be able to refund me for my order for awhile because they are so unorganized and have no idea what's going on. The food also looked terrible. Do NOT eat here.

this place is so good! i loved their veggie tacos! queso fresco, zucchini, peppers, beans, and yellow squash. i also got chips and salsa. my tacos came with limes and green sauce but it a little spicy. couldn't eat too much of it but i liked it. i would order all of this again. i wanna try more stuff too. staff was friendly as well.

I went here with my husband on a Saturday night and it was a great experience overall. The service was good - our waitresses were kind, funny, and quick with the food. The food was good too. I got the vegetable chimichanga and it was so tasty. The rice and beans that came it with were good too. My husband got the shrimp tacos and yuca fries. The tacos were good, but y'all - the yuca fries were SOOOOO delicious! I don't know what they put in the yuca fries but my goodness, they were bomb dot com. We couldn't stop eating them. They were the star of the show. The ambiance was pretty cool too. It was a bit loud since it was a Saturday night, but not too loud where you had to scream to the person across the table. I hate noisy restaurants, but the volume here was tolerable. We had a great time and will likely be back again. Highly recommend!

Get their Grilled Chicken Tacos served with mole sauce and sweet fried plantains. Wasn't dry at all and the mole definitely elevates the tacos. You won't be sorry. Drinks were STRONG! If you're light weight, be careful. HAHA

We decided to try this after the place across the street gave us the snub and we were so glad we crossed the street! Everything was really fresh and full of flavors. Our server victor took great care of us and let us pick our own table outside. Nice quiet spot to enjoy some lunch even in the summer heat. Reasonably priced and great portions. Will be returning!

We came here before going to Otto's Shrunken Head around the corner for a punk rock show. There was plenty of seating on a Thursday around 6:30ish; and we chose to sit inside. They provided complimentary chips and salsa, which is always a great start.  For our drinks, we ordered the guava margarita on the rocks and it was delicious. However,  we thought it was going to come in a fishbowl, as we wanted to share it,  but it was just a large cup like something you would have a large iced coffee in which was pretty odd for us to be sharing a margarita like that, but it was good nonetheless. We also ordered the guacamole and chips for the table and honestly it was not worth it. For the price they charge  they could have given more than what looked like a side of guac for an order of tacos. Our meals were excellent through, we got shrimp tacos, pork tacos, and a vegetable quesadilla. Everything was exactly what I want when I want modern Mexican cuisine. Overall, we had a nice time here, and it met our needs for a quick dinner

Great food, good size portion, kind service! It was really quiet for an early dinner. Highly recommend

I wanted to like El Camion! Before I start this review, I do think I came during an off day and it was a series of unfortunate events that has led to this 3-star rating. I went with 3 friends to celebrate National Margarita day! I like that they give you a complimentary frozen margarita upon purchase of a brunch entree. I had the mango one which had real mango in it - it made it even more delicious. Our food orders is where everything went awry! I ordered the huevos diablos with avocado and so did 2 other people! Someone else ordered the steak and eggs, and they asked for no beans. My order came with avocado but with NO pork carnitas! Someone else got the steak and eggs WITH beans. Another person's huevos diablos came with eggs that were NOT poached, but hard-boiled/not runny. Another person asked for huevos diablos with fried eggs, and they received POACHED eggs! They tried their best to fix our order, but I was flummoxed at ruining every single person's order! Our waitress was nice, but there was a lot going on.

Best go to Mexican brunch spot in the lower east side! Drinks are not watered down and food is fresh cooked to perfection. I tried almost everything on their menu and I'll post the pics as I find them.

I personally had a very good experience here. The drinks were fantastic, I got the 20 oz drink and it definitely got me buzzin. The salmon tacos were very yummy. Service was pretty good. Definitely will eat here more often

We stopped by for drinks before heading to the airport, and the staff did not disappoint. The waiters were very friendly, accommodating, and quick w their service. The hibiscus margarita was very flavorful and had fresh hibiscus which was a plus. Although they did not have michelada mix, they followed our suggestion to a T and the drink was deliciously enjoyable. Churros were a bit too hard for my style, but still enjoyable. Will definitely be back when in town!

Overall, this is a good restaurant. The staff is friendly and their chimichanga is amazing. They definitely can have better chips and salsa and frozen margaritas. If you are in the area and are in the mood for Mexican, I would say this is a good option but definitely not my favorite.

The staff here are all good people, they make terrific margaritas and the food is also consistently delicious. As for the ambiance - there is always a great mix of people there, locals from the hood, people on dates, older couples, families, gay, straight....its a community.

Really was not impressed by this place. After reading other reviews, I was excited, but I was seriously let down after eating here. I ordered the regular margarita and it was good, but it was the food portions that were disappointing. I ordered the Al Pastor tacos and it definitely could have passed as an appetizer. Probably won't return.

Just okay! I came here for drinks on a Friday evening and was able to get seated outdoors immediately. Unfortunately they didn't have any happy hour specials (our waiter said they used to have a happy hour pre-Covid, but not anymore), so I ordered their house margarita on the rocks. Honestly, it was too sweet for me. El Camion also requires that you order a food item with your drinks, so we got guacamole and chips. The guacamole is super small compared to the bucket of chips they bring you, so not the best option for sharing. Overall, this spot isn't bad but it's not great either!

Cute spot in a trendy area with good service. We really enjoyed our food. I won't say they were the best tacos we've ever had (speaking for the al pastor and carnitas only, my other friend loves the carne asada tho!) but they were pretty good. Personally the al pastor had a few big chewy pieces that were inedible. I really hate chewy meat it freaks me the heck out. So that was a turn off. Other than that they were good. The queso was awesome. Authentic. I've only ever seen queso like this in San Diego CA so 5 stars all round for that. Quick service with attentive staff. I would come back for sure.

We came here because it was the closest food place still open near us. We sat at the bar because they were beginning to wipe down the tables. Bartender was friendly and we met a few friendly locals. I ordered the chicken caesar salad. Who ordered a caesar salad at a Mexican restaurant? Me. And guess what? That was one of the best chicken caesar salad I've ever had. The chicken was seasoned perfectly and was juicy. The salad was dressed with the right amount of caesar dressing. I enjoyed everything about that salad. With such great for and hospitality, I can see why this place is highly rated!