El Kallejon

"Filled to the brim with framed art, skeleton toys, ruffled piñatas, and other knick-knacks, this East Harlem restaurant looks like the Mexico City mercado of your dreams, or a TikTok trap. But after a meal at El Kallejon, it’s clear that there was no social media strategy involved in its creation—just a few hoarder tendencies and a lot of love for the motherland. The tapas are just as colorful as the digs, with Japanese, French, and Mediterranean influences mixed into beautifully presented dishes like escargots in pasilla sauce and bubbling huitlacoche shiitake flatbreads. The owner, who occasionally dons a lucha libre mask, will pour you a very heavy mezcal while you wait for your lovingly prepared food." - sonal shah, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, will hartman, willa moore, bryan kim, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, sonal shah, will hartman, neha talreja, ne

"This Mexican restaurant in East Harlem is stuffed with huichol cats and rainbow piñatas, and it’s run by a chef who’s been known to wear a lucha libre mask while on duty. A cluttered homage to Mexico City, El Kallejon is always ready for a party, with a lineup of dishes that include escargot in pasilla sauce, tostadas topped with baby shark, and an incredible ceviche served in a martini glass. If it’s warm out, get a table on the plant-filled back patio and drink an excessively garnished tequila cocktail. " - bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang, sonal shah

"El Kallejon in East Harlem looks like the mercado of your dreams—Huichol cats, rainbow piñatas—but the food is more of an ode to Mexican cuisine, not a classic rendition. Japanese, French, and other international influences fly freely in signature dishes like escargots with a silky pasilla sauce, crispy brain flautas sprinkled with tobiko, and grilled shark tostadas with kalbi sauce. Great for a low-key celebratory meal, everything about this place reflects the passion and quirkiness of host/chef Nestor Leon, who brings your food and flower-garnished cocktails to your table himself." - willa moore, bryan kim, will hartman, neha talreja, carlo mantuano, sonal shah

"El Kallejon’s back patio in East Harlem looks like a cross between a flea market and beach shack, with colorful furniture, big umbrellas, and all the knick-knacks and art that they couldn’t fit inside. The Mexican cocktails and tapas are just as colorful as the digs, with international influences mixed into dishes like escargots in pasilla sauce and bubbling huitlacoche shiitake flatbreads. Remember this patio when you want to eat here any time between May to September. They don’t have AC, so it can get unbearably hot inside. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, nikko duren, molly fitzpatrick

"You won’t find anything resembling El Kallejon’s signature dishes elsewhere in the city—escargots in silky pasilla sauce, crispy beef brain flautas sprinkled with tobiko, or baby shark toasts with kalbi sauce. This Mexican restaurant has multinational influences, but their love for the motherland runs deep. Every inch of the subterranean space on East 117th Street is covered in Huichol cats, rainbow piñatas, mariachi instruments, and grinning sugar skulls. This is where you go for a special date night in the neighborhood, or a leisurely catch-up with mezcal-loving friends. If it’s warm outside, ask for a table on the back patio. " - neha talreja, sonal shah, hannah albertine