El Rio Grande

El Grande on East 38th Street in Midtown Manhattan is a vibrant spot for authentic Latin cuisine. The menu is diverse, featuring flavorful dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and their signature paella. The grilled octopus and churros are standout items, both delicious and well-presented. The staff are friendly and attentive, ensuring a welcoming and efficient dining experience. They are always ready to provide recommendations and accommodate special requests. The atmosphere is lively and festive, with colorful decor and warm lighting that reflect Latin American culture. The music adds to the vibrant ambiance, making it perfect for casual meals and celebrations. El Grande offers great value with reasonable prices, generous portions, and high-quality food and service. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this restaurant is sure to leave a lasting impression.

From the front, it looks like the building is shut and we had to walk round the side of the building to get in. The decor looked cheap and dated The service and the servers were great. The food was awful. I had the Quesadilla and it was cooked chicken with cheap cheese ... there was no Mexican flavour or actual flavour at all. I used the sour cream to add flavour and the tiny little bit of lettuce on the plate was just odd. My husband had chicken fajitas and he said the same ... absolutely no flavour, had tiny small plate with the extras to add on and had to make the wrap while holding it in his hand as no other plate was offered. The wraps themselves might have been homemade but they would have been nicer both bought ones. The fries tasted like they had been cooked in old oil. The beer and juice was the best part. This was the worst meal we had in the 7 days staying in NYC.

great place if you need a margarita! they are so strong. the service was very kind and attentive. the food was also very delicious and fresh. the mojito fries were so delicious topped with chimichurri sauce, i definitely recommend trying out! lots of seating indoors and some tables outdoors as well. great place to catch up with friends or for a post work outing.

Mex Tex at it's best. The great plus for this restaurant is it's location as part of a public space that's about 1 floor above the street level. This allows you to eat indoors or outdoors while feeling you are to some extent disconnected from the busy street and city below you. While still connected to the street level, kids can mostly run around if they need a movement break. The food was good, portions were nice, service was helpful and the prices were as expected.

Have our Christmas 🎄 party here, and we always have a great time. The bartenders are awesome, and the rest of the staff is top-notch. Not to mention the food is so good.

First time dining here. This restaurant has a decent ambiance and there's a great outdoor space to dine. The service was very good, food and drink was also very good. Music was playing at a level where you can have a conversation without shouting. Definitely will return here to try out other dishes.

Good Tex-Mex place around Murray Hill. Food, service and ambience is very good. Service was quick. They have parking nearby. The restrooms were clean though, they did not have a changing pad, so might be an issue for families with infants.

Great spot with a group! We had appetizers and drinks. A lot of margaritas and a lot of spiked hot chocolate. The spiked hot chocolate is fantastic, highly recommend! There is plenty of space for a big group and the terrace is nice and on a quiet street.

Met a few friends here for lunch so there was a group of 5. Drinks were good, didn't love that the sangria was premade and stored in Tupperware type bins, but I guess they need to do that because of the volume of drinks they make. Wife and I got the sampler and nachos. Both were good, too much to finish. Everyone enjoyed their meals as well. The staff were super friendly and attentive. We were the only table at the time so that could have been why, but regardless, service was great.

I came here with a bunch of my colleagues, and this has always been a local spot for us as it's near the office. We decided to come here after work hours to try out their happy hour, but they only serve it at the bar. However, the bar was too small to have us hang out, and there's limited seating, so we all decided to go outside. There's no happy hour outside, and the service wasn't that great. The server was nice, though. The rules for the happy hour deal didn't make any sense. If you sit outside, you have to order food. There's a taco special on Tuesdays where it is $6 for one taco. The tacos lacked flavor. I was not impressed, especially after eating los tacos. $6 is kinda pricey when the tacos at surrounding areas are less. The prices weren't worth what they were offering. The only thing I can say is that their guacamole was pretty good. Overall, there are other places to dine at in the vicinity where they have better food and service.

Came here for an early dinner and sat outside. It''s a nice atmosphere, staff is very friendly: however, service is extremely slow. Food was ok, the guacamole needed more seasoning, salt and lime.

Margaritas...Margaritas.. Margaritas... sure get your money's worth with these strong drinks --- one or two is all you need for a golden night. Always a fun, festive time, used to be a work happy hour or birthday joint but as we moved more and more remote slowly died down. I enjoy their quesadillas. Formed some incredible memories over the years and definitely plan on coming back for more good times when I am able to make it to that area!

Came here for happy hour on a thursday & was disappointed to find out they don't have happy hour on thursdays lol. We ordered two margaritas & chips & guac to share. They let you mix flavors for the margaritas which is fun , & they make them pretty strong. I ordered the blueberry margarita -- 4/10 Not the best Chips & Guac -- 1/10 For some reason it tasted like they put almond extract in it.. Was definitely not fresh, the onions were gross & unavoidable. I hated the guac, but the chips were warm & crunchy. The service was decent enough & I like that the patio was open as it was a beautiful day out.

I came here for the first time last week for a happy hour after work. I didn't try any of the food other than the chips and guac, but the margaritas were crazyyy! I have no idea what they put in them, but they were super strong. Plus, if you come during their happy hour (I think it ends at 7), margaritas are only $10. So you will definitely get your moneys worth lol. My only complaint would be that they refused to seat us at a table, even though there was no one in the restaurant section. It was a bit annoying to stand around the bar because there was a big group of us, but it is what it is. Average service, but I'd still come back for the margaritas.

5 star for sure excellent customer service Bernita..was very special sweet Is a great big asset for Fort Worth on Berry made my day..Excellent Service 5 star

I just had my son's thirtieth birthday party here this past Saturday and the restaurant exceeded my highest expectations. Planning the event was seamless, thanks to Bridgeen, who was super on top of it every step of the way. Her attention to detail is second to none. The margaritas are, as always, amazing! Everyone loved all of the food and the service was on point. Saul was always there checking on us and took great care of us. I can't say enough things about the wonderful time we had. This place is one of my favorites! Fun fact, I also had my thirtieth birthday here. Everything is still as wonderful as it always was. Don't miss this place.

Amazing! We had visited el rio grande for a birthday brunch recently and had been shocked by great it all was. Was great for a birthday reservation as they were able to fit 40 of us and still leave room for those who wanted to come in and dine. We started out with guac, dips and chips family style as well as our own entrees and family style desserts. I believe drinks were unlimited (slightly dangerous). For my main, I ordered the chicken enchiladas which were absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend trying this place out - would be great even during their happy hour!

01/05/23: Rio for our team holiday dinner. I normal come in the summer time for their frozen Margarita. Decor cozy with a touch of elegance. Tables are nicely placed as a result you don't have a cramped feeling as if you're on top of other patrons. Pitchers of margarita ordered. Jalapeño Smoking pineapple Bleeding Heart $16.95 I ordered Spicy Garlic Gulf Shrimp with green tomatillo pesto sauce tops with chipotle aioli, served with corn tortillas. Although it was delicious not a s Schmidt of spiciness. Other team members enjoyed that they ordered. Churros our group desert choice. Nothing extraordinary. They were light and fluffy went well with the chocolate syrup. All in all great time had by all.

I had a great time eating here with my family last week. The service was very friendly and attentive. The steak nachos were amazing! Each nacho was carefully constructed with the same amount of toppings. The steak portion was very generous. It was like a full steak tip on top of each chip. I will definitely return, and I will probably try the chicken nachos next time.

Love the drinks, but not a fan of the food. If you know me, you already know that I love a good margarita and this place doesn't disappoint. The frozen margaritas come in a variety of flavors and they're all good. After 2, you'll have to pace yourself because they're strong. The food to me lacks love. Unless it's a fried appetizer, there's nothing special about it. Definitely come for the drinks, and stick to the apps and quesadillas.

Came here on Taco Tuesday for $6 tacos. I got one of each meat (chicken, pork, shrimp, steak), and each had different toppings but weren't that different from each other. I feel I could have used some extra sauce or salsa on the side. I also ordered a spicy mule, I liked the kick from the jalapeño. It was pretty busy, but service was attentive, checking back not too frequently. Overall 4 stars, as the food wasn't too spectacular.

I was wondering why this place consistently had mediocre reviews. First the food was ok and the margaritas were ok as well. Portions were good. If you r hungry this is the place for you. We ordered extra food on purpose bc we love left overs!! We were ready to pay and asked that left over be packaged. Not sure what the confusion was but the server returned with another server and confirmed that in fact we wanted the left overs. We had four containers of food!!! Then we got the bill. Paid in cash and we waited and waited for the change. Nope never returned. They kept the 35 % as tip I guess. We finally just left. Who has time to waste like this? Sad to report strange experience all around.

The restaurants ambience is basic . The food looks amazing but no flavor . We order a small nachos and they gave use 5 nachos in a circle . The service was good .

Fun solid Tex-Amex brunch - love the breakfast burrito and that's usually my go to but got the huevos rancheros this time. They also come w bacon, chorizo and fries or home fries. Not bad for $17! Hear the margaritas are good too!

All I can say food is excellent as is service. Price is right. Last night I shared the cheese nachos and shrimp fajitas and chips and salsa. We each had a margarita. The cheese nachos are not served like chicken nachos, steak nachos, etc as individual cup like nachos. Nonetheless delicious. Will be back.

Honestly, El Rio Grande is the lace to go with friends or coworkers for drinks. I gave it 4 stars due to the fact the the atmosphere, drinks and staff are great but overall good not really impressed by. Th wonky good food item I've ever had was their nachos. There was amazing but other than that their food options are memorable or flavorful. Overall come for a few good drinks and appetizers to munch on!

Who would have thought finding a Mexican place to order from that has both a fajita and burrito option would be such a challenge but luckily El Rio Grande offered both. On a positive note, I appreciate the large portion size and delivery came rather quickly but wish my steak burrito had more than just steak, black beans and thick pieces of vegetables in it. Luckily I had sour cream in our apt I used. The guacamole and chips we ordered along with our dishes were pretty good I must say.

I was pleasantly surprised. It's in a weird location, but once I found it, I hit gold. The place was fairly empty expect for a few at the bar. I quickly realized that I was the only bar customer who wasn't a regular. The bartender made sure to make me feel comfortable and included. The margaritas were great, not as strong as some of the reviews suggest. The black bean soup was excellent and the nachos regretfully came out with pinto beans( yuck) instead of black beans. The place is pricey for my taste, but that's what happy hours were made for. If in the neighborhood again, I can't wait to visit.

I go here often for two main reasons, the margaritas and the staff. I do not know what they put in their margaritas (on the rocks and frozen) but they are by far the strongest/ best in NYC, period! The staff could not be more friendly and accommodating. Everyone goes out of their way to say hi and be helpful. They truly make you feel welcomed. This restaurant is so chill and so relaxing. Great place to enjoy great food at a great price around really great people. I highly recommend.

Hey, if it's the middle of a workday and your life is in shambles and you want to get hammered, this is the place! The Food is Average. The Ambiance is exactly what you would expect on the ground floor of an office building in Murray Hill; Average. Even the Service is Average... But the Drinks, my lord they're strong. (Hence the 4-Stars)

There are 3 pillars to a good Mexican restaurant - delicious drinks with a punch, perfectly crunchy chips, and a lively atmosphere. This place hits it all, every time. I've been coming here for years and this place is a staple for my family. Always delicious food, great service, and STRONG frozen margaritas. They also have a younger happy hour crowd, so great for family dinner or a pre-game to a night out. You won't regret coming here!

This place is amazing to come for tex-mex! One of the best places in the city for tex mex. I ordered the nachos and enchiladas and the portions are huge. Also very convenient for vegetarians as there are several options. The servers are super nice and service is quick. I love to come here whenever I'm in midtown.

Nice outdoor and indoor dinning space. Good friendly service. Food is great. Drinks are refreshing.

Came here last weekend and it did not disappoint! The outdoor seating is so cute and great for people watching. We ordered the guac and queso as our apps. Interestingly, our waiter brought the queso and used it as a spread in a tortilla and made little wraps which was not what we expected. We expected a dip but it was still good. The chimichanga was amazing! It was so flavorful and filling. I ate half and ate the rest later. My only complaint is the drinks. We ordered margaritas and it wasn't the best tequila but we probably should have expected that.

This is a spacious restaurant that wraps around an apartment complex in Murray hill. There's a lot of outdoor and indoor seating and can accommodate large groups. I've heard the margaritas here are pretty good and will have to try those for another visit. The cheese chorizo dish here was done very well, excellent flavors and ratio of meat to cheese.

Good food, nice, often busy vibe but fun overall. Nice with friends or family. Large seating but divided into many indoor outdoor areas that feel somewhat cozy. Drinks ok. Love chips & dip while you await your food--good quick service. Veg fajita are excellent.

Amazing passion fruit margaritas. I had 3 pitchers there last night. Lol. The pitchers are a bit pricy- $60 but they are good. The food on the other hand, was g our favorite. But with all that alcohol we needed something. They need to fix those Al Pastor tacos, these just weren't "it" they lacked seasoning.. Will be back soon! Especially for those drinks Sugeidy

Fun spot for a bday party! They do unlimited margs which includes family style apps and entree and dessert, comes out to around $100 per person. Food was really good, drinks were nice and strong, our group had a really fun time! The food was also something I'd come back for alone if I'm in the mood for some good Tex Mex style!

Granted the last time I was here was before Covid however it was a blast. An old college friend took us and the bar was lit! Too a minute to get drinks but the vibes was good. Especially for cheap margs. Then they took us through the kitchen to the other side of the restaurant, hence the name El Rio Grande! We're heading back to NY and can't wait to take my wife and our friends there this time!

The restaurant was almost empty yet it was hard to get our waiter to come to our table. Then, I ordered a salad with medium rare steak and twice it came out well done. The third time it came out almost raw. By then , I gave up trying to get what I wanted. Very frustrating experience.

Very average Mexican restaurant Food is mediocre, service friendly but slow The only good thing is the terrace, in nice weather

Overall, if you're looking for a place to get some margaritas and over priced guacamole, you can come here but I wouldn't recommend it for anything else. Overall, I think it's mediocre. I gave it 4 chances and it was 3 too many. If you're looking for good Mexican in the same area, I would recommend SINIGUAL.

Very blah - I guess it's Mexican adjacent. Good drinks but the food is just average.

I love this place!!! The ambiance is great, the food is sooo delicious, and the margaritas will make you have a good time. I've been coming to this place for years and they never disappoint. This time, I made it a goal to try as many things on the menu as possible, and every single one was a hit. First I got the queso nachos with black beans which was delicious. Then the tostada with steak which is a great appetizer if you like something crunchy. Then for my main I got the combo enchiladas with a side of Mexican street corn. Both were amazing choices, and although I was getting full at this point, I could already tell the enchiladas were gonna make great leftovers. Then as a special treat, our server was kind enough to write happy anniversary (even though they typically don't do that) on the churros which was incredible.

Came here for a casual Thursday night drinks on a rainy day and boy did the night turn out to be more lit than expected. My company was running late so I started with a skinny margarita with reposado. The bar tender had a shot left in the bottle so I got an extra shot. I should have stopped there, but I got another one and things just became festive. The margaritas are strong in general and the chips and salsa are delicious! I wouldn't suggest this place to be a first date moment, but a drink with someone on a weekday or happy hour would be great! There are apparently two bars so make sure you communicate with whomever you are with which one you are at.

We had the opportunity to visit El Rio Grand this past weekend for dinner. The restaurant is quite nice, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The wait staff was ver pleasant and attentive, and we started with some margaritas and white sangria, along with the fresh made guacamole which was quite good and fresh with a nice lime fragrance. It's served in a large carved lava stone which makes a great presentation. My wife and I both had the combo enchiladas, with one each of a cheese, grilled chicken and grilled steak. Each had their own amazing sauce topping and a fair amount of melted cheese. All three were quite tasty and very fresh. My daughter had the grilled steak Quesadilla, which was a nice large portion, and the steak was well prepared. We finished with an order of churros, which may have been the real star of the night, served with both a warm chocolate sauce and two scoops of ice cream. A nice lively place in the heart of Murray Hill, and we will be back.

This place has a huge outdoor dining set up! Easily sat 8+ people on a Saturday night -- with no reservation. Food was good. BUT wow those margaritas are STRONG. Be smart

You gotta see Anna, she is the best bartender ever and has a great taste. The blood orange margarita she makes is top tier. Well balance as it is a sweet but not sicken sweet. I will definitely be back for drinks and maybe I will try the food as well.

Such an awesome place to grab food and drinks especially in the summer. They have a huge deck that is elevated so makes it private yet still get to take in the views and outdoors. One of my favorite places to grab drinks.

The outdoor patio was set off the street making for a more pleasant dining experience. Lively vibe on a Thursday night. Shared the guacamole, chicken fajitas and salmon with mango salsa. Thoroughly enjoyed a margarita special made with watermelon and lime juice (quite strong). The waitstaff was nice, but seemed confused about what meal needed to go to what table. Seemed like a very popular neighborhood place.

Good place for an after work happy hour with some margaritas and chips and salsa. I tried a strawberry and a watermelon margarita, both were strong, refreshing and good. I also had the quesadilla but I did not like it. It had a bit of a cardboard taste and texture. My friends did like their dishes (chicken nachos and shrimp tacos).

Place is hyped up, but I have quite a few complaints. Decent, fun atmosphere and 2 separate entrances (bar/hangout section vs. sit-down dining room) and friendly waitstaff BUT: 1. Nachos were stale. Have to say though, the guacamole made fresh at the table was phenomenal with a slight kick. Stone bowl was way too heavy to pass around. 2. Margaritas...very big. Guava flavor was pretty yummy and not overly sweet BUT the traditional flavor tasted like nail polish. Word on the street, they got busted for spiking with Everclear back in the day...no bueno. 3. Pork belly tacos...the most nauseating thing I have ever eaten. Barely cooked and extremely fatty chunks. Basically blubber nugget tacos, nothing to chew. I was so turned off I didn't eat most of my meal. I have had pork belly cooked well before where I was not gagging. Overpriced Mexican food in the city. Would not return. However, my friends all enjoyed their meals (quesadillas), so I would play it safe if you venture here.

This place used to be great, it was a great place to hang out and have a couple of margaritas and snacks outdoors off of street level. Unfortunately they have gone down hill! Don't go between lunch & dinner because table service does not exist. After standing and waiting in an empty restaurant for a few minutes, the hostess finally seated me outside, where I seemed to have been forgotten about. I finally went in to ask for service. The hostess took my order. My drink came about 5 minutes later and the food shortly after that. I had to get someone's attention for a second drink. When I was done....plates had been cleared, but no one returned. I had to get up and ask if I could pay.....the hostess came over to say she'd handle it. Gee thanks for letting me pay. Maybe get some servers for the in between times. I really used to love Rio Grande. Always looked forward to going there. However, I will not be back. The margaritas are not nearly as good as they had been either. It's a shame to see neighborhood places go down hill

Stopped in for Happy Hour at Rio! Almost like the good ol days. This used to be a Friday favorite of mine back when my husband used to live nearby. It's our favorite frozen margarita in the city and is usually a nice spot to hang out at the bar or grab dinner. We went yesterday and sat outside (due to COVID). There were a few people eating inside too, well more than 6 feet away which was also great to see. They specifically had someone to make sure there was no more than one person in the bathroom at a time too which I really loved. They're taking it very seriously here and all rules are definitely being enforced. We ordered some appetizers and a classic lime frozen margarita (it was a bit cold outside but hey, whatever). The appetizers tasted great! I have low expectations usually when it comes to happy hour food but these were just as good as anything you'd pay double for. Beautiful presentation on each of the dishes. They were fried but were still light and not overly greasing which was great. After the frozen we ended up switching to on the rocks and I got the strawberry and my husband got mango. Let me tell you, these drinks are super strong. You really don't need anymore than 1-2 before you're really feeling it. The service was great, even with a full restaurant our waiter was super attentive and nice. Overall great way to end our Saturday.

I came here for happy hour. The margaritas are $10 for HH but $14 for flavor. $4 for flavor is kind of crazy. The blood orange flavor barely had a taste. I ordered the Tacos Al Pastor and they tasted like nothing. Have you ever ate something that tasted like nothing? Lol. The pork was greasy but not seasoned and the guac had no flavor. I used to come here years ago and I don't remember it being like this.

Way too expensive for what you get. The rice was beyond bland. I felt like I was eating regular rice with food coloring. The steak tacos were very tender and flavored well but a lot of lettuce and not that much meat. $20 for 3 tacos, rice and beans is a little extreme. The beans were very soupy and also bland. Margarita was good but couldn't really taste the alcohol for $14 each. My friends like their dishes but said the portion size wasn't worth the price. I understand NY prices but they don't even serve salsa and chips. We were hungry after.

This was a nice spot. Absolutely loved the outdoor dining experience that was offered. Staff were very friendly and attentive with the service. The food was good too and we liked the ample options as well as the free chip refills. The Mexican Cobb salad was excellent and the guacamole was very fresh-tasting. A nice selection of margaritas too. Would love to revisit in the future!