St. James

I recently placed an order over the phone and specifically requested no queso en polvo on top of my quesadillas. Unfortunately, when I arrived home I noticed they got it wrong and added it anyway. After contacting them to address the mistake, they asked me to come in for a replacement order. However, upon receiving the new order, I was disappointed to find that it was the same quesadillas (now cold), only with more lettuce on top to cover the cheese they had added. When I called again to express my dissatisfaction, the person on the phone seemed indifferent and unhelpful. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with both the mistake in my order and the lack of care from the staff when addressing the issue.

IYKYK! If you’re from Queens you know ST. JAMES & Taco Deli Spot for those that don’t. ST JAMES is known as a deli spot that cooks Mexican food but more than anything their CHICKEN QUESADILLAS are ICONIC with the green sauce. $4/ each & you really can’t go wrong. Sometimes it is EXTREMELY BUSY so calling ahead can be a time saver. Or their sister spot is Taco deli spot which is a couple blocks down as well!

Bought the steak tacos are they were awful. Ive gone to many different taco spots, born and raised in queens. they have them better at any truck around the neighborhood. carne asada should not be the texture of beef jerky… i asked the girl at the front as i was paying if she put some lime in the container for the tacos (standard), she said yes and there was no lime. i wont be returning.

SO GOOD!!! Got the carnitas quesadilla, whatever sauce they use… I could eat it with a spoon. Highly recommend!

Honestly don’t let the appearance of the deli fool you. The tacos are amazing!!! They call the crunchy tacos “quesadillas” so don’t get confused. I suggest you order in person better too. I called and the guy who answered couldn’t understand me and hung up. But really it was so good!

the most value for money and super tasty quesadillas tacos in astoria. don’t forget to taste al pastor , spicy pork and beef tongue, they came with really good salsas on the side (ask for some extra green salsa). some nights the kitchen is really busy so be patient.

Only BAD think is they don’t have delivery! They used to deliver but stopped like 2 years ago and that is a reason for not being so regular like before! Come on Willy hire some drivers, make more money and make more customers happy! Quesadillas de pollo empanizado with extra crema are BOMB

Chicken Quesadillas are amazing and the green sauce is incredible! Definitely a must try if you’re in the area. This place is a hidden gem looks like a regular bodega but the Quesadillas are unmatched.

An awesome, inexpensive meal, a neighborhood gem. Food - An awesome lunch for a great price, the quesadillas with green sauce are sublime. Service - Basic but serves the purpose. Ambiance - It could use some updates, but seems clean, it feels authentic.

Have heard about their tacos from people in the neighborhood & recent social media attention. I finally went to try them (even though I already have my favorite taquerias in the neighborhood). Wish I had a better review, this business is very much one of those NYC hidden gems. But sad to say that I was really disappointed in the food, and even went back for a second time to compare. Both times I got the quesadillas ($12 crispy tacos with cheese). The first time I called in and picked it up in 20min. The crispy shells were just OK, they're a little thick and got hard and chewy. The Oaxacan cheese was a big hard blob at the bottom. I warmed them up in my toaster oven and that still didn't do much. The cheese doesn't melt much, I was expecting a combination of light crispy cheese pulls. Figured that it was an off night and since I ordered around 9 PM, the cooks might've been tired. Went back recently, closer to dinner time on a Friday and ordered at the counter so I can get the food and ready to eat. There isn't a comfortable place outside the store to set my container on and eat, or any nearby stoops. I walked back towards my apartment and saw a bench in front of a store and decided to eat one right away for top quality! The shells were a bit more delicately made and less like leather, but overall the taco was (weirdly) lukewarm and cheese was not warm/cooked. I got one steak, one chorizo, and asked to just have one regular steak taco. Not sure if they used cecina (salted beef) instead of regular steak, but the meat was barely seasoned and too well done. The crumbled chorizo was very flavorful and filled the taco to the brim, a bit oily. I enjoyed this the most, but I don't think the crispy taco or cheese made too much of a difference. The first time I went, I think I got beef, chicken, and al Pastor. The Al Pastor was good also. The rest of the meats didn't have much seasoning and weren't cooked very thoughtfully. The sauces are great though! Especially the light green creamy one. The red one is a smokey hot sauce. Ask for all the sauces! Maybe this is why there's not as much attention to the meat? They weren't too busy for my walk-in, with a light steady stream of both walk-in and phone orders. My wait was about 10 minutes. The staff was super nice, a lot of younger workers; not sure if they're family members of the owner. They seem to know a lot of their regulars and it's a nice neighborly atmosphere. I've also read that the original owner opened up a similar deli and Taqueria a few blocks away. Maybe these good reviews were for the old owner? Sadly, I probably won't be back for either regular taco or the crispy taco quesadillas. If you order, stick to Al pastor or chorizo.

Green sauce, green sauce, greeeeeeeeeen sauce. This is my favorite taco spot in Astoria, and there are certainly many to choose from. This place is unassuming, it looks like a regular bodega from the outside, but for those in the know, you can find some fantastic Mexican food. I am partial to the al pastor and chicken tacos, but I also loved the chicken burrito. The people are so nice inside, though there isn't really a place to sit and if you order in store you'll have to stand around a while to wait. (It's being made fresh!) But, this place was good enough for my pregnant tush to stand around and wait for my meal, and that was no easy feat.

Best chicken quesadillas -- green sauce is incredible. Food is so fresh and chicken is so good.

This is hands down the best taco spot in queens. I love this place and everyone I have introduced to this spot has also loved this place. The crispy taco shell isn't usually my fave at other taco spots but this place makes it different! Soo fresh and crispy! The green and red sauce is delicious. It's a hole in the wall taco spot with pretty good service. You just order at the window now post-covid.

I had a coworker recommend this place. Told me they were the "best tacos" he's had. He lives in Jersey and said when he comes to the city it's a must soooo I tried it. I was pretty disappointed. I got two chicken quesadillas to play it safe, and everything I had just tasted old. Almost like the chicken has just been sitting out all day, dry. The reviews also speak highly about this place so maybe I just came on a bad day? I'd be willing to go back, it would be clutch to have a place like this available. Pros: Massive menu Cost effective Friendly staff Cons: No dining - carry out only Not fresh Dry

I heard that this place has the best tacos in town so I had to go try them! The store inside was a regular nyc corner deli, had menus inside and some special menu by the register. I got carnitas and pollo and spicy pork tacos and then a tamale. The pork tacos were VERY good, and I loved how they gave us all the sauces on the side so I could try them all out. Chicken taco was okay. It was just chicken on taco. And mole tamale was exactly what I wanted and I don't know but it felt authentic. For such an inexpensive pricing and authenticity, I was very happy with the visit. I would definitely visit again to get more pork tacos and tamale and maybe other things too!

Great Mexican food, by a wonderful team of women oftentimes. Customizable menu items, pretty fresh. Empanada was slightly off in taste, as if the fryer needed fresh oil. Beans are not vegetarian. Great service, answered all questions and kind.

Ordered: 3 Quesadillas (chicken, beef, and spicy chicken) (~$12): with onions, cilantro, lettuce, powdered cheese Postobon (~$2): apple soda Aya's take: So many people rave about this place and as an Astoria native, I had to finally give it a try. This is your typical bodega but with a full Mexican menu! Friendly staff and overall quick service (I probably waited no more than 10 mins). The Quesadillas were crispy and bursting with flavor. I absolutely loved the salsas, especially the white one; it looks like an avocado crema sauce. An absolute must! It took the whole meal to the next level. Well-priced and filling. Highly recommend!

I tried the breaded chicken (milanesa) quesadilla like everyone raved about, and it was indeed good. You can buy one for $4, and I got 2, which was a good amount for me. The quesadilla is really different from most that you've eaten - almost like a hard taco shell, but fried instead. It comes with 2 packets of green sauce, which I supplemented with my own hot sauce. As an aside, this place is on restaurant.com, but when I tried to use the giftcard, they had no idea why their eatery was on the site.

It's all about that green sauce (insert drool). Even if you don't live around the way you are surely going to meet someone at 3AM from NJ whose traveled to the Avenue to get there taco--correction quesadilla on (fun fact: the taco you want to order is actually called a quesadilla and you want to order it with everything on it (everything is basically shredded lettuce, cojita cheese, radish which they will place on the side with small lemon wedges and side of green sauce which is heaven in a tiny plastic container--I personally order a side to take home and use it on so many things). Please remember that this is not a restaurant it's a corner store so don't think it's a fancy place but the service is great for so while they make your quesadilla be sure to pick up a carton or milk, some paper towels and whatever else you need. They also have some other great food and snack options around the store and right on the counter.

This place makes amazing tacos!! Like omg whe you really want that comfort food feeling def go to this place! The absolute freshest and tastiest Mexican grub! Every single time i go it seems to get more amazing. So affordable for the superior product compared to the competition and the staff are the most amazing people. Best local taco and burrito place around. All fresh ingredients made to order. You can immediately taste the quality difference over all the chains around. Always a good experience when I go here. Delicious food!

Has been my taco spot for yearssss. Best tacos ever hands down. I order the "quesadilla" but it's not your typical quesadilla it's like a crunchy taco with melted cheese. Most authentic tacos you're gonna find around queens. 10/10!!

The most underrated and hole-in-the-wall taco joint in all the best ways. Tucked inside the bodega, you can find the best quesadillas I've found in NYC. I ordered the beef steak quesadillas - the portion sizes were hefty. Service was nice. 3 for $12 - great deal!

When passing by, one wouldn't think That this Cute lovely family owned Deli, Provides One of the best Tacos in queens. I love getting the steak quesadillas along with the green sauce, and it's Lovely when fresh. Chicken quesadillas are also a great choice.

LOVE ME SOME QUESADILLAS. This is our new late night spot. You definitely want to call ahead. The wait is usually 15-25 mins. The quesadilla isn't what you'd think, it's a fried taco with cheese, lettuce, cilantro and more cheese. We usually get the carnitas or chicken. You can't eat there. So we usually eat in the car. The green cream sauce is great and they give you more then enough. The empanada is really good as well.

Found this place when I was staying In Long Island city for the weekend. The Food was really good and filling. Had a lot of selections

This was my first time ordering from this place that my friend recommended and the food was great. Although they messed up most of my order. I ordered: 1. Chorizo torta ( sandwich): a little spicy 2. 2 cheese tacos ( received one) 3. 2 chicken tacos ( my favorite) 4. 2 chicken empanadas ( didn't receive) The person working there told me everything was in there and said each item that was supposed to be in there. She charged me for everything and didn't receive like half of my order and did not get my money back. I don't think I'll go there again but the food that I was able to try was good.

These shits so crazy omg It's really nothing else to say go buy them they valid felt like I was in Mexico eating these

Heard good things! Was told tacos were the best around, Quite disappointed Both Al pastor and tinga not great , I make better myself and I never seen a taco for the first 20+ years of my life

Had 3 quesadillas de carnitas; FÜ¢KEN DELICIOSO!! Short wait, decent price, friendly staff.

It's a no for me. If you enjoy dry, lettuce filled tacos and fried quesadillas then maybe this place works for you, but I left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed I wasted my calories on this meal. The steak tasted like it had been reheated, not fresh at all. The tacos each had 2 flour tortillas (too much) all I tasted was flour dough and lettuce again the steak was old and had no flavor. The chicken was "chicken cutlet" no seasoning just bland with lettuce on top. I mean cmon this is queens so many other taco spots. Skip this one, don't let the reviews fool you.

Very disappointing. We ordered a quesdilla and a burrito with chicken and black beans. When we got home the quesdilla had been prepared as a c tacos and the shell was inedible. I will not be back. On top of that the owner was very surely and not very friendly

3.8-ish stars or so. St. James Deli has the best tacos in this corner of Astoria. Pictured are the carnitas on the left and the one al pastor on the right. The soft shell isn't heavy and the tacos are filled with a good serving of meat. I've also had the chorizo con huevo which was interesting, it has an egg in it. Not my favorite taco ever. Unfortunately though, their burritos - although delicious, is filled with just too much rice. You'd think you're getting this massive burrito, a good size but too much rice missing. And dang, I know we're in the COVID19 times but I am pretty sure the prices of the tacos must've increased. Because $10.50 for 3 tacos from a deli... almost the same price as some of the generic Mexican spots in Astoria. But if you need something to grub on late late late at night, I'm pretty sure that these guys are 24hrs. There are also some snacks and drinks in there that you won't find at Rite-Aid.

Food is really good, but there's roaches on the floor so I can't eat here anymore .....

I was recommended this place by a local and they recommended I try the chicken quesadillas with everything on it. So I did , and this deli has deffo become a taco spot for me.

I was fooled by the reviews here. Ordered 2 chicken tacos. Didn't realize they were breaded. Which would have been fine if they weren't so bland. Honestly, enjoyed the lettuce more than the rest of the taco. And I don't really like lettuce. Hard pass for me.

The Al pastor quesadillas highly recommended It's so good and worth the drive from Long Island !

If I could give less than a star I would. Called in a order for pick up, a little boy was working at the counter, the entire time on his phone, with a smirk and attitude for 0 reason. I came back a second time 30mins later or so to get some s Mexican snacks, only to be received with the same attitude. I guess he gets paid to be on his phone and lose customers. Tacos were okay, nothing compared to taco deli spot which is closed on Sundays (today) & their second spot. NEVER. coming back here again, I work in customer/restaurant service & would never treat customers like that. Go to taco deli spot instead, better service and food.

Order the quesadillas, I get grilled chicken sooooo good. I dream about them every taco Tuesday. Be kind to the team and they will be kind to you. come for the food not for the look lol! It's basic inside, sometimes my bf and I will Order go to the fancy bar across the street and split a beer while we wait for our food. they stay open 24 hrs and you can't beat the price or the taste! The quesadillas are basically hard shell tacos FYI

I was really excited about trying the quesadillas to see if they lived up to the hype. The Al pastor didn't taste like the traditional al pastor I love, but it was very tasty. Loved the texture of the quesadilla, the crema was amazing. The chicharron taco on the other hand wasn't what I expected, it was soggy. I just assumed that it would be a crunch chicharron, it was literally like boiled pork skin. Not what I expected or Wanted. Other than the failed chicharron taco, I enjoyed the quesadilla!

Best tacos in nyc ! Quick and amazing bite to eat so glad it's in Astoria and opened late night !

The_quesadillas_here_are_THE_BOMB_and_its_what_my_peoples_of_Astoria_mainly_go_here_for. And_do_not_forget_their_creamy_green_spicy_(personally, pretty mild to me)_SAUCE. Open_24_hours. The_end.

St. James is a Astoria establishment and now they moved to 36th ave and 35th st. Lets all go support them while getting our fave munchies!!!

I love the food from here!! I always Order the Quesadillas of Cecina and Al pastor!! Great flavor. The horchata is amazing as well. Always ask for an extra green cream!

Ah yes.... the hidden kitchen masqueraded under the premise of a hole-in-the wall deli. Yes, you can get most of the regular stuff you'd get from a convenience store here. Yes, it's also super cramped and feels like 100 degrees inside. Travel shampoos, lotions, chocolates, newspapers, avocados, beer, coffee... you name it. What you don't see until you walk inside is the kitchen. It's in the kitchen where you get the main appeal. Really really good Mexican food. And authentic too, just like you're eating it at someone's home in Mexico! Tacos, flautas, quesadillas, tortas, enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, empanadas.... The key though is the quesdaillas. Unlike the quesadillas you will google, these are street-side quesadillas. They look more like crunchy tacos. But man, these tasted so good. I got 2 vegetarian quesadillas with cheese, avocado, lettuce, and tomatoes... topped with some queso fresco. These were supremely filling. On top of that, I added the special green sauce (verde) which is spicy, but adds that extra kick! Now the deli looks unassuming from the outside and inside and, yes, you don't really see much seating at all (there's some in the back, I think). Yes, it takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare. However, the food is the main selling point. The quesadillas are a must try. For 2/$7, you cannot go wrong for lunch.

If you haven't had St. James quesadillas after a long night of turning up you haven't lived. I always get the chicken quesadillas and they en ever fail espero with the green crema. I would cross 7 seas to get these quesadillas. My favorite Mexican food spot in Astoria.

I drive anywhere from 40mins to 1 hour for their quesadillas con milanesa de pollo (breaded chicken quesadillas). This never dissappoints. Their green crema and red hot sauce is amazing. Recommend it to everyone I know!

The chicken quesadillas are the only things I've tried from here, but it's all that I ever need in life. Cheese, chicken, more cheese, lettuce, etc. What more can you ask for. The creamy green sauce is absolute gold. I drown the quesadilla with that sauce. Never disappointed with my orders. Thank you for the amazing food. Also, always open!

Really one of the unsung Astoria gems, in addition to top tier comfort food the staff is incredibly friendly. Almost don't want to share because it still feels like a secret, but this place deserves all the business, especially if you've got the munchies.

This is a Hidden Gem in astoria, looks like your typical deli until you go to the back. So this place has their own way of doing it, they call their green sauce (white sauce) , which doesnt really matter because it is amazing! Their Quesodilla looks like a Taco, but it's the best Quesodilla/taco you've every had! Top it off with some green sauce . Fried chicken with everything , the best surprise is the melted cheese! Easily one of the best spots for a quesodilla/taco spot in astoria!!

Little did I know that I could get cheap authentic Mexican food so close to me AT ANY TIME I want. I was surprised to find a pretty great Mexican place nearby but it's not inside a deli. More importantly, it never closes and I seriously considered going there on Christmas just to get a torta. There's not a lot of space there but there's a little back counter that you can sit down and eat at. I wonder if you can buy a beer and drink it there...something to think about for next time but even if the answer is no there's always Jarritos that you can pull and they'll bring you a giant squeeze bottle of their green sauce which is a creamy, slightly spicy addition that I haven't seen anywhere else. Cheap, quick, tasty and they have everything else you could want there on top of it.

Fried chicken quesadillas CON TODO as they say. Their green sauce is fire. Get some.

Value: 8.5/10 Experience: 9/10 Taste: 8/10 A convenience store gem with a hidden kitchen with cheap and delicious Mexican food. Value: I got the pork quesadilla ($3) and it came on a crispy shell, almost like a taco. However, the portion was pretty big for only $3. Experience: The store is a little cramped but if you go deep you'll find a small dining area. There is also a bathroom for customer which is a nice plus. The staff were all super friendly and the food came out very quickly. Taste: This was definitely a unique quesadilla but the meat was fatty and nicely flavored. They also pile it with a bunch of fresh veggies to balance it out. They also have red and white sauce to adjust to your tastes. Overall, a great stop for a food crawl or pick and choose from their decently sized menu for a cheap meal :)

Y'all .. if you are EVER in the area, I highly recommend getting food from here. It really is such a satisfying meal, and a huge bang for your buck. It's so good, my office gets lunch from there once a week. I've only had the quesadillas (which look like tacos, but imagine a fried quesadilla as the shell), and I am happy with that every week. I've only had them with fried chicken cutlets, and grilled chicken: both are great.

OK it's time to admit what I do for a living. I am the head of MI6, the British Secret Service (international division). My codename is "M". I have a gadget person named "Q" and a bunch of "double O" agents who are more like "multiple O" agents from my experience but that's beside the point. My code number is "0069". My best agent is 007-and-a-half, he's a bit of a druggie but he's a fantastic marksman and all-round bright spark. His name is Bong. James Bong. I sent Bong to the capital of India on a mission recently. I communicated this to my superior in NYC with a three word telegram. I abbreviated the word "sent" to "st" for brevity, and I'm not very good at spelling Indian city names. The telegram read "St James Deli." Unfortunately it was intercepted by the Mexican Secret Police currently working in Queens with one of their many Cartels to distribute white powder and such. They're posing as taco makers and breakfast chefs in Astoria. They needed to name their fake restaurant, saw my telegram, and thought it was the perfect name for a business. And now you know... the true story... about how this business got its name. Don't tell anyone. Or the taco gets it. Not your taco. Well yes your taco if you want but I wasn't specifically referring to... okay never mind. What to get: Chorizo & Egg Taco (Chorizo con Huevos taco) And what: Anything with Chorizo and Egg from here is f***ing heavenly, and their green sauce too. Get Chorizo and Egg on a roll like Eric said. He knows his shizz. What else: If you're still hungry, I know a girl in Astoria who will let you eat her taco too And what else: I offer you some girl's taco and you still aren't satisfied. Srsly I came here on a Queens food tour, and have been back many times, most recently in April for my 5th visit. They have all kinds of hot grilled deliciousness 24 hours a day, and my fave item... Chorizo Egg tacos. Or a Chorizo Egg roll even. Hell yes. Garland: Some guy owns two other delis (NY Avenue Deli and TN Avenue Deli). He's buying St. James Place Deli so he can build a hotel. Orange you glad I told you that? I included this joke to prove that I don't have a monopoly on humour in my reviews. Now please. Move directly to the next paragraph. Do not pass gas. Do not collect tacos. What I love about St. James Deli: (1) It's open 24 hrs and that is f***ing awesome - like finding out the rash is nothing and you don't actually have an STD, or at least not a bad one (2) The servers are friendly, even in the middle of the night - speaking of friendly in the middle of the night, you should check out the Astoria girl I told you about (3) The Chorizo & Egg taco is juicy, greasy, salty and delicious - and speaking of juicy delicious salty grease, I have some right here if you want some (4) It's in an overpriced neighborhood (Astoria - the only overpriced part of Queens maybe) and yet it's dirt cheap - not that dirt is necessarily cheap, for example I know a girl that is very very dirty and does not come even remotely cheaply, or at all in fact, unless you make quite the investment (5) They makes tacos that both real Mexican taco lovers love, and non Mexicans who don't understand tacos, also love - so it appeals to everyone of all genders and races, and house pets too - kind of like my bedroom techniques (6) There isn't really a number six, but I really want to get to seven because of seventh heaven and these tacos really are heavenly (7) The name allows me to do a James Bong review, and also make a long numbered list that is reminiscent of Judi Dench's "M": a bean-counter, an accountant, more interested in her numbers than Bong's instincts, who she sees as a dinosaur, a relic of the cold war. Bong's boyish charms are lost on her... lost in her taco maybe? What I don't love about St. James Deli: (1) Well, um... (2) I... I mean... well... (3) ... (4) Nothing. Positively nothing - just like my most recent STD screening results (5) Although wouldn't that be negatively nothing? (6) No matter, the numbered list can stop now (7) I said stop the motherf***ing numbered f***ing list you f***ing idiot. So without further ado, I'd like to crown this the longest review in history that really only talks about tacos. Congratulations for reading this far. You just wasted another 4 and a half minutes of your life. Now check out memes and "hottest athletes of 2015" slideshows for the next 55 min 30 secs. You're welcome. Ooh, I said secs. This review will self destruct in 7 seconds. We're seven seconds away. But just as long as I stay. I'll be waiting. And when a child is born into this world, it has no concept of the tone of skin its living in And there's a million voices And there's a million voices to tell you what you should be thinking So you better sober up for just a second We're se... (Boom) (Review Explodes) (Silence) (Taco falls to the floor) (Chorizo and Egg fall out of taco onto said aforementioned floor) (Tragic music plays) (Credits roll)

From the outside and the name, this looks just like any generic neighborhood deli. In fact, it is Mexican run and inside there is a food counter with a grill where you can get authentic Mexican food. Cemitas, tortas, tacos, and quesadillas. The quality is as good as any Mexican street cart with prices that are the same or even lower. $2.50 tacos, $6.50 tortas, etc. There is not much in the way of seating, but there are some counters in the back with a TV that is tuned into the Spanish channels.

Review is for the steak burrito. Pros: - Good value and friendly service. - Good flavor and ratio of meat / sauce / veg. Cons: - I'm finding a pattern in NYC that burritos don't hold together as well as they do in SoCal shops. Maybe they don't have the same size / brand of tortillas typically? I know SoCal burrito tortillas are more than 12" across, and maybe made with lard (manteca)? Tips: - Ask for extra hot sauce. - Based on photos and reviews, I'd say go for the tacos or quesadillas over the burrito.

It's amazing. Stop reading reviews and go. Get the green lime sour cream stuff and thank me later.

I go every other day. Yes, i live close but even if i didnt, i would make the trip just to get their huevos rancheros and guac & chips. Guacamole is made to order. They use a whole avocado, red onion, tomato, cilantro i know bc ive watched them make it. It can be spicy depending up who makes it. I dont know their name but the older gentleman knows how to make amazingg food. The chips are sold separate. Takes about 15min/item so i usually call ahead for pickup. The green sauce aka hot sauce on the enchilada and huevos rancheros is spicy!