Best Hidden Gems Mexican Restaurants in Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
El Rey Del Taco
High-volume taco truck slinging classic Mexico City–style tacos until late.
Notable Picks
8.5
El Rey Del Taco runs a late-night taco truck at Ditmars and 31st Street, turning out Mexico City–style tacos deep into the night. Locals rely on it for quick, inexpensive suadero, al pastor, and carnitas after bars and shifts when most kitchens are long closed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Suadero Tacos, Al Pastor Tacos, Carnitas Tacos
What Makes it Special: High-volume taco truck slinging classic Mexico City–style tacos until late.
#2
Los Portales
8.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
Los Portales is a long-running Broadway standby for sizzling fajitas, saucy enchiladas, and plates of tacos that feel built for regulars as much as first-timers. Portions are generous, prices stay low, and a steady stream of neighborhood diners gives it the feel of a default Mexican choice in this part of Astoria.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Tacos, Bistec en Salsa Verde Plato, Chicken Enchiladas
What Makes it Special: Broadway’s go-to sit-down Mexican spot with big, affordable combo plates.
Worthy Picks
Fresca Tortilla is an old-school counter-service Tex-Mex spot where fried and soft corn tacos stay firmly in the under-$10 zone. Locals lean on it for quick, filling taco plates built on house-made tortillas and no-frills portions that feel geared toward hungry regulars more than scene-chasing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled Chicken Taco Plate, Grilled Steak Taco Plate, Fish Taco Plate
What Makes it Special: Old-school Tex-Mex counter with a huge, ultra-cheap taco menu.
#4
Las Patronas
7.6
Las Patronas is a sit-down Mexican restaurant on Steinway that replaced a prior taqueria with a slightly more polished dining room and a menu built around tacos, enchiladas, and flautas. It reads as a neighborhood option rather than a destination, but works well for casual dinners when you want table service and cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria Tacos, Chicken Flautas, Enchiladas Suizas
What Makes it Special: Steinway sit-down Mexican with flautas, tacos, and casual cocktails.