Best Trendy Mexican Restaurants in Lenox Hill
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Maya
Modern Mexican cooking with serious cocktails and a high-energy UES dining room.
Notable Picks
#1
Maya
8.6
Maya is a modern Mexican restaurant on First Avenue from chef Richard Sandoval, known for polished takes on tacos, guacamole, and agave-focused cocktails. With a lively dining room and popular bottomless brunch, it’s the Upper East Side’s destination when people want sit-down Mexican that still feels energetic and social.
Must-Try Dishes:
Traditional Guacamole, Baja Fish Tacos, Chicken Enchiladas
What Makes it Special: Modern Mexican cooking with serious cocktails and a high-energy UES dining room.
8.1
A bright, high-energy taqueria that hits best when you order like a repeat customer: a tight taco trio plus one corn snack and a drink. The room is built for fast table turns, so the win is clean execution on classics rather than long, leisurely pacing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Taco, Baja Crispy Fish Taco, Corn Esquites
What Makes it Special: A consistent, crowd-tested taco lineup that stays easy to repeat.
Worthy Picks
7.8
A casual Upper East Side outpost with a menu that leans street-food-forward, then extends into cocktails and richer plates if you keep going. It’s strongest when you build around a taco set (one or two proteins) and add one sharable starter, rather than trying to sample everything.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas Taco, Bistec Con Queso Taco, Guacamole & Chips
What Makes it Special: Street-food-style tacos with a cocktail program built for lingering.