Despite the good reviews the food was mediocre. Not bad. But not special in any way. The birria taco was really disappointing. I’ve had the most amazing birria stew in Puerto Rico and I’ve had a phenomenal one in Rochester (shout out to Tavos!). The beef was a bit dry and bland not tender enough and deeply marinated. Even the consume with it was flavorless and greasy. The empanada was more like a corn dog texture not the flakey but dense corn shell you would expect. The inside was flavorless. The pork and pineapple was similarly flavorless save for the few pineapple spears in the taco despite being (supposedly) marinated pork. The fish taco was better than the birria and the fish was cooked nicely but not overly flavorful. The salsa and chips were really good. Too bad the rest of the food wasn’t as good as the salsa! The yuzu mocktail was amazing! The margarita was average (shout out to Lloyd in Buffalo for a stellar margarita). We liked the unpretentious decor that also didn’t go for the faux Mexican aesthetic that is everywhere else. It was calm, chill, and reminded me more of the local decor in the restaurants I went to in Puerto Rico where no one was trying to put on a show for the customers. The vibe and setting was the highlight of the meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Aliya Tang
Tacos and cheap $5 margaritas
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Carla Rogers
The menu pleases with variety: from classic mojitos to exotic appetizers with mango and avocado. Grilled fish deserves special attention - juicy and flavorful. Coconut rice is an ideal garnish that emphasizes the taste of the main courses.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
mateo Grey
El Coco – Hell’s Kitchen 📍 Review by @justinmateonyc
If you're looking for a vibrant, flavor-packed escape in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, El Coco absolutely delivers—starting with the CHIPS AND GUACAMOLE. Served with housemade chips that are perfectly crisp with just the right touch of salt, this starter sets the tone for everything to come. The guac is creamy, fresh, and full of limey zing, a classic done right.
Now let’s talk AL PASTOR—marinated pork with sweet pineapple that hits that perfect balance of savory and juicy. But the real surprise? That pineapple chutney. It’s next level. Sweet, tangy, and a little spicy—it brought the whole dish together in the best way.
I went with the cheeseburger empanadas (yes, you read that right), and they were unreal—crispy on the outside, ooey-gooey savory on the inside. My fiancée had the jalapeño empanadas and shrimp & crab meat camarones tacos, both of which were fresh, flavorful, and had that signature El Coco twist: bold, layered flavor and beautifully presented.
The vibe here is unmatched—El Coco is popped out in pink, fun, and full of personality. It’s got that Instagram-ready aesthetic but without sacrificing authenticity or comfort. The energy in the room is as vibrant as the food.
Shoutout to Denise, our server, who was warm, welcoming, and super attentive—made us feel right at home.
As a food photographer and content creator, El Coco is exactly the kind of place I love discovering. The colors, the plating, the ambiance—all photogenic and all delicious. Definitely a spot that makes my food trips across NYC worth it.
📸 Follow my food adventures at @justinmateonyc #FoodieFinds #HellsKitchenEats #ElCocoNYC
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Argenis Ramlogan
Carlos is the best 🔥🔥🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
savannah ramlogan
carlos was an amazing waiter!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rohan Ramlogan
carlos waa very nice and polite great server
Kevin Smith
Delicious food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ava Tucker
This place was very welcoming and fun, Maria provided a great service and I would come again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Leila P.
I love el coco! perfect vibe! maria was an amazing and beyond waiter! i highly revoked coming here.
Despite the good reviews the food was mediocre. Not bad. But not special in any way. The birria taco was really disappointing. I’ve had the most amazing birria stew in Puerto Rico and I’ve had a phenomenal one in Rochester (shout out to Tavos!). The beef was a bit dry and bland not tender enough and deeply marinated. Even the consume with it was flavorless and greasy. The empanada was more like a corn dog texture not the flakey but dense corn shell you would expect. The inside was flavorless. The pork and pineapple was similarly flavorless save for the few pineapple spears in the taco despite being (supposedly) marinated pork. The fish taco was better than the birria and the fish was cooked nicely but not overly flavorful. The salsa and chips were really good. Too bad the rest of the food wasn’t as good as the salsa! The yuzu mocktail was amazing! The margarita was average (shout out to Lloyd in Buffalo for a stellar margarita). We liked the unpretentious decor that also didn’t go for the faux Mexican aesthetic that is everywhere else. It was calm, chill, and reminded me more of the local decor in the restaurants I went to in Puerto Rico where no one was trying to put on a show for the customers. The vibe and setting was the highlight of the meal.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Tacos and cheap $5 margaritas
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The menu pleases with variety: from classic mojitos to exotic appetizers with mango and avocado. Grilled fish deserves special attention - juicy and flavorful. Coconut rice is an ideal garnish that emphasizes the taste of the main courses.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
El Coco – Hell’s Kitchen
📍 Review by @justinmateonyc
If you're looking for a vibrant, flavor-packed escape in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, El Coco absolutely delivers—starting with the CHIPS AND GUACAMOLE. Served with housemade chips that are perfectly crisp with just the right touch of salt, this starter sets the tone for everything to come. The guac is creamy, fresh, and full of limey zing, a classic done right.
Now let’s talk AL PASTOR—marinated pork with sweet pineapple that hits that perfect balance of savory and juicy. But the real surprise? That pineapple chutney. It’s next level. Sweet, tangy, and a little spicy—it brought the whole dish together in the best way.
I went with the cheeseburger empanadas (yes, you read that right), and they were unreal—crispy on the outside, ooey-gooey savory on the inside. My fiancée had the jalapeño empanadas and shrimp & crab meat camarones tacos, both of which were fresh, flavorful, and had that signature El Coco twist: bold, layered flavor and beautifully presented.
The vibe here is unmatched—El Coco is popped out in pink, fun, and full of personality. It’s got that Instagram-ready aesthetic but without sacrificing authenticity or comfort. The energy in the room is as vibrant as the food.
Shoutout to Denise, our server, who was warm, welcoming, and super attentive—made us feel right at home.
As a food photographer and content creator, El Coco is exactly the kind of place I love discovering. The colors, the plating, the ambiance—all photogenic and all delicious. Definitely a spot that makes my food trips across NYC worth it.
📸 Follow my food adventures at @justinmateonyc
#FoodieFinds #HellsKitchenEats #ElCocoNYC
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carlos is the best 🔥🔥🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
carlos was an amazing waiter!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
carlos waa very nice and polite great server
Delicious food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was very welcoming and fun, Maria provided a great service and I would come again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love el coco! perfect vibe! maria was an amazing and beyond waiter! i highly revoked coming here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Maria was such a great server and she made our experience so great!! i will definitely be coming again!
Maria was a great server, she was quick with food and drinks!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guacamole and Chips
Except food and vibe?
5$ margs ... Can't beat that!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
love this place. waiter was beautiful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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