Mexican Happy Hours
Growing up, my dad and I were regulars at the little Mexican restaurant down the street from my house. Twenty-odd years later, I can still remember the pure joy I felt when a giant plate of chicken enchiladas, yellow rice and refried beans arrived at our table.
My hometown’s Mexican fare can’t compete with the Michelin stars and street vendors of New York. But these hidden gems often live up to their name. In a city of twenty-dollar margaritas and veritable tourist traps, I have struggled to find the rich food and rich moments I cherished so much as a kid.
Then, on one sunny afternoon this spring, a few friends and I discovered the trifecta. The East Village is home to a walking tour of three uniquely nostalgic Mexican restaurants. Located within blocks of each other, you can easily hop from one happy hour to another. Or settle into a cozy booth with pitchers and plates to share.
La Palapa
$6 Marg Tuesdays • $38 Pitchers Daily • $10 Happy Hour (4–7) • $42 Boozy Brunch
I’m always hesitant to suggest a bottomless brunch. So often, the food is subpar with the assumption you’ll be too drunk on cheap mimosas to notice. La Palapa is different.
Don’t get me wrong, they have mimosas. They also have margaritas – frozen or on the rocks – delivered promptly and generously to your table for ninety incredible minutes. Then coffee and bowls a fresh fruit.
On my most recent visit, I opted for an open-faced torta with queso fresco and pinto beans. My friends sampled everything from French toast made with bolillo bread and cinnamon syrup to classics like huevos a la Mexicana. Everything was solid, with big portions and patient service. To me, the mark of a good boozy brunch is a full glass at all times.
Brunch isn’t all that’s on the table at La Palapa. Enjoy street style tacos, indulgent mole dishes and a variety of seafood and vegetarian options.
Despite its trendy St. Marks location, this self-proclaimed cantina hails all the way from Mexico City. Owner Barbara Sibley was born and raised there. Inspired by her travels across the country, she has incorporated traditional Mexican flavors into every aspect of the menu.
Taqueria St. Marks Place
Drinks under $10 • Tacos under $5 • All the time
Quite literally one door down, Taqueria St. Marks is a time machine to LA in the early aughts. Prices and all. The cash only bar and restaurant is no frills in the best way possible. Festive string lights illuminate two floors of Lakers memorabilia and Dodgers games on TV. This might be a hard sell for some New Yorkers, but it’s nothing an $8 marg can’t fix.
There is admittedly no proper happy hour here. Instead, they make up for it by serving cheap food and drinks at all hours of the day. A few exceptional tacos and a beer will run you about $20. It’s the perfect place for a post-work drink or an actually fun group dinner.
St. Marks has seen a shift recently. Dive bars and tattoo parlors are gradually being replaced by al-fresco dining and niche dessert places. Yes, I’m talking about the churro shop that is most definitely a front for something.
There are still a few holdouts on the block, though. Taqueria St. Marks is one of them. At one point, their menus featured los diez mandamientos: the ten commandments. My favorites among them are “no strawberry-kiwi margaritas” and “no fancy menus with a history lesson on Mexico.” It captures a sense of modest authenticity I find so refreshing. In restaurants and otherwise.
Yellow Rose
Happy Hour (4-6, Mon-Thurs) • $5 Beers, $10 Cocktails and Cheap Bar Snacks
This wouldn’t be a nostalgic happy hour tour without some good, old fashioned Tex-Mex. As much as I love the real thing, sometimes there is nothing better than a mountain of nachos or a sizzling plate of fajitas. Don’t tell Taqueria St. Marks – three of their ten commandments were “no fajitas.”
It’s about a ten minute walk to Yellow Rose, just enough to work up what’s left of your appetite. The East Village newcomer was founded in 2020 by Dave and Krystiana Rizo. In a nod to their San Antonio roots, the couple blends South Texas recipes with local New York ingredients. It’s one hell of a combo.
To start, I like their smoked avocado dip and Shiner Bock beer queso. The Spanish rice arancini is also great, with a side of cilantro cashew crema. A few fan favorites among the tacos are the carne guisada and the humble bean and cheese. Each taco is served on a warm flour tortilla, made in house daily. It almost feels like gourmet Taco Bell; my sincerest compliments to the chef.
Yellow Rose has created a really welcoming dining experience. We sat at a booth, under floral wallpaper and a collection of eclectic posters and photographs. The entire space feels warm and inviting, like you’re a part of the family.
Before you get the check, put in an order of the Texas sheet cake. Enjoy it in house or from your sofa in a drunken stupor.
There are plenty of happy hours across the city. The East Village alone is riddled with them. You can easily find a cheap beer and a deep fried basket of something or other. At its core, the concept is really about taking some time to unwind and be happy. A few friends and a few margaritas can’t hurt though. Take a shot every time I mention margs; it’ll make this a lot more entertaining.
Some restaurants in the city may transport you to the beaches of Tulum or the valleys of Oaxaca. There is a time and place for this, of course. To impress out-of-towners or celebrate a big moment.
But let’s be honest, we’d all much rather be transported to the little strip mall Mexican restaurant a few blocks from home.
