Agua Fresca

The fruit drinks made of freshly blended tropical fruits are amazing!!! Though the restaurant is spatially small the food should not be overlooked as it is a great bang for the buck!!!

This place is just fabulous. The service is wonderful and the food is really good. It’s a nice twist on what I am used to in San Francisco. The traditional fingerprints are alive and well with many dishes that represent some of the finest Latin American cooking. You can also find some lighter dishes and the guacamole is great.
The Ceviche Camarones was about as good as it gets, a bit small on the portions however. Also the Tacos Camarones are really good.
I like the atmosphere, its cozy and very personal. This is a great place to meet with a group fro brunch and it also looks like a great place for a private dinner for 2.

Honestly, it’s the best in East Harlem. I’m so glad we found it! It’s tucked away on 117^th away from the hustle & bustle of 116^th. In fact, I thought we were walking down the wrong block because it seemed like it was all housing. Alas, Agua Fresca popped up. I was hesitant at first because it was empty on a Friday night but figured — why not? I’m so glad we didn’t walk away because the food was incredible! I’ve never had shrimp that tasted so fresh & plump. Absolutely delicious!
We’ve tried their chorizo & shrimp quesadilla — I’m obsessed with it. I couldn’t stop stealing shrimp away from my boyfriend. White sangria + shrimp tacos sealed the deal for me — I am definitely a fan of Agua Fresca! Amazing food & always quiet so you’ll be able to have good convo with your eating partners :)

I just moved to East Harlem and have enjoyed finding new places to frequent in my neighborhood. Agua Fresca was a great find and I will definitely be back.
What stands out for me the most is the customer service. The manager and our waiter were both incredibly friendly, attentive, and personable, and it was obvious that our enjoyment of our meal and evening mattered to them. They went far beyond what I would consider to be good customer relations.
The food was also delicious. My friend and I ordered the «Colorado Guacamole» and it was excellent. Fresh avocados and a strong smokey, chile flavored made this guacamole one of the best I’ve ever had. I also ordered the vegetarian tacos, in which the vegetables had a fabulous flavor. We paired this with some fruity sangria and had an altogether fantastic evening.
I’m looking forward to going back for brunch!

One of the better authentic Mexican places I’ve gone to in NYC, period and I go there frequently and try new things. It’s small but really feels nice like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. Fish and shrimp tacos, moro as side. plus the BBQ chicken wings or pork really tasty. try the quesillo for dessert as well as the sangria with white wine. Nice bar next door too which is part of the same establishment

I ordered enchiladas here but I think the tacos looked better.
Considering there were hispanic grandmothers cooking tacos a block away on the street, I felt compelled not to get them but I think I made a mistake.
The beer list is limited but fairly priced. They also give samples of the wine and are really eager to offer a suggestion. I’m not sure if it was because the restaurant was fairly empty, but the service was very attentive.
The only reason I deducted a star was the price. I thought it was a bit expensive for what you received.

Had the shrimp ceviche. Very good
Guacamole was ehhh… Kind of a small portion
Fish tacos– verry tastey & flavorful. Only negative was the tortilla was very soggy, almost oily?
Carne asada tacos– my husband loved them.
Over all great experience.

I was nervous when I saw the tacos came in groups of three, but they were perfectly sized and three was the right amount. I ordered the vegetarian version without dairy for a vegan taco. It was super delicious.
The service was delightful, friendly, and inviting. I actually found myself joking around with our waiter, which is rare for someone as socially awkward as me. :)

Good brunch, good lunch and good dinner. The service is a little slow sometimes but it’s nice because it gives you time to talk and enjoy. Overall a great place to grab a bite or sit and have a nice relaxed meal.
The food is a good mix of classic and new flavors and the

The fish tacos… hmmm slightly tasteless .we need a tad bit more seasoning. not salt.not that it had any… cabbage slaw made a nice crunch. the fish was not… I can say the service was pretty decent .as again I was the only one at the joint. I would say a one on one with a friend or date would be lovely. the sangria was dead .n too sweet. I promised I wanted to love this place… but I can say I enjoyed my quiet tasteless evening…

I’ve been here a few times and I really like this place. I’ve had a few dishes and loved all of them. My favorites are the shrimp tacos, the shrimp and chorizo quesadilla and the ceviche. The tres leches is pretty amazing! I really appreciate how consistently good the food is here, I’ve gone numerous times and have always been happy with the food. The prices are also pretty affordable, especially their lunch/​brunch specials. The waiters here are extremely friendly and attentive. If you’re in the area and looking for a great place to eat then check this place out.

Best take out/​delivery in east Harlem. Fresh unique flavors and nice portions. Plus the prices are reasonable!
I had the salmon which was huge and cooked at the correct requested temperature.
New go to!

Just had an event here this past weekend and that staff, as always, was more than amazing. Very quick service and they are on top of their game at all times. Not to mention, some of them are really funny.
The chef, is very accommodating and values the customers experience and does his absolute best to meet and exceed expectations.
The food…
The food is really amazing here. I’ve been for dinner and brunch on numerous occasions and it has never failed me. The pork chops here and the steak and eggs are a personal favorite. The sangria is also very delicious and the intimate setting is perfect for a quiet, chill back kind of night or meeting.

I have eaten here at least 20 times for lunch, and a few times for dinner. The greatest thing is the consistent quality of the food … Fresh, high quality, tasty … and the reasonable prices are appreciated.
Nice quiet place for an intimate meal, or to dine with work colleagues, works well.
My favorite dish: Carnitas Michoacan Enchiladas… Amazing!

This was my third time visiting and about time I wrote a review. The food is reliably delicious, portions are hearty and the prices are very reasonable. On top of all that this place has a nice ambiance, the kind of place you can take a date, unlike most tacquerias. The tacos are huge and definitely the best deal on the menu. I also highly recommend the fried plantains with crema.
On our most recent visit we showed up at 10:40 and the kitchen was technically closed, but they let us dine anyway and the food was still carefully crafted and not rushed at all.

Wanted to like it, but just couldn’t. The food didn’t taste fresh, the dishes were served not as described, the service was truly inattentive. When we sent something back (which we generally don’t do unless there is a serious problem), they didn’t offer to replace it and they kept it on the bill. We paid and left and went somewhere else for our meal.
What a disappointment.

I am a huge fan of their fish tacos. They are amazing. The service is good, it has been getting better, they are quicker now. The owner Adrian is also the chef, he is very nice and friendly, always running around. I am also a fan of their tongue tacos, many people are afraid of trying them but trust me tongue is very delicious, it’s like eating steak, no fat in this part of the body. I recommend you start with guacamole, fish tacos and close with churros.
Soy un fan de sus tacos de pescado, son maravillosos. El servicio es bueno, poco a poco han ido mejorando y son mas rápidos. El dueño Adrian es el chef también, es muy amigable y siempre esta corriendo de un lado a otro trabajando. Los tacos de lengua son muy buenos, si les da miedo probarlos están en un error la lengua es deliciosa y sabe a 100% carne, una de las partes mas carnosas de la vaca, sin tanta grasa ni gordo. Yo les recomiendo que empiecen con un guacamole, unos tacos de pescado y unos churros para cerrar.

I love Mexican food and was looking for a new place near by. The reviews here were great so I had to try it.
This place is cute and cozy and clean. The staff was friendly and helpful. I like the location.
My favorite Mexican dish is the fajita either veggie, steak, chicken, or shrimp, but they didn’t have that on the menu. They also didn’t have my friend’s favorite dish either. I ordered the fish tacos and my friend ordered the carne asada tacos. It had cactus in it. Never had cactus but it was pretty good. The food was good but I think the fish wasn’t fresh. I think it was frozen and they just nuked it. The guacamole was expensive and they only served a small amount. I stuffed myself with chips in case the tacos weren’t enough.
Anyway, I’ll come by again for brunch one day but I won’t order the same meal.

FINALLY tried this place last night.
I really wish I could give this place more than 3 stars– but sadly, it’s all it deserves.
The place is VERY unassuming in an neighborhood where the most popular eatery is most likely the local Wendy’s or the McDonald’s located directly across the street. It’s surprisingly small (from the pictures I thought it was bigger!), well decorated (loving the mustard walls), and has a delightfully warm ambiance.
Here are the items my party tried:
+Complimentary flat bread
Was delicious and definitely different than your average Mexican restaurant. Was a flatbread take on garlic bread– rubbed with garlic oil, sprinkled with cilantro and topped with melted queso fresco (?). It was yum but took awhile to come out. We were already hungrily asking ourselves «Hm, no complimentary tortilla and salsa?»
+Sangria
Overly sweet and because they used pineapple juice, it had a metallic taste to it. Unappetizing, indeed. In addition, they did not offer pitchers which was disappointing considering that their web site menu says they offer them.
+Guacamole tradicional
Guacamole was great! Very simple which allowed the natural freshness and creaminess of the avocado to shine. The jalapeño provides a well needed kick and the diced tomato a well needed juiciness. I loved this guacamole and if it weren’t so filling I’d probably eaten the entire thing though the serving is quite small and only good for two people. Served with lovely tortilla chips that are perfectly crisp and seemingly fried in-​house (?).
+Chicken Tacos
They were very small but at $ 7 for 3, who can complain? The tacos were good– there were no complaints from my extra critical mother who is allergic to quite a lot and very limited in her options– but they were almost TOO simple. Something was lacking though I wasn’t quite sure what. However, the spicy green sauce served on the side was super great and if given the chance I would buy a bottle of it! Yes– it was that good. YUM.
+Pollito del barrio
My boyfriend always orders chicken when we go out. So of course he ordered the dish translated into «Chicken from the barrio.» There was great presentation– a well-​seasoned chicken served on a bed of colorful roasted vegetables, including blue potato. Looked really great when it arrived on the table but overall the dish was mediocre. The chicken skin was soggy and unappetizing. Chicken looked as if it had lots of flavor but the flavors were sort of muted and was in need of some sazon, quick! However, the bed of vegetables were great tasting– crisp & fresh.
+Ceviche Mixto
I had the ceviche mixto as my entrée. The portion is quite small but it was good! There’s fish, shrimp, calamari– everything very fresh tasting which is quite important for a ceviche! Nothing was particularly fishy or chewy– much appreciated. BUT (and of course there’s a but) the ceviche’s liquid was TOO sweet. I’m not sure what they put it in but it sort of killed my ceviche experience… citrus, slighty sour, and perhaps just a tinge of natural sweetness is fine but an overwhelmingly sweet ceviche is a no-​no. Did I still enjoy it? Yes– it was a great $ 10 ceviche, but definitely not something I’d come back for.
+Churros
We were never served a dessert menu. In fact, we were told they don’t have one which is disappointing for a dessert feign like me. We sort of had to beg the waiter to come by to tell us what desserts they were serving– kind of annoying that this guy was all over the place. It’s a small place but only 1 waiter? I don’t know… place wasn’t even packed up and he was pretty M.I.A. from our table. Anyway, I ordered the churros. They arrived promptly, nice and hot served with a side of dulce de leche sauce. The sauce was surprisingly creamy and not hot (por queeeee?) but VERY good. I devoured the dessert. Literally in a matter of 5 minutes. Delicious! And for $ 5 definitely worth it. For that price and the ethereal lightness of the lightly crisp churros and the decadence of that slightly sweet, thick caramel sauce– a pair I would happily have for breakfast with a café con leche EVERY morning, I would come back! But it’s kind of awkward to return to a restaurant solely for $ 5 churros. I mean, it isn’t a café.
Overall, this place may be worth another try though I won’t really be rushing back any time soon. Besides the very affordable prices (which I’m sure is due to their smaller-​than-​average portions and cheaper-​than-​other-​parts-​of-​Manhattan rent) I don’t see a reason to make this my go-​to Mexican spot. Perhaps if I’m ever in the area or if they start offering affordable specialty margaritas I’d give it another go.

I liked the food, unfortunately as a grad student on a budget, I definitely wouldn’t be able to afford coming here often. Came with friends who all work, and they loved it! The portions aren’t too big though, which is why we still had room for dessert. Guess my friend’s boyfriend was still hungry, because he decided to order all 4 desserts.
3 of us got different tacos, and just split them. did the same with desserts, so we tried quite a variety. Everything was good, but for $ 35, I felt like I should’ve been more full at the end.