5 Burro Cafe
“This place is always busy, so it's best to go before the happy hour/dinner rush, or just call in your order & pick it up.”
“Haven't had chance yet to devour the food, but my friend says that this is the best Mexican place in Queens.”
“Get a pitcher of their Margarita
I have never had anything I didn't like there – from appetizer to main entre”
5 Burro Cafe
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This staple in Forest Hills is one of my favorites for over 7 years. Its a small, narrow restaurant with funky, simple décor. The wait is normally over 45min even on weekdays. The bar is normally packed – even on weekdays. In other words, expect to wait. I normally grab a drink at the bar while I wait for my table. My favorite is the original frozen margarita with salt on the rim. That drink is always served in a small mason jar. Other drinks are served differently. I am not a fan of the flavored drinks as the concentrated liquid transforms the drink into something my palate doesn't approve – too bitter.
The food is average – It's my favorite b/c of the margarita. I've ordered the quesadilla, tacos, steak, special of the day, etc. They don't necessarily put their own special twist on it hence why I call it average. I do love their chips and salsa, which is complimentary even at the bar, because the salsa comes with heat.
The service is okay. Some days the servers are on their game and other days you have to wave them over. This happens on both busy and slow days, so I don't get it. One thing for sure is that the staff is polite.
I understand the concept, if it's not broken, don't fix it. However, I do wish they incorporated more options to their menu… maybe different house-made salsas for the chips or tacos… possibly expanding their location since the wait can get out of hand … and most importantly, keep the music on – right now there's a jukebox which the patrons must pay to hear their favorite tunes, otherwise no music will play for an extended period of time.
Overall, it's a quaint restaurant with yummy margaritas. Average food. Average service. Fortunately, the average-ness won't stop me from returning – see you soon 5 Burros!
I've lived not too far from 5 Burro's for a while but never had a chance to stop in until coworkers and I came in for a late lunch.
We sat quickly, and ordered our drinks. We went with a pitcher of the frozen strawberry margarita. It was so good! It came out very thick and cold; perfect for a warm summer afternoon.
We ordered food as well; I got the veggie fajitas. They were good, but nothing special. I'd definitely be back even if it was just for the margaritas.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at 5 Burro. The frozen margaritas are delicious. I started with a Pomegranate one while we were waiting for our table, then we got a pitcher of the lime flavor followed by a pitcher of the strawberry flavor. The strawberry was a little too sweet, but the pomegranate and lime ones were spot on.
The food was delicious. I had the dinner-sized portion of the pulled chicken flautas and really, really enjoyed them. I would highly recommend that dish.
The music was inaudible while the place was packed, if it was even playing at that point. Later in the night, the music was fun and added to the continued energy of the place.
The staff were attentive, polite, and helpful. A gentleman, who I suspect was the owner, introduced himself and made sure that we were enjoying the experience. That type of oversight is evident when a place is run that efficiently and with staff who are so focused on the experience being what it ought to be.
I wish that they took reservations, at least for groups of four or more, and hope that management reconsiders that policy.
One of my favorite places to go for a great frozen margarita, good Mexican food, and a fun time. 5 Burro is on the smaller side and gets crowded fast so waiting for a table is expected. However, once you're seated, the complimentary chips and salsa hold you over until your meal comes out. The atmosphere is fun with lost of funky memorabilia hung up on the wall. It's easy to sit down and catch up with a few friends. There is a lot to choose from on the menu. I've only ever ordered the margaritas from the drink menu. The mason jar margaritas are a great presentation and taste just as great with a decent punch. For food, the serving sizes are big. I've ordered the chicken mole dish and tacos- both tasted great!
The anchopotilado quesadilla is worth the 45 minute wait every time I go here. Excellent margaritas that you can order by the pitcher. Also great steak nachos that come with an entire sliced steak.
Enchiladas were not as good as above mentioned items but we're still good
They will not seat you until your entire party is there, waits can be long but you can also eat at the bar
Annoyingly you must settle your bar tab before being seated. They're always crowded so lingering seems discouraged.
A+ Mexican food overall, good service once you're seated
This was THE place to be on a random sunny Sunday afternoon. We were quoted a 30 minute wait, which was just about the time it took for us to be sat. However, you can order some drinks at the bar while you wait, which is helpful, and they throw you some free chips & salsa.
It is a small, cramped place – typical NYC fashion, but with its own charm.
We each ordered a frozen margarita (which seems to be the speciality here) – the plain and the strawberry. The plain was a tid bit too strong for my liking, however the strawberry was fruity and delicious. They are definitely sipper drinks.
The free chips and salsa aren't terrible, like most "free" things at reasonably priced restaurants can be. As in, the salsa wasn't mainly water with some thrown in tomatoes… actually edible!
For once, my boyfriend and I ordered the same thing. We usually try to order a different plate and then usually split, but I guess my choice was too good for him to pass up this time around.
We ordered the three tacos – lobster, shrimp, and steak. The entree comes with a side of rice and beans, guac, sour cream, pico de gallo, and a lime wedge.
The first one I tried was the lobster – while okay, I am glad I ate that one first because it only got better from there. The shrimp was tender but not undercooked, and had the perfect amount of spices on it. The steak was cooked perfectly, not tough but not raw. I would definitely go back and just ordered steak and/or shrimp tacos! YUM!
The beans were just like any refried beans with a dash of queso fresco on top, and the rice tasted a bit overcooked to me, not very much flavor added to it.
Overall, a good place to grab some tacos & margaritas!
This place has just become one of my favorite TexMex joints in the area, so too bad I'm just now discovering it!!! Any of my nearby Queens friends who are hankering for Mexican food can call me up any time, and I'll definitely make the trek out to Forest Hills for some grub at 5 Burro!
So why did I love it? Well, the food, of course… especially their amazing steak nachos! These are now in my top 3 steak nachos, hands down! The steak (medium rare) was marinated and seared just right… just a tad pink inside and succulent. Also, the chips, beans, and cheese on the nachos were tasty and piled high! I will be dreaming about these for a while.
As for the other food we tried, all was first rate–the enchilada suizas, lobster tacos, chicken tacos, rice, and beans. All yummy! Note, however, that I didn't get to try any drinks, but that will next trip! They looked amazing! Those Margaritas, I need soon!
The last thing I'll mention is the service. The wait staff and bartender were all super nice!
If you want a fun, unpretentious Mexican restaurant with really tasty food, look no further than 5 Burros. Right along Austin St, 5 Burros is bustling, but small, so do be prepared for a wait if you're coming with a party of 3 or more. The margarita pitchers are a must – well-made and a generous serving for a group of 3. The servers here are friendly and considerate, even down to refilling our complimentary chips and salsa multiple times. The enchiladas are solid (a rich, robust green salsa, not too much sour cream), but the pollo enchipotlado quesadilla is out of this world. The chicken is spicy, well-seasoned, yet still juicy; the abundant melted cheese and nicely toasted tortilla only make the quesadilla more delectable. With its reasonable prices and relaxed vibe, 5 Burros makes for a good time in Forest Hills.