Laly’s Restaurant Review: Authentic Mexican Food in Jackson Heights That’s Worth Trying
Quick Summary
- Restaurant: Laly’s Restaurant
- Address: 75-19 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- Cuisine: Mexican and American
- Price Range: Expensive for Mexican food, but generous portions
- What I Ordered: Chicken enchiladas with mole sauce, rice and beans, and a fish taco
- My Favorite: The fish taco
- Best For: Anyone craving a sit-down, authentic Mexican meal in Jackson Heights
- Skip If: You’re looking for cheap street tacos or easy parking
- Would I Come Back? Yes, especially for the fish taco
Watch My Experience
Jump to:
- Quick Summary
- Watch My Experience
- Trying an Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Jackson Heights
- Laly’s Restaurant Feels Like a Mix of Bar and Restaurant
- How to Get to Laly’s Restaurant
- Chicken Enchiladas with Mole Sauce
- Rice and Beans: A Simple Side That Made Sense
- The Fish Taco Was the Best Thing I Ordered
- Is Laly’s Restaurant Worth the Price?
- My Honest Final Thoughts on Laly’s Restaurant
- Restaurant Information
Trying an Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Jackson Heights
Jackson Heights is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Queens for food because there’s always something authentic to try. You can walk through the area and find all kinds of cuisines, from South Asian and Latin American food to smaller neighborhood restaurants that don’t always get talked about as much online.
This time, I went to Laly’s Restaurant, a Mexican spot located right on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. The restaurant serves both American and Mexican food, but for this visit, I focused entirely on the Mexican side of the menu.
After trying the food, I can say this was a satisfying meal overall. The portions were generous, the staff were friendly, and the food tasted authentic. That said, I also think it’s important to be honest: for Mexican food, this place is not cheap. I spent $43 total, and while I do think the food was good and worth trying, it’s definitely more expensive than grabbing tacos from a food stall or a simpler taqueria in Queens.
Still, if you want a sit-down meal with larger portions and a more comfortable restaurant setting, Laly’s Restaurant is worth considering.
Laly’s Restaurant Feels Like a Mix of Bar and Restaurant
One thing I noticed right away about Laly’s Restaurant is that it doesn’t feel like a small taco counter or a casual takeout spot. The atmosphere is more like a combination of a bar and restaurant, which makes it feel different from a lot of the smaller Mexican food spots in the neighborhood.
It’s the kind of place where you can sit down, order a full meal, and take your time rather than just grabbing a few quick tacos and leaving. Because of that, I think it works better if you’re looking for a proper dine-in experience rather than a fast, budget-friendly Mexican bite.
I also want to mention that the service was very good. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and made the experience pleasant, which always matters to me when I’m spending over $40 on a meal. Good service doesn’t automatically make food taste better, of course, but it definitely helps make the overall restaurant experience more enjoyable.
How to Get to Laly’s Restaurant
If you’re planning to visit Laly’s Restaurant, the easiest way is by subway.
The restaurant is located at:
75-19 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Since it’s in Jackson Heights, you can get there through the 74th Street–Roosevelt Avenue / Jackson Heights transportation hub, which is one of the main subway stations in the area. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can use the 7, E, F, M, or R trains. From there, it’s just a short walk down Roosevelt Avenue.
If you’re driving, I honestly would not recommend expecting easy parking. Parking in this part of Jackson Heights can be difficult, and the streets around Roosevelt Avenue are fairly narrow and busy, especially if you’re going during peak hours. So if you want the easiest experience, I think taking the subway makes much more sense than trying to find a parking spot.
Chicken Enchiladas with Mole Sauce
The first main dish I had was the chicken enchiladas, which were topped with mole sauce.
If you’ve never had mole before, it’s a traditional Mexican sauce that can have a very layered flavor profile. In this case, the mole sauce tasted earthy, mildly sweet, savory, and rich, which made it different from the more common tomato-based enchilada sauces many people are used to.
The enchiladas themselves tasted good, and I could tell the dish was prepared well. But if I’m being honest, the mole sauce just wasn’t my type.
This is one of those situations where I want to be fair in my review. I don’t think the mole sauce was bad at all. In fact, I can easily see why other people would enjoy it, especially if they already love mole. It’s just a personal preference on my end. I tend to prefer something a little brighter and more familiar with enchiladas, so if I came back, I would probably choose a tomato-based sauce instead.
So my honest opinion is this:
- The enchiladas were good
- The mole sauce tasted authentic
- But personally, I would not order the mole version again
I think that’s an important distinction because it doesn’t mean the dish was a failure. It just means it didn’t fully match my own taste.
Rice and Beans: A Simple Side That Made Sense
To go with the enchiladas, I also ordered a side of rice and beans.
This might not sound like the most exciting part of the meal, but I actually think it was the right choice because it paired naturally with the enchiladas and helped make the plate feel more complete. When you’re eating something with a rich sauce like mole, it’s nice to have familiar sides that balance out the dish and turn it into a fuller meal.
The rice and beans did exactly what I expected them to do. They made the meal more filling and gave me something classic to pair with the enchiladas. It’s not the kind of item I’d call the star of the show, but I’m still glad I ordered it because it fit the overall plate well.
The Fish Taco Was the Best Thing I Ordered
Out of everything I had at Laly’s Restaurant, the fish taco was easily my favorite. In fact, I’d go even further and say this was one of the best fish tacos I’ve had in a while.
What made it stand out to me was the texture and seasoning. The fish was fried, and it had that perfect contrast of being crispy on the outside while staying soft and flaky on the inside. That alone already made it enjoyable, but what really pushed it over the top was the flavor.
It was beautifully seasoned, which is something I think really matters with fish tacos because bland fish can ruin the whole experience. This one had enough flavor to stand on its own while still feeling balanced and not overly greasy.
After eating the chicken enchiladas, the fish taco ended up being the item that impressed me the most. It had the kind of flavor and texture that made me immediately think, yes, I would come back just for this.
So if someone asked me what I personally recommend at Laly’s Restaurant, my answer would be very clear: Get the fish taco. That was the standout item for me, and honestly, it’s the main reason I’d come back.
Is Laly’s Restaurant Worth the Price?
This is probably the most important question for a place like this. I spent $43 total, and I think whether that feels worth it depends entirely on what kind of Mexican food experience you’re looking for.
If you want cheap tacos, quick bites, or something closer to food-truck pricing, then I don’t think Laly’s Restaurant is the best choice for that. Jackson Heights has plenty of taco spots and street vendors where you can eat for a lot less.
But if you want a sit-down restaurant, generous portions, friendly table service, and authentic Mexican food in a more comfortable dine-in setting, then I do think Laly’s Restaurant is worth trying at least once.
So yes, I’d call it expensive for Mexican food, but I wouldn’t call it a rip-off. The portions were good, the food felt authentic, and I left completely full. I just think it’s important to set your expectations properly before walking in because this is not a budget-friendly taco counter.
My Honest Final Thoughts on Laly’s Restaurant
Overall, I had a good experience at Laly’s Restaurant in Jackson Heights. The service was great, the portions were generous, and the food felt authentic. I liked that it offered a more complete dine-in experience rather than just feeling like a quick taco stop.
At the same time, I also think this restaurant is best approached with the right expectations. If you’re looking for a cheap Mexican meal, this probably isn’t the place I’d send you to first. But if you’re okay spending a bit more for a sit-down experience with bigger portions, then I think it’s worth checking out.
The enchiladas were good, although I personally wouldn’t choose the mole sauce again. The rice and beans completed the meal nicely. But the real highlight for me was the fish taco, which was crispy, well-seasoned, and easily the best thing I ordered.
Just keep these things in mind before you go:
- Take the subway if possible (avoid the parking headache)
- Expect to spend more than you would at a traditional taco stall
- Order the fish taco—that is my biggest recommendation!
Restaurant Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Restaurant Name | Laly’s Restaurant |
| Address | 75-19 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 |
| Subway Transit | 7, E, F, M, R trains via the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Ave station |
| Cuisine Type | Mexican & American |
| Parking Situation | Very difficult; narrow, busy neighborhood roads |
| Price Point | On the higher side for Mexican food ($43 total for this meal) |
| What I Ordered | Chicken enchiladas with mole, rice and beans, fish taco |
| The Top Recommendation | The Fish Taco (Must-Order) |
| Final Verdict | Worth trying if you want a comfortable, authentic sit-down meal |
Please note that menu items, prices, and restaurant details may change over time.
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