Manhattan is no stranger to countless Mexican restaurants sprinkled around town, and Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh was no coward when marking its name in the Little Apple. Located at 1328 Laramie St. in what was once Burger King, it is open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday, making it the perfect late-night snack food. Here are some of my thoughts on the most popular items.

Chicken Quesadilla | $11

The quesadilla was straightforward, with just cheese and shredded chicken. The chicken had flavor and the tiniest bit of spice that built up the more you ate it. Don’t worry if you can’t handle spice; this is still doable. It’s the perfect item to get and doesn’t kill your taste buds. The portion size was perfect for sharing, especially after those late nights with friends. 

Chips and Queso | $4.99

The chips and queso were another perfect item to share. The portion was enough for three people, with some leftovers. The queso was a bit runny but made up for by the flavor. It was balanced between a white cheese sauce and the same flavor profile as the chicken quesadilla. It wasn’t too spicy, and the chips were salted adequately — not too much or too little. An honorable mention is dipping the quesadilla in the queso!

Beef Taco | $3.30

The beef taco consisted of ground beef, lettuce, cheese and a fried taco shell. The ground beef had a good flavor but was a little bit drier, and there was a lot of it in the taco. The fried taco shell elevated the taco and added a nice crispy element that didn’t completely crumble like a traditional shell would. It was good, but nothing was worth raving about besides the shell. 

Plain Churro | $2

The churro was your typical churro base rolled in cinnamon sugar. It was crunchy on the outside and a little chewy on the inside. It was an excellent palette cleanser after the savory items. For a sweet treat option, the churro is cheap and delicious. It was nearly a foot long and another item to share with friends. The only thing that needed to be added was some sort of sauce to dip it in. 

Carnitas Taco | $4

The carnitas taco was loaded with cheese, pico de gallo, refried beans and lettuce. Its delicious avocado-based sauce was creamy and smoother than typical guacamole. The carnitas were bite-sized pieces of pork, making them easy to bite into. The shell was double-wrapped in a soft corn tortilla and tightly held together.

Sope | $3.19

The sope’s base was a thick fried tortilla shell. It contained refried beans, pico de gallo, cheese, lettuce and carnitas. It was a lot to eat, and the base took up most of the flavor. If you love tortillas, this may be the item for you!