Ay Guey

Ay Guey is a small, colorful Mexican cantina on 51st Street in the Woodside and Astoria borderlands, with about 40 seats counting the bar. Part-owner Artemio Vasquez took over the former Brazilian restaurant around 2022 and renovated it, painting the walls purple and hanging yellow lights meant to echo onions and lemon peel, according to a 2024 profile in Give Me Astoria. Vasquez brings a bartender's background from Pegu Club, PDT and Pier 17, and it shows in the drinks list. The mood is casual and cozy rather than formal, the kind of corner place where regulars settle in at the bar and a weekend brunch can stretch into the afternoon.

Vasquez points first-timers to the Mexican-style ceviche, made with lime juice and shrimp, and to the cochinita pibil tacos, slow-cooked pulled pork with deep chile flavor. Locals also talk up the guacamole with chorizo, grilled octopus and fish tacos. From the bar, look for margaritas made with fresh lime juice and Cointreau, a serrano-infused version for heat, and pineapple with mezcal. Ay Guey was featured by the YouTuber New York Turk in 2026, on a solo dinner visit. The restaurant also runs a Sunday brunch and handles catering for parties. It is a short walk from Northern Boulevard, which makes it an easy stop on a Queens food crawl.