Mexican Restaurants Astoria NY with Live Music: Dinner at Cítrico Café

Dining in Astoria with Flavor and Sound

Astoria, Queens has become one of the city’s most diverse dining destinations. With so many cuisines represented, the neighborhood is also home to vibrant nightlife and restaurants that combine food with entertainment. For those searching for Mexican restaurants Astoria NY with live music, Cítrico Café & Agavería stands out.

Here, dinner isn’t just a meal, it’s an experience. Guests enjoy carefully crafted Mexican-inspired dishes, creative cocktails, and the energy of live music nights that transform an evening into a celebration.

Starters That Set the Tone at Mexican Restaurants Astoria NY with Live Music

Cítrico Café’s dinner menu begins with botanas (appetizers) designed for sharing. Classic chips and guacamole get a boost with pickled jalapeños and onions, while nachos come loaded with pinto beans, pico de gallo, chipotle crema, avocado salsa, and queso, with the option to add proteins like ground beef, chicken, carnitas, hanger steak, or shrimp.

Other highlights include:

• Corn Ribs – Grilled and seasoned with mayo-crema, lemon, and chili pepper.

• Flautas de Pollo – Chipotle braised chicken rolled in tortillas, topped with guacamole and pico de gallo.

• Chicharrón de Hongos Quesadilla – Oyster and shiitake mushrooms with melted Monterrey and Oaxaca cheese in a yellow corn tortilla.

• Burrata a la Mexicana – A creative starter with charred peaches, salsa macha, pepitas, and burrata.

These dishes pair perfectly with live music, creating a casual yet festive beginning to the night.

Seafood and Raw Bar

Astoria’s dining scene has always been close to the waterfront, and Cítrico brings the sea to the table with its raw bar. The seafood flight offers a mix of raw oysters, tuna crudo, shrimp ceviche, and tostadas with guacamole. Other favorites include:

• Grilled Oysters with soy garlic butter and crispy garlic.

• Tiradito de Tuna – Tuna sashimi with mango habanero and avocado.

• Coctel de Camarón – Shrimp with avocado, cocktail sauce, and mini tostadas.

• Tuna Tostada – A crisp bite topped with chili crisp macha, avocado, and marinated cucumbers.

These plates highlight the freshness of ingredients while giving guests lighter options to enjoy alongside music.

Main Courses with Mexican Soul

For dinner entrées, Cítrico’s kitchen blends Mexican tradition with modern technique. Some of the standout dishes include:

• Carne Asada – A 10 oz prime hanger steak with roasted fingerling potatoes, salsa almendra, and tortillas.

• Pollo Campero – Half a grilled adobo chicken glazed with chipotle mango sauce and served with rustic fries.

• Crab and Shrimp Enchiladas – Seafood folded into tortillas with chipotle white wine cream sauce.

• Enchiladas de Pollo – Shredded chicken baked with cheese and avocado, served with rice and beans, and a choice of salsa verde or roja.

• Roasted Coliflor – A vegetarian option with cauliflower purée, onion jus, and gremolata.

Seafood lovers often gravitate toward the pan-seared branzino with salsa criolla and maduros, while meat lovers lean into the braised short rib and queso birria tacos.

Tacos That Steal the Show

For many, dinner at a Mexican restaurant isn’t complete without tacos, and Cítrico delivers. Each order comes with three, and the choices highlight both classics and creative flavors:

• Queso Birria – Braised short rib and bone marrow with grilled Oaxaca cheese, served with consommé.

• Filet Mignon Asada – Seared filet with beans, cheese, and salsa ranchera.

• Shrimp Tacos – Mojo shrimp with cabbage, melted cheese, and Cholula crema.

• Baja Taco – Beer-battered cod fish topped with avocado, coleslaw, and salsa macha.

• Pollo Adobado – Corn tortillas filled with chicken, guacamole, pico de gallo, and crispy papa.

• Coca Cola Carnitas – Pork shoulder confit with roasted avocado salsa and serrano peppers.

Each taco brings a different personality to the table, making them perfect for sharing during live music nights.

Ending on a Sweet Note

To finish dinner, desserts provide comfort and indulgence:

• Old Fashion Horchata Donut with vanilla bean ice cream and tajín.

• Tres Leches infused with mezcal and dusted with cinnamon.

• Cajeta Cheesecake with a burnt sugar finish.

• Buttermilk Cornbread with honey butter and blueberries.

These sweets balance out the savory plates and round off the evening.

Live Music and Atmosphere

What truly sets Cítrico apart from other Mexican restaurants Astoria NY with live music is the atmosphere. The space transforms during dinner with DJs or live bands, turning the restaurant into a lively, cultural hub. Guests don’t just come to eat — they come to enjoy a full evening where music and food complement each other.

This combination makes Cítrico a destination for birthdays, date nights, or casual evenings out with friends. The menu offers variety, while the music brings energy and rhythm to the dining experience.

Visit Cítrico Café & Agavería

For anyone searching for Mexican restaurants Astoria NY with live music, Cítrico Café offers the perfect balance of cuisine, cocktails, and entertainment. From tacos and carne asada to mocktails and margaritas, the dinner menu is crafted for flavor, while the music ensures every visit feels like an event.

📍 Address: 32-90 36th Street, Astoria / Long Island City, Queens, NY 11106📞 Phone: 718-255-1705🌐 Follow Us: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook