New Mexican Restaurant Ruta Oaxaca To Open In Astoria

ASTORIA, QUEENS — A new restaurant opening in January will bring the traditional flavors of Oaxaca, Mexico, to the plates of diners in Astoria.

Ruta Oaxaca, which opens for pick-up and delivery orders Sunday at 35-03 Broadway, will serve authentic Mexican dishes crafted using ingredients from the city of Oaxaca.

The restaurant is the brainchild of longtime restaurant workers José Castillo Reyes and Carlos and Felipe Arellano. Castillo Reyes, the owner, entered the industry as a dishwasher more than two decades ago.

"It all started small," said his wife, Iris Castillo, who runs the restaurant's social media and is helping out on the business side of the new venture.

Highlights of Ruta Oaxaca's menu include homemade mole negro, mole amarillo and mole verde sauces, which grace dishes such as chicken buñuelos and grilled halibut.

"That's what I think is going to make us stand out — the moles," Castillo told Patch. "Everything has a little bit of sazón from Oaxaca."

Food isn't the only way the restaurant will bring Oaxacan flavor to Astoria. A custom painting of an "alebrije" — the name for colorful, hand-painted wooden sculptures made by Oaxacan artisans — adorns the restaurant's entryway.

The team chose Astoria for its welcoming atmosphere and its vibrant and diverse restaurant scene, according to Castillo.

Castillo said, "As soon as we got there, people were walking by like, 'Oh, you're opening?' They made us feel so welcome."