Waheyo, opening at 27-16 Queens Plaza South, the former site of the Sun Thrift Shop
Nov. 14, 2017 By Nathaly Pesantez
A modern Mexican restaurant is heading to Long Island City into a small space in Queens Plaza.
Waheyo, the name of the restaurant, will be serving modern Mexican-inspired dishes at 27-16 Queens Plaza. The spot, just off the Queensboro Bridge, was formerly occupied by the thrift store Sun Thrift Shop.
The eatery will offer a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu, with staple items including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, guacamole based dishes, and other “comfort foods”, according to Willy Quinones, the owner of the forthcoming restaurant with 31 years of experience in the industry.
The mural painting inside Waheyo at 27-16 Queens Plaza South. (Photo courtesy of Samuel Hagag, the muralist)
While the menu, priced between $3 and $10 for main meals, will be largely based on Mexican dishes, a blend of items from other Latin American countries will be available, like mofongo cups, a fried-plantain dish from the Caribbean. A guacamole bar is also expected at the restaurant.
A menu of frozen cocktails and beers, served from mid-afternoon through the day, is also planned for the restaurant.
At a modest 800-square-feet, the restaurant has room for 16 chairs. There will be no bar, save for a blender that will prepare the frozen drinks.
The restaurant, which will also offer delivery within the area, is set to open 7 days a week, and will likely have an early 6 a.m. start. It’s expected to run no later than 2 a.m., a time put forth by Community Board 2’s City Services and Public Safety Committee on Nov. 8.
Waheyo, the English phonetic pronunciation, with a slight twist, of the guajillo chilli pepper, has been in the works for the past five months. “I’ve set my eyes on the area for quite some time,” Quinones said, noting the influx of development in Long Island City when he used to work on Borden Avenue.
The restaurant hopes to open its doors next month.
Waheyo, opening at 27-16 Queens Plaza South
