The Rundown of NYC's Taco Scene
NYC is having a taco moment so let's break it down for you
Tacos have certainly made their mark on New York City and they’re actually having a moment currently. We’ve seen a handful of spots from Mexico City make their way to us, whether via pop ups or permanent locations. There are also so many local taco shops that are deriving from well known higher end NYC restaurants. From classic handmade corn tortillas to piled high rotating al pastor, this is your official taco guide to NYC.
Santo Taco (SoHo)
Brand new to NYC and making a lot of buzz, Santo comes from one of the Cosme founders, Santiago Perez. They took over the upstairs space of La Esquina, iconically sitting in SoHo. Their menu is small with 5 taco options and you can order ‘something sweet’ that is a surprise dessert. These tacos were insane. We can’t recommend Santo enough, even if there is a line you NEED to wait in it. Our favorites were the steak trompo and the carnitas.
Taqueria El Chato (Greenpoint)
Taqueria El Chato comes from the team behind Aldama. Something we loved is they’re serving an entire slice of pineapple on top of their al pastor taco. We tried it and it was delicious! They also allow any taco to be turned into a quesadilla which is the perfect option if you are looking to change things up.
Taqueria Ramirez (Greenpoint)
A consistently reliable spot, Taqueria Ramirez quickly earned a following for their super real deal, no fuss, authentic tacos. It truly feels like it’s straight off the streets of Mexico. They stew their meat all day before receiving a final blowtorch flare and serving. The al pastor and suadero are a must-try!
Carnitas Ramirez (East Village)
This is a pork-only extension of Taqueria Ramirez and it’s in Manhattan (as opposed to its OG location in Greenpoint, BK). Carnitas Ramirez serves nose-to-tail pig cuts in their tacos and that’s it. They literally chop up a whole pig and cook the different parts as options to go on tacos… Their most classic cuts are the shoulder and ribs (the shoulder was our favorite), but they also have the ear, snout, and tail for the more adventurous eaters.
Esse Taco (Williamsburg)
If you’re looking for an authentic taco but in a fast and casual setting, Esse is the spot in Williamsburg. It comes from Enrique Olvera, Cosme’s other founder ironically (see Santo Taco above). We recommend getting the ribeye and al pastor, but they have to be gringa style (melted cheese on a flour tortilla). Save room for the corn husk meringue creamy sundae.
Tacos Chicos (East Village)
This is a taco pop up happening Wednesday to Sunday from 6 to 11 PM inside the East Village bar 96 Tears. You can get a fresh marg with your tacos. They all come with griddled cheese on the tortilla and we thought they were a great bar snack.
Cariñito Tacos (Greenwich Village)
This Michelin-recognized taqueria from Mexico City is popped up in Greenwich Village for the summer. They’re doing tacos with an Asian twist, think a pork belly taco topped with cucumber, sesame, and a sweet and spicy hoisin-type sauce and guacamole spiked with nam jim. We liked their vibe and think they might be looking for a more permanent location
Los Tacos No. 1 (Multiple locations)
Los Taco No. 1 is an iconic and must-visit spot. They have multiple locations across the city and their al pastor taco with the works and breakfast burrito are at the top of our list. You also need to try their off-menu queso shell. We’ve been so often though that the perfect order is just two al pastor tacos on flour tortillas with a Mexican coke on the side. Simply perfect!
There’s something to be said about the broader CDMX influence on the NYC food scene (Comal, Olmo, & taco spots)