Walking around the city you’ll likely stumble upon some delicious new finds in hole-in-the-wall places, but you also risk finding yourself with a stale taco in hand that might upset your stomach more than it dazzles your taste buds. That said, tacos have also seen quite the elevated scene, with various high-end restaurants adding this comfort food to their menus.
From small corner taquerias to upscale restaurants, here are 10 of the best tacos around the city worth trying:
1. La Bar Cantina
Where: 81 North River Piers
What: NYC’s first floating Mexican restaurant, La Bar Cantina offers Mexican fare and delicious cocktails afloat.
2. Casa Enrique
Where: 5-48 49th Ave (LIC)
What: If you come here you can’t leave without trying their slow cooked beef tongue tacos (lengua tacos).
3. Cosme
Where: 35 E 21st St (Flatiron)
What: Everything on the menu at this upscale restaurant will make your taste buds dance, but if you’re in the mood for a killer taco splurge for the duck carnitas.
4. Empellón Al Pastor
Where: 132 St Marks Pl (East Village)
What: With several Empellón locations in Manhattan, this one takes the crown for tacos—naturally, since it’s a taqueria! The Al Pastor and Cactus tacos are top two on our list, but feel free to taste them all, of course.
5. Flats Fix
Where: 28 E 16th St (Union Square)
What: This bar near Union Square was once a garage but it now serves up gourmet tacos, like their pastrami taco—which is perfection.
6. La Morada
Where: 308 Willis Ave (Bronx)
What: Offering delicious Oaxacan moles and tlayudas that are certainly worth ordering, when it comes to tacos specifically, the bistec asado steals the show.
7. Los Tacos No.1
Where: 75 9th Ave (Chelsea)
What: Located in Chelsea Market, you wouldn’t think to find some of the best tacos in such a touristy place, but the tacos here are worth it. The taco of choice? Their adobada taco! (Pork marinated in a sweet, chile sauce)
8. Taco Mix
Where: 234 E 116th St #1 (East Harlem)
What: This little spot tucked away in East Harlem serves one of the tastiest al pastor tacos around. Watch as they slice the pork in front of you from the rotating spit…we’re hungry just thinking about it.
9. Tacos El Bronco
Where: 4324 4th Ave (Sunset Park)
What: With a taco truck in Manhattan, we still suggest you go to the original restaurant for your taco fix. They’re most known for their soft tripe (which if you’ve ever had tripe you know can be tough to chew at most places), but the campechanos is the must-try taco while here. It combines several of the meats they offer into one warm tortilla.
10. Taqueria
Where: 79 St Marks Pl (East Village)
What: Any taco here is tasty and simple with options from steak to fish to more adventurous items like pork stomach or beef head! However, the star attraction that most will likely be open to trying is their juicy lamb tacos.
Also published on Medium.