Tacos aren’t something New York has historically done particularly well. As you may have heard, these delicious creations hail from Mexico and we have trouble competing with border states like Texas and California that are able to learn through osmosis. But as a man who loves his taco above nearly all else, I certainly don’t let this deter me from eating them. All the time. And fortunately in the decade I’ve lived here, my love of tacos has become well enough known that some legit shops have actually opened around the city. I will now share with you some of favorites.
Brooklyn
The best places to get traditional tacos are – not surprisingly – the communities where actual Mexicans live. If you’re willing to travel out a little ways, two of the best are Bushwick and Sunset Park in Brooklyn. It’s hard to go wrong in these areas, but the ones below are my personal favorites:
Bushwick
Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos
Taqueria Izucar
Sunset Park
Tacos el Bronco
4011 Deli Grocery
Manhattan
Manhattan’s taco scene has taken huge strides the last five years. Most of these tacos are somewhere between what you’d find in Mexico and Southern California.
Los Tacos No 1
Otto’s Tacos
Tacos Morelos
Empellon al Pastor
Fish Tacos
These can be delicious. Just not in New York. Please take one of our many daily flights to Southern California for this. Rockaway Taco does the pretty decent one above, but it’s practically at JFK so you might as well hop on the plane and get some better weather at that point. If you do head that way, check out my San Diego Guide for the good stuff.
Honorable Mention: Los Mariscos
