Best authentic Mexican street tacos in gramercy/east village/LES
Just moved from phoenix and have only been able to find frilly tacos that are trying way too hard. Looking for tacos that look just like this, no frills, just good tacos.
by Blazinhazen_
37 Comments
Schmeep01
Go to Corona or Jackson Heights, Queens, or Spanish Harlem: you are limiting yourself due to your geographic constraints!
UnlikelyLook8554
Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint
3kota
Zaragoza on Ave A is quite good.
AdPsychological108
El camion is solid
trendoid01
Los Tacos No 1 on Lafayette probably
thats-gold-jerry
Ramirez.
herseyhawkins33
Taqueria gramercy is excellent! Love their cabeza tacos but plenty of other good offerings there too: https://g.co/kgs/of2SS7h
edit: typo
keanukoala1213
Taqueria downtown in jersey city, at the corner of grove and grand.
milxs
I used to live in Gramercy and I was absolutely addicted to this truck on 20th/3rd that would do street tacos, haven’t seen them since Covid tho, but maybe they moved their spot? I can’t remember the name but it was a plain white truck with curtain lights on the hood. Also FYI I’ve never had Mexican food in the city that was as good as the Mexican food I had in Arizona
Kochbiel
I can’t speak to how they compare to the southwest scene, but Tacos Cuautla Morelos on e9th just off Tompkins Square is a good no-frills spot.
Maleficent-Budget-63
My go to is the cart on A and 2nd
EggCzar
Not your requested areas, but Taqueria Cocoyoc in Bushwick is a pretty quick trip on the L or M and has great ones. Their lengua is the best I’ve ever had.
jl42662
Taqueria gramercy. Taste great, Cheap, served on paper plates, no frills.
[deleted]
[deleted]
Level_Management_630
Tacos Time Square (located in kips bay though)
donkeydick48
Essex Taqueria
Boom_Valvo
It’s been a while for me, but you could try the downtown bakery in the east Village. I think they were closed for a while, but may have opened back up.
team_suba
The birria tacos cart is on e Houston and 1st I believe. I haven’t had it yet but it’s the same one that people in queens line up for.
jaishan00
Viva Birria is amazinggg
pretendsnothere
Jos tacos on 14th st!
vy2005
Tacos Times Square is pretty good (it is in Murray Hill not Times Square)
LongIsland1995
Birria Landia, Los Tacos 1 Taqueria Essex, Birria LES
Yanischemas21
Los tacos no 1 in nyc by far BUT go to al pastor taquiera in bushwick which is better and doesnt make u shit ur brains out as much. The al pastor is better than the carne asada and u MUST get it en maiz con todo.
They aren’t fancy but I don’t get the sense that’s what you are looking for.
Will also second Los Tacos no.1 –they started in LA and came here about 10 years ago, first in Chelsea market, then in FiDi and the closest to LES is the one on Lafayette
Thick-Definition7416
Just be aware they won’t be nearly as good as the ones in the southwest
sickbabe
go directly to corona. do not pass go, do not collect $200, consider getting a corona lemon ice after
hotspencer
Los Tacos #1 is the only taco I can vouch for in Manhattan (I’ve liked others but not memorable).
Would love to know of any places you eventually find that meet your standard but probably something you are going to want to save for trips back to AZ.
For what it’s worth, Electric Burrito is a superb west coast style burrito in east village.
UCanGoShaveUrBackNow
Not in the neighborhoods you mentioned but still downtown – Jalepeno truck in the West Village
TanBoot
Oh you’re going to get a big surprise when you learn that the Mexican food you loved out west isn’t a thing nyc does well
LeftReflection6620
“NYC HaS bAD meXicAn!!!”
Appropriate-Sport-22
As everyone said Los Tacos is #1. Don’t waste your time on El Gallo Taqueria, they are ass.
ando228
Empellon Al Pastor on St Marks has homemade tortilla tacos. Small selection but good. Note that it’s mostly a bar. Go before 7 and the tacos are $4.
MonkyThrowPoop
Los Tacos No.1, but I’m also a fan of Taqueria St.Marks. I know it sounds like a cheesy name, but it’s good!!!
noahswetface
ur not going to find better tacos than phoenix in NY. it’s sad reality. the mexican food here is really lacking but it upsets a lot of this sub. los tacos will come closest with crispiness of the meat.
BusyBurdee
Bookmarking
quodlibetor
Taqueria Nixtamal in the market line (basement of Essex market) doesn’t get nearly enough love imo. They have my favorite tortillas in NYC (fluffy hand made and flavorful) and all their ingredients are top notch. They’re more on the gourmet side aka more dollars per calorie but they _are_ good.
mad0789
Try Tortilleria Mexicana los Hermanos in Bushwick, a quick L train ride away from Gramercy. Great spot! BYOB. Also seconding Tacqueria Gramercy, but that’s more of a sit-down spot.
37 Comments
Go to Corona or Jackson Heights, Queens, or Spanish Harlem: you are limiting yourself due to your geographic constraints!
Taqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint
Zaragoza on Ave A is quite good.
El camion is solid
Los Tacos No 1 on Lafayette probably
Ramirez.
Taqueria gramercy is excellent! Love their cabeza tacos but plenty of other good offerings there too: https://g.co/kgs/of2SS7h
edit: typo
Taqueria downtown in jersey city, at the corner of grove and grand.
I used to live in Gramercy and I was absolutely addicted to this truck on 20th/3rd that would do street tacos, haven’t seen them since Covid tho, but maybe they moved their spot? I can’t remember the name but it was a plain white truck with curtain lights on the hood. Also FYI I’ve never had Mexican food in the city that was as good as the Mexican food I had in Arizona
I can’t speak to how they compare to the southwest scene, but Tacos Cuautla Morelos on e9th just off Tompkins Square is a good no-frills spot.
My go to is the cart on A and 2nd
Not your requested areas, but Taqueria Cocoyoc in Bushwick is a pretty quick trip on the L or M and has great ones. Their lengua is the best I’ve ever had.
Taqueria gramercy. Taste great, Cheap, served on paper plates, no frills.
[deleted]
Tacos Time Square (located in kips bay though)
Essex Taqueria
It’s been a while for me, but you could try the downtown bakery in the east Village. I think they were closed for a while, but may have opened back up.
The birria tacos cart is on e Houston and 1st I believe. I haven’t had it yet but it’s the same one that people in queens line up for.
Viva Birria is amazinggg
Jos tacos on 14th st!
Tacos Times Square is pretty good (it is in Murray Hill not Times Square)
Birria Landia, Los Tacos 1 Taqueria Essex, Birria LES
Los tacos no 1 in nyc by far BUT go to al pastor taquiera in bushwick which is better and doesnt make u shit ur brains out as much. The al pastor is better than the carne asada and u MUST get it en maiz con todo.
I live in the LES. A place that doesn’t get talked about much that is good is [el Cabron](https://www.elcabrontaqueria.com/)
They aren’t fancy but I don’t get the sense that’s what you are looking for.
Will also second Los Tacos no.1 –they started in LA and came here about 10 years ago, first in Chelsea market, then in FiDi and the closest to LES is the one on Lafayette
Just be aware they won’t be nearly as good as the ones in the southwest
go directly to corona. do not pass go, do not collect $200, consider getting a corona lemon ice after
Los Tacos #1 is the only taco I can vouch for in Manhattan (I’ve liked others but not memorable).
Would love to know of any places you eventually find that meet your standard but probably something you are going to want to save for trips back to AZ.
For what it’s worth, Electric Burrito is a superb west coast style burrito in east village.
Not in the neighborhoods you mentioned but still downtown – Jalepeno truck in the West Village
Oh you’re going to get a big surprise when you learn that the Mexican food you loved out west isn’t a thing nyc does well
“NYC HaS bAD meXicAn!!!”
As everyone said Los Tacos is #1. Don’t waste your time on El Gallo Taqueria, they are ass.
Empellon Al Pastor on St Marks has homemade tortilla tacos. Small selection but good. Note that it’s mostly a bar. Go before 7 and the tacos are $4.
Los Tacos No.1, but I’m also a fan of Taqueria St.Marks. I know it sounds like a cheesy name, but it’s good!!!
ur not going to find better tacos than phoenix in NY. it’s sad reality. the mexican food here is really lacking but it upsets a lot of this sub. los tacos will come closest with crispiness of the meat.
Bookmarking
Taqueria Nixtamal in the market line (basement of Essex market) doesn’t get nearly enough love imo. They have my favorite tortillas in NYC (fluffy hand made and flavorful) and all their ingredients are top notch. They’re more on the gourmet side aka more dollars per calorie but they _are_ good.
Try Tortilleria Mexicana los Hermanos in Bushwick, a quick L train ride away from Gramercy. Great spot! BYOB. Also seconding Tacqueria Gramercy, but that’s more of a sit-down spot.