authentic el pastor tacos

A friend raves about tacos el pastor he used to have in mexico. Apparently, they are made with really succulent pork which is cooked on a rotiseri device similar to a gyro. Any recommendations as to where to get some in the city. I'd be willing to venture to the outer boroughs to make this happen.

[thievery]

divey, tasty, authentic... great burrito 23rd and 6th. despite all appearance to the contrary.

[LloydG]

I had an al pastor torta the other day from Great Burrito and it was quite tasty, although it was done on the grill.

[Virchis]

i get all my mexican food from the truck at 96 and bway...i love it

[layupjones]

The 96th street truck is great, but their tacos al pastor are weak and don't come from a spit--try the carne enchilada instead.

The best and most authentic tacos al pastor I've had in the city were at Los Portales in Astoria.

[rteplow]

Can anyone comment on the taco truck on 96th St. west of Broadway? Maybe when the weather improves -- or if you live nearby -- that would be a good source.

Taqueria de Mexico on Greenwich and 12th St. in the Village (across from St. Vincent's) serves taquitos al pastor the way my Mexican friend used to eat them at home. She claims they're authentic. On top of the pork they add pineapple, onions and cilantro.

If you want "real" al pastor tacos done on a vertical spit, then you'll be hard pressed to find it in Manhattan. Other hounds claim that Tulcingo del Valle on 10th Ave/47th St does a spit version, but since it's behind the scenes, I can't confirm it, but that's probably a good bet for a better version in Manhattan. I would think one of the taquerias on 116th would also have an al pastor spit as well (I haven't been around there in ages). While El Paso does a decent version, they do the ubiquitous version of marinated meat in a tub and fry it up and call that al pastor, which can be good but lacks the true essence of al pastor. Otherwise, you'd have to head to the outer boroughs to find it. As another poster mentions, Nuevo Mexico III in Sunset Park is a good choice. Other places would be Rincon Azteca in Sunnyside, Taqueria Coatzingo in Jackson Heights, or Tulcingo Taqueria in Corona.

I have glimpsed the spit at Tulcingo del Valle

I've seen the spit, too. You can glimpse it through the window to the kitchen. Make sure you get it with fresh avocado instead of guac. Also, consider the torta instead of tacos - really, really delicious.

Tulcingo's al pastor is quite good. Seems like the real deal.

[2slices]

Pinche Taqueria has a spit

Nuevo Mexico, 5th Ave. and 44th st. in Sunset Park Brooklyn. Excellent Tacos.

You don't have to: El Paso Taqueria, 104th and Lex.

Second that!