Best Mexican in NY

[mesohunie]

Im from NYC but lived in LA/southern cali for 2 years and can't get the amazing mexican food out of my head. Im not talking about Rosa mexicana style, frufru mexican. Im talking about free chips and salsa when you sit down, burritos, real tacos, tamales, mojarra fritta, handmade flour tortillas, you name it....for reasonable prices.

[silencespeak]

The best I know of in Manhattan that isn't frufru mexican is Baby Bo's on 2nd Ave (around 35th street). My friend from Phoenix who gave up his search for good mexican food was uplifted when a friend of his brought him there. It is generally excellent, the dish I'm most impressed with is the Mexican BBQ Duck Burrito. Dear lord it is out of the house. The atmosphere is down to earth and the flautas and the enchiladas I had were some of the best I've had in the city. Their normal burritos are OK. Let me know how it goes.

[gooseterp]

The restautrant sounds great! I live in DC and am visitng for the weekend, I was hoping to try a new Mexican place. Do you know if there are any vegetarian options?
Thanks

[silencespeak]

Yes I'm pretty certain of it. tell me how it goes if you decide to go. =)

[silencespeak]

Also there are a bunch of authentic mexican places in the Lower East Side, El Maguey y La Tuna stands out for me as the real deal, though there are some others that are legit too. Barrio Chino, along with El Maguey y la tuna, is a place I heard a lot in this forum and amongst friends as a good mexican spot. Hope this helps =)

[silencespeak]

Actually El Maguey y La Tuna I'm not sure about, I was thinking of a different place (which I forgot the name of). I cannot say specifically what places in the L.E.S. are good, but I am pretty sure there are 1 or 2 worth going to. I think one on Allen street.

[notmikey]

i can tell you the best mexican in the east village. Go to a place called ITZOCAN, I am not sure that my spelling is right, but this place is awesome. It's on 9th street between 1st and A closer to A. It is a tiny place maybe 12 seats. (It is a secret though, keep this spot on the low) The shrimp dish is delicious, the chicken is awesome. The dinner menu is more traditional home style cooking, the day time menu is more Burritos and the regular stuff you would find on a typical Mexican menu. All the specials rock.... Just go and get back to me..

[Chef Mikey]

Definitely try Florencia 13... sounds like exactly what your looking for and the owners are from that area.

[Taylor.Watson]

I haven't been yet, but if you are willing to go to Queens, this sounds like the place:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/247808

[thew]

the taco truck by the barnes and nobles on 86th and lex

[mesohunie]

Really?
i live right there and have never tried it, i see it occasionally.
Think its worth it??

[davr73]

Had a torta sandwich there. Very, very disappointed.

[thew]

i've only had taco's. not as good as the 60th and 3rd cart (and i like one on W 14th, but only eaten there late after drinking, so that's a different category of good)

[silencespeak]

Mole in the LES, my new favorite mexican joint. Had a very authentic carnita burrito enchilada style, which is one of my favorite mexican dishes. It's on Allen btw Houston and Stanton.

[kim e]

I'm from SoCal and my husband is too (he's actually Mexican) and this is a huge struggle for both of us. One of the only places we'll go to is El Paso Taqueria in Spanish Harlem (103rd St and Lex). Let me preface by saying this will not beat out the little taco stands in East LA, BUT it satisfies our cravings.

[Hot Chocolate]

in Manahattan yes, El Paso Taqueria is amazing (beef tongue tacos are fantastic). Also, across the way into Queens has equivalent mexican food to SF / LA.

[richarmstrong]

Papacito's on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is the closest I've seen in NY to a California Mission-style burrito. They offer carne asada as well as other meats and plenty of vegetarian options. I'm not going to say it's up to the standard of El Farolito in the Mission district of San Francisco. But it is a satisfying burrito, and worth traveling for, or stopping by if you have any reason to be in Greenpoint. So, I've got my California-style Mexican sorted out. Now I just need to figure out where there's good New Mexican food. For now, I'm stuck ordering my own Hatch chilies and roasting them myself! Also, it'd be very nice to have a solid Tex-Mex place in town.

[punto]

Hey, I have no way of knowing the best, since I have other commitments, that prevent my trying every taco stand and eatery in town, but I have been going to Tulcingo del Valle, approx. 10th Avenue and 47th, for a number of years on a regular basis, since it is near my workplace. They have sopes and sopas, burritos, mole pipians, tacos, cemitas and so on. They seem to represent a particular region of Mexico that I have not encountered at other restaurants. If you are lucky (or ask), they will bring radishes, lime and pickle jalapeno as a side dish with most entrees. I also gather, though I am not personally a devotee, that their hot chocolate is the real thing. The menu seems to always be supplemented by specials; I recommend anything with cactus.

[Rebecca F.]

Tacos Nuevos Mexico in Brooklyn is the best Mexican I've had in New York. On 5th avenue between 11th and 12th (or 10th and 11th, I can never remember even though I live down the street). You will not be disappointed, especially if you order the taco carnitas and the tongue taco. I know, I know, kinda gross, but just try it.

[chocolatebirthdaycake]

Well, I can tell you that the most FUN spastically-decorated Mexican place in the city is "El Cantinero" near Union Square on University Place.

Monday nights all-you-can-eat is about $10.95. Upstairs is a fun bar with a dance floor and a great jukebox and in the warmer months, their outdoor back-patio on stilts is filled with Palm Trees and it feels like you're eating in a Treehouse.

Did I mention that the staff is the super nice??? This place has those Old School combination plates and fantastic Sangria. Not sure it's what your seeking but it is delicious and a GREAT value.

[ScienceMike]

Tacos Nuevos Mexico is great, and I also like Pinche taqueria in Nolita for the fish tacos. Beware anywhere that is advertised as "fun": I like fun as much as the next guy, but in terms of NYC mexican it refers to horrible, greasy combination plates served as an afterthought to soak up the cheap pitchers of margaritas.

[YEAHHEKNOWS]

I love Barrio Chino down on Broome Street in the LES.
It's a tiny place with no signage between Orchard and Ludlow.
Unique tastes and flavors from a minimalist menu.
Even their website is too minimalist http://www.barriochinonyc.com

Lots of people go just for their fruit drinks, but I loved their food & there's always Babycakes across the street for dessert.

Here's what other believers say:

http://www.bionicbites.com/2009/07/barrio-chino-is-muy-caliente-nyc/

http://www.strumerika.com/2009/08/17/...

[Asumnuthin]

La esquina, or the trucks down by the red hook ball fields.

[guacamole girl]

I'm a Mexican food fiend (hence guacamole girl handle) and was crushed when my fave place called Manana closed In NYC a couple of years ago. Going to New Mexico and trying Tecolote Cafe and Charlie's Spic and Span did not help any lol..but for good old traditional mexican food without all the fancy frills and high prices try Tres Potrillos on Roosevelt Ave and 111th St in Corona- 7 train takes you right there and for good Mexican brunch ( more nouveau, but damn good) there is La Flor also on Roosevelt Ave (around 51 St In Woodside. 7 Train also stops there ! Mi Nidito around 50th St and 9th Ave, in Manhattan) is not to pricey and offers good, traditional dishes (plus huge margaritas). Five Burros in Forest Hills on Austin Street makes great tacos. Mole mentioned in other review is well regarded. I'm gonna check that out soon. Good luck fellow mexican food lover!

[smdavid]

For cheap eats in NY
(good tacos)

Tehuitzingo
Mexican Deli
695 10th Ave, New York 10036
(Btwn 47th & 48th St)

in Astoria:
Tulcingo (good tacos)
25-26 Broadway

Los Portales (good mole sauce)
25-08 Broadway

[oldnoah]

chipotle! i kid. hasn't anyone here ever been to chavella's in prospect (or crown) heights? on classon & park. tiny place, great atmosphere, nice staff. not everything is killer, but some standouts:
tomatillo soup - spicy & tart, with a swirl of crema
elotes - yummy grilled corn on the cob with hot pepper powder, mayo and crumbled cheese
quesadilla de huitlacoche - 'corn truffle', kinda like a black mushroom
plato don - great value, a big platter of soft taco fixins