Best Tacos in NYC

Birria-Landia started as a food truck on Roosevelt Ave and became a full-on sensation. The birria tacos are $4 each and they come with a cup of consommé for dipping. That broth is dangerously good.

The tacos are dipped in birria fat before they hit the griddle, so the tortilla gets this crispy, almost quesadilla-like texture on the outside. It’s messy. You will get red grease on your shirt. I keep a dedicated taco jacket for this exact situation and I’m only partly kidding.

They have a brick-and-mortar in Williamsburg now too, but I still prefer the original truck. Something about eating birria standing on a sidewalk in Queens just hits different.

Speaking of Jackson Heights. If you take the 7 train to Roosevelt Avenue, you’ll find a stretch of food carts that will ruin every other taco for you. $2-3 tacos, handmade tortillas, meats you didn’t know you liked.

There’s no one specific cart I’ll name because they rotate and the good ones are always packed anyway. Just walk the strip, follow the smoke, and order whatever the person next to you is having. This is how I eat in NYC on a budget and still feel like I’m eating better than half the city.

A few tips for the Roosevelt Ave carts. Bring cash. Most don’t take cards. Don’t be afraid of the language barrier. Point, smile, say “por favor.” You’ll be fine. And go hungry because you’re going to want to try more than one cart. I’ve done this exact thing with friends who had never been to Queens and every single one of them left saying it was the best meal they’d had in New York. At $2-3 a taco, it’s also the cheapest.

The Upper East Side is not exactly where you’d expect to find some of the best tacos in the city. But Los Mexicanos has been quietly doing its thing and the al pastor is the move. $4 a taco.

It’s a neighborhood spot through and through. No hype, no line around the block, just really good tacos from people who clearly care about what they’re making. I found it on a random Tuesday night walk and I’ve been going back ever since. The guac is made fresh and it’s some of the best I’ve had in the city. Order it with chips while you wait for the tacos. You won’t regret it.

Authentic, cheap, and somehow still under the radar. $3 tacos. The salsa verde is homemade and it shows.

El Paso has been around for years and it still feels like a discovery every time I go. The portions are generous, the staff is warm, and you can eat until you physically cannot move for under $15. That’s increasingly rare in this city.

Multiple locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tacos run $5-6 and the space is designed within an inch of its life. I’ll be honest, I was skeptical at first. Trendy taco spots are usually all vibes and no substance.

But Tacombi actually delivers. The crispy fish taco is excellent and the fresh juices are a nice touch. It’s the spot I go when I want tacos but also want to sit in a real chair at a real table like a real adult. Sometimes that matters.

De Mole has been holding it down in Williamsburg since before the neighborhood got expensive. The menu is Oaxacan-focused, with plates running $12-15, and the mole here is serious business. They make several different varieties and they rotate, so ask your server what’s on that day.

This isn’t a taco-specific spot but the tacos and entrees are excellent. It’s the kind of place where every table has a different dish and everything looks incredible. I always end up ordering more than I need and regretting nothing. The tlayudas are also outstanding if you haven’t tried them. Think of a Oaxacan pizza, basically. Huge, crispy, covered in good things.

Hell’s Kitchen. Open 24 hours. These are empanadas, not tacos. I know. But they belong in this conversation because if you’re looking for incredible handheld food with big Latin American flavors at 3 AM, Empanada Mama is the answer.

They have dozens of fillings and everything I’ve tried has been good. The shredded beef and the spinach-and-cheese are my standards. The sweet plantain one is also weirdly addictive. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve found a secret even though it’s been around for years. Perfect after a late show, perfect after a long night, perfect honestly anytime.