It’s Tuesday, a day of the week often associated with a certain Mexican stuffed tortilla dish. You might be thinking, we could have summed that up in just two words, but we don’t want to get sued. Taco Johns, a national chain based out of Cheyenne, Wyoming holds a trademark on the phrase “Taco Tuesday” and according to CNN, rival chain Taco Bell is filing a petition to remove the trademark, arguing that it’s a phrase commonly used in ways that have nothing to do with Taco Johns. While Taco Bell’s quality, or lack there of, will never get it anywhere near this list, we appreciate them fighting the good fight. Nonetheless, we’re dropping this list of tacos you must eat to call yourself an NYC taco aficionado on this fine Tuesday.

We’ve all seen that infuriating clip from Hot Ones, where Pedro Pascal makes the categorical statement that “There’s no good Mexican food in New York.” But we’re here to tell you that one of Mexico’s marquee dishes is well-represented here in NYC. Taco culture north of the border has developed a reputation for being too Americanized but you’ll find that taquerias across the city are influenced by various Mexican regional styles.

This article is just a small taste of the certified 🔥 Tacos you can find on 8it. Hit the green button at the bottom of this article to explore the 8it app.

Al Pastor
Tacos Cholula // East Village

On the corner of 2nd Street and Avenue A, you’ll find Tacos Cholula, a cart slinging Al Pastor tacos as delicious as they are convenient. The slow roasted pork is endowed with the perfect amount of spice to balance tiny cubes of sweet pineapple. Their guacamole brings freshness with a garlicky zing to every bite, and the salsa roja provides that tart tomato-based finishing note we all crave in a taco. Indulging in a plate of these feels like taking a trip to Puebla where the Al Pastor method of vertically roasting pork on a rotisserie was invented; brought to Mexico by Lebanese immigrants who used the same method to make shawarma.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY

Birria Tacos
Birria LES // East Village, LES

Birria is a style of taco that gets a lot of hype, and in the case of Birria LES, that hype is deserved. Especially when it’s 2AM and your body is begging you for anything but another shot of tequila. Not only do these tacos soak up the booze, they soak up a highly drinkable consommé that you can order on the side to dunk your tacos in. They’re seasoned well and flavorful throughout, but the spice level is mild. Adjust with their salsa verde- it has a kick, and always finish your DIY flavoring with a squeeze of lime to cut through the immense richness of the braised beef stuffed within corn tortillas.

This dish is recommended by: Lala Ziemski

Especial
Los Tacos No. 1 // Chelsea, Grand Central, NoHo, Times Square, Tribeca

Not for the feint of heart, reserve this fried quesadilla for your hangriest moments. That’s right, a flour tortilla is stuffed with queso oaxaca, your choice of meat and toppings, and deep fried for this Mexicali masterpiece. Los Tacos’ founders hail from California and Tijuana, and the Especial embodies the fusion of taco cultures in that region. Mexican ingredients meet the American standard that the best things in life come out of a fryer.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY

Baja-Style Tacos
Playita // LES

Also channeling the flavors of Baja California, you will find Playita in the Lower East Side. One trip here will make you wonder why it’s a hole in the wall near the end of Clinton Street, and not on a beachfront somewhere in Cabo. Seafood fillings are the play here: try the Diablo Shrimp which has a nice kick, and the Playita Fish which is refreshingly blackened and grilled; not fried like too many good filets of fish on tacos these days. Vegetarian options are also strong, like the Calabaja, which has fried zucchini, a bright squash salsa, and tingly jalapeño cabbage slaw.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY, The Infatuation

Tripa Taco
Taqueria Ramirez // Greenpoint

A trip to Taqueria Ramirez is always worth braving the line that seems to perpetually crawl out the door, especially if you’re going for the tripa. The lining of a cow’s stomach is stewed down to a slightly bouncy, velvety texture in a choricera, then lifted out and torched for a nice sear in the typical Mexico City style. If you’re new to tripe, you’ll wonder why it evaded you for so long, especially since it pairs so nicely with simple toppings like chopped onions, cilantro, and salsas on top of a grilled corn torilla.

This dish is recommended by: The Infatuation

Pjork Carnitas Taco
Ploo // Chelsea

This remix on the carnitas taco dropped by chefs Roxanna Meija and Pablo Rajos will make you kiss any previously enjoyed rendition goodbye. Take a bite and crunch through crackly chicharron into decadent pork cooked in its own fat, which is topped with a spicy habanero salsa that stands toe-to-toe with the meat’s richness. Avocado salsa cools down the heat to make every bite inside this blue corn tortilla perfect. Hailing from Tampaulipas and Mexico City respectively, Meija and Rojas have made Ploo a playground for fusing flavors and techniques from various Mexican regions to create original dishes.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY

Shrimp Enchilado
Los Mariscos // Chelsea

The original menu at Los Tacos No. 1 is so popular that they had to open a separate location for their seafood offerings. You can find the outpost, which is called Los Mariscos, in Chelsea Market. The shrimp enchilado taco is their prized dish, which borrows the method of simmering protein in a tomato-based sauce used for traditional enchiladas. The result is perfectly tender shrimp fresh out of a bright, tangy bath spread across a corn tortilla, served with guacamole, pico de gallo, and spicy mayo for further boosts of flavor. Confidently take your friend from San Diego to get these tacos and watch their face in disbelief.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY

Tacos de Lengua
Casa Carmen // Flatiron, Tribeca

This upscale Mexican spot isn’t afraid to keep a taco with meat that comes from inside the head on the menu, and we respect that. The lengua taco at Casa Carmen is simplicity at its finest. The slow-cooked beef tongue is sliced thin and possesses a flavor akin to steak; at first, you wouldn’t even know it’s an offal cut. Chopped onions and cilantro keep it fresh while their salsas can provide a kick and peppery zing.

This dish is recommended by: 8it NY

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