Mexican food is a vital part of American food culture, which is very much apparent in New York. From duck carnitas to corn tortillas, from salsa verde dressing to chile relleno on warm tortillas, this is our guide to the best Mexican restaurants NYC offers.
Los Tacos No. 1
With restaurants in multiple locations across New York, three friends from Tijuana, Mexico, and Brawley, California, set up this chain to bring authentic tacos to the East Coast.
Succulent dishes from the seasonal menu, such as Carne Asada, come as a taco or quesadilla at great prices. This Mexican restaurant is the perfect place for a casual dinner with friends and family or a quick taste of one of the best Mexican restaurants in NYC when you're on the run.
Image credit: foodbeforelove.com
Tacos El Bronco
This Brooklyn-based spot in Sunset Park offers a mouth-watering taco mix and a full menu of Mexican classics, including burritos, tortas, and plates. Tacos El Bronco is now one of the best New York City Mexican Restaurants.
The spit-grilled pork al pastor tacos are a must-order. Meanwhile, the prices for small tacos range between $1.50 and $1.75, depending on the filling, making this the ideal spot to grab a tasty street food-inspired lunchtime cheap eat.
Mariscos El Submarino
Image credit: theinfatuation.com
This Jackson Heights Mexican seafood eatery on Roosevelt Avenue offers fans of Mexican cuisine something different from the norm.
With menu items including ceviche, aguachile, and tostadas, these Mexican dishes combine all the robust flavors one expects from traditional Mexican food. Combined with the freshest seafood, it produces a real taste sensation.
Ruta Oaxaca
A relative newcomer to the plethora of New York City Mexican eateries, this Astoria-based restaurant goes all-out to provide a full-on taco experience.
The crispy shrimp tacos made with homemade corn tortillas are marinated in guajillo chiles to provide a little kick to complement the seafood. Meanwhile, the pechuga and mole verde entree is amongst the best in New York.
If you're looking for brunch, the Eggs Oaxaquenos with salsa verde and melted chihuahua cheese are to die for.
The maximalist approach to dining room decor and a vast range of cocktails make this the perfect location for a date night.
La Morada
Image credit: lamorada.nyc
This South Bronx restaurant combines a social conscience with outstanding food from the Mexican state of Oaxaca served family-style.
There are seven varieties of moles on the menu, each as delicious as the others. For fans of something milder, the rich pine nuts in the Mole Blanco work beautifully.
Sides of rice, black beans, and tortillas are a great accompaniment to the mains. Their range of excellent tacos is not to be overlooked, particularly the tacos al pastor.
Aldama
Chef Gerardo Alcaraz brings his childhood culinary influences from his time in Leon to the streets of New York. This restaurant feels like it's in downtown Mexico City rather than underneath the Williamsburg Bridge.
Alcaraz has taken inspiration from the streets of central Mexico to produce a fabulous fine dining experience at affordable prices. Menu highlights include the pollo coloradito, poached lobster, and 26oz Asado rib-eye steak.
Taqueria Coatzingo
Image credit: tacotarian.com
This Queens-based Mexican kitchen is one of the busiest restaurants in NYC, catering to almost every conceivable taste.
Must-try dishes such as the huevos rancheros for those looking for a good breakfast, oozing cheese enchiladas, and carnitas tacos make this eatery a local favorite and gem for tourists seeking an authentic taste of Mexico.
Casa Enrique
This restaurant has served Michelin Star Mexican cuisine for over a decade in Long Island City.
Chef Cosme Aguilar's menu complements his brother Luis's cocktail menu, of which the fresh fruit frozen margaritas are a particular highlight. Several taco varieties are available, including the lengua, slow-cooked beef tongue, and Asada, which contains tequila-marinated ranch skirt steak.
Casa Carmen
Situated in the Tribeca district of Lower Manhattan, this Casa Carmen restaurant provides the best Mexican food served by a Grandmother and her Grandsons in a family atmosphere.
The dinner menu is mouth-watering, with the plantain, refried beans, and charred chipotle salsa Empanadas proving popular among locals in the West Village and attracting visitors from far and wide.
This content was created by BestOfNewYork.com. If you see this on another site, it has been stolen.
Des Toros
Run by brothers Leo and Oliver Kremer, Des Toros has countless stores across New York serving the finest in Cal-Mex cuisine.
After starting with their small Lower East Village store, they've taken their California-influenced pico de gallo-drenched bites to the Big Apple and wide acclaim.
Only the best local ingredients are used by this health-conscious chain, fulfilling any appetite for the finest Mexican food in NYC.
Also Recommended
You may also like these restaurants in New York City:
- The Worst Times To Visit New York City - March 10, 2024
- Best Souvenirs To Buy in NYC - February 28, 2024
- Best Restaurants In New York For First Time Visitors - February 21, 2024