The best tacos NYC restaurants have to offer right now are the ones doing one thing exceptionally well: a hand-pressed tortilla, a trompo spinning in the window, a pork shoulder that took all day. New York has quietly become a serious taco town, and the best tacos NYC restaurants list keeps getting longer.
Mexico City institutions are opening their first US outposts here, Brooklyn counters are cult destinations, and a $7 taco is somehow still a thing. We pulled together seven spots worth the subway ride, from Chelsea Market to Sunset Park.
Here are the 7 spots serving some of the best tacos in NYC, whether you’re after a quick standing-room bite, a Mexico City import, or a proper sit-down feast.
Los Tacos No. 1 – 🏆 Bowery Beat Editor Top Choice
Address: 75 Ninth Ave (inside Chelsea Market), New York, NY 10011
Style: Tijuana-style tacos, made to order
Vibe: Fast, loud, standing room only
Website: lostacos1.com
It started in 2013 as a single stand in Chelsea Market, and it still sets the bar for the best tacos NYC restaurants can offer on a lunch break.
The line moves fast and there is no real seating, so grab your plate and find a ledge. The adobada (marinated pork) is the classic order. Regulars also swear by the secret queso taco, which is heavy enough that you should plan accordingly.
Posted hours are Monday to Saturday 11am to 10pm and Sunday 11am to 9pm. There are now several locations around Manhattan, so check the website for the one nearest you.
Taqueria Ramirez
Address: 94 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Greenpoint)
Style: Mexico City street-style tacos
Vibe: Tiny, packed, worth the wait
This Greenpoint counter turned a very short menu into a pilgrimage. It has been name-checked by Mayor Zohran Mamdani as his pick for the best tacos in NYC, which did not exactly shorten the line.
The longaniza (Mexican sausage) is the one visitors keep posting about. Go early or go off-peak.
Listings show it open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 10pm, and it takes cards and tap to pay.
Tacos Matamoros
Address: 4508 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Sunset Park)
Style: Family-style Mexican, tacos plus a full menu
Vibe: Big, festive, built for groups
Sunset Park is the borough’s best taco neighborhood, and Tacos Matamoros is the anchor. It is a spacious sit-down restaurant, which makes it the right call when you are bringing a crowd.
One TikTok reviewer called it a must-travel food destination on price, quality and ease of getting there.
Hours were not confirmed for this guide, so call ahead before you go.
Tacos Domingo
Address: 131 First Ave, New York, NY 10003 (East Village, at St. Marks Place)
Style: Charcoal-grilled meats on handmade flour tortillas
Vibe: New, buzzy, late-night friendly
One of Mexico City’s most popular taco shops opened its first location outside Mexico on First Avenue in June 2026. The menu is short on purpose.
The bean and cheese taco has developed a following of its own, and the carne asada gets the most social media love.
A directory listing shows late hours, with weekend service running well past midnight. Confirm before a late-night run.
Santo Taco
Address: 114 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012 (and 94 University Pl, New York, NY 10003)
Style: Steak trompo tacos
Price: $$ (steak trompo taco listed at $6.95)
Santo Taco is known for steak on the trompo, the vertical spit you usually see spinning pork. Order it with the avocado salsa.
There are two Manhattan locations, one in Nolita and one near Union Square, so it works as an easy stop on a night out.
Carnitas Ramirez
Address: 210 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009 (East Village)
Style: Mexico City-style carnitas
From the team behind the Greenpoint counter, this East Village spot goes all in on slow-cooked pork. If you want to eat carnitas by the pound with a stack of warm tortillas, this is the place.
Hours have shifted since opening and sources conflict, so check before you head over.
Taqueria El Chato
Address: 620 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Greenpoint)
Style: Modern taqueria from the team behind Aldama
Vibe: Casual, late-night leaning
El Chato took over the old Screamer’s Pizza space in Greenpoint in 2024, and its tripa taco (about $5 at launch) is the one to try if you are feeling adventurous.
There is also a Macdougal Street location in Greenwich Village that has been described as staying open until 1am, which makes it one of the better late-night taco options.
So, What Are the Best Tacos NYC Restaurants Have Right Now?
Finding the best tacos NYC restaurants serve really depends on what you’re in the mood for.
If you want the classic, Los Tacos No. 1 has it.
If you want the cult counter, Taqueria Ramirez delivers.
If you want a big table, Tacos Matamoros is hard to beat.
If you want the new import everyone is talking about, Tacos Domingo is leading the conversation.
There isn’t one single answer, and that’s kind of the point. Still hungry? Try our guides to the best pizza in Brooklyn and the best chopped cheese in NYC next.
Go early, bring cash just in case, and tell us which one earns the top spot on your list.
