Now that we’re deep into New York City barbaco and the city’s back open in a way that seemed almost unfathomable not so long ago, New Yorkers can keep the party going, even if that means ordering in, with Grubhub! Gothamist and Grubhub are teaming up to celebrate amazing restaurants that, whether they’re a few blocks from your place or a bike ride away, are NYC favorites that we think you’ll love too. Is New York now a true taco town? One of the great trends over the past few years has been the rise of the first-rate neighborhood taco spot, and not just in a few select areas like Bushwick, East Harlem, Jackson Heights, and Sunset Park.
All over the city nowadays you can get great tacos, whether from tricked-out trucks, lowkey counter-service joints, family-friendly restaurants, or raucous party spots. Bonus: the sudden ubiquity of Birria tacos, those amazingly rich and juicy beasts that you dip in consomme, has added immeasurably to our overall pleasure. All of this is to say that we ate a ton of tacos this past year, delivered from both brand-new places and reliable old favorites. And while we can’t list them all, here’s a quick look at ten that made us particularly happy, all of which are eager to send out their marvelous creations for delivery, right to your home, via Grubhub. This phenomenal corner spot on Wyckoff Avenue is about to expand with a huge new restaurant on the Boerum Hill – Downtown Brooklyn border, but based on a recent order from the original Bushwick location, Taqueria al Pastor is still cranking out some of the best tacos in town. First Avenue treasure was given new life by the Marin family, who hail from Pueblo, Mexico, in the 1990s, and they’ve been making the neighborhood happy ever since. Queens native Kallie Pappas and chef Juan Cortez opened the friendly, family-oriented Dulce Cultura just a few months ago, and if you don’t feel like bundling up your crew for a trip out 31st Avenue for dinner tonight, they’d be happy to deliver a feast right to your door with Grubhub.
Tacos are the centerpiece here, and Cortez isn’t skimpy with his ingredients. We love everything we’ve ever eaten at Dave and Krystiana Rizo’s Yellow Rose, the couple’s effortlessly fun and funky spot that opened about a year ago on Third Avenue, but the foundation of the place remains their tacos, done up San Antonio-style and fat enough that two or three can easily make for an amazing meal. For more than 20 years, the family owned and operated Castro’s has been feeding Brooklynites a vast selection of mostly-Mexican dishes, both familiar crowd pleasers and lesser-seen delights, from their modest digs on Myrtle Avenue. East Harlem is famous for its taco stands, and one of the best is Taco Mix, which sits on a semi-chaotic stretch of East 116th Street and specializes in all sorts of meaty Mexican dishes. We’re always tempted to call El Mitote, which specializes in dishes from owner Christina Castaneda’s hometown of Guadalajara, a hidden gem, mostly because we never really hear much about it in the city’s wider food-obsessed circles.
Matt Gaudet and Mark Rancourt’s “modern Mexican” restaurant is somewhat incongruently located on a stretch of 44th Road otherwise dominated by body shops and industrial work spaces. Tackle on Van Brunt Street since early 2019. And if you feel like hanging out in your actual living room instead, Grubhub is here for you. Another Bushwick gem is the Polo Teco and family’s Santa Ana Deli and Grocery, which has been keeping the locals fed since 1986. As more restaurants have opened up throughout the city, New Yorkers can keep supporting these institutions by exploring new spots or ordering their favorite meals with Grubhub.
And with the Grubhub Guarantee, New Yorkers get their food delivered on-time and at the lowest prices – guaranteed or Grubhub will make it right. This post is a sponsored collaboration between Grubhub and Gothamist staff. Get the Gothamist Daily newsletter and don’t miss a moment. We rely on your support to make local news available to all. A look at some of the tastiest Chinese dumplings, whether soupy, steamed, boiled, or fried, at places both new and classic, semi-fancy and decidedly not.