Los Tacos No.1
| Cuisine | Mexican |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ (16-30) |
| Rating | 7/10 |
| Last Visit | June 14, 2019 |
| Location | New York: Midtown |
General Notes
A bustling taco stand located in Chelsea Market. To be completely honest, I don't even like tacos that much in general (mostly because I'm not very good at eating them and I get juices everywhere). But these tacos truly blew all other tacos I've had out of the water. The experience is really something else. While this place is incredibly busy, and you can expect to wait a long time to get your food, I think it's worth the wait, and I would highly recommend giving this place a try if you're ever in Chelsea Market.
Positives
> The tacos are godly good. I think what makes them so great is their incredibly intense flavor. And yet even though the flavors are intense, they are well-balanced by acidity. Each element outside of the tortilla and the meat adds an acidic layer which pairs well with the savory meat. I am struggling to find any flaw with their tacos - the flavors and textures are absolutely on point.
Negatives
> This place is extremely busy. Expect to wait in a long line to get your food.
> The experience of eating here is a bit more of what you would get from a food truck than a restaurant. After you order, you get a ticket which you present to the chefs farther down the counter. It's jam-packed, and you're in a huge crowd trying to get your food. You then need to push your way to the front to get lime and add salsa to your tacos yourself. It can be a bit uncomfortable.
Dishes Tasted
- ★★★★ Quesadilla Especial con Carne Asada -- A fried quesadilla! A bit of a strange concept but it tastes absolutely amazing. I love the texture, especially combined with the melted cheese, which makes it really savory. Like the others, the flavor contrast of the carne asada, onions, cilantro, guacamole, and salsa are excellent. The only thing I could have asked for is for the cheese to be ever so slightly more melted.
- ★★☆☆ Nopal Taco -- The taco in of itself is really good, but I have to say I'm not the biggest fan of nopal. It has a taste and texture which seems like a pickled bell pepper (not that I know what that is).
- ★★★★ Adobada Taco -- Adobada is marinated pork, grilled on a spit roast. The pork was relatively tender, and I loved the lightly charred flavor. It paired so incredibly well with the other elements: onions, salsa, cilantro, guacamole. The flavors are intense, savory, and balanced by the acidity. Probably the best taco I've had to date.
