35 Outstanding Tacos in NYC

With al pastor, barbacoa, and cheesy concoctions, NYC tacos hold their own

Tacos have nearly taken over from slices of pizza as the culinary backbone of New York City. Over the last three decades, we’ve learned to love the southern Mexican style of two corn tortillas flopped over a meaty filling, sprinkled with onions and cilantro. But other types of tacos have flown in the window, too, reminding us of the days when all we had were hardshells.

Like your tacos rolled? Or tiny? Or with a flour tortilla? Or with a dab of guac? Freighted with organs? Filled with rice and boiled eggs? Or “Arabe” style — wrapped in a flour tortilla like shawarma? We’ve got ’em all, and more. Here are our favorite taquerias, curated by Eater critic Robert Sietsema. And it’s not that we don’t love chef-driven tacos, fusion tacos, or tacos produced by chains: We do! But this collection is reserved for humbler classic specimens