La Taq - Review - Park Slope - New York - The Infatuation

"There are Mets fans and Yankees fans, and then there are La Taq fans. The latter are a passionate bunch, who’ve dreamt of the greasy and glistening La Taq carnitas since the Park Slope spot closed in 2011, after over two decades. Now in a narrow space just a few storefronts down from the original location, La Taq makes some of the greatest Mexican food the neighborhood has to offer. The corn tortillas for the tacos are homemade (you can watch them being pressed in the front window), but we prefer the burritos. The Outrageous California—made with two large flour tortillas, overlapping like a venn diagram—takes the whole concept of the super burrito up a notch. It lasts at least three meals, and is best stuffed with those carnitas your Park Slope friend has been raving about for a decade. photo credit: La Taq La Taq is a useful three blocks from Prospect Park, but there's some seating area towards the back, overflowing with memorabilia from the original spot. Coolers well-stocked with icy beer and margaritas make this a good choice for a low-key meal that ratchets up as more tequila is consumed. Food Rundown Outrageous California Burrito There are a multitude of smaller burrito options on the menu, but if you’re going to go burrito, go big. The Outrageous California is $19, and when it’s cut in half it really just looks like two burritos next to each other. Get it with carnitas, which are dark brown, deeply flavorful, crisp and yet responsible for the juices pooling under your porky behemoth of a burrito. The only downside is that it’s so big that at some point, you’ll probably have to use a fork and knife. But that’s a good downside to have. Pollo of the Week Taco Someone behind the counter told us to “Try the chicken. I know that’s lame, but I swear it’s good.” One chicken taco later, we’re happy to report this is in fact true. Camarones Asados Tacos If you like a taco that involves spicy mayo, go for the shrimp. The crispy grilled shrimp pairs well with the cool, creamy mayo. San Diego Fries The next time we're feeling sad (or up very, very late) we’d like someone to bring us La Taq’s carne asada fries on a silver platter. The fries themselves aren’t particularly notable but the combination of melted oaxaca cheese blend, big spoonfuls of sour cream, pico, and guacamole, and your choice of protein—try the carne asada, or obviously the carnitas—render the quality of the potato irrelevant. If you’re ordering food to stay, get these for the table." - Willa Moore