Carnitas Ramirez

"Prepare to have a greasy phone screen after eating at Carnitas Ramirez, the  East Village sequel to Taqueria Ramirez (one of the city's top taquerias). This spot specializes in rich, golden-brown carnitas, and you can order individual parts, like tongue or snout, on each $5 taco. But on your first visit, order a couple of surtida tacos, topped with meat from the entire pig—a mix of sweet costillas, fatty belly, savory organ meat, and everything in between. It's hard to believe one animal contains so many different, delicious porky flavors and textures. A chef cleavers the carnitas on a big wooden board, but you finish up the tacos yourself at the salsa station. Don’t skimp on the salsa verde with chunks of avocado, or pickled onions with an extreme amount of fresh oregano. Park yourself on a paint bucket near the open window, and contemplate ordering a kilo of carnitas ($60) for later. The store is currently open on weekends. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman