Allison T.
Yelp
No NYC trip is complete without a stop at one of their most infamous taco joints, Los Tacos No. 1! I heard the buzz about this place by word of mouth and decided I HAD to check it out next time I came. They have a ton of locations all around the city so it wasn't hard to find one near us. The food here did NOT disappoint!
= FOOD: 10/10 =
We tried the carne asada, adobada, and nopal tacos. They don't have a ton of taco options, but I'm sure they've worked hard to curate the classics. I love that they have nopal, an option that can be hard to find but great for vegan / vegetarian customers.
Adobada: 9/10
The adobada comes with sizzling hot pork slow-roasted on a spit and is paired with sweet, juicy pineapples. Al pastor tacos are my favorite and this place did absolutely them justice. Each bite was burst of sweet, sour, and savory all wrapped up together by the fattiness of the pork. And to round it off, the little bits of char on the pork gives it a crispy smokiness you won't forget.
Nopal: 7/10
The nopal tacos were loaded and chock full of flavor. All of their seasoning is done with the right proportions of salty and sweet, but not so overpowering that the nopal doesn't have the chance to shine. Topped off with lime and a drizzle of the green sauce, these tacos are balanced to perfection.
Carne Asada: 8/10
The carne asada taco had the most tender beef cubes! They're cooked to the right temperature and not at all rubbery or hard to chew. The beef is packed with powerful flavors, but yet, does not feel heavy to eat. This taco pairs well with the red sauce!
= SERVICE: 9/10 =
The line might get long, but you better get your order ready while you wait. The folks here do not play around and the line WILL move quick. The employees are friendly, welcoming, and work very efficiently. Messes do not stick around because they have people going around cleaning the surfaces regularly. There are usually enough spots to eat inside, but there are no seats here so be prepared to get in and get out.
= AMBIANCE: 8/10 =
As the door swings open, you're greeted by the sweet aroma of the pineapple pork and the lively scene of people moving all about the restaurant. They have an open kitchen setup where you can watch the cooks craftily assemble tacos. In the back, you can watch them slice the meat right off of the spit. It's an interesting place to be and gives bustling Latin diner vibes.
=== OVERALL: A+ ===
Los Tacos here are truly number one! These were the best tacos I've had so far in between NY and CT and even rival some of the ones I've had in Mexico City. Not only that, but they have a unique system going that they've perfected to the T. It was absolutely incredible to watch the process. They left us wanting to come back for more and to be honest, I'm not sure I'd ever go to a different taco place in NYC. Definitely worth a try.
Ally's Favs:
- Nopal con todos w/ green sauce and pico
- Adobado con todos w/ red sauce and pico