Eating under the watch of la Virgen. — photo by Diego Cupolo

The best taco I’ve ever had in my life came out of a small, dirty shack on wheels in Los Angeles — it left my mouth burning with unimaginable pleasure as I tried to figure out how four people could fit in that tiny food stand from heaven.

Here in New York, the land of pizza, finding a decent taco can seem as challenging as tracking down an edible slice in Arkansas. Luckily, one of the first places I visited in my neighborhood was Tacos El Poblano, an inexpensive bar and restaurant on Broadway. It was there that my frustratingly long taco search came to an end as I bit into tortilla euphoria before a retro mural of Maria de Guadalupe.

From outside, the restaurant looks like any other, radiating its presence with neon greens and reds on the sidewalk, but Tacos El Poblano serves the freshest, most satisfying Mexican cuisine in the city. They keep their tacos simple: two warm corn tortillas, your choice of quality meats (or veggies), guacamole, diced onions and cilantro — squeeze a little lime juice on top and you’ll find yourself wanting another since they’re only $2 a pop.

Amazingly, tacos are only the beginning. The menu ranges from breakfast plates to sandwiches and full blown dinner combos. For appetizers, try the nachos con carne ($6.50), but don’t expect anything similar to chain restaurant nacho boats drowning in sour cream. Instead, this dish is just a few tortillas layered with thick, juicy pieces of steak — it might look disappointing at first, but trust me, it’s a lot of food.

I also recommend the fajitas de pollo ($8.95) for hungry diners — this do-it-yourself platter comes with a generous basket of tortillas and perfectly grilled green peppers and onions. But don’t be afraid to be adventurous, try something new; I have yet to be unsatisfied with any of their creations. Best of all, no item costs more than $10.95 and the friendly waitresses will bring you a free basket of tortilla chips with salsa as soon as you sit down. The last time I ate at Tacos El Poblano the bill came out to $32 for four people and we were all pleasantly stuffed.

As far as atmosphere, the restaurant is divided into two rooms — one side has the bar, neon lights and a jukebox full of classic ranchero music while the other has the take-out counter. There is usually a few young men drinking Mexican beers on the bar side, and who wouldn’t at $3.50 a bottle? Also, knowing a little Spanish is always helpful, but if all else fails resort to the pointer finger.

Still not sure if it’s worth a shot? I had a neighbor from Arizona who was suffering from taco withdrawal. I told her about Tacos El Poblano and a week later she said it was the best Mexican she ever had in New York — it was therapeutic. Stop wasting money on those soggy flour socks they call burritos at Chipotle, forget about the dry, flavorless chicken at El Loco Burrito and have a genuine Mexican meal you will not regret at Tacos El Poblano.

Tacos El Poblano
830-832 Broadway, Brooklyn
718-963-4216
Free Delivery
Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sun 10am-12am

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