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Tacos El Brother

512 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
$
Mexican

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Master Critic Reviews (4 Lists)

Tacos El Brother 7.9
South Slope
Tacos El Brother is a late-night Mexican food truck parked on 5th Avenue, known for an enormous roster of $4-ish street-style tacos and birria everything. It’s where South Slope heads after bars or shows for pastor, bistec, and birria tacos griddled to order until the early morning.
Must-Try Dishes: Tacos Pastor, Birria Tacos, Sopa Birria
Scores:
Value: 8.7 Service: 7.2 Consistency: 7.7 Food Quality: 8.2 Atmosphere: 6 Cultural Relevance: 7.8
What makes it special: Hard-working taco truck pouring out dozens of classic fillings until 3:30 a.m.
Who should go: Night owls craving true street-style tacos.
When to visit: Late-night hours after bars, especially weekends.
What to order: Pastor tacos, birria tacos, Sopa Birria with chips and guac.
Insider tip: Order a mix of offal and classic meats—lengua, cabeza, and suadero are standouts rarely found this late.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only on 5th Avenue; usually manageable late at night but tight during peak bar hours.
Dress code: No dress code—come as you are; typical streetwear is the norm.
Noise level: Moderate street noise from traffic and nightlife; you can converse but expect a lively sidewalk scene.
Weekend wait: 5–15 minutes depending on bar let-out crowds.
Weekday lunch: Not applicable; the truck operates primarily evenings into late night.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Limited—typically cheese quesadillas or occasional veggie tacos if offered.
Vegan options: Very limited—may offer plain tortillas with veggies, but no dedicated vegan fillings.
Gluten-free options: Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, but cross-contact is unavoidable in a small truck setup.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if you want a casual, spontaneous, late-night vibe. It’s great for fun street-food energy but not ideal for a polished, sit-down date.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes—there are no tables or reservations. It’s walk-up only, with sidewalk standing or nearby benches depending on the block.
Is it kid-friendly? Suitable for older kids comfortable with late-night street food, but not ideal for young children given the hour, crowds, and lack of seating.
Best For
Better for: Late-night taco runs, birria cravings, and the widest range of classic street-style fillings in the neighborhood.
Skip if: You need indoor seating, a calmer environment, strict dietary accommodations, or a more polished dining experience.
Tacos El Brother 8.7
South Slope
Tacos El Brother is a Fifth Avenue taco truck turning out Mexico City–style street tacos into the early-morning hours. Al pastor, suadero, and birria come on griddled tortillas with deeply seasoned meats, making this one of Park Slope’s most reliable post-midnight food options.
Must-Try Dishes: Birria tacos, Al pastor tacos, Suadero tacos
Scores:
Value: 9 Service: 8.2 Consistency: 8.7 Food Quality: 8.8 Atmosphere: 6.7 Cultural Relevance: 8.4
What makes it special: A true late-night taco truck with a deep menu of classic Mexican fillings served until after 3am.
Who should go: Taco lovers hunting real-deal street food after midnight.
When to visit: Late nights after bars close, especially weekends.
What to order: Birria tacos, al pastor tacos, suadero tacos.
Insider tip: Ask for a mix of meats on your plate and don’t skip the house salsas—they’re key to the experience.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; generally manageable late at night but tighter during peak bar hours on Fifth Avenue.
Dress code: No dress code—casual streetwear is fully appropriate.
Noise level: Moderate street noise depending on traffic; easy enough for casual conversation.
Weekend wait: 5–15 minutes depending on bar spillover; quick turnover since it's a truck.
Weekday lunch: Typically no wait, though the truck operates primarily evenings into late night.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Limited—usually a nopales or cheese-based taco if available, but the menu skews heavily meat-forward.
Vegan options: Very limited—may offer nopales, but cross-contact and limited toppings mean options are minimal.
Gluten-free options: Mostly yes—corn tortillas are standard, but be mindful of potential cross-contact on the shared griddle.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Great for a casual, low-pressure late-night stop, but not ideal if you're aiming for a seated, polished experience.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There are no tables or reservations—this is a walk-up taco truck with standing-room curbside eating.
Is it kid-friendly? Generally kid-friendly in early evenings, but late-night crowds and street conditions make it better suited for adults.
Best For
Better for: Faster, cheaper, and more authentic street-style tacos than most brick-and-mortar spots in the area, especially after midnight.
Skip if: You want indoor seating, a quiet environment, or broad vegetarian/vegan options.
Tacos El Brother 8.1
South Slope
Tacos El Brother is a long-running Fifth Avenue taco truck turning out late-night birria, bistec, and al pastor tacos at true street-food prices. Lines of bar-goers and neighborhood regulars form deep into the night for griddled tortillas, rich consomé, and overstuffed burritos.
Must-Try Dishes: Birria tacos with consomé, Bistec tacos, Chorizo torta
Scores:
Value: 8.9 Service: 7.8 Consistency: 7.9 Food Quality: 8.7 Atmosphere: 6.3 Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: A late-night taco truck institution serving birria and classic street tacos until the early morning.
Who should go: Night owls craving serious tacos on a strict budget.
When to visit: After 10pm on weekends when the grill is fully stocked.
What to order: Birria tacos with consomé, bistec tacos, chorizo torta.
Insider tip: Order a side of consomé to dip any taco—it’s the best value move on the truck.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; usually manageable on nearby residential blocks after 9pm but tighter directly on 5th Avenue.
Dress code: No dress code—come as you are; casual streetwear is standard.
Noise level: Moderate-to-loud due to street traffic and late-night crowds; conversation is easy enough if you stand slightly away from the line.
Weekend wait: 10–20 minutes depending on bar traffic nearby; peak after midnight.
Weekday lunch: Truck is typically not operating at lunch hours; no daytime service.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Limited but workable—usually one or two options such as veggie tacos or burritos depending on the day.
Vegan options: Occasionally possible if you request no cheese or crema, but offerings are inconsistent; best to ask at the window.
Gluten-free options: Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, but cross-contact is unavoidable; safe for casual avoidance but not for strict dietary needs.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if the date enjoys street food and a casual, late-night vibe. It's more about fast, flavorful tacos than atmosphere.
Can I get a table without a reservation? There are no tables—this is a taco truck. Expect to eat standing, on nearby stoops, or walking down 5th Avenue.
Is it kid-friendly? Suitable for older kids comfortable with street-food setups and late hours; not ideal for toddlers due to crowds and no seating.
Best For
Better for: Late-night al pastor and birria at true budget prices, plus faster turnaround than sit-down Mexican spots nearby.
Skip if: You need seating, strict dietary accommodations, or a quieter, more structured dining experience.
Tacos El Brother 8.7
South Slope
Tacos El Brother is a Fifth Avenue taco truck that effectively functions as a permanent streetside taqueria, serving birria, al pastor, and suadero tacos until well after midnight. Crowds of bar-goers and neighborhood regulars line up for griddled tortillas, rich consomé, and overstuffed burritos at true street-food prices.
Must-Try Dishes: Birria tacos, Al pastor tacos, Suadero tacos
Scores:
Value: 8.8 Service: 7.8 Consistency: 8.2 Food Quality: 8.9 Atmosphere: 6.7 Cultural Relevance: 8.3
What makes it special: A true late-night taco truck with an unusually deep menu of classic fillings and birria.
Who should go: Night owls who want real-deal tacos after bars close
When to visit: Post-midnight on weekends when the full grill is humming
What to order: Birria tacos with consomé, al pastor tacos, suadero tacos
Insider tip: Order a mix of meats on separate tacos and share so you can sample more of the menu.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; generally manageable on side streets before 9pm but tight after midnight near 5th Avenue bars.
Dress code: Casual — it's a taco truck; anything from jeans to post-bar attire is normal.
Noise level: Moderate to loud from street traffic and bar crowds; conversation is possible but not intimate.
Weekend wait: 10–20 minutes depending on bar spillover; longer after midnight when lines form.
Weekday lunch: Typically no wait, though the truck is not always operating during daytime hours.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Limited — usually one or two options like cheese or veggie tacos if available.
Vegan options: Minimal — offerings vary and may not consistently include vegan fillings.
Gluten-free options: Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, but cross-contamination is likely due to shared griddle space.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Only if the date is casual and street-food friendly — great food but no seating, noise, and long lines can make it less ideal for a traditional first date.
Can I get a table without a reservation? No tables are provided; it's a truck with stand-and-eat or takeout only. Expect to eat curbside or walk to a nearby bench.
Is it kid-friendly? Kid-appropriate in flavor and price, but best for older kids due to late-night hours, sidewalk crowds, and lack of seating.
Best For
Better for: Late-night taco cravings, birria, and generous portions at true street-food prices — especially when other kitchens have closed.
Skip if: You need seating, quieter dining, consistent vegan options, or strict gluten-free preparation.