Skip to main content

Best Cheap Tacos Restaurants in Midtown East (10017)

4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: January 2026

Our Top Pick
Los Tacos No. 1
Ultra-focused taco menu with proven, high-volume consistency.

Notable Picks

$$ Midtown East – Grand Central / Park Avenue
A Grand Central-area counter that stays laser-focused on a tight menu executed with speed and repeatable precision—fresh tortillas, properly seasoned meats, and a salsa bar that lets you tune heat and acidity to taste. It’s best when you order simply and eat immediately: two tacos plus one quesadilla/mula is the move for peak texture.
Must-Try Dishes: Adobada Taco, Carne Asada Taco, Adobada Quesadilla (or Mula)
What makes it special: Ultra-focused taco menu with proven, high-volume consistency.
8.2
$$ Midtown East – 3rd Avenue Corridor
A Midtown East sit-down Mexican room built for after-work groups and polished dinners, with a menu that leans into bold sauces, sizzling proteins, and crowd-friendly shareables. It’s strongest when you start with a tableside opener, then commit to one signature taco or steak-driven plate rather than over-ordering the middle.
Must-Try Dishes: Tableside Guacamole, Taco Vampiros, Carne Asada y Chimichurri
What makes it special: Tableside-forward Mexican classics with a big-menu, group-friendly format.

Worthy Picks

$ Midtown East – Grand Central Corridor
A no-frills Midtown takeout counter that hits when you want straightforward street-food staples without committing to a sit-down meal. The best orders stay classic—tacos plus one hot item—then let their salsas do the heavy lifting for flavor.
Must-Try Dishes: Tacos Al Pastor, Birria Tacos, Chicken Quesadilla
What makes it special: Straight-ahead takeout tacos and quesadillas built for lunch cravings.
$ Midtown East – Grand Central Dining Concourse
In the Grand Central Dining Concourse, Dirty Taco riffs on L.A. street tacos and lets the same proteins roll into burritos and bowls. Open since 2022, it’s a newer option that brings duck carnitas, Korean steak and other chef-y fillings to commuters looking for something bolder than standard fast-casual burritos.
Must-Try Dishes: Korean Steak (as taco or burrito), Duck Carnitas (as taco or burrito), Al Pastor (as taco or burrito)
What makes it special: Grand Central food-hall stall turning modern taco fillings like duck carnitas and Korean steak into tacos, burritos and bowls with a bit more flair than typical commuter fare.