Best Tacos Restaurants in East Village (10003)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Los Tacos No. 1 (Union Square)
High-volume taqueria delivering street-style tacos with rare consistency.
Essential Picks
A Mexico City–style taqueria that runs on speed and precision, turning out deeply seasoned adobada, carne asada, and pollo tacos on supple tortillas. The line moves fast, and the salsa bar lets you dial in heat and acidity to your taste. It’s the area’s most reliable stop for classic street tacos with big, repeatable flavor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adobada taco with pineapple, Carne asada taco, Chicken taco with salsa verde
What makes it special: High-volume taqueria delivering street-style tacos with rare consistency.
Notable Picks
8.4
A newer expansion from Nolita that presses tortillas to order and specializes in trompo-style steak tacos. The meat is shaved hot from the spit, giving each taco a fatty, savory edge that clings to the corn tortilla. It’s one of the zip code’s most exciting recent taco openings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak trompo taco, Shrimp taco with salsa macha, House-made tortilla taco trio
What makes it special: Pressed-to-order tortillas and trompo steak with Cosme DNA.
8.4
A long-running St. Mark’s institution, La Palapa delivers Mexico City–leaning home cooking alongside a deep margarita and mezcal bench. The menu reads classic but lands with confidence: hearty stews, expertly grilled proteins, and salsas that taste made, not scooped. It’s the kind of reliable, full-service dinner you bring out-of-towners to without overthinking it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole poblano chicken, Cochinita pibil tacos, House margarita flight
What makes it special: A veteran East Village kitchen for Mexico City–style classics.
#4
Yellow Rose
8.3
Yellow Rose brings a Texas-rooted lens to Mexican cooking, with standout flour tortillas and a tight menu that shines in the taco lane. Expect rich guisados, smoky salsas, and a brunch that feels like a neighborhood ritual. It’s casual, busy, and best when you lean into the beefier, saucier fillings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne guisada taco, Bean & cheese taco with homemade flour tortilla, Chips with vegan queso
What makes it special: Texas-style tacos built on excellent house flour tortillas.
8.0
A compact counter-service spot leaning Baja, best known for crispy fish tacos and straightforward grilled fillings. Portions are small-ish, so ordering a couple is standard, but flavors are clean and well-seasoned. Great for a quick taco fix near Union Square.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled fish taco (Baja style), Chicken tinga taco, Cheese quesadilla with salsa roja
What makes it special: Baja-style fish tacos done fast and correctly.
Worthy Picks
7.7
A no-frills East Village taqueria where the draw is juicy birria and sturdy breakfast-leaning tacos. Tortillas are lightly griddled and loaded generously, making it a strong value play in the neighborhood. Low-key vibes and late hours keep it a useful local staple.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Al pastor taco, Breakfast burrito-style taco
What makes it special: Birria-forward tacos in a tiny, local-feeling room.